Transplant + 77

We began the day with a reading from Charles Spurgeon on Ephesians 6, that well loved chapter on putting on the full armor of God.  With the apprehension for this visit, how could we even think about leaving our home without putting on the armour.  Listen to what Spurgeon writes "If you are not clothed with heavenly armour, you are naked and every enemy dart will penetrate you.  If the shield of faith does not cover you, the spears of the tempter will soon reach your heart. Without the whole armour of God, you are crushed by a moth and trampled like a worm.  You are as weak as water and as frail as dust. Your strength, your imagined strength, is perfect weakness.  Your highest natural wisdom is folly." With each piece put on with prayer we are ready for the day.

My doctor is way behind schedule today, so after a long wait we see the doctor.  My blood numbers are flat still.  I need red blood cell transfusions again, which did not surprise me.  My whites and neutrophils stayed the same and platelets went up 3 which is flat.  So it was disappointing but flat is better than down.  We reviewed all the medications, symptoms, side affects and plans.  We are adding EPREX to the regimen now.  This is a growth hormone made famous by Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnston and the ilk.  I will be getting weekly injections for an undetermined length of time. It is designed to increase my red blood cell production in order to reduce the need for transfusions and give me more energy and oxygen to my body.  The doctor said we are hunkering down for the ride, there is little we can do but wait, and try little things to assist.  We are not experiencing marrow failure because my body is producing cells, just not near enough of them.  So no talk of another flush of donor stem cells, would only happen if I quit producing any cells.  No signs of GVHD which is excellent.  The plan is still to wean off of anti rejection drugs starting around Christmas at Day + 100.  It will be a weaning process so that if I react poorly they can quickly get my levels back up.  That is typically a time when GVHD rears it's ugly head.

Two weeks ago when I was receiving my transfusions I was parked beside a young man.  I started up conversation with him.  He was going the next day for a consult at Princess Margaret in Toronto for a stem cell transplant.  He had never met anyone who had a stem cell transplant so we spent well over an hour talking the ins and outs of an allogenic transplant.  Then we played cards.  I saw him this morning in the waiting room and approached him. It was neat to see each other.  They decided to do more tests first so a date has not been confirmed for him.  It is especially difficult for him since they have been unable to nail down his disease without reservation, but are quite sure a stem cell transplant is his only hope.  Lets remember Steve in our prayers too, for healing, for faith.

Today in the waiting room I started a conversation with an older gentleman (that means older than I am).  Talked for quite a while, his wife has cancer.  We talked about living day by day and I said as a Christian that is our calling with an eye to eternity.  He is Mohawk with little respect for Christianity in respect to the history of our peoples.  I told him not to confuse what was done in the name of Christianity with real Christianity.  He acknowledged the point.  He is an animist, believing in the spirits in all creation.  He said all man is looking for something and come to different conclusions.  He had earlier told me that he has a Masters in philosophy, so I responded with "Man is created as a religious being, we know that there is much more than what meets the eye, there is eternity to consider".  He agreed with the point, and any philosopher who denied that is a liar.  Then they were called in.  Amazing conversations for a cancer clinic waiting room.

Karen picked me up at the end of the day and we took a detour to C7.  We met the Unit head Adrienne and  a couple of nurses and chatted briefly.  Adrienne is praying for a  Christmas miracle for us.

Received an email update about Jan.  His treatments have failed.  He is now in palliative care and his wife and children and grandchildren and loved ones will be spending time with him.  Pray that they stand four square on the gospel promises.

Ended our day with Spurgeon on Philipians 1:6  "Be confident of this"  In it we pray back God's promises  to Him. "What more can He say than to you He hath said, You who unto Jesus hath fled?"

Prayer Requests:
1. Giving thanks for no GVHD, and steady numbers.
2. Pray for Jan and his family, Steve, and my Mohawk friend
3. That continued and new treatments may prove effective.
4. That we continue to find our refuge in our Lord Jesus.