Hey, where have I been? (Not blogging but I am now) Just heard from Dan - his platelets are up over 100 but his WBC's are low and so no chemo today. He is doing fine though and we are grateful for that! No more kidney stones issues as everything has passed without difficulty. I am going to LA soon to celebrate his 21st birthday and my mom's 80 something birthday. It will be a fun weekend and we are even throwing in Matt's 18th birthday which occurred last Sunday. Yikes, I was informed I no longer had any "children". They are all "adults". (But they will always be my children in my heart- don't tell them I said that) Dan and Ashley and I will be driving up next Wednesday and we (along with Bob) will be meeting with the interventional radiologist at Stanford to discuss the upcoming treatment of the SIRSphere. So that is all the news on that side of things.
Spring is springing and the promise of new life is all around us. I am so thankful for God's promise of eternal life in His Word which is the truth. May we all have ears to hear Him and an open heart to receive life eternal through Messiah Jesus.
John 3:14-18
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
“that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
feb 19
Thanks for all your prayers. God has been my help these past 2 days as I survived my re-entry into the hospital scene. I am even going back next week! The first day was difficult emotionally, but it was good to see my buddies and update them on Dan. Many of them had been with us during our summer excursions to the local hospital and giving them all the good news of Dan's health and upcoming wedding:) encouraged us all. To top it off, I think the events of this past year have made me a more empathetic nurse towards my patients and their families as I remember being in their shoes.
Just spoke with Dan and he is doing well. No news there.
But I do have a very special request for all my prayer buddies: a medical doctor friend of ours, Yang, from many years ago recently emailed me that he has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. He is about my age, married with 3 kids, 5-16 years old. His cancer is going to be treated with radiation, chemotherapy and PRAYER! Apart from God's intervention, his prognosis is not great. His comments in the midst of their trial so speak of God's grace:
In this journey Alice and I are experiencing God's peace which surpasses all comprehension (Phil 4:7). This is not something that can be explained; it can only be experienced as we walk with Him through the dark valleys. From the moment I got the call that the chest x-ray was highly suspicious for metastatic cancer to this juncture in our journey, Alice and I have not experienced a moment of panic, fear, or abandonment. We rejoice in this reality not because we are spiritual giants, but because we know God loves us and He is trustworthy.
May the Lord have great grace and mercy upon His child Yang.
Just spoke with Dan and he is doing well. No news there.
But I do have a very special request for all my prayer buddies: a medical doctor friend of ours, Yang, from many years ago recently emailed me that he has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. He is about my age, married with 3 kids, 5-16 years old. His cancer is going to be treated with radiation, chemotherapy and PRAYER! Apart from God's intervention, his prognosis is not great. His comments in the midst of their trial so speak of God's grace:
In this journey Alice and I are experiencing God's peace which surpasses all comprehension (Phil 4:7). This is not something that can be explained; it can only be experienced as we walk with Him through the dark valleys. From the moment I got the call that the chest x-ray was highly suspicious for metastatic cancer to this juncture in our journey, Alice and I have not experienced a moment of panic, fear, or abandonment. We rejoice in this reality not because we are spiritual giants, but because we know God loves us and He is trustworthy.
May the Lord have great grace and mercy upon His child Yang.
Monday, February 18, 2008
quick note
5:52 am and I am getting ready for my first day back at the hospital in over a year. I would appreciate your prayers on my behalf especially since I woke up with a headache (I don't usually get headaches) after not sleeping very well last night. I spoke with Dan last night and he is doing well. Little pieces of the kidney stone are making their exit. We are grateful for that! Much more to say and no time. I leave you with a few verses:
John 20:24-31
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:24-31
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ashley's upbeat update
Dan actually didn't end up needing any pain meds through IV yesterday. He walked into the ER with 9 pain and amazingly, the pain diminished to just 2 without any treatment whatsoever. We just waited in the ER for a long time, since the hospital was so full. For a time, we argued to go back home(biola) since Dan wasn't in any pain, but the urologist had already planned on stopping by first thing in the morning. He did come by with Dr. Tisman, we set up an appointment for an outpatient procedure and Dan was discharged. Extraordinarily smooth process, though it took a good deal of time.
Dan and I are going to classes today and tomorrow, until he has the procedure in the afternoon.
To be a bit encouraging about the SIRspheres, the radiologist is very enthusiastic about Dan's treatment and reaction. He hopes to schedule a consult in the next month or so when Dan and I have a break. Then, he wants to proceed with the procedure in early summer. The radiologist feels that a sense of urgency is unneeded as of yet, and hopes to have Dan back in great strength for the wedding. (The wedding date has been moved to August 2008!) He also wants Dan to be able to focus on school this semester, which is a nice reminder that we are living a fairly normal life.
Please be encouraged. God is doing great things in Dan. Rather than just praying to God, we must remember to praise God for all He is doing.
Dan and I are going to classes today and tomorrow, until he has the procedure in the afternoon.
To be a bit encouraging about the SIRspheres, the radiologist is very enthusiastic about Dan's treatment and reaction. He hopes to schedule a consult in the next month or so when Dan and I have a break. Then, he wants to proceed with the procedure in early summer. The radiologist feels that a sense of urgency is unneeded as of yet, and hopes to have Dan back in great strength for the wedding. (The wedding date has been moved to August 2008!) He also wants Dan to be able to focus on school this semester, which is a nice reminder that we are living a fairly normal life.
Please be encouraged. God is doing great things in Dan. Rather than just praying to God, we must remember to praise God for all He is doing.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
In the hospital again
Hello dear friends and family, Dan just called me and let me know that he is spending a couple of days in the hospital in Whittier. His kidney stone in fact is still inside his body and causing pain. He has needed some IV pain medication and will undergo lithotripsy, a process by which the stone is broken up with sound waves. Apparently this can't be done until Tuesday and so he will stay until he can receive that treatment. Also the Stanford radiologist called Dan least week and will schedule a consultation before he will undergo the radioactive bead treatment on his liver tumors. We are still awaiting to hear exactly when that will be, but hopefully it will be soon.
I was encouraged by a friend last week to ask all you dear prayer warriors to not only pray for Dan, but as you are led to, to fast for Dan. That fast may be only a meal, or a fast from solid food or however the Lord leads you to fast.
That suggestion seems to be even more important at this present time.
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
I was encouraged by a friend last week to ask all you dear prayer warriors to not only pray for Dan, but as you are led to, to fast for Dan. That fast may be only a meal, or a fast from solid food or however the Lord leads you to fast.
That suggestion seems to be even more important at this present time.
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tumor Board Report
Dan's case was presented yesterday and teh board is looking into the feasibility of using SIRSpheres to attack the liver tumors. Those are radioactive "beads" that are injected into the liver artery. So the interventional radiologists are taking a look at whether that would be a good treatment for Dan. The board was very impressed with his progress on chemo. So we wait a bit more. There was also mention of a possible transplant, but I am thinking that is not the first line of treatment to consider. Thank you for you prayers for yesterday. We will keep on doing what we can, praying and thanking God that He ultimately is in control. we rest in His loving hands.
Blessings to you all
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…
Psalm 23:6
Blessings to you all
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…
Psalm 23:6
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