Renewed call to prayer

We got back from the doctor yesterday and as the previous blog stated, Mike now has MDS – Myelodysplastic Syndrome. There are many levels to it and we are still waiting on the Genetic report. If you google it, some call this “pre-leukemia”. We got “this normally happens in much older patients” speech. Mike and I laughed. That is our road with cancer. We don't fit the mold. But I will tell you this..I don't believe that any two cancer cases are the same. I don't think you can treat any two cases with a cookie cutter approach. An individuals body is uniquely created (yes..By GOD!) and to me that means you have to look at the whole individual. Study them. Then treat.

Back to the MDS, they have to treat the issue in Mike's marrow first because if we continued on the Cisplatin/Campostar road we will annihilate his marrow and thus his ability to make platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells.

So our treatment will begin next Monday and we will be doing 7 days of Vidaza. We are not sure if we will do 7 in a row or flow into the next week. Vidaza is an epigenomic drug which works at the source of the genes. There are protein genes at the genetic level that tell cells how to divide, etc and cancer is thought to start with those fundamental switches. Anyway, this drug works at stopping that switch and also reversing some switches. A couple of the side effects will include low blood counts and possible transfusions. Things may die off first before new healthy marrow grows. So we could be in for some hospitals stays in the near future. As in the past, keeping Mike healthy is important and not exposing him to colds, allergies, flus etc. They have seen some positive effects with this drug and lymphoma’s but there has been no testing as it relates to liver and esophageal cancer. Mike is hopeful and a little excited to see what it does to his main cancers. Mike said it could be just what God needs to defeat the entire bunch. We both really believe that the future of cancer needs to be in the genomic area.

At our visit, Dr. Khan felt Mike’s liver and it is still soft and not enlarged as it was last winter. Mike is not in pain. Our biggest struggle right now is calories. He has lost more weight. The nurses say they have gotten really good results with the Vidaza and Dr Khan said we are in new territory as far as managing the first cancers and this MDS. We might have to switch back in forth. There is no real protocol out there for it. The one thing I will say, it that Dr. Khan is a fighter in his own cerebral way. I really expected another “death sentence” lecture like we got when we were first diagnosed. He just sees another hurdle to overcome. I feel like he is really pulling for us and I am completely confident and at peace in our road here after our visit. I had it in the back of my mind to maybe go looking international depending on the outcome of the visit. I will fight for Mike!

To end this, I am asking for a renewed and continued prayer from everyone. We are about to walk into uncharted territory and Satan has upped the challenge so to speak. He did a pretty good job too. I was an emotional wreck on Tuesday. Are we missing something? Am I not doing enough to heal Mike? But God placed a scripture on my heart:
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy ~ John 10:10
You read that scripture and you think very catastrophic - death, destruction, loss of money or house - which are all true. But Satan is smarter than that. He can steal your joy, your thoughts, and thus great times with family and friends. He can kill your mood, your hope, and thus sucking life right from you. He can destroy your conversations, your thoughts surrounding the future and thus losing precious moments right now. He can steal, kill and destroy just your day robbing you of the life that God had for you. As the bible says and we say every morning:
This is the day the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it ~ Psalms 118:24

With that, I have to take a moment to reflect on 9/11. What a day that was.. in bigger spiritual terms Satan gave us an unbelievable moment. He pulled out all the stops that day and we lost so many valuable, beloved friends and family. It wasn't fair and it changed the world we live in. But there are so many incredible praises that happened - hero's were born, this country got on their knees and prayed, serving this country became honored, and even a world was united for a short time. There is no way to put 9/11 in a few short sentences. My prayers are with everyone today.

In His hand and holding on tightly….STILL

Prayer needs:

I am asking that everyone put us back on prayer lists with Church's, groups, bible studies, etc

Mike to gain weight, to tolerate this new chemotherapy, and that the new drug will not only cure Mike's marrow, but that it will do miraculous things with his other cancer areas

Emotional healing, medical wisdom, and financial smarts for myself and that I can manage everything now that our life seems pointed towards more doctors appointments

A place that God wants us to call home

Praise:

Friends, family, support, girls laughing, lunch with Elizabeth at school.