Praise Report

We just returned from my checkups at UAB. I had a CT scan, chest X-ray and they scoped my throat. I am still clear and cancer free! I also saw my radiation doctor and surgeon. They both felt I was where I should be and even better. I don't have to go back until December; (when my next checkups are scheduled).

We are so thankful and praise God for His grace. We know many of you are still praying for us and really appreciate it. God has used you and your prayers to richly bless us! May He richly bless you also!

Update

I am sorry to have been so long in updating the blog. But things have been improving, not so much daily, but certainly over the weeks and months I can see how God is still blessing me physically. I still have the minor problems with eating certain foods, dry mouth, energy level and realted issues, but these are overshadowed by the great blessing of being cancer free and returning to a more normal lifestyle. I am back at work and almost get a full day in each day.
I have my next checkup on September 16. It will be a CT scan and visit with one of my Doctors at UAB. Please pray for that if you think of it.
Most importantly, I am sad to report that Debbie's Dad passed away Thursday night. He has fought the good fight and finished the course very well. I cannot tell you how much I love and respect that man. He leaves such a rich legacy and Christ-like example with so many lives that he touched. His funeral and reception afterwards was one of the most worshipful and celebratory funerals I have ever attended. Truly, nothing could be exaggerated about Max Thornhill.
Please pray for Debbie, her sisters and her mother. They dearly loved their father and husband, and will miss him terribly. Only the grace of God can fill the void he leaves.

DOXOLOGY - Praise God!

We had unexpected great news today. I called my Oncologist to inquire about trying to get to her to see my father-in-law. (He is in ICU in the hospital at Brookhaven, MS being treated for double pneumonia. Pray that God would enable his body to heal up enough to continue his cancer treatments, and if they should move to UAB or not.) But they told me "Congratulations on the good news!" They proceeded to tell that the pathology report was just posted on their system, and it all came back CANCER FREE! The one swollen lymph node was totally necrotic (dead tissue). All the others came back benign with no indication of cancer!

We are so blessed and overwhelmed with thanksgivings and praise. Although it would be true even if I had not received this news, this just magnifies in my spirit and soul in an experiential and very sweet way the truth of Isaiah 30:18-19: Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. [19] O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.

Please join us in praising Him for His grace, compassion and mercy on me and my family! THANK YOU for your faithfulness in praying for us. Rejoice that He has used YOU and your prayers to bless us and accomplish His will!

Great is His Faithfulness!

We are SO thankful and full of praise for God's mercy and grace! Surgery on Wednesday went much better than expected! I had a selective neck dissection on my right side to remove the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues as a precaution against recurring cancer in them; (since the enlarged lymph node on that side never did return to normal). The plan was to remove three of the four layers of lymph nodes and tissue. When Dr. Magnuson got in there, things looked good enough that he deemed it necessary to remove only two of the four! It is normal for one to have multiple drains left in for four or so days afterwards to drain off the bleeding and fluids. I only have one, and my drainage has been much less than expected so far. He also inspected my throat and found no traces of the tumor or cancer visible! My throat was just still quite irritated from the radiation. I have an appointment on Monday to have the drain removed, and then another checkup with him on Thursday. The pathology reports on the tissues removed should be back before the appointment on Thursday, so we expect to receive that report then also. But Dr. Magnuson said that regardless of that, I should be "through" with surgery! (If the report is totally clear, then there was no viable cancer in that area; if if comes back that some was present, then the surgery should have gotten it.)

I am feeling OK, and have not developed any of the morbidity or problems often assoicated with this invasive surgery. My shoulder is still working fine (often damaged in this procedure), and the swelling is very little. I do LOOK quite a sight with a 7" incision on my neck and a drain out of it. Between that and my PEG feeding tube hole in my stomach that resembles a bullet wound, I should be able to get respect in any "biker bar!" I am quite sore, and my throat is more irritated due to the tube inserted in surgery.

