Just a brief note...

...to ask for your continued prayers for our family as Helen and I will be seeing Dr. Mita Monday morning. We feel this is a pivotal appointment as we discuss possible options. We don't have a clue whether we will be staying for several days or just overnight, so we are preparing for both. While we are not scared, we are somewhat nervous and apprehensive. We know many of you have been praying for us. Our friend Nancy told us that God has a plan, that Dr. Mita will also have a plan, and that we should pray them into agreement. That's what we want! God's plan is good and He is trustworthy!

Love and thanks...

The latest news...

It seemed a little odd this time going down on a Monday and going in on Tuesday. Because they were closed for the holiday, CTRC was busier than usual on Tuesday trying to catch up. My CT scans were scheduled for 8:50. We are glad when they are early like that. By about noon time, we were sitting and talking to Dr. Mita about the results. The largest of the tumors had grown a centimeter since my last scans eight weeks earlier, while the others were virtually unchanged. She was concerned about the largest one, because it is deep in the left lung and near the heart. She explained that if it continues to grow, it could cause some problems with the arteries leading into the heart.

She said that she would be conferring with colleagues about whether either radiation to shrink it or surgery to remove it would be a viable option. Either would normally be an option, but because of its proximity to the heart, she was not ready to commit to either as viable. She plans to have all the facts for us to discuss during our next appointment. I will stay on the LDE225 pills at least until then.

We continue to trust in the LORD. His good plan for us has not changed. He will work things out for our good and for His glory. We continue to covet your prayers for all of us as we face decisions in the coming days.

Love you all.

It's been way too long...

since I've posted...I would like to make excuses, like I've been crazy busy at work (I have), or I've been trying to get over being sick (true, too), but the truth is that I really just haven't felt motivated to write lately. Apologies to any of you who may have checked for an update...

There were some interesting developments the week after Christmas. I had no episodes of muscle cramps anywhere in my body for six days in a seven-day period. Since September I have had cramps virtually every day--some days pretty severe, some days relatively mild. So this was quite a welcome surprise. Even more surprising was that for three of those days I began to taste food. I didn't want to get too excited yet, but I wanted some steak! Quickly, before it went away! Helen heard my plea and granted my wish. It made me wonder if perhaps I had been given a placebo for two weeks, but we concluded it was more likely the result of either the Tamiflu I had taken for five days or the Augmentin I was on after that. Anyway, my sense of taste went away and the cramps came back, but less frequently. Since then, there have been a couple of days when I could kinda taste food. I'll take what I can get of that.

There really was very little to report about our last visit, day 15 of cycle 8. My blood work was pretty much the same as usual, mostly within desired ranges. However, my medical team was quite interested to hear about the cramps and taste developments. They deduced that it may have happened because one of the drugs might have interfered with the cancer drug, LDE225. Although it was all speculation at the time, it sure will give the doctors and drug company something to investigate. Anyway, before we got away, they gave me a prescription for a cheap drug that they hoped would help with the cramps. I think it may be helping some.

Our next appointment will be on Tuesday, not Monday, as CTRC will be operating with only a skeleton crew on MLK Day. We will be leaving on Monday, not Sunday, so we are looking forward to staying for worship. I will be having CT scans this time, so we ask for your continued prayers.

By the way, happy new year to all of you!

We love you all!