Thursday, 12 July

Let me begin this update by thanking everyone who has been praying, making meals and the many offers to help with anything needed. This road has been difficult and at this point seems to be uphill and winding. You are helping to make this journey a little easier.

Today began with a reduced dose (75%) infusion of chemotherapy (Gemzar). Next we went over to Northside Hospital for the MRI of the brain. Upon arrival we received a call from Karen’s doctor informing us it would be necessary to repeat the scans from yesterday. That was over 3 hours of virtually motionless time Karen spent in the MRI machine. Very discouraging to hear it needs to be done again. The scans from yesterday were done without a contrast agent called gadolinium due to its affects on renally-impaired (kidney) patients. The doctor reading the results of the scans felt given the numbness, tingling and impaired muscle control Karen has been experiencing it would be better to see the spine with this contrast and since they were using it for the brain scan this would be best time to gather this information. Thankfully it went quicker than the day before with all scans lasting about 2 ½ hours.

We were on our way home when Karen realized her port was still accessed, so we made a u-turn and headed back. We decided to go back to the doctor’s office instead of the hospital where the MRI was done. Once in the office, her doctor was glad we came back by because she had all the results.

Karen’s spine does have some lesions which appear to be healing from the chemotherapy. Due to location of the lesions they did not feel they were leading to the problems Karen is experiencing. The scan of the brain showed a small amount of cancer. This was very discouraging news for a variety of reasons which I will go into in a later update. However, the doctors don’t feel even the cancer in the brain would cause the challenges Karen is experiencing.

The next steps are to test the fluid that bathes the spinal chord for cancer cells, a platelet transfusion due the effect of the chemotherapy (more on this in another update) and how to treat the cancer in the brain.

Karen is at home and after chilling off from a 104 degree fever last night, seems to be feeling better.

In the interest of time I need to wrap this up. Please continue to pray for healing, peace, rest and wisdom. This situation looks grim but all things are possible with God. Karen and I have complete assurance that she will be healed of this cancer. The only thing we’re not certain of is which side of heaven.

Until next time…