Another Sunday

Good Day Everyone,

Although I have talked with a number of you over the past few weeks, I have not sent out an email update, nor have a made a post to the blog site in quite some time. The primary reason is that we did not have much news to tell.

As most of you know Cindy had two spinal surgeries this summer to debulk/remove tumor, which resulted in a lengthy recovery period during which she has had to regain her ability to walk, and is still taking significant steps to balance elimination function. She had scans in September, 2008 to establish a new baseline, and since then has undergone two four-week courses of oral chemotherapy. This past week she had a CT scan and an MRI. Unfortunately, the news is not what we have been hoping and praying for. Instead of stable or regressive disease, it appears that things are continuing to progress/evolve. The pelvic mass in her left pelvic sidewall remains relatively unchanged, however an intramuscular mass in the right front pelvic wall has grown. The tumor in her left breast has doubled in size, and the most prominent mass in her right upper lung lobe has also grown. She has some other smaller pulmonary nodules that we have known about for some time, but apparently no new ones. She also has some fluid in her lungs. One of the most serious new findings include a blood clot or combination blood clot/tumor within a vein (the azygos), which extends into the superior vena cava and right atrium of the heart. And there are numerous tumor areas within her right back musculature and subcutaneous metastatic lesions in the posterior right flank muscles. These areas in the right side of her back are currently causing the most symptoms, and she has nearly constant pain in this area. We are currently pursuing a palliative radiation treatment that will hopefully reduce the size of these tumors, and provide pain relief. We had an appointment with a local radiation oncologist this past Friday, and Cindy will be scanned and fitted this coming week for approximately 3 weeks of radiation therapy which will begin week after next here in Clinton. Cindy's bone marrow has proven particularly susceptible to some of the available chemos (the white blood cells & red blood cells become low & do not "bounce back" as needed for more chemo to be given), and her oncologist is of the opinion that most of those chemos would likely do more harm than good. So, currently it appears that we have exhausted the tools in his arsenal. We remain on the lookout for promising clinical trials, and research development.

The prayers, thoughts, well wishes, and kindnesses shown to us by many in our community including family, friends, fellow believers, co-workers, acquaintances, and in some cases friends of friends or even strangers have served to keep our spirits buoyed during a difficult time. We continue to solicit your prayers. We know that we serve a mighty God, and that while we do not understand most times when trials and tribulations intrude into our lives, Jesus himself told us that would happen: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. In our human shortsightedness we sometimes lose sight of the "peace" He provides, but we never want to lose sight of the fact that He has "overcome the world". Therefore, I ask that you continue to lift Cindy up in prayer, and if you feel inclined to share this email with others, feel free to do do. While we can be confident of Christ's victory over sin and death, and that through Him that victory extends to all believers, we do not know what short-term victories might be available to those who call upon His name. "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God: all things are possible with God.' " Mark 10:27.

Dan