Happy Father’s Day! It is great to have our children and my dad and mom here on this special day. Jonathan and my dad are wonderful examples of Godly men, and I’m blessed to have them on this journey.
It has been a wonderful and busy week doing fun activities, and it has also been physically and emotionally taxing in regards to my treatment.
We are making the most of our time with our family being reunited. This week we’ve been to the aquarium, the Space Center, the fine arts museum (including a round-trip ride on the Metro Rail), the apartment swimming pool, individual and group visits to the hospital and family worship at church.
Jonathan and I also threw in a quick trip to Austin to attend a taping of Austin City Limits. Jonathan and I entered a drawing for tickets a week ago, and I received an email saying out of 7,000 entries, my name had been drawn. (If you need help with low odds, I’m your girl). We had a nice escape to see Ed Sheeran.
I’ve had radiation every day. I’m responding very well to it, but my skin is suffering. I’m very red, I’ve lost eyelashes on one eye and most of both eyebrows, I’m also treating broken skin and a mild infection around my eye. (I go everywhere with sunglasses and a head covering now – indoors and outdoors.)
My dad, Jonathan and I had a sobering doctor’s appointment with my stem cell doctor. He was much less encouraging this visit. He said that 50 medical personnel discussed my case for 30 minutes, and there continues to be a debate on the best type of stem cell transplant. The argument continues to be around the super-aggressive nature of my lymphoma, the resistance to chemotherapy and the effectiveness of the two types of stem cell transplants (weighing risks and benefits). We may have the decision decided for us based on MD Anderson’s discovery that a search for my stem cell match wasn’t initiated for me back home. They are now urgently moving on the process. Anyway, it is all overwhelming and I need your prayers on this.
Jonathan and I spent an hour with my radiation oncologist and her resident physician on Friday. She helped us filter some of the information from the stem cell appointment, encouraged us with the progress we have made using radiation, and ultimately she and her colleague have decided to take my treatment to the maximum dose (at the expense of my skin). This will be in effect for 6 more treatments. Since radiation is the definitive treatment, it is imperative that no microscopic, undetectable disease is left.
It has been a wonderful and exhausting week. We thank God for our family and my physicians, and pray for healing with our Heavenly Father receiving the glory.
Please pray for: our family time, my physicians’ discernment and wisdom, physical healing and emotional stamina.
Just thinking of you today and checking to see if there is any update – I SO hope you’ve gotten a final decision on the next step. Let us know if there is anything at all we can do to help!
Hi April and family, I’m so glad that everyone was reunited recently. I continue to pray for your complete healing. Thank you for sharing your story. You are inspiring me with your faith and love.
Just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to write and share with us. I appreciate being able to know what your prayer needs are and I can’t tell you how much your strength has encouraged me. Sending you love and prayers!
Praying- and believing!
June
CWJC – Crossville
Glad you’re not letting anything get in the way of making lasting family memories together! May God continue to bless this journey for you all as the Dr.’s determine your best path.
Hey Hey!!!! I am so sorry I have not commented in a few but I am back 🙂 God is so Faithful and he is shining through you so bright right now. Your journey is touching hearts everywhere for His Glory. I know you are mourning the hair loss and I think you are 100% entitled to that. I think you are absolutely beautiful and there is so many things you can do later if you wanted to. The most important is we pray for the doctors wisdom and decision s to come from HIM! They don’t know that they really don’t get the choice HE does ! I am praying for next update to be The Good, The Better and The BEST! Love you!!!
Sending our prayers always, and I’m glad you have had some family time this past week! Love the pics of the kids’ art 🙂
The artworks from your Children are beautiful and so are all of you.
Many prayers from us are coming your way,
Sam and Liz in Mississippi
Love the messages from your girls! So sweet! Praying about the stem cell decision.
So glad that you were able to spend time with your family this week. So thankful that your have such amazing support. We pray for you every day! Take care. Praying always.
So good to read an update. Happy Father’s Day to Johnny, one of the best. Sending you all love. We love you and never stop praying. ~Jen and dam
Oops. I mean FAM, not dam. Sorry about that. Hopefully Jonathan won’t block me from the site.