Update on today's appointment

We are just about to leave the clinic and head home. Dr. Mita said that the scans showed no new tumors anywhere, but one of them, the largest one, shows a little bit of growth. The others appear to be the same. We are definitely not going to continue the Doxorubicin treatment. We discussed three treatment options, one which would involve treatment with two conventional chemos that are generally tolerated better than the one I had. The other two options involve experimental drugs in very early stage. We did not decide on anything today. We have paperwork for the options to review and pray over, and we will see Dr. Mita again in two weeks. She was not willing to give us longer than that.

We are watching it rain hard here. I am going to go out and stand in it, I think. We are going to find a place to eat and then get on the road home. We appreciate all of you and continue to ask you to pray as we continue to face these decisions.

Love you all,

Kenny and Helen

Tomorrow's schedule

We made it to San Antonio safely.  Our plans for tomorrow:  my CT scan is scheduled for 10:50 in the morning.  I'm not sure if I will have blood work done or not.  We will meet with Dr. Mita after she has viewed the scans.  We really don't know when, but we expect it might be sometime around 1:00 or so.  We will be discussing the scans and also any options we might have.  Right now, we don't have a clue what we will be doing after that.  But God does!  We are just trusting Him to continue to guide us, even one step at a time.

We are so thankful for everyone who is praying for us.  We will try to post an update on this blog as soon as we have time tomorrow to let you all know how things are going.  

We love you all!

Kenny and Helen

I'm tired just thinking about it...

Hey everyone!  I am finally feeling pretty close to normal...I don't know if I've really ever been normal, so I'm not sure what that's supposed to feel like.  Anyway...

I wanted to tell you all about my niece Jillian's good friend, who is also a friend of mine.  Joel Farris is a student at UT Austin. He is preparing for an amazing feat--he and a group of about 50 riders will be RIDING A BICYCLE FROM AUSTIN TEXAS TO ANCHORAGE ALASKA for cancer this summer.  Actually, they will ride more than one bicycle; each one of them will have their own.  You know what I mean. :)  The annual event is called Texas 4000 For Cancer.  They will cover anywhere from 60 to 120 miles a day for about ten weeks.  Incredible!  He has dedicated his ride in part to me and has named his bicycle "Kenny."  I am humbled.  If you would like to learn more about this event, you will find his web page at http://www.texas4000.org/user/profile/10223

Your comments on this blog as well as all of your support and concern expressed to us personally have really touched us.   We are in awe of all God has done for us.

Debi, I really did get my head shaved!  I wasn't kidding! 

Love you all!

Kenny

All Because of Jesus Part 1

I hope you have all checked out our new theme song, “All Because of Jesus,” by now.  I first heard this song a few months ago on Christian radio and felt a connection with it at that time.  It really is because of Jesus I’m alive.  But in the past few weeks it has come to mind a lot.

The decision we made to go with the clinical trial recently for treatment was made after much prayer.  The trial would have two “Arms.”  Arm A would involve being infused with two chemotherapy drugs, Doxorubicin and Palifosfamide, while Arm B would only involve one, Doxorubicin.  Fifty percent of the patients would be in Arm A, while the other half would be in Arm B.  The placement would be determined strictly by “random selection,” done by computer.  A roll of the dice?  A lousy coin flip?  The luck of the draw?  Rock Paper Scissors?  To determine something this important?

Our first reaction was that we wanted to be in Arm A, so we could receive the best possible benefit of both drugs.  If we were going the chemo route, we might as well go for it.  God reminded us that there is no such thing as “luck” for us who belong to Him.  So instead of fretting and worrying about which Arm we would end up in, we chose to completely trust God to put us in the one we needed to be in.  That really took a lot of pressure off.  We received a call from our study nurse.  God had placed us in Arm B, the one with the one chemo, Doxorubicin.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks.  I received my first treatment on Monday, March 29, a twenty-minute infusion with Doxorubicin.  Had I been in Arm A, I would also have been given the other drug on the same day, as well as on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Most of you know the reaction my body had to the chemo.  I ended up in the hospital for five days.  I believe that had I been treated with both drugs over a three-day period, I would have died.  I asked Dr. Mita if my condition would have been much worse.  She said it would have.  I told her I thought I would have died.  She didn’t say anything.  All I know is that both drugs had almost the same long list of probable side effects.  I believe that God Himself selected Arm B specifically and on purpose for me.  There is no doubt in my mind.  We believe that God used the many prayers of you all for us in a mighty way.

