Wednesday, 24 October Karen first went to her oncologist office to have intravenous fluids administered to begin flushing her kidneys. This is an effort to lessen the effects of the gadolinium dye on kidney function. As of the last test Karen’s kidneys were functioning at 34 percent. Afterwards she went for a MRI and MRA at Saint Joseph’s.

Thursday, 25 October we met with Dr. Cline (radiation oncologist) who told us the results of the MRI and MRA test. The good news is there are no signs of an aneurysm. There is still the lesion behind the right eye which is near the optic nerve and could be possible for the headache and eye being involuntarily closed. He explained the process of fractionated radiation and how they planned to target the tumor. There is a great deal of planning that goes into administering radiation and we were told a treatment schedule would be provided to us once the planning process was complete. Karen was fitted with a mask that will be used for each treatment. We were told to come back on Friday, 26 October.

CURVE BALL – We received a call advising that during the radiation planning process it was determined the small lesion originally thought to be behind the right eye (which is closed) is actually behind the left eye. That clearly doesn’t explain why the eye is closed and now adds another concern. We’re now back to more questions than answers and most likely a request for more scans.

Friday, 26 October. Our day started at 4:00 a.m. with a drive to Northside Hospital to have a paracentesis done to alleviate some pressure from Karen’s rapidly expanding abdomen. 3 ½ liters of fluid were removed which equates to roughly 7 pounds. This provided much relief and made it easier for her to get around.

We also spoke by phone to the radiation oncologist who has asked for an ocular MRI on Monday, 29 October. Another specialist (number 4) has been added to mix as we are to follow up with a neuro-opthalmologist on Friday, 02 November.

As with her initial diagnosis over two years ago, her current health situation is not easily explained or treated. There is no doubt that she is extremely sick and that cancer has compromised many of her body’s systems. Our prayer remains that she would be healed completely. She is not taking chemotherapy or any other drug that would explain a reversal of the cancer’s attack on her body so a healing now would leave many (including the brightest in the medical field) left with nothing but wonder and amazement. There are many uncertainties as we continue forward but of this we are certain; God can and will heal Karen either temporarily here on earth or permanently in heaven.

Thank you for checking on Karen and most of all for joining us in prayer. Until next time…