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.