Thursday, June 22nd

Karen and the children spent the past week visiting family in a celebration of a milestone birthday for her uncle. Family from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland converged on Branson, Missouri for time together. I wasn’t able to attend due to work but I’m told a fun time was had by all. After a few logistical challenges getting my bunch back to Georgia, they are all happy to be home and back to a routine.

During Karen’s visit to her oncologist today she was given infusion number 18 of Herceptin which went smoothly. The tumor maker test, among others, was taken and we should have the results next week. The echocardiogram (heart) test results from 01June06 were all normal. Thank you Lord!

The blood test taken indicated Karen is approaching anemia so they recommended that she take a Procrit shot. See the link for more information on the shot. In a nutshell, anemia can cause a variety of issues with the first usually being exhaustion caused by a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Karen’s level was 10 with normal being an average of 14. At 8 they begin blood transfusions. After prayer and some discussion Karen took the shot. The shot’s are traditionally effective in getting the levels back up to a normal level. We are going to try changes in her diet to boost the levels naturally. Karen and I both feel the less medication that is taken the better.

Karen completed week 3 of uninterrupted Tamoxifen. Small tolerable rashes continue. We’re hoping this medication will bring stabilization of the tumor markers and then start dropping those levels which would indicate its effectiveness.

Karen has an appointment on 30June with a nephrologist to review her kidney function. As most of you know her kidneys don’t operate at full capacity and all the medications and testing place a further strain on them. This is our first appointment with this doctor. The doctor’s name is Carl Oettinger, please pray for him. Pray that he will be thorough, wise and timely.

Also please continue to pray for healing, wisdom and peace. It is our prayer that the tumor marker test will reveal the cancer is moving into remission or stabilized. The doctor would be shocked if the levels dropped from last time and we would very much like for her and the rest of the staff to see more of the hand of God. Whatever the result may be please also pray for opportunities for our family to be a light to others. In good times and bad, God is very present.

Because of ...

Over the course of the past year we have received many cards, letters, emails, phone calls and personal visits from family, friends, and complete strangers.

It’s hard to put into words the love, encouragement, and even laughter we have been given because someone took the time to let us know they cared and were available to help in any way we may need.

In some of the more difficult days a card would arrive or someone would call or visit with near perfect timing to be an extra shoulder to lean on. Financial gifts arrived at times when medical bills were piled high and money ran thin.

I don’t know about you, but there have many times I have felt like I should call or write someone and then almost as soon as I decided to put action to my thoughts my mind was flooded with more reasons why I shouldn’t; it’s been too long, it may be awkward, I’ll do it later, I don’t have time, etc… My wife’s father used to say “Starting stops most people”. He was right. My family is deeply grateful to the many people who didn’t stop but put action to their thoughts.

Because of cancer my family is learning first hand just how much one person can bless another. We’re also paying much closer attention when we feel led to reach out to someone else.

Until next week …