The Journey Continues:This new cancer

This new cancer that Richard is battling brought a whole new set of problems.  It brought a fast growing tumor with some spots above it. The tumor is esophageal cancer but they are not sure what the spots are.  It is possibly lymphoma but the treatments that are planned will take care of it if it is cancer. This new cancer will bring chemo and radiation.  Radiation will be new to Richard who had chemo of several different kinds with the Hodgkin Lymphoma plus the bone marrow transplants. It has also brought something new that Richard did not want.  A feeding tube.  He finally after several talks with the different Doctors agreed to this unwanted apparatus.

He even asked me if I would still be able to love him with something like that hanging out of him.  What a silly, silly boy!!! I guess he thinks that my love depends on how he looks or what is hanging out of his side. Well it doesn't I didn't marry him because of what he looked like or because he didn't have a feeding tube hanging out his side.  I married him because I love him and always will!  Of course he is a man and I do occasionally get irritated with him, like yesterday when he said those silly words to me.  What he needs to realized is that feeding tube needs to be there.  At some point with the radiation treatment he will have a swollen GI tract and throat, maybe even to the point of not being able to eat by mouth.  When and if he gets to the point of not being able to eat the feeding tube will be a life saver.  Something that he kept trying to reject could save his life!

When the conversation with Richard happened about the feeding tube with the Doctor explaining why he needed it I thought of this and also of how Jesus is like a feeding tube.  He died on the cross for us and became a life saver.  He did this so we might live forever just as the feeding tube could save Richard.  Richard had to accept the fact that he might need this life saving feeding tubing just as we have to accept a life saving Savior.  Jesus died so that we might live!  Jesus loves us so much! He doesn't care what we look like or what we have hanging out of us or what ghost we have in our past.  A person has to accept the fact that Jesus is a life saver. Don't reject His life saving treatment. This treatment was planned, Jesus is the answer to life eternal.

Don't be silly and think you don't need this treatment.  One treatment will cover it all.  Jesus is the treatment you need!

The Journey Continues:The Splendor of our King

Wednesday Richard and I were heading to Oklahoma City for Richard's three appointments and I knew it was going to be a long day.  I wasn't really grumbling(well maybe in my head) but was tired from having to leave at such an early hour when I looked up and saw the Splendor of my King!  It was in the sunrise!  It was in the clouds!  It was in the grass and the trees.  It was in the air that I was breathing!  It was in the cross!!

God reminded me that He is in control.  He reminded me that He made the world and that He made me.  He reminded me that no matter what happens that He is in control.  He reminded me that in the scheme of things one day with many appointments could mean being a witness to someone about the splendor of my God!

Richard's appointments went well.  He has two more chemo treatments of this particular kind.  He will have a pet scan in nine weeks and at that point it will determined what the next step will be.  His counts were good  and he is now off of the steroids, except the bag he takes with each chemo.  He is actually down to one medicine that he takes by mouth.  Hopefully he will be able to be off of that one in the near future.

Thanks again to all the prayers warriors that are praying for us during this journey!!  Richard and I appreciate you so much!!!  :)

1 Chronicles 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.

The Journey Continues:Update

Richard's appointment yesterday went fairly smooth.  He even got several naps.  He napped before and during the pet scan, during chemo and the IGG infusion.  I did post on facebook yesterday about the blood work.  His labs were great!! They were better than they have been in a long, long time!

I thought that we were going to see the PA but the doctor was the one that gave the results of the pet scan.  He said that the spots are still there and that they are not smaller than last time.  He said that the spots could be scar tissue that might not ever go away.  He said that is common with lymphoma patients.  He also said that the glow(pet scan) that shows up the hot spots are not as much as before.  He seemed positive and upbeat during the appointment.  The doctor also is reducing the steroids and he is now down to 10 mg a day.  Hopefully his graft/vs/host will not flare up!

Richard will still be going back every three weeks for chemo and he will get the IGG infusion every six weeks.  He will be doing eight to ten more chemos.  I am sure that there will be more pet scans thrown in along the way.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!!!

Philippians 4:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Romans 10:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The Journey Continues:Short Update

Yesterday's chemo went well.  Just as always the waiting was the worst part.  This time was not so bad.  It was just blood work and chemo but they will not start or even order the chemo until the blood work comes back.  We have learned to bring stuff to pass the time.  We read, look at facebook and Richard sleeps!

The blood work came back really good.  His counts are still holding good or better!  Next time will be an all day thing starting with a pet scan, than chemo, IVIG infusion and than see a doctor.

Your prayers keep us going! Thanks!!!

Psalm 17:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

The Journey Continues:Update from pet scan and appointment

Yesterday was a long day.  We left Enid about 7:45 am and walked back into the house at 7:00 pm.  Richard had chemo, a pet scan and than saw a Doctor.  The Doctor told us that the pet scan still showed spots but they are still  located in the neck area.  They are going to compare the pet scan to the one that was done in the fall to see if the cancer is still the same, better or worse.  The remark was made that there was small uptake which means that the pet scan lit up in certain areas.  In the past we have heard words other than  small about the uptake.

The pet scan also lit up in his sinus area.  The Doctor also looked into his left ear and said it was still red and that there might have have been a hole but wasn't sure.  She did say that she saw a blood streak. She instructed him to continue the drops in his ears and started him on an oral medicine.  He will follow up with the ear, nose throat Dr. here in Enid on Monday.

He will do chemo again in three weeks.  He will also be doing an IVIG infusion after the chemo and than to see the Doctor at 2:30.  The good news is that is blood work was great!! White counts really good and his kidney function level is almost back down to normal!!

Thanks so much for the prayers!!! : )

Psalm 106:1

New International Version (NIV)

¹ Praise the Lord.^[a]

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

The Journey Continues:A quick update 01/24/2013

So many of you are still praying 3 years and 4 months later.  Thanks so much!!  I don't know how people can manage to go through cancer or any other life changing event without the prayers and support of others!!  We are so BLESSED!!

Richard's chemotherapy yesterday was uneventful.  It did leave him feeling tired.  He has already headed to work this morning after eating breakfast.  He is so strong but that is because of the Lord.  His strength is from HIM!  His white blood counts were down yesterday so the chemo has wreaked it's havoc.  The good thing is that by this point on the other chemo regiments he would have already had to have taken shots to bring his counts back up.  His counts are still within the normal range at 5900!!


Thanks again for the continues prayers!!

Psalm 118:23-25

New International Version (NIV)

²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

The Journey Continues:Chemo and Dr. visit

Just a quick update for those of you that are praying and wanting to know how chemo day went.   We were on time, got taken back quickly, blood work done and then waited for white blood count.  It was good!  It was even better than last time!!  So they gave him his premeds and than the chemo.  He had just a little itching when the chemo was over but only about five minutes.  The doctor's appointment also went well.  We actually got to see the doctor about two and a half hours early!  He will do two more chemos and than have a pet scan.  The nurses and doctor as always were amazed that Richard is still working.  They should have him figured out by now!   :)

Thanks for the prayers!!

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, hear my prayer,
    listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
    come to my relief.

The Journey Continues:Update on Chemo

This will be a really short update but wanted to let you know that Richard's chemo went really well.  He even got through sooner than they had said.  So far no side effects.  The nurse told us about one young man that was taking it, after two bone marrow transplants failed, and he is remission right now.  That gives us hope.  Praying for the same with Richard.  His blood work up looked pretty good.  His white blood count was up to 9100 which is the best I have seen it probably since his transplant in May of 2011.

Thanks again for all the prayers!!

1 Kings 8:28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.