Yesterday I began the second phase of Chemo. 7 hours of sitting around receiving infusions. As with the first time, I felt no ill effects. Tomorrow will be more of the same, with my keeping a bag of chemo on me that holds a tiny pump which will slowly pump more chemo into me nights and over the weekend until Monday afternoon.
Before, all this had minimal affect on me. However, about two days after the pump bag was taken off, I began to be constipated, and a couple of days later began to throw up everything I ate for the next 6 days, causing me to have to be hospitalized for 6 days. Also, sore places developed in my mouth that kept me from eating normally, having to use a feeding tube directly into my stomach to receive liquids.
Please pray with me that those effects will not be experienced again. Of course, there are other effects of wierd changes in the mind, drastic weakness, losing hair, etc. I could well do without those things also.
The dosage of chemo has been cut 25%, so we are expecting this round to be not quite as severe. With prayer support, we expect to come through this in much better condition, and recover more quickly.
To all who will take these issues before the Lord on my behalf, you have my heart-felt thanks. Many of you have joined in a true labor of prayer on my behalf, and God is answering. Not as fast as I would like, but who am I to set the pace for God to work? He is in charge, and make no mistake, He is in charge. He is orchestrating something here that will bring glory to Him in His timing.
Good will come of this, I am convinced. I have no idea that my time is over on this earth. I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord. With long life God will satisfy me, and show me His salvation. When my time comes to go, I believe the Lord will make that clear enough, and that simply is not happening although I have asked Him about that several times during recent months.
So we have good reason to trust Him for complete recovery, and I look forward to sharing that recovery in the near future!
God bless you all,
Glenn
Friday, May 18, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 59:16
I just returned from visiting my parents in Florida. Dad has been working hard on recovering and has already gained some much needed weight. He is now able to eat and talk almost normally! There is still a bit of tumor left though, so he's scheduled for the 2nd round of chemo on Tuesday. We appreciate all your prayers.
I just returned from visiting my parents in Florida. Dad has been working hard on recovering and has already gained some much needed weight. He is now able to eat and talk almost normally! There is still a bit of tumor left though, so he's scheduled for the 2nd round of chemo on Tuesday. We appreciate all your prayers.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7
Dad is continuing to improve each day---here is the latest update from him:
"I am still very weak (even typing on a keyboard fatigues me), but I must try to make some kind of response. The good news is that the cancers have diminished quite a bit. I am now (slowly) walking 200 meters at a time.
I now have two more weeks of recovery time before the next blast of chemo begins on 17 May. We are praying for the Lord to have finished off these cancers, and be done with them by or before then."
Dad is continuing to improve each day---here is the latest update from him:
"I am still very weak (even typing on a keyboard fatigues me), but I must try to make some kind of response. The good news is that the cancers have diminished quite a bit. I am now (slowly) walking 200 meters at a time.
I now have two more weeks of recovery time before the next blast of chemo begins on 17 May. We are praying for the Lord to have finished off these cancers, and be done with them by or before then."
Friday, April 20, 2007
From Pastor Ford
Life takes its turns. The throat cancer was so virulent, the best alternative presented to me was the strongest chemo now availble.
The body plunges rapidly under such an assault. Weird feelings; mind somewhere (it must be), but one can't seem to remember where one left it. Nausea, incredible weakness, severe weight loss (down to 111 pounds), hair that combs right out, dehydration .... finally 6 days in the hospital to begin stabilizing the body enough to start some recovery. Recovery toward round two.
From leaving the hospital yesterday, some improvement is being shown in being able to start back eating some (after liquids only for more than a week), beginning to walk short distances (across the condominium), and a general feeling that somewhere out there life still is possible.
The good news - all 3 tumors have definitely shrank!
For that I am very thankful. May God continue to guide us into the right steps for complete healing that will glorify Him.
Thank you all for your concern and prayers. In some darkest hours, unable to think straight enough to even pray for myself ("O Lord, help" was as far as I could think), the knowledge of your prayers has been a wonderful encouragement for me.
My gratitude to all,
Glenn
The body plunges rapidly under such an assault. Weird feelings; mind somewhere (it must be), but one can't seem to remember where one left it. Nausea, incredible weakness, severe weight loss (down to 111 pounds), hair that combs right out, dehydration .... finally 6 days in the hospital to begin stabilizing the body enough to start some recovery. Recovery toward round two.
From leaving the hospital yesterday, some improvement is being shown in being able to start back eating some (after liquids only for more than a week), beginning to walk short distances (across the condominium), and a general feeling that somewhere out there life still is possible.
The good news - all 3 tumors have definitely shrank!
For that I am very thankful. May God continue to guide us into the right steps for complete healing that will glorify Him.
Thank you all for your concern and prayers. In some darkest hours, unable to think straight enough to even pray for myself ("O Lord, help" was as far as I could think), the knowledge of your prayers has been a wonderful encouragement for me.
My gratitude to all,
Glenn
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Miracle in Disguise
Psalm 66:5
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
Yesterday the doctors took a biopsy of the tumor. They said they couldn't accept the reports of the biopsy done in Hungary and that they had to do their own. I was upset about this because it had been such a traumatic experience for Dad to go through it the first time. But God had a little surprise for us. They did the biopsy in a much better way this time---they did it with a little needle inserted through the skin instead of jamming a tube down his throat---AND when they poked the tumor it sort of popped and a lot of it just came right out! Now it's much smaller and not putting so much pressure on his throat like it was before. Please join with me in praising God for His awesome work in Dad's body!
Today Dad came home from the hospital and he was so glad to be out of there. Continue to lift Dad up in prayer that he will be strengthened and will gain weight (he's now only 114 lbs) and that he will be completely healed of the cancer.
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
Yesterday the doctors took a biopsy of the tumor. They said they couldn't accept the reports of the biopsy done in Hungary and that they had to do their own. I was upset about this because it had been such a traumatic experience for Dad to go through it the first time. But God had a little surprise for us. They did the biopsy in a much better way this time---they did it with a little needle inserted through the skin instead of jamming a tube down his throat---AND when they poked the tumor it sort of popped and a lot of it just came right out! Now it's much smaller and not putting so much pressure on his throat like it was before. Please join with me in praising God for His awesome work in Dad's body!
