Friends For The Journey

June 29, 2010

Recently her tumor markers in her blood work have started going up, so our oncologist, Dr. Wang, ordered a new pet scan. Yesterday, we went over the results with Dr. Wang. The pet scan showed renewed activity, cancer growth in all of the tumors in her breast bone, and in the spine – it also showed new cancer activity in her femur bones (hips) and possibly in her jawbone. The doctor expected that the current chemo protocol would eventually run its course and would have to replaced with a different chemo. That time has arrived.

There are still a number of potentially effective treatments that are available. Dr. Wang wants to try one that can be taken orally and has the primary side effect of dropping her white and red cell counts. Debbie was going with me to Ohio to a wedding, but we are leaning toward her staying here and get started as soon as possible on the new protocol.

We are both handling it well … not discouraged at all. At this stage, we have become accustomed to the never ending roller-coaster ride that is cancer. Debbie is processing – she has gradually multiplying physical complications with the diabetes, kidneys, adrenal glands and cataracts, and now this … so, she is a bit weepy. But we are also having some of the best times of our life right now. Both of us have long ago stopped holding on to the things of this world, and have our hope in the next, but we also want to live our lives to the fullest and have the maximum possible positive influence on those around us.

We want to thank you for your prayers … please pray for our children. I think this process is harder on them, than it is on us.

By-the-way, I cannot resist slipping in something about goodnewsing. Several of my atheist and agnostic friends have told me that Debbie is in their “prayers.” As far as I am concerned, any day we can be part of motivating people to pray (for any reason) is a good day. Debbie has a whole group of nurses and patients that she is ministering to and encouraging in the hospital.

Colossians 1:10-12 (The Message)

9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

JH