So please pray for recovery to continue at the good pace it has been. Pray for my saliva to return to help me eat, and for my throat to heal soon to enable me to eat more normally and gain my weight back. Pray that the swelling in the neck does not increase, and even that it might decrease some. Pray for a good report from pathology, and for the cancer to stay gone! Pray for continued clear scans in the days to come. Pray that God would receive many praises and thanksgivings for His great blessings upon me and my family! And thank each of you for your prayers! I feel so blessed in so many ways - I feel like I have finally passed some key point in recovery and that the rest of it can now be constant improvement, I feel like God has so richly showered me with unusual blessings that I don't deserve, and having the overwhelming love and support of so many is certainly one of my greatest blesings! I love you all!

What's next

We saw Dr. Magnasun on Thursday and agreed that we would proceed with surgery. This is to remove several layers of lymph nodes on the right side of his neck. Surgery should take about 2 1/2 hours. He will be in the hospital for one night and recovery time is about ten days. It is scheduled for Wednesday. We will be informed of the exact time later today. Also, the feeding tube was removed on Thursday, so Aaron has been eating 100% by mouth. Although it is "work" to swallow, the nausea factor has decreased greatly. We were grateful to be able to spend the Fourth at the beach with family. It was such an encouragement for him as he enjoyed a return to "normalcy" (i.e. life without the limitations of a feeding tube).

We covet your prayers concerning surgery and recovery.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Monday we had the long-awatied CT scan. Praise the Lord for no tumors!!
Everything looks good, according to drs. One thing that did show up on the scan was the infamous necrotic lymph node. Although it measures less than half of what it did, it is still obvious on the scan. However, neither dr. could find it upon external examination. We will see the surgeon on Thursday and get his take...which will undoubtedly be to continue with surgery as planned on next Wed. This seems to be standard procedure for this kind of thing. We think he will also take out the feeding tube during surgery. Although Aaron does not want to go through surgery, we are still very grateful for answered prayer in the success of treatment. Please pray for wisdom for Dr. Magnasun and us as we see him on Thursday.

Also, my Dad is out of the hospital and feeling much stronger!!! He will meet with his oncologist tomorrow and decide about further treatment.

As always, we love and appreciate you and your prayerful concern.

Thankful!!

Since last post, God has been faithful to answer prayer. Aaron began to feel better last Thursday evening and Friday was able to swallow a Nexium caspsule, which has helped tremendously! Apparently, he does have something going on (maybe an ulcer?) in his stomach. Hopefully, we will find out this week after drs. visit on Thursay. We are very grateful for this turn around. He has not thrown up since Thursday and has had much less nausea. He is swallowing more and more little bits of food. Throat pain continues to be about the same, but hopefully that will improve now that he is not vomiting all the time.

Please pray for my Dad. He is not doing very well. He went toTulsa for a chemo treatment, but was unable to because his counts are so low. He is in the hospital and has pnuemonia. Please pray that his body will have strength to fight and also, for my Mother.

I was encouraged by a card we received recently with excerpts from the following devotional.

"In the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver." Is 49:2

In the "shadow"___ each of us must go there sometimes. It maybe the shadow of the sickroom, the shadowed house of grief, or the shadowed life where the sunlight has departed.
But fear not! It is the shadow of God's hand. He is leading you, and there are lessons that can be learned only where He leads. The photograph of His face can only be developed in the dark room. But do not assume that He has pushed you aside. You are still "in His quiver." He has not thrown you away as something worthless. He is only keeping you nearby till the moment comes when He can send you quickly and confidently on some mission what will bring Him glory. O shadowed, isolated, one remember how closely the quiver is tied to the warrior. It is always within easy reach of His hand and jealously protected. F.B. Meyer

New Developement

Aaron continues to struggle with nausea and vomiting. In fact, it has gotten much worse. Today he has had trouble keeping anything, including meds, down. This is having a very adverse affect on his throat which is still raw and healing. After speaking with the medical oncologist, she agreed that further tests need to be done to try to figure out why this is going on. She said this was not where he should be at this point. We have an appointment on next Thursday with her, but hopefully there will be something scheduled before then to try to pinpoint this problem. Please pray that they can find the cause and deal with it. This is a real setback for him and he is very discouraged. We need wisdom and answers! Please pray.

