As many of you know our friend Misty (the web guru) is participating in a three day walk in honor of Karen. The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days, September 30 - October 2, 2005. Net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment. Much of the money raised remains in the local community to fund educational outreach and screening and treatment programs for underserved women and those without access to these services.
Thank you for giving so generously to this cause. Please pray for Misty and all the other walkers as they continue to train for the walk and all the volunteers as they prepare for the event.

In the last update I told you Karen's tumor markers had reduced from 2999 to 586. As of her last blood test (01 September) they had dropped again. This time to 323!!! The nurse from our health care company called today (08SEP05) to check up on Karen's status. Upon learning the progress of Karen’s health she stated these improvements are highly out of the ordinary given the prognosis at the end of May. All things are possible with God!

Karen started her fourth round of chemo (Xeloda) on 08 September. She has had no ill side affects from the Aaranesp, Aredia or Herceptin infusions she took last week. Since this past week was a week off from chemo she has had greater energy and less nausea. We welcomed a week that brought no visits to the doctor and no chemo for Karen!

Praising God for less medication. Karen was taking a mid grade dose of water pills twice a day to reduce the amount of fluid retention in her abdomen. On her last visit to the gastroenterologist (01 September) he cut the dose in half . Please pray that her liver has healed enough that she won't need the higher dosage of water pills and that it will continue healing to the degree that she can eliminate the pills altogether. So far, after a week of the reduced dose Karen doesn't appear to have any swelling. Also, Karen's pain has been very minimal. She hasn't taken a pain killer in over 6 weeks!

That's all the update for this week. Thank you for stopping in to check on Karen's progress.

Endeavor to live each day to the fullest for that's the only way it comes - one day at a time.