Dear Prayer Partners,
If I were to give this a title for a chapter of a book it would be something like this: "Once more into the breech" but that has already been taken - or "Can you believe this..."- but I think that has been over used. So the next thought was "You just cannot make this up".
So, that is where we will start.
Melanie was released from the hospital last Sunday night (after 11 days there.) It seems that she had an infection in her small intestine, which antibiotics took care of. During her stay there was a CT scan taken of her abdomen which showed that the oral chemotherapy was not working and the cancer in her liver was growing. This means that we were looking at different chemotherapy. This new chemo was started yesterday, and will be given every 21 days. There is an additional injection she will take 24 hours after the chemo to assist in building white blood cells. Because the chemo was not working there is some question about her brain, so she had an MRI done in Indy last Thursday that showed some signs of something so small that they want another picture in 8 weeks.
"Here we go again" just seems a little trite to the extent of the battle we are facing and have been through. There are a couple of things that we understand - the enemy is really mad at us and is trying to discourage us in any way he can. The only power he has is when we give it to him.One of his biggest tools is to make life so difficult that we just quit - but that is not going to happen. We know that in the end we win and we also know that this is not the end. It is just another chapter in the life of Dennis and Melanie that will require some strength and perseverance.
Sorry that this did not get out sooner - but we have had a couple of busy days.
Melanie started her new chemotherapy yesterday, it took over 4 hours, premeds, then a 3 hour drip. The good news is that she slept though most of it. She come home and went straight to bed and slept for about 6 hours. Today she is just really tired.
We have been down this road before, however never started chemo this tired. She was on the oral chemo and radiation at the same time -- which made the fatigue factor very large. She was in the hospital for 11 days eating very little which took the rest of her strength and is now on this new chemo which will be given every 21 days.
With out being obvious, the prayer needs are for strength and healing. We know that this is going to be a long battle - on top of the previous 12 years - and we are ready for it - I think. What we don't know is what the long range effect will be, nor do we know the duration of this latest treatment. Until it works.....
We are in it for the duration and will fight to the end - which we think is a long way off. We are holding on to the promises of God and know that we are in the midst of a really good plan (I really don't like this part though), and that we live in the shadow of the wing of the most High God.
We want to thank you all for all the support you have given us over the years and it makes us humble to think that you will continue with us. THANK YOU! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and bless you. You are in our prayers each day. We love you all and look forward to the next time when we can put our arms around each of you and love on you in person.
Serving a Big God,
Dennis & Melanie, Autumn & Jake & Jet, and Monica
If I were to give this a title for a chapter of a book it would be something like this: "Once more into the breech" but that has already been taken - or "Can you believe this..."- but I think that has been over used. So the next thought was "You just cannot make this up".
So, that is where we will start.
Melanie was released from the hospital last Sunday night (after 11 days there.) It seems that she had an infection in her small intestine, which antibiotics took care of. During her stay there was a CT scan taken of her abdomen which showed that the oral chemotherapy was not working and the cancer in her liver was growing. This means that we were looking at different chemotherapy. This new chemo was started yesterday, and will be given every 21 days. There is an additional injection she will take 24 hours after the chemo to assist in building white blood cells. Because the chemo was not working there is some question about her brain, so she had an MRI done in Indy last Thursday that showed some signs of something so small that they want another picture in 8 weeks.
"Here we go again" just seems a little trite to the extent of the battle we are facing and have been through. There are a couple of things that we understand - the enemy is really mad at us and is trying to discourage us in any way he can. The only power he has is when we give it to him.One of his biggest tools is to make life so difficult that we just quit - but that is not going to happen. We know that in the end we win and we also know that this is not the end. It is just another chapter in the life of Dennis and Melanie that will require some strength and perseverance.
Sorry that this did not get out sooner - but we have had a couple of busy days.
Melanie started her new chemotherapy yesterday, it took over 4 hours, premeds, then a 3 hour drip. The good news is that she slept though most of it. She come home and went straight to bed and slept for about 6 hours. Today she is just really tired.
We have been down this road before, however never started chemo this tired. She was on the oral chemo and radiation at the same time -- which made the fatigue factor very large. She was in the hospital for 11 days eating very little which took the rest of her strength and is now on this new chemo which will be given every 21 days.
With out being obvious, the prayer needs are for strength and healing. We know that this is going to be a long battle - on top of the previous 12 years - and we are ready for it - I think. What we don't know is what the long range effect will be, nor do we know the duration of this latest treatment. Until it works.....
We are in it for the duration and will fight to the end - which we think is a long way off. We are holding on to the promises of God and know that we are in the midst of a really good plan (I really don't like this part though), and that we live in the shadow of the wing of the most High God.
We want to thank you all for all the support you have given us over the years and it makes us humble to think that you will continue with us. THANK YOU! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and bless you. You are in our prayers each day. We love you all and look forward to the next time when we can put our arms around each of you and love on you in person.
Serving a Big God,
Dennis & Melanie, Autumn & Jake & Jet, and Monica
