"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."Psalms 31:24 NIV
When we have faith in the Lord, we always have hope. Because our God doesn't need even 2% odds to make something happen. He's God! So grateful we are His and He is ours!
The scan results weren't what we wanted. At all. Does that mean God didn't hear our prayers or your prayers on our behalf? NO! He heard. And He answered. He showed us a brand spanking new potential path. He was faithful even when we don't like the answer.
So to the technical stuff so many of you have asked. Sorry I ignored you. We needed to speak with our girls first.
The two tumors are still growing at the same rate they have been since we found them in February. His scan on 2/15 and his scan on 9/15 both showed between 1-2 mm of growth per month! So while both nivolumab alone and nivo with ipilimumab have utterly FLUNKED, the blessing is that the tumors are still steady growth! They aren't speeding up. Praise!
Next steps: Dr. Dude (Morris) will discuss Alan's case with the tumor board or Brain Trust as Alan calls it. He will call us the next day to discuss their thoughts on our tentative plan - surgery to remove the damn things.
And then post surgery, there's a super-scientific, nerdy, brand spanking new option that wasn't even an option a month ago. A phase 1 clinical trial for a personalized therapeutic vaccine that is given in combination with immunotherapy to treat the remaining cancer cells. MDA is the only place with this trial! They would take his tumor from the surgery and use it to tailor make a vaccine for him. This isn't like a flu vaccine that is "designed to help you avoid getting the flu," so it doesn't keep you from getting cancer but targets to kill the cancer in your body. Now, that's some cool science stuff right there!
So prayer needs:
- The Brain Trust and appropriate surgeons approve him for surgery.
- The tumors stay slow growing while we wait on surgery and treatment.
- Surgery scheduling is perfectly anointed in timing, as we head into Band-tober for the girls!
- Recovery from this surgery is suppose to be difficult. For an easier than anticipated recovery.
- Acceptance into the trial.
- Positive outlooks for us all.
- Audrey's heart is really hurting, but she has some big walls up. Pray for them to come tumbling down.
- Rebekah's heart is really hurting as she processes all of this in light of her senior year.
- Alan - complete healing, for his fear, and for his desire to protect us.
- Melanie - peace
Ever since Boston Legal was our show, we have joked that Alan is "Buzz," like Alan and Denny called Brad on the show. Well at MDA, Alan is the second person with his circumstances. The first had surgery a couple of months ago! So he kinda feels like Buzz Aldrin!
Literally no data could predict side effects or effectiveness. Back to the complete unknown.
Yesterday was a horrible day. We are all scared - like down to the bone - scared. Because even though OUR HOPE is built on Christ, the Solid Rock, this isn't good or trending the way we want it. Surgery was laid out in July as an option to "buy time" until another potential treatment came along. Well, Great news! God was ahead of the curve ball and already provided another potential treatment.
You see God is always good, even when the situation isn't. His will is perfect even when I don't understand it or HECK, even like it. I want His will to match mine. But I'm not God! I trust in Him always. I've walked without Him and that's when I screw up.
So for now, we pray and wait... one of which I am really bad at! The first one makes me better at the latter.
Lord, God, heal my husband through the new plan and treatment you have given us. And let us draw nearer to you so we love the way you want us to love these next few months.
-Melanie
Here is a song I haven't been able to sing in a while, but my worship pastor keeps using in service. Blake knows that despite the pain of the words, they still wash over me and I agree with them, just waiting. He is always faithful and we will lean deeper into Him when we don't understand things.
Firm Foundation
Christ is my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't
No, He won't, no, He won't
No, He won't
He won't, He won't, He won't, He won't
I've still got joy in chaos
I've got peace that makes no sense
I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I've built my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful through every season
So why would He fail now? (Shout it out)
He won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
He won't
He won't (no, no, no, no, He won't fail)
He won't fail
He won't fail
Christ is my firm foundation (let's go) (testify)
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken (I've never been more)
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus (yeah)
'Cause He's never let me down (He's faithful)
He's faithful through generations (so why)
So why would He fail now? (I need you to shout it out) (come on)
He won't
Sing it out, sing
He won't
No, He won't, no, He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail (He won't)
He won't (yeah)
He won't (I've never seen Him fail, no)
He won't fail
He won't fail
I have a testimony
I have a story to sing
This is my story, this is my song
I have a testimony
Can I sing my testimony?
Rain came, wind blew
But my house was built on You
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through (I feel somebody's faith rising)
Rain came, wind blew
But my house was built on You (this is the reason you made it, 'cause)
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through (one more time, oh, rain came)
Rain came, wind blew
My house was built on You (this is the reason I'm standing)
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through (I'm gonna make it)
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through ('cause I'm standing)
'Cause I'm standing strong on You (I'm gonna make it)
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through (my house is built on)
'Cause my house is built on You (one more time, y'all, sing)
Christ is my firm foundation (yeah)
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken (oh)
I've never been more glad (sing it out)
That I put my faith in Jesus (He's never let me down)
'Cause He's never let me down (He's faithful)
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
He won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
Never seen the righteous forsaken
And He won't start now
Never seen the righteous forsaken
And He won't start now
Rain came, wind blew
My house was built on You (this is how I made it)
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through (I'll make it)
Rain came, wind blew (they tried to knock me out, they tried to shake me up)
My house was built on You (but my house was built on You)
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through (I'm gonna make it)
I'm gonna make it through (I'm standing strong on you)
'Cause I'm standing strong on you (I'm gonna make it through)
I'm gonna make it through ('Cause my house is built on You)
'Cause my house is built on You (yes, you're gonna make it)
I'm gonna make it through ('cause I'm standing strong)
'Cause I'm standing strong on You (I'm gonna make it)
I'm gonna make it through
'Cause my house is built on You
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