On Monday morning our devotions focused on I Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." Spurgeon reminds us that this is a lot easier to do if you know that our present affliction has been given us by Him. Do we know the exact reason why? No. But we can rest in the knowledge that He who has given us this difficulty will not leave us alone in it. His purposes for it will be fulfilled. We know that we are safest and happiest in His divine hands and pleading with Him brings comfort and help. What a good reminder for the beginning of a day and a week. What a good reminder for us as we visited the regional cancer clinic again yesterday.
I need to be an hour ahead of my appointment time in order for blood work to be completed. We then waited for more than 2 hours past our appointment time to see my doctor. A good beginning for a long day. My blood numbers were such that I needed blood transfusions and my day ended there at nearly 5 pm.
My hemoglobin levels dropped a fair bit in the last two weeks, down to 64 therefore the two units of packed red cells were needed. My platelet count was a big surprise. I had received a transfusion on Jan. 31 to remove my central line when my count was 47. I expected my count to be around 60, but instead they dropped all the way to 37. Yet my white count was up to 3.8 and neutrophils to 2.7. There is much to discuss with the doctor.
He began our visit with the admission that he cannot find information on CMML patients with stem cell transplants and why engraftment is so poor. He believes the disease has damaged my marrow and is not allowing it to be a good "soil" for the stem cells to blossom. There is no test he can do that can tell us what is going on in the bone marrow as far as slow engraftment. He will not be able to tell if there is certain cell damage there that makes the marrow less fertile. He compared it to the coral reef ecosystem. If the reef is damaged it cannot support near as much life there. He is not sure of what to expect from my marrow in the long term. He has no plan on how to increase my blood counts beyond what we are already doing. The medium length expectation is that my numbers will remain in this low area and will need to be supported by transfusions. So we can expect the fatigue to ride along with the blood numbers.
Another area of concern is that my blood type has not changed yet to the donor's type. This was expected to happen when all red blood cells produced by my stem cells have died leaving reds from transfusions (O- which is universal donor) as well as reds produced by my new stem cells. Reds have a life span of 100-120 days, and I was day 147 yesterday. There hasn't been any explanations that satisfy me, so we will wait until my next appointment in 3 weeks and see if there has been change. The fear, of course, is that some of my stem cells survived the high dose chemo and are busy reproducing again, and some of them may be producing cancerous cells. No sign of those cells in yesterdays blood samples.
On the good news front, my creatinine number fell quite a bit which is good news on my kidney function!! Liver function numbers were also good. Nausea and vomiting have gone on a long holiday and I have put a not welcome sign out for them. No GVHD disease!! No strep throat, or cold, or flu which have been making the rounds including in my house, but it has not touched me to any great degree. My anti rejection drugs are now down to 10% freeing the immune system to develop more.
With my low blood numbers the doctor again warns of catching illness because my bone marrow cannot handle it well. So we will continue to be careful on how we live, not as hermits, but not recklessly either.
Thanks to all who follow our journey and remember us in so many ways. Thank you for prayers and encouragement, it has been a great blessing for us. Thank you.
Prayer requests
1. Thanks for freedom from GVHD and infections of various kinds.
2. Thanks for improved organ function.
3. For increase in blood counts and change in blood type.
4. For freedom from graft versus host disease as my immune system develops.
5. For daily resting in the Lord's tender care for us.
7 comments:
Hi Richard and Barb,
You haven't heard from us in awhile...just want you to know that we're always checking your blog for updates,and praying for you often! (You are not forgotten:)). So thankful and encouraged to read your perspective at the beginning of this latest blog (..He who has given us this difficulty will not leave us alone in it....AMEN!)- God is using you to bless to others. Praying that God may give strength and grant healing, and that He will continue to keep you close to Him. Sincerely, Bill and Kathy
I was going to say "I hope you're hanging on tight during this roller coaster ride", but, it's quite obvious that you are....to the Lord! Amen. Thank you again for your testimony. We are in constant prayer for you.
TomS
Richard and Barb, Thoughts and prayers are with you all, Looked and saw your blog last night, but did not know what to say exactly. Maybe I still don't but God does love you ... and perfectly. Yes God loves you more than us humans are capable of, even with all our human love conbined ... God loves you more and he is able to grant all blessings we ask for and more. Casting all our anxieties on God is not easy. Thanks for your example and witness. Never lose heart, keep growing, keep the faith, keep the hope ... God sees, hears, feels and loves more than we can comprehend, Praise be to God who is faithful. Thank you God for intervening in Richards life and in the life of his family. Continue to bless and send strength and healing. In Jesus name ... Amen ...Your cousin and family in Ottawa.
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you.
Dear Richard and Barb,
We're so blessed to make your acquaintance through your blogs and in your amazing walk with God! You're an inspiration to us, and a witness to all who read them. May He, in His amazing grace and love sustain you during this trial in your lives, We pray for strength and healing for you at this time, knowing that He is able to do more than we can imagine......"He tends His flock like a Shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart......" Is. 40:11. You are His lamb! May He comfort you. Continue to hold on to Him, Richard! And thanks for your blogs and updates. Don't give up! God bless you!
Hi Richard and Barb and family
thinking about you and your family even as we are not in the strathroy area right now , may the Lord give you the strenght and the encouragement to keep positive thinking and trusting in the lord s we red your blog thanks again greetings with love R and A
Hello Richard and Barb,
I haven't commented on your most recent blog posts, but we do read each one. You and your family continue to be in our prayers - we praise and thank God for good news, ask for His blessing when the news isn't as good, and trust ALWAYS that His perfect will is being accomplished in and through you. Thank you as always for your prayer requests - it helps to have specific things to pray for.
Rick and Jannette
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