This is the short version of an account of the most recent time Jesus has saved my life.  It is all because of Jesus I’m alive!  Literally!  If you haven’t heard the song, click on the link on the right side of this page under “Our new theme song.”  I hope it moves you like it does me.

“God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up.”  I Samuel 2:6  (The Message)

 

 

WOW!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!  WOW!!!!!!  I have never heard of an Easter egg drive until now.  We received two baskets full of eggs last night.  Every one of them contained something--Scripture strips, letters, sticky notes, poems, necklaces, artwork, candy, money, stamps, gift cards--a smorgasbord of encouraging words and uplifting thoughts.  Helen, Shan, Stef and I stayed up until after 1:30 this morning opening everything.  We read all of them out loud and cried a lot.  We are astounded by it all!  We are humbled by all that was said and all of the love expressed from so many people.  People came out of the woodwork, it seemed.  We just do not know how to thank all of you.  We don't even know where to start.  You all have encouraged and lifted us up!  Mike Bell said that if I wasn't the most prayed-for man in Texas, I had to be in the top five.  I really believe that might be true.  We just have been blown away by you guys and can't express how much we love you all.  "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" (I Thessalonians 9:9)

Love,

Kenny, Helen, Shan, and Stef

Follicles No More

Just briefly...so you aren't in shock when you see me...I decided it was time Friday morning when I awakened gasping for breath because I was smothered by hair I had lost during the night on my pillow.  OK, but really.  I did get what was left of my hair removed because it was really getting to be a mess.  Oh, well, it's just hair.  And I really don't think many people will notice. :)

Follicles and More

Sorry we haven't posted in a few days...it has finally slowed down a little this evening. Things are going good. It was nice to see many of you at church last night. We are still very tired...the past two and a half weeks have been exhausting. The time at home and even at work has been refreshing. We are on the rebound.

I had a nice surprise Tuesday morning. I discovered that my hair is falling out. Although it happens in 98% of patients who take the drug I took, I had hoped that I was weird enough that it might not happen to me. After all, my allergic reaction and my severe blood count drop were both considered rare. So why couldn't I be one of the rare ones whose hair didn't go? Oh well, I suppose it's only gonna be half bad since, well you know where I'm going if you've seen me in the last ten years. I'm hoping to wait until next week to buzz it off, if it doesn't get too crazy. I have my barber lined up (YES, I HAVE A BARBER) to do it free. The way I see it, she has been charging me too much anyway. And they say that it is only temporary and may come back different than it was before. Maybe I'll have a full head of green or red hair when and if it returns.

I am so blessed to have such a great wife. The last three weeks (let alone the last six years) have been so full of difficulties. Helen's brother passing away in the middle of everything that was happening with me was tough. She has been amazing through all of it. Last week while I was in the hospital, she refused to leave me and go anywhere because she didn't want to pick up something that might hurt me (like germs or viruses) and bring it back into my room. I have given her more "for worse" than I had planned to, but she has always put me before herself. I am blessed, far beyond what I deserve. God is Good!

As I write, there is a storm moving through the area. We are so fortunate to have shelter and safety. Even more, we are blessed to have a shelter and place of refuge through the storms of life we face. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' " (Psalm 91:1-2)

Love you all,

Kenny

We made it!!!!!

Yaaaaaaaay!  We are finally home!  We hit WalMart at 10:10 tonight.  (NO, we didn't go in!)  It seems like such a long time...it's only been a week.  Time doesn't fly when you're not having fun!  But God is Good!