HOT OF THE PRESS!!!

After a blitzkrieg of fact gathering concerning the recommended surgery, Aaron and his surgeon have decided to put off removal of lymph nodes until after CT scan on June 30th. Surgery has been re-scheduled for July 9th. Hopefully by this time the side effects of treatment will have tapered off a good deal. It is obvious that the radiation is still at work, as he continues to throw up bloody tissue and is still in a lot of pain. Also, the lymph node may continue to shrink in size which "may" remove the need for surgery.

We are grateful to our drs.(Nabell, Meredith, Monagan, Free, and Magnuson) for their time, expertise, and personal care and involvement in helping us make good decisions. We are blessed.

more good news/bad news

Well, we saw several drs. on Tuesday. They did not scope or do any kind of scan, but by just looking with the naked eye at Aaron's throat Dr. said he SAW no sign of tumor and it APPEARS to be gone. A CT scan is scheduled for June 30 to give a more detailed and complete picture. We are so thankful and are anxious for the CT scan to confirm that the cancer is gone. However, we were surprised and disheartened when Dr. Magnasun recommended surgery for the removal of several lymph nodes! (We have been so excited as the swollen node has continued to disappear.) Although we have scheduled surgery for Friday, we continue to gather info on this recommendation and are speaking with our other drs. to ascertain the most appropriate and prudent course of action. Please pray for wisdom on this front.

Otherwise, Aaron is continuing to swallow more and more FOOD!! He has actually eaten a few bites of pizza, eggs, ice cream, watermelon, and salad. While he is still getting most nutrition through the tube, he is definitely improving. The plan is to remove the feeding tube during surgery on Friday, so he will be transitioning this week to be able to take in more by mouth. He is still dealing with nausea and vomitting although it has improved some.

My Dad is at home and dealing with effects of chemo. He will go back on the 21st for another treatment.

We are thankful for many things, not the least of which is the love and support of so many. To our precious family of Grace Fellowship: we love you and couldn't make it without you!!!

Good Days

We are so very thankful for several things tonight. First, we have been praying specifically for Aaron's lymph node to shrink and it has definitely gone down a lot!! We continue to pray that by the drs. visit on June 3, it will be gone completely. Also, in general, he has felt much better in the last few days. The nausea and vomitting have abated for the most part. He was up and about all day yesterday, and we were most grateful to be able to go to church today! He actually ate a little ice cream this afternoon. Although his taste buds are "waking up" , it is still hurts to swallow much more than clear liquids. He is really looking forward to eating again and anxious to be rid of the feeding tube.
Pray this will happen sooner than later. We look foward to continued improvement this week and praise God for His faithfulness and the blessings of this day.

My Dad has been able to continue chemo treatments. He will have a full strength treatment next week, and will be able to go home for 3 weeks before having the next one.

Waiting

Today we woke up with high hopes of going to church together.( It has been three weeks and 2 days since his last treatment.) However, to our great disappointment he woke up very nauseated again!! The nausea and vomiting have gotten worse since treatments ended. This is NOT what we were expecting at this point! It seems like we are moving backwards. There ARE some positives, however: his voice continues to get stronger, his neck is completely healed, he IS swallowing liquids and an occasional poached egg, and has some good moments when nausea-free. The pain is still strong, but manageable. The feeding tube is working well and is the mainstay for nutrition and calories.
Truthfully, we are all discouraged....and waiting for the big "turn around". In reading Psalm 139 this morning, I was thankful to be reminded that we are "hemmed in" by HIS Presence. It is a day for remembering and clinging to Truth. Please pray for Aaron's complete healing and recovery and that even though we grow weary, we will "worship in the waiting".

