On Monday 13June, Karen had a bone scan to determine if the cancer had spread and if so to what degree. As of this posting we do not have the results of the scan. She also visited with a nutritionist and the Physician Assistant for her oncologist Dr. Galleshaw. Due to the bleeding Karen experienced over the weekend she was told not to start the Xeloda (Chemo). Disappointing news for Karen. Instead she was directed to a Gastroenterologist (GI Doctor) with an appointment for the next day.

Tuesday morning 14June, Karen got sick to her stomach with blood present. We proceeded to her appointment with the GI Doctor. After about a 5 minute conversation with the Doctor, Karen was admitted to Northside Hospital. Once in the hospital the GI Doctor did an Upper GI in an attempt to determine where the blood was coming from and what could be done to stop it.

The Portal Vein is a major supplier of blood to the liver. The flow of blood through Karen's portal vein is mostly reversed due to the cancers growth. This is hard on the circulatory system, especially the heart. It's the equivalent to taking a garden hose with full pressure turned on and kinking it. If it's kept that way long enough the hose will rupture and the water will find another way out. This is what happened with veins in Karen's esophagus causing blood to enter her digestive system. The official term is "gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to esophageal varices". The GI Doctor was able to "band" these veins with tiny rubber bands in hopes to stop the bleeding. This "banding" is the equivalent to cauterizing a portion of the bleeding vein. Pause for prayer: It's a matter of life and death that Karen's circulatory system not have any ruptures in inaccessible areas. God is the Great Physician and I leave Karen in His care. The body is His creation and has amazing capabilities to correct system (circulatory, etc...) problems. Please join me in praying that her system will grow strong enough to sustain her through treatment of the cancer.

Karen has been under some heavy medications since shortly after her arrival to the hospital. On Wednesday, 15June, she had another ultrasound of her abdomen which showed, not surprisingly, that her liver is very sick with cancer. She spent the rest of the day resting.

Today, 16June, Karen had ascites aspirated from her abdomen. Which is a doctor's fancy way of saying she had fluid drained (via needle) from her belly to give her some relief from the pressure. She is still unable to eat anything but liquids and limited soft foods. We were told by the GI Doctor if the cell counts in her blood stay at the current levels she will be allowed to go home sometime Friday, 17June.

The real problem right now is her liver. She either needs to be healed (all things are possible with God) or she needs to start the Xeloda (Chemo) which will form a synergistic partnership with the Herceptin already in her body and hopefully start kicking some cancer rear end. She can't start the Xeloda until the bleeding is under control. If she does not pass anymore blood she can start the Xeloda on Monday, 20June.

That's all the update I can muster for now. Beside Karen being cured of cancer or it starting in remission, every need we have is being met through the generosity, love and compassion of so many. I can't find the words to express how much you've helped us walk to this point in our journey.

Darren