Medical Update

December 10, 2010

Medical Update

It has been an interesting week on the medical front, with a mix of great news and not so great news.

First the Great News
As a follow-up to my brain surgery we had a brain MRI earlier this week to see if there are any more tumors forming in the brain. I meet with my neurologist today to learn that the scan showed “all clear” with no evidence of further tumor growth. This is really, really good news. I was prepared to learn that another was forming so this was a welcome outcome. (I really do not want to go through another brain surgery.) The area of the brain where the original tumor was is still “void” of brain matter but is filling in nicely. God is great. God is good.

The Not So Great News
I went to the oncologist this past Wednesday for blood tests and hopefully chemo treatment if the blood work came back okay. The blood work came back looking good (finally) so I was able to take the treatment I have been waiting for. Back into the fight! The kicker is, as I had feared for a few weeks now, that my oncologist is recommending that I stop chemo all together. He is concerned that I have taken all the chemo over the years that my body can tolerate and that more would do more harm than good, particularly with respect to “quality of life”. He wanted to not give me treatment this week, feeling that stopping now would be best for me. We talked about it a bit and I told him that we had committed ourselves to fighting this beast as long as we could and as long as there was some hope of extending my life. He indicated that he was not sure that more chemo would help. We reached a compromise. I took the chemo this week. We’ll do a scan in a couple of weeks to see if the tumors have continued to progress. I they have, implying that the treatments are not helping; we’ll stop the treatments. If the tumors have not progressed we’ll reevaluate and make a decision as to what to do next, if anything.

Matthew 9:20-22 -- ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’...Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’

Right now I am feeling pretty lousy after the treatment a couple of days ago. I am very tired and have no strength. I am pretty much in a chemo-induced stupor. The oncologist may be right. Do I want to spend the rest of my life feeling like this?

Dear Lord. We have faithfully followed You throughout this journey and will continue to do so. We ask that You continue to lead us down the path that will best benefit Your kingdom.

.

3 comments:

AnonymousDecember 10, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Paul,
We are thrilled about the "great news". We had feared that the loss of focus in your left eye was an indication of another brain tumor. So your brain surgery was worth it!
As for the "not so great news", your compromise sounds reasonable and your prayer says it all.
We hope you feel better soon.
Love,
Ann and Clyde
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AnonymousDecember 13, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Thinking of you...God Bless Jack n Pat :)
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NatallieDecember 15, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Paul,

The courage of the woman who was bold enough to touch Jesus' cloak has always inspired me. It's a fitting scripture - your determination and faith in the face of the "not so great news" is inspirational.

Natallie
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Endure and Let Your Light Shine

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:36 -- For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Proverbs 13:9 -- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Matthew 5:14-16 -- let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 -- ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Great Commission

After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection He returned in the flesh one last time to His apostles and instructed them in the Great Commission. These are Christ’s last words of instruction to us, as recorded by Matthew, before his final ascension to the spirit world.

Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’*

Padre Pio

The Way to Heaven
What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other? Put away any excessive worrying which results from the trials by which the good God has desired to test you; and if this is not possible, resign yourself to the Divine will.

Make Yourself at Home
It is just as well to make yourself at home with the sufferings that Jesus is pleased to send you as you must always live with them. In this way, when you are least expecting to be liberated from them, Jesus, who cannot bear to keep you long in affliction, will come and relieve you and comfort you, giving you new courage.