News from Tulsa: my Dad had a second chemo treatment last week. He is feeling tired but otherwise doing well. He will receive another treatment on Wed.

Many thanks for your love and prayers.

How Great is Our God!

Amen!

A quick update

Our drs. visit on Monday was informative. The lab results showed all counts(except hemoglobin) were up and in normal ranges. The low hemoglobin accounts for the edema. We are walking to try to get swelling down. Dr. Nabell seemed pleased with Aaron's progress. Please continue to pray for pain management and nausea. Our next trip to UAB is June 3, when we will see Dr. Meredith, the radiation oncologist and Dr. Magnuson, surgeon.

My Dad's bone scan showed no cancer in bones! He will begin a low dose of chemo tomorrow for cancerous nodules on lungs. They will be keeping a close eye on his kidney to decide whether or not he can tolerate a higher dosage. Please pray for the cancer to respond to treatment.

Thanks again for your prayers!

THE WEEK AFTER

A short summary of the week after radiaion:

Burns on neck are much improved. Skin is regenerating and looking good.
Small improvement in the swallowing department.
Feeding tube working great.
Edema in feet and legs getting worse.
Nausea/vomitting has become a problem.
Pain in mouth and throat about the same...spikes sometimes.

We will see chemo dr. tomorrow, do labs, and address some of these issues.
In general, the week has been pretty good. I guess we are all ready to be back to normal and, unfortunately, that is going to be a longer process than we had hoped. We will see radiation dr. first week of June and hopefully know more about success of treatment.

I was able to go to Tulsa to be with my folks last week. We had some good news and some bad. The cancer is limited to nodules on the outside of his lungs and not within. However, he DOES has a bloodclot in his lungs. He will be having a bone scan done on Monday. Treatment cannot begin until he has recovered more from surgery(removal of cancerous kidney), and is complicated by that fact. (Chemo being so harmful to kidneys.) Please pray that he will get his strength back soon and that all scans will be clear of further cancer. Pray for wisdom of those planning his treatment program.

Meanwhile, we are comforted and strengthened by the body of Christ. We walk in the grace and new mercies of each day. We cling to the promises of the Word of God and the God of the Word.

Crossing the Finish Line

Well, 35 radiation treatments, 2 chemotherapy treatments, 1 PEG surgery, and 6 weeks later, it is OVER!!!! Friday was a day of rejoicing as we went to UAB for radiation one last time. The wonderful staff presented Aaron with the "mask" he wore for daily treatment. It looks like something out of Star Wars!! He is going to hang it on the wall like a trophy, I think.
These last 6 weeks have seen like an eternity, but there have been many blessings along the way. Just a few things we are thankful for:
-safe travel to B'ham every day
-faithful drivers
-caring, compassionate staff, drs, etc.
-uninterrupted treatments
-no complications with PEG tube
-no extraordinary complications associated with treatments
-wonderful support of family and friends
-answered prayers

Here are a few things to continue to pray about:
-that cancer is completely gone
-for Aaron's swallowing ability to improve and get back to 100%
-for healing of skin, as well as tissue inside mouth and throat
-for Aaron's ability to speak again(he is only able to whisper)
-for patience and peace during recovery process

We will be going back for follow-up visits in 2 weeks, then 4 weeks. At some point (6 weeks?)drs. will scope his throat and do CT and PET scans to determine success of treatment. There remains the possibility of surgery to remove lymph node that has not completely gone down. PEG tube will probably remain in for 6-8 weeks.

Meanwhile, we are seeing improvement and healing of the radiated skin on his neck. He has felt good "in general", and the pain in throat is being "managed fairly well until he "practices" swallowing. We have been grateful for a few more restful nights recently. We look forward to NO treatment tomorrow and a full recovery in the weeks and months ahead!

As always, thanks for your interest and love for us. We will keep you posted.

FYI: My Dad is doing much better as he is recovering from surgery. He will have his lungs scoped and biopsied on Wed. to determine course of treatment. Please continue to pray for him.

