GOOD NEWS!

Hi everyone:
Just found out this morning that Don's number is at .9!  We are so thankful and so excited!  Praise the Lord!  We meet with the transplant doctor this Wednesday, so a more detailed update will be posted later this week.
Thank you for the many, many prayers that have gone heavenward on our behalf these last several months!
Don and Marcie

WE ARE ENCOURAGED!

Dear family and friends,
     As summer turns into fall, we are reflecting on the fact that it has been almost a year since our unexpected journey began.  It was just about a year ago exactly that Don began to experience back pain, while training for his 12th marathon.  A marathon he still intends to run by the way!  For the last couple of weeks he has been running 3/4 to 1-1/4 miles on the bike trail once a week with the help of his walker, a couple of friends and a number of "rest" breaks .  It has been such an encouragement for him to be able to do that!  He was also able to do some swimming and found that to be the most pain-free form of exercise he can do.  He also set up his new bicycle  (the one he got for his birthday but isn't allowed to ride outside) on a stand and has been riding it as a stationary bike.  He is up to 8 minutes on the bike and so glad that he can do these forms of exercise to get strong again!
     We were also encouraged by our visit to the oncologist on Monday.  The cancer has crept down to a 1.2, after remaining at a 1.4 for 2 months!  Although not a huge drop it is still movement in the right direction and we'll take it!   We are getting closer to the number needed for the stem cell transplant.  Don has begun another round of outpatient chemo which will take him through to almost the end of September.  We praise God that this chemo has not caused him to suffer strong side effects and he is able to continue working. 
     Marcie is back to school and getting back into the routine of early mornings, teaching, lesson plans, grading papers, etc.  She and Don are especially thankful for friends and family who help with transporting Don back and forth to work and doctor's appointments.   Also for those who keep us supplied with delicious meals several times a week.  And we thank God for meeting all of our financial needs through many generous friends.  We are truly blessed by all of you!
     You know how a song gets stuck in your head sometimes?  Well, here is the one that has been stuck in mine for quite awhile now.  It comes to me often first thing in the morning and again while I am driving.  "The steadfast love of the Lord never faileth.  His mercies never come to an end!  They are new every morning, new every morning;  great is thy faithfulness oh, Lord, great is thy faithfulness!"  We pray that you are experiencing His mercies anew every morning and His great faithfulness every day!

Prayer Requests:

• That the cancer would continue to drop and - this is the important part - stay in remission until the   stem cell transplant.

• That Don would be protected from any infections since cold and flu season is just ahead.

• That the Lord would go ahead of us in preparing all the details and timing of the hospital stay for the stem cell transplant. 

With much love and grateful hearts,
Don and Marcie

The Numbers

Dear Family and Friends,
     Just a quick update to let you know where we are.  We did not get the update on the cancer number until this afternoon.  It is still at 1.4, so it has not changed in a month.  A bit discouraging?  Yes...
But we just keep reminding ourselves this is just one of many battles, it is certainly not the end of the war.  We will keep on fighting. 
     Our oncologist plans to continue with the same chemo regimen through September.  If there is no change after that, she will make a decision about changing the chemo drugs.  We maintain our confidence in her; she is one of the foremost experts in Multiple Myeloma in the United States.
     Don has been working steadily through the month of August about 25 hours a week.  He is very thankful to be able to continue to work.  The pain has been manageable for the last couple of weeks, so we are especially grateful for that.  He is working on a blog post that he will publish shortly.
     Thank you for your continued prayers and expressions of love and concern.
Don and Marcie 

Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days of Summer...Not Exactly a Day at the Beach

