We arrived back home...

...at about sundown this evening after a long but not too difficult day at CTRC. Although there were no scans or major procedures planned for the day, we spent four and a half hours there, mainly because the lab at the clinic was down. All the lab work and blood work had to be done at another lab across the street, so there were delays caused by that. Overall, it was a mostly uneventful and painless visit. I have gained another two pounds since last time. That's six pounds in four weeks. I am enjoying food again, maybe a little too much, and it sure is nice.

Our discussion today included what might happen following our next visit, when CT scans are to be done. I found out that I am a little weird (Oh, wait...I already knew that), or at least my situation in this clinical trial is a little outside of the norm. Because I have already been off of the drug for two brief breaks but have been allowed to go back on it, my status is different and decisions about my protocol are the subject of frequent discussions among the "tumor board." We have kind of figured that if there are no "measurable tumors" that are revealed by this next scan, I would probably be "off study," perhaps not even taking any cancer drug. That may not actually be the case, however, as it is possible the sponsors (drug company) may want me to stay on it just to see what happens. Who knows? (The answer is: God!)

Anyway, my point is, we do not really know what is ahead, whether or not the scans show masses. We continue to trust God and His good plan and ask for your continued prayers.

We love you and are so thankful for all of the support and love we feel.

Kenny and Helen

Please pray for Mom as well....

Legacy

It’s impossible for me to capture the essence of a life in mere words on a page. There is no way to do justice to the legacy of a great person in a few brief statements. It would take volumes to begin to touch the simplicities and the complexities of the man I called “Dad.”

Many of you already know that my Dad, Billy Scott, went on to be with the Lord a few days ago. Our family has witnessed such an outpouring of love and support in the past week. We have been blessed by so many who knew Dad and who felt compelled to share special memories with us. We have been comforted by so many such stories.

Even though losing Dad was something we never wanted to happen, God’s timing for this life-changing event was perfect. Seven weeks ago, we all had reached the point at which we were certain that Dad would never be able to go home again, that he only had a few days if not moments left on this earth. God in His infinite wisdom knew that we needed a little bit longer with him, so He miraculously gave him a few more weeks. Dad died peacefully in his sleep in his bed and in his home just like he wanted. Isn’t that the way we all want to go? What a blessing!

No one was ever any more ready to go than Dad. He really couldn’t wait to get there, and I can imagine that there was a “great cloud of witnesses” (as described in Hebrews 12:1) that stood just inside heaven’s gate to greet him, including many who were there because he led them to salvation. I am sure that when he caught his first glimpse of heaven, he was speechless, probably for the first time ever.

If there’s one thing I know about Dad, it is that he was a soul winner. There have been only a handful of people I have ever known in my life who were able to so freely talk to anyone and everyone about their relationship with Jesus like Dad. We joked that when he made it to heaven, he was going to be disappointed to find that there were no lost people there to witness to. In recent months, he had expressed the feeling that his time here on earth was short, since he was not able to win souls like he had always done. He really had the gift of soul winning and the compassion for others that must accompany it.

My life will never be the same without my Dad here. And although there will be many sad times in the coming days, and I will miss him terribly, I do not grieve as others who have no hope. The promise of eternal life shared not only with God, but also with those we love who have gone before us, is for all who will receive it through faith in the One who died so that we might live, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Our Cycle 16 Day 1 appointment...

...went without a hitch. Labs were pretty decent; even my magnesium was up a little. "Day 1's" of even numbered cycles are generally easy, not quite as easy as "Day 15's", but if nothing unusual is going on, pretty easy. It's the "Day 1's" of the odd numbered cycles when I usually have CT or PET scans scheduled that are normally the longest and hardest days. We make a point to have my port-a-cath flushed every four weeks, so that is done on the first day of each cycle. Anyway, we are thankful that everything went smoothly this visit.

I've been back on my cancer drug for four weeks now. When I first started it up again, I sensed that my terrible taste problem was coming back. However, it was hopefully a false alarm. I am enjoying eating more than I have in months; so much that I am no longer losing weight, but gaining. Excuse me for yelling, but I GAINED FOUR POUNDS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS SINCE MY LAST VISIT!!!!! Many of you have petitioned God on my behalf in that area, so thank you! Now, I need to start doing enough physical stuff to burn off those excess calories I'm taking in. PRAISE THE LORD!

Back to work this past week...it wasn't too hard after the first day. I had hoped to stay for five or six hours and then maybe go home and take a nap, but we had a huge leak at the plant, so it turned out to be a twelve-hour day. I am just thankful I am again able to go back to work.

God is good...

Stef is recovering...

...at our house following yesterday's procedure in Midland. Everything went good; she just needs to try to control the pain and swelling in the next few days. She looks kinda like a cute chipmunk. It was her first time to ever be put under anesthesia. She was hilarious when she was coming out from under it. Seriously, we are thankful that everything went so good.

Helen and I both start back to work next week -- me on Monday and Helen on Wednesday. It has been quite a busy summer for us; we spent a good portion of it in San Antonio. We are glad that the timing of everything allowed us to plan my most recent surgery during the summer when Helen didn't have to worry with taking off. God really blessed us with the schedule. Our next appointment is scheduled for the 16th.

Switching gears...and on a sad note...

We were sad to learn this week of the deaths of two more of our friends from CTRC. One of the hardest things to deal with in the realm of cancer clinical trials is the realization that so few patients will benefit enough to beat the dreaded disease. A cancer patient who chooses to go this route has already been told that conventional treatment will not work. A clinical trial is most of the time considered to be a last-ditch effort. Meeting other survivors and developing friendships with some of them is one of the more rewarding experiences of the journey. Losing them is one of the toughest things. Please pray for the families and loved ones of Liz and Randy in their losses.

Our hope rests in the Lord. "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (I Cor. 15:19-20) "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word." (Ps. 119:114) "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." (Rom. 5:5)

Love,

Kenny

Brief post, more later...

I wanted to let everyone know that our appointment yesterday went good...another uneventful mid-cycle one with not much to report. I have been back on the drug for two weeks, and already some of the side effects seem to be coming back. However, I am doing well.

We are preparing for Stef's surgery tomorrow--she is having four wisdom teeth plus another one cut out, so we are going to Midland to have that done. Please pray for her.

Don't have much time right now, so I will write more later...

Kenny