We talked to Dr. Mita for at least an hour today.  We talked about a lot of things, some of which I will share in the next few days, hopefully.  My ANC levels are as high as I have seen them in two years.  Praise the Lord!  We plan to be home for a couple of weeks and have another CT scan at that time.  After reviewing them with the doctor, we will discuss further plans.

Speaking of plans, we both plan on working tomorrow, so I will cut this short.  We are exhausted, but both feel well.  God has provided and protected.  Thanks for your prayers, calls, texts, comments, ...

We love you all

Kenny and Helen 

  

Happy Easter, Everyone!

We worshipped with First Baptist Church San Antonio this morning in our pajama pants and house shoes.  It was good, but we really did miss our church!  There's no place like home!  Thanks to Vern for filling in for me this morning!  

If we were home today, we would be hiding eggs for the girls to hunt.  I force them to hunt for them, because hiding eggs is one of my favorite things to do.  Thanks to my great nephew Noah for giving me a reason to hide eggs yesterday.

We got to see some rain early this morning.  I had almost forgotten what it was like.

We really have been blessed and encouraged by all of your comments.  We are looking forward to being back home tomorrow, the Lord willing.  Shan and Stef:  start cleaning house now!! :) (JK)

We love you all,

Kenny and Helen

Free At Last!!

Finally!  Freedom!  My blood work this morning was much better!  The white blood counts are up to 4.1 (thousand) and my ANC is higher than it's been in several months.  Praise the Lord!  Thanks to everyone for praying!

God's protective hand has been so evident in this past week.  I know I have probably hugged 100 people and shook 100 hands, at church and the funeral home.  How I haven't gotten sick is a miracle.  We have seen so many things that absolutely had to be the hand of God.  Ask us about it all, and we'll tell you.

We are now resting at Janis' and Don's house (our home away from home).  We have appointments on Monday.  We will be seeing our treatment doctor and discussing possible options for the future.  We have pretty much decided at the least that there will not be a second round of doxorubicin!  Please pray that God will direct our steps and reveal His will to us.

Today is Good Friday.  The greatest event in the history of mankind was unfolding on this day twenty centuries ago.   We have so much to celebrate.  We hope the magnificence of the Easter story will fill your and our hearts this weekend.

Shan and Stef, we really miss you.  

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In my first post, I want to warn you right off the bat...I get long-winded and like to write.  So, consider yourselves forewarned.  We have considered a blog for quite some time, but I didn't want to commit to one.  We decided it would probably be the best and easiest way to keep everyone informed of what's going on with us.  So here we go.

I'll start with what's happened since last Monday.  I received my very first chemo treatment with Doxorubicin on that day.  Aside from the hiccups that would last for three days, there didn't seem to be much of any side effects right away.  The next day, I was injected with Neulasta, a drug used to help build up white blood cells.  Because I felt pretty good, we headed for home.  Within hours I had developed a severe allergic reaction to the Neulasta, resulting in itching hives from neck to foot.  The hives would come and go for the next five days.  On day eight (this Monday), we were due back at CTRC for a checkup and blood work.  My blood work was terrible--my white blood cells and ANC were dangerously low.  My doctor decided to check me into the hospital to allow my counts to recover.   My immunities were almost completely depleted.

We are in a hospital in San Antonio.  Over the past few days, my blood counts have slowly rebounded.  Finally, today the counts are no longer dangerously low.  However, my hemoglobin level is pretty low.   There is the possibility that I may need a blood transfusion if this does not improve.  I should get out of the hospital tomorrow, however.

We have appointments scheduled here for Monday, so we will not be returning to Big Spring until after those.  We will be discussing on that day any future options we might have, so please pray for God to give us wisdom and discernment about His will for us.

God has so blessed us with a great place to stay while we are here, with Helen's sister and brother-in-law. We have had so many people call and text us.  We have so many praying for us everywhere.  We have so many friends and family who support and encourage us.   God is so good to us.

I will try to update on a regular basis on this blog.  Please feel free to share this address or any comments at any time.  Thanks for all of your prayers, calls and support!