So here is where we are and what occurred and where we are headed that we know of right now.
Yesterday morning, May 23rd, we went in before bright and early to get blood work. Thankful for Claudia, who lives around the corner, who came to see the girls off to school for us. We parked in Mays Building's parking lot since we were suppose to be ending the day there. As we walked across the Skybridge to get to Main, we can a gorgeous banner of our friend Shannon from our B/CS days. I love this woman's heart for the Lord. She has such a vibrant and encouraging personality that it is truly contagious... Even through her banner!
Banners are typically for survivors or survivors' caregivers to put a quote about their experience or encouraging remark. Hopefully, Mr. Positive will have a banner someday.
Anyway, the doctor's appointment seemed typical at first until the PA mentioned that Dr. Tsimberidou (pronounced ZIM-ber-DO) would discuss the issue on the CT. As she left the room, we both stared at each other with that look of "great, what now?" We discussed if they had found another spot, if it had grown. For some reason we knew it wasn't that the cancer was gone. Oh that it would be!
Quickly upon Dr. T and Hayley coming into the room, she told us that there was a 1.8 cm collection of liquid with air on top of it that was a contained perforation or abscess of some kind in his bowel. Shockingly (said tongue in cheek), right by where the tumor they attempted to biopsy 2 weeks ago is. At which point the conservation was focused pretty much solely on what we need to do to resolve this, as treatment cannot begin until this "Headwind" is resolved. After her running traps on a few things, we were clear that he was going to be admitted in some way yesterday. Then we went on to discuss our questions.
The Good News!
Marvin (the tumor by his left kidney) has grown some, but not too much. K. (the blip in his lung that they were watching) has remained a blip and nothing of concern. And Mooney (the tumor between his rectum and spine) has remained UNCHANGED. Over 7 weeks! This little growth is AMAZING. Thank you to our incredible prayer warriors. God is at work here.
Additionally, MDA now has his original sample from last year's original cancer! So Dr. T ordered a COMPLETE workup on it. This will tell us all the potential mutations, markers and anything we need to know about his cancer. They will use this information to look forward and hopefully find other treatment options. So basically, they are going to fully investigate his UNICORN-ness!
Okay, so back to the "Headwind." After much consultation with surgical oncological and interventional radiology, the plan was to admit him to MD Anderson for 3-4 days of IV Antibiotics and a needle aspiration of the "abscess/perforation." They need to figure out what is in there, how to treat it or if they need to resect it. The results of the aspiration will take 24 hours. They took him back at 2:30 today for the procedure. I am sure he is out and all is fine. I haven't heard from him yet. So we won't have the results until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. Praying they have a clear plan at that point.
Last night he made me go home and made me promise to maintain my commitments today. Thankfully, my mother came in to help with the girls, and his mother is helping with Alan at MDA. So today, I saw the girls off to school, did some work here at the house and then went to my two speaking engagement commitments. Now I am about to go to the Pavilion for Conroe's graduation, our 1st of 6 graduations between now and Wednesday night.
Tomorrow is Audrey's 10th birthday! How can we have a 10 year old! In the morning, I will work her and my last field day at Bush. After that I am taking both girls out of school early. We will head down to MDA to celebrate her birthday with Alan and both our mothers with a little cake for those that can have it. Then we will come back in time for me to make it to College Park's graduation.
Prayer Needs:
- For the aspiration to yield conclusive results with a clear plan from the doctors.
- For Alan to continue to feel as well as he does and to be able to continue serving others while there. (He is writing a will for our PCA from yesterday afternoon.)
- For Audrey to have a great birthday despite this.
- For Rebekah to not internalize her emotions. I think she is processing fine, but this is a constant prayer.
- For Alan to be able to still start his treatment within the next 1-2 weeks.
- For Alan to be able to get rest.
- For my mom and girls to have fun and be okay while we are dealing with everything.
Thank you all!
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