For those who have not heard

In early August 2008 Steve & Bret went on a 10 day cruise to Northern Europe. This picture was taken on formal night. A GQ guy in my opinion.

On the way home Steve passed out on the flight. We do not know if it was fatigue or related to his illness.

In late August 2008 Steve was having some symptoms that made us think he might be having heart problems. Many tests were run and it was determined that he had a great heart, lungs, etc, etc, etc. Then they did a MRI and found several brain lesions, with one particularly large lesion in the pons region of his brain stem.

In September 2008 a brain biopsy was done that was inconclusive. There was necrosis (dead tissue) and T cells. The debate was lymphoma (cancer) vs demyelinating disorder (in the Multiple Sclerosis family).

A follow-up MRI was done in November 2008, the lesions were slightly larger and the doctors decided a second brain biopsy needed to be done. The surgeon took five samples (two is usually the max) and did get some diseased tissue. Again the pathologist found NO cancer cells. The diseased tissue showed severe demyelination.

Soooooo, in December Steve started a treatment for MS related diseases - Beta Seran. In February 2009 Steve had another MRI and the lesions were larger and had spread to the mid brain.