Bump In The Road Update #4

The moon rises in Peru's coastal desert region. The town we visit is about
5000 feet above sea level. 

Yesterday I had the MRI as a follow up to my PET scan. The report is good. Nothing shows except what goes along with being sixty-five.

There is that troublesome little light chain number from my blood tests that my doctors will continue to watch, along with a few other numbers. At this point we think what that means is a few more vials drawn occasionally at my monthly blood tests.

Overall, GOOD NEWS!
Thanks for your prayers. Keep them going.

Bump In The Road Update #3

Levi Smiles

Waiting is difficult for most of us, but especially those who live in Western culture. We want answers and want them now.

As you can see by the picture at right, Levi is smiling. The report from the PET scan is that nothing shows up in the bones, which is what they were looking for, so, as I asked you to pray for no surprises, that is prayer answered. Good news.

However,  there was something that showed up that they want a better look at. Don't really think it is cancer activity, but the only way to be sure what it is, is, you guessed it, another photo session of my internal parts, this time with an MRI machine. Next Wednesday, 12:30 PM. Tests beget tests.

Do I have peace. Yes. Number 1, God is in charge. Number 2, fretting, worrying, and stressing will not change anything. So continue in prayer with us. Prayer is the most important part of my treatment.

Pet Scan Complete

Okay. I know. This has nothing to do with our pet wonder dog, "Levi," but hey, for thirteen he looks pretty good.I am also told that post with pictures get noticed more. He is a good dog—half Boxer and half we have no idea.

PET scan is done. No big deal.
No report for a few days.
I appreciate your continued prayers.
Hopefully the next pic will be of Levi smiling.

Bump In The Road Update 3 - PET Scan Scheduled

"Levi" says his scan is clear. As long as I bring him food, I must be okay.

Several have asked so here is the news as we know it...

Emory reports that my numbers for the one blood test continue to climb. Some have asked what is being measured, and it is my Lambda Light chain number. Okay, now you know about as much as I know about it.

This, my Emory doctors say, is a biochemical relapse, but there are no other symptoms, no other numbers our of whack. I can tell you they measure lots of stuff, judging from the number of vials they draw. [Whoever designed that doohickey where they only have to stick you once and then just keep putting one vial after another as needed is to be applauded.]

So I have a PET scan on November 10, here in Augusta. The PET Scan is sort of like a real high class CT Scan, but it is more particular. If you want to be amazed at what smart people can come up with, you might check out this article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography
The scan is to make sure that my doctors are not missing something. Pray they aren't.

After the results of the scan are in, then my doctors will decide what is next. I have some ideas as to what that might be, but I don't really know, and the doctors aren't saying, so I won't either.

Pray for no surprises in the results of the PET Scan, Tuesday, November 10.
Pray all this works for God's glory. That is what really matters.

Bump In The Road Update #2

Peru
Many of you know that in between blood drawing (October 1) and results getting (October 19), I took a group to Peru to work in a village there. Most people think I go to places like Machu Picchu, like the photo above. Nope. That was taken in the Inca Market in Lima, standing in front of a big photo. Maybe one day. Where I go is in the coastal desert region. It looks a lot different.

It is beautiful in its own right, and the people are great! I have many friends there. For those of you that like fall weather, the temps pretty well match our October-in-Augusta temps.

Health Bump
The results from the earlier blood draw were not definitive enough, but today the good folks at Emory took plenty of samples and my wife and I had a good conversation with the doctor and nurses. Any of you who have hit a major bump in the medical road know that tests often beget tests. So, our next step is a PET scan as soon as we can get it scheduled. Then, if the blood work and the scan leads in this direction, we’ll add a couple of more medications to what I am taking now. For now we wait.

I will keep you posted here. If you just do email, you can subscribe to the blog. If you do Facebook, I will put links to blog posts there.

Prayers are greatly needed and appreciated.

A Bump In The Road

One thing you cannot miss as you travel by road in Peru are the speed bumps. There are speed bumps in the city usually about twenty or thirty feet from a stop sign. That is wise. Hardly anyone would stop for a stop sign, but they will slow down for a speed bump, because new tires and suspension repairs are expensive.

Even out of the large cities, speed bumps are employed effectively on rural roads. As you drive through small villages and settlements, you should slow down. The speed bumps help you, or effectively remind you if you forget. Making a speed bump in a dirt road is skill I do not know, but Peruvians know. They are good at it. The picture is an example.

A few weeks ago I hit a speed bump regarding my fight with Multiple Myeloma. I got a call from my local oncologist who said that a few of my numbers were out of whack. This is the first time since my stem cell transplant in 2010 that I have had any concerns at all. There was concern, but it is not an emergency. I will have some tests repeated here in October and then more tests at Emory, where I had my stem cell transplant. Concerned? Yes. Freaking out? No. What good would that do anyway?

What does this mean? We don’t really know.

• The test could have been an anomaly. Pray that way please. April and I would love to get “normal” results.
• It could mean that the disease is trying to show itself again, and that they will adjust/change my medications. Nowadays, Multiple Myeloma is treated more like a chronic disease, like high blood pressure, thanks to a number of new drugs on the market.
• Of course, it could mean I am relapsing, and that would mean much more extensive treatment.

God, in His infinite wisdom is in charge. He has so blessed me with five great years since the first round. I am hoping for many more years like that.  But whatever brings Him glory and fulfills His purpose is my prayer.

For those of you who will pray, ask God to guide the doctors and all those involved to figure out exactly what is going on. My desire is to be able to continue to do what I am doing. More than that, pray that God will be honored, glorified, and known through it all.