Dear family and friends,

Don and our son, Adam

     July has been a challenging month in our journey.  Don was released from the hospital after another 96 hour chemo infusion on July 7th.  On the following Monday night he became violently ill, got dehydrated and had to be sent by ambulance back to Seidman Cancer Center.  They kept him for 5 days to control the nausea and get him re-hydrated.  He was released on the 14th of July, which allowed us to enjoy a couple of hours at the Lichi Family Reunion.  Since then he has had at least 2 doctor visits per week as we try to move from in-patient infusion back to an outpatient chemo regimen. 
     Our oncologist has decided not to risk another round of the toxic 96 hour in-patient chemo regimen - it was simply too hard on Don.  She has decided that we will continue chemotherapy with one or two rounds of out-patient infusion utilizing the chemotherapy that he had from January through April.  What this means is infusions and blood work on Mondays and Thursdays plus 14 days of the powerful chemo drug Revlimid (see previous blog posts).  This coming week will be the second week of the regimen and then Don will have a week off.  At the end of August the oncologist will reassess the cancer counts and we will know where we stand.  The doctor has used the term "refractory" in describing Don's cancer, meaning it has been very stubborn in responding to treatment.  The cancer went into remission temporarily in April and May, but then started to increase again which necesitated the 2 rounds of 96 hour in-patient chemo.  Since the Spring,  the cancer numbers had gone from below a 1 back up to 1.9.  After the 2 rounds in June and July of very toxic chemo it has crept back down with agonizing slowness to a 1.4.  You will recall that it has to be below a 1 in order for the stem cell transplant to take place.   
     On a happier note, we were able to spend time with all 5 of our grandchildren in July, which was an incredible lift to our spirits.  Also, some friends loaned us their lake cottage for a weekend at the end of July which allowed for some much needed "down" time.  We continue to receive cards and emails almost daily that remind us that we are part of the wonderful body of Christ.  Your prayers and expressions of loving concern assure us that we are continually lifted before our Heavenly Father.  
     If you are reading this and have not yet placed your total confidence in Christ, there is nothing more important to get settled in your heart.
     I (Don) want to give special thanks for Marcie and her tireless care of me.  I can't even imagine what life would be like without this God-given helpmate.  
     We love you and will give you more details as we have them.
Don and Marcie

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

     We are back at Seidman Cancer Center for another round of chemo.  We feel like "old pro's" getting here at 8:00 a.m. Monday, getting checked in, getting the PICC line in place, getting unpacked, greeting some of the doctors and nurses like old friends! Marcie knows where to buy the best chocolate and how to navigate the long walk to the main cafeteria. :)
     The last 2 weeks have been relatively peaceful.  Don started to feel better the Tuesday after finishing the last round of chemo, just as we anticipated, and he was feeling pretty good this past weekend.  He worked the last 2 weeks of June and was blessed to be able to do that.
     Last Monday we met with our wonderful oncologist, Dr. C. and received a "mixed bag" of news.  The cancer numbers had gone down slightly - from a 1.9 to a 1.6 - so that is a good start and at least it is heading in the right direction.  However Dr. C. does not think we will be ready for the transplant in August.  She thinks we may have to do one to two more rounds of this 96-hour protocol of chemo in August and maybe even again in September.  That was a bit discouraging so we shed a few tears and then we talked it through and prayed it through.  Once again we gave our expectations about timing to the Lord.
     We want you to know how grateful we are to those who follow the blog.  It is VERY encouraging when you tell us that you read it and pray for the requests we post.  Please let us know how we can pray for you as well.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE BODY OF CHRIST
       One of the most important lessons that we have learned through this trial over the last eight months (has it really been that long?) is how beautiful the Body of Christ really is.  All who are Christ-followers are part of this wonderful Body.  Everyone has a place in this Body.  In fact, because of your family background, your personality and all the things that make you YOU, there is an expression of Christ through you that has not been duplicated by any other human being. Furthermore, you bring a unique expression of Christ to the places that you go and the people you meet.
     If you have ever wondered if you are important to God, the answer is a resounding YES!  His word declares that you are LOVABLE, VALUABLE, FORGIVABLE, CHANGEABLE and NEVER ALONE.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• That this round of chemo would be be effective in putting the cancer in remission and we will see the cancer protein number of less than 1 sooner than the doctors believed possible!
• That Don will continue to bear the chemo with minimal side effects and that his immune system would recover quickly.
• That he would be protected from any infection.
• For Marcie as she travels back and forth to the hospital.

PRAISES

• For the Body of Christ who have so generously met all of our needs!
• That Don's immune system (the "good" counts) recovered so strongly after the last round of chemo.  
• We celebrated Don's 60th birthday on Father's Day, June 17th, and he received numerous birthday cards.  What a blessing! We thank God for every single day of life he gives us.  

Love,
Don and Marcie

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.