I almost missed my flight when I traveled to Minnesota in late January. Not because I was running late, but because south Louisiana was on the verge of an actual winter wonderland. A rare and historic snowstorm was rolling in, set to drop over eight inches of snow—something unheard of in the Deep South. Just hours before it hit, I was in the air, heading to Minneapolis for my latest check-in with my ocular oncologist.
When I landed, the contrast was almost comical. The city was freezing at a balmy negative 15 degrees, but there wasn’t a single snowflake to be seen. Minneapolis, the land of perpetual winter, looked downright tame compared to what I had just left behind.
Measuring Lenny
The next morning, I spent several hours getting bright lights flashed into my eyes as my medical team carefully measured Lenny—the uveal melanoma tumor in my right eye. These appointments are never exactly fun, but this one was well worth it.
The results? Nothing short of incredible.
For the second month in a row, Lenny has continued to shrink. When I first started this clinical trial, my tumor measured 2,469.1 mm³. Now? It’s down to 1,493.7 mm³—a nearly 40% reduction in size.
To help visualize just how much Lenny has shrunk, I created a simple yet powerful representation using BB pellets. For size-comparison purposes, you can fit approximately 134 BBs in an adult human eye. Here’s Lenny represented in BBs:
- The top row (52 BBs): Lenny’s original size
- The middle row (31 BBs): Lenny’s size in January 2025
- The bottom row (21 BBs): The amount of tumor that’s now gone. Wow!
A Surprising Spotlight
As if my shrinking tumor wasn’t exciting enough, something unexpected happened when I returned home from this visit—I was interviewed by KAAL ABC News! They reached out to talk about my experience in this clinical trial and the truly amazing results I’ve had so far.
From what we are told, the story airs locally in Minnesota and Iowa on January 29th, and for those outside the area, it should be available on the station’s app and website soon after. I never imagined my journey with Lenny would land me on the news, but if it helps raise awareness about uveal melanoma and the importance of clinical trials, I’m all for it.
Gratitude Beyond Measure
I can’t say it enough—I am beyond grateful.
To my treatment team, who continue to guide me through this process with expertise and compassion.
To my family and friends, who have been my rock through every appointment, every scan, and every moment of uncertainty.
To everyone who has sent kind words, prayers, good vibes, and support—I feel it all, and it means the world to me.
A Final Reminder: Get Your Eyes Checked
If there’s one thing I want to leave you with, it’s this: get regular eye exams.
It’s not just about whether you need glasses. Many serious eye conditions, including ocular melanoma, can develop without noticeable symptoms. An eye exam could, quite literally, save your life.
So, schedule that appointment. You never know what it might catch.
And as for Lenny? He’s got an eviction notice, and we’re making sure he gets the message loud and clear. Until our next update, love you guys.
Love, Light, and Eye Exams,
Ross Wither
thetravelingwithers.com 
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