Hello All

For those of you don't recognize the e-mail address, I am Yoram Unguru,
Mooki's brother. I am writing to let you know about Toby, Mooki and
Stephen's wonderful son and Yoni's brother. The news I am about to share
with you is tragic and troubling for all of us who care about Toby and his
family.

For the past two months or so, Toby has been complaining of neck pain. This
has affected the way he's been holding his head and recently he's started to
walk a little funny. Mooki, the perceptive mom that she is, knew something
was wrong immediately. This past week, the cause of Toby's symptoms was
revealed and while a final diagnosis has yet to be determined, the news is
not good.

Toby has a very large tumor in his right adrenal gland (the organ which sits
atop the kidney and is responsible among other things for secreting hormones
like epinephrine (adrenaline). Moreover, the tumor has affected the
surrounding area and has spread to several bony vertebrae in the spinal
column. As I mentioned, the work-up is still in progress and so far Toby's
been handling things like a real champ. He's very tired and not very
hungry, and still experiencing some pain, but is still amazingly
inquisitive, articulate, and playful when engaged. Tomorrow, Toby has a
busy day planned for him - a biopsy of the primary tumor, bone marrow
aspirates and biopsies will be done to make sure his marrow isn't involved,
and he will have a durable, central venous catheter (i.v.) placed so that he
won't have to be constantly "stuck" for blood and which will enable him to
get medicines.

As it stands now, things are pointing towards a diagnosis of neuroblastoma,
a very nasty tumor. Toby will finish the work-up at NYU where he is
currently admitted and then transfer to Sloan-Kettering at some point next
week where he will be treated. Assuming that the tumor is a neuroblastoma,
the treatment is intense and lengthy and consists of chemotherapy, surgery,
radiation, and immunotherapy.

Obviously, Mooki, Stephen, and Yoni (not to mention Toby) are shocked by the
horrible news and are doing their best to cope with this untenable
situation. In addition to informing each of you about Toby, I have a
secondary plea as well. Toby, Mooki, Stephen, and Yoni's lives will never
be the same from this day forward. Simple tasks that we take for granted
are overwhelming and even burdensome for many families coping with cancer,
especially in the initial days and weeks. Simple things like going shopping
seem impossible.

I am asking each one of you to look within yourselves and imagine that it
was your child, your nephew or your brother in Toby's place. Toby, Mooki,
Stephen, and Yoni NEED OUR HELP. I have a few suggestions and I am sure
there are many things I have not thought of so feel free to come up with
these on your own and to share them with the rest of us. If each one of us
could take it upon him/herself to assume one of the following
responsibilities it would be of immense help. Things I have come up with
are as follows:

1. Food shopping
2. Preparing meals
3. Taking the garbage out to the dumpster on Tuesday evenings
4. Making lunches for Yoni and on the rare instance that both Stephen and
Mooki need to be with Toby overnight at the hospital for someone to sleep
over with him.
5. Laundry
6. Coordinator of above tasks (I live in Maryland and am happy to coordinate
electronically, but having someone in NYC to do so in person is probably
better).


I apologize for the long e-mail, but hope you can appreciate the
circumstances. I will do my best to keep people updated on Toby and his
family periodically. Please let me know what you are willing to take on so
that we can get the ball rolling.

Sincerely,

Yoram Unguru