"HE CARRIES US"

" It would sometimes appear, indeed, that God puts us into special circumstances of difficulty and trial in order that He may make manifest to us the infinite resources of His consolation; just as we need to go out into the dark night in order to behold the stars." F. B Meyer

We are down to the final 2 treatments! This is both wonderful and terrible....wonderful because the constant intentional burning of the soft tissues of Aaron's mouth, tongue and throat will come to an end; terrible because the pain and discomfort are at new highs. Yesterday was a particularly hard day. Aaron was suffering so much and had had just about all he could handle. I was feeling completely helpless and desperate. With tears of frustration we cried out to our Good Shepherd for mercy. In the intervening hours spent in and out of drs offices at UAB, the "Great Shepherd of the sheep" came and carried us.

"His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect".
S. C. Chapman

"He willl tend his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young." Is 40:11

"Well-Done" (The Final Countdown)

"O trembling heart, look away, and look up! Your sorrows have been multiplied indeed, by looking at difficulties and second causes. Cease from all of this. Talk no more about walled cities and giants; about the rugged paths and dark valleys; about lions and robbers. But think of the love, the might, and the wisdom, of the Shepherd. Love that spared not its own blood! Might that made the worlds! Wisdom that named the stars! Your salvation does not depend on what you are, but what He is. For every look at self, take ten looks at Christ. Cease using the first pronoun, and substitute for it the third.

"Tell us no more of your tears, your failures, or your sins; but tell us, oh tell us, of the all-sufficiency of Jesus; and how your needs have been the foil of His deliverances. Sing again the old song of how all wants are swallowed up in the shepherd love of God. And emphasize each "He" as you say again the Psalm of childhood and of age. "

F. B. Meyer taken from the "Shepherd Psalm" on the 23rd Psalm

Well, tomorrow begins our final week of radiation!! Aaron will have a treatment every day, Monday thru Friday, and then he will be done(wellllll done). He is a bit anxious, as every radiation increases the heat and burn on his tongue, throat, mouth and neck. He described this past Friday as the "hardsest and longest" day of his life. He had two radiation treatments (6 hours apart) and at this point, it was brutal! We actually wound up spending a few hours at the hospital late Friday night in an effort to get fever, blood pressure, and dizziness under control. After a liter of fluid, along with some meds, he was able to go home. Thankfully, Saturday he was much improved and was able to get some much needed rest. Today started off a little 'rocky' but improved as the day progressed.

We are eager to get this last week behind us and begin the healing process. (although they say the week after your last treatment is actually the worst...painwise.) Please pray for strength for Aaron to endure these last 5 treatments. As I said, with every one, the pain intensifies. He has felt he has failed to keep the faith sevral times recently, when it gets so dark for so long. But once again, he was encouraged by the small but very sweet mercies of God that do eventually come. We know this week cannot be easy, but please pray that there will many of these new merices every day. Pray for Charlie, a fellow patient at UAB. Pray for my Dad, as he deals with recovery and treatment.

As always, we appreciate the love and support of so many. We know that your prayers are keeping us going! Our faithful "Shepherd" IS supplying all our needs.

FYI, my Dad's surgery went well yesterday. They are waiting for the path report to know for sure what kind of cancer he has. The drs. will be scoping his lungs in a few days to make a determination about what exactly is going on there. A treatment plan will be forthcoming. Please continue to pray for them.

On the home front, Aaron is down to 8 more treatments!!! The radiation is really taking a toll. He is struggling to swallow at all. The skin on his neck is cooked and has painful blisters. He is dealing with nausea, constipation, and ever increasing pain in his throat and mouth. The PEG tube is truly a life-saver, as he continues to get water, meds, and Ensure down to keep him going. Please pray for physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental strength to make it during these days when the end is in sight, but the climb is so, so steep. We talked(before treatments started) with many people who had gone through this and were told how bad it was. However, we were not prepared for the extent of what we would be up against! Many thanks for your prayers and support.