POST-CHEMO BLAHS

     Sunday evening:
     Don is home as of Friday evening.  We were both very happy that he finished the chemo on time and was able to be released to come home.  He is feeling pretty lousy from the cumulative effects of the chemo in his body and he doesn't have much of an appetite.  He also doesn't have much energy.  He felt pretty good up until Thursday afternoon, then started to feel pretty yucky.  We are very thankful he did not have any extreme side effects.  We are hopeful that by Tuesday he will start feeling better, which is what happened last time.

      Lots of prayer requests:

• Please pray, dear friends that the chemo is doing it's job and Don will not have to go through more than one more round of this life-draining treatment!  
• Pray also that his kidneys will be protected from the effects of the chemo and will continue to function normally.  
• Pray that his energy and appetite will be restored as quickly as possible.  
• Pray for protection from infection while his immune system is disabled.

     We praise the Lord:

• For all of the great doctors and nurses who took such good care of Don this past week.  As an added blessing, we continue to meet believers at University Hospital who serve the Lord as well as their patients and are such an encouragement to us!
• That Don did not experience any extreme side effects this past week. 
• That the chemo was finished on time and he got to come home Friday night.  He rests so much better at home! 

Thank you for your prayers and loving support of our family during these days.
Don and Marcie

PS - If you have time to drop us a comment we would love to hear from you about how you have been strengthened during a trial in your own life.  Thanks!
     
     
 

GOD'S PERFECT TIMING...OUR NEED FOR PATIENCE

Dear family and friends,

    

DON WITH HIS NEW CHEMO BUDDY!

     With so much going on the last couple of weeks and school ending for Marcie we have not been able to update the blog as often as we would like.  Hopefully we will be able to keep it updated at least once a week from now on.
     The cancer numbers unfortunately have been going in the wrong direction. The protein that is measured to gauge the cancer has been going up, slowly but surely, even after 96 hours of non-stop chemotherapy the first week of May.  And so the stem cell transplant has been delayed at least until August, until Don has completed a minimum of 2 more rounds of aggressive chemotherapy.  The doctors have changed the chemo mixture to a more intense regimen, which they hope will beat the cancer back.
     Don needed a week to recover from the chemo in May, but was able to work the last 2 weeks of the month.  It is likely that this will be the schedule for both June and July; a week of round-the-clock chemo the first week of the month, a week for recovery and then, if he is able, work 2 weeks at Emerge.
     Please pray for Don as there are predictable, unpleasant side effects of the new regimen.  (Use your imagination!)
     It has been an emotional roller coaster for the last couple of months, having our hopes geared up to get the stem cell transplant in May, then being told it probably wouldn't be until July; finding out a week ago that the cancer continues to increase and that the transplant will be pushed back to August now.  Although we are discouraged and "cast down" at times, we continue to trust the Lord and not despair.  We are very confident in God and in our doctors, who give us hope and encouragement.
     Paul had a physical ailment he referred to as his "thorn in the flesh."  He prayed and asked the Lord to take it away from him, but God's response was "My gracious favor is all you need. My strength is made perfect in your weakness."  (2 Cor. 12:9ff)  Our prayer is that we will indeed experience God's gracious favor and that the power of Christ will work through our weakness so that HE may be glorified and YOU will be encouraged.
     Perhaps you are going through an unexpected trial and don't understand why you are suffering or why God has not answered your prayers.  We pray that you will have patience and trust always in God's goodness and His perfect timing. 

Prayer Requests:

• That this chemotherapy regimen will be effective in beating down the cancer.
• That Don will experience minimal side effects from it.  

Praises:

• For all the people who have supported us by running in races, preparing meals, cleaning, yard work, and giving sacrificially so that ALL of our medical expenses have been met.
• That we have experienced the reality of Christ through His body.
• That Marcie was able to finish the school year with the generous help and support of the administration, faculty and amazing substitutes.