April 21, 2009

I just wanted to write a brief update to let everyone know that my mom and I returned home safely from my 27th chemotherapy treatment just a few minutes ago. The trip was fairly uneventful, other than my mom's windshield wiper coming off on her way to my house to pick me up Monday morning. We ended up running about an hour behind schedule while my dad came over to replace it, but we were sure there was a reason why God allowed the delay. We may never know how God's hand is working out our safety. It rained off and on along the way, but nothing like the rain that we got at home in Ohio. (Muddy dog feet again!!). Anyhow, we got to CTCA around 1:30 Central time and I went up to have my port accessed and labs drawn. We then went over for my nursing assessment, then I saw my doctor. I am feeling good with no pain or complaints, so I like to think I am a pretty easy patient. All of my blood work was good except for that stubborn CEA tumor marker. For those who check this site, I probably sound like a broken record, but I will say it again. CEA is a protein that is secreted by certain tumors into the bloodstream. When I first went out to CTCA in September of 2007, with the pain in my bones, this CEA level was only slightly elevated at a 4.4. Normal is between 0 and 3. By the time May of 2008 came around, this was at a 1. I am now up to a 98.1, which has been odd because of my lack of pain. (It was an 88 three weeks ago). I was scanned about 6 weeks ago, which showed only slightly new developments but overall stable and unchanged compared to my December scans. I am having no new pain (or old pain for that matter) and no other symptoms. However, just to be proactive, they have decided to scan me again May 18, which is a few weeks ahead of when I was originally scheduled to be rescanned in June. God seemed to prepare me for this ahead of time, and my trust is fully in Him. God knows the works He is doing in my life and the reasons for all of this. Please just be in prayer over the next 4 weeks for God's will. I know that He does not desire for me to be sick, but He may be allowing it for now in order to help me grow and also to help someone else. My spirits are high and I am not afraid.

Acts 2:25-26

25David said about him:
   " 'I saw the Lord always before me.
      Because he is at my right hand,
      I will not be shaken.
 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
      my body also will live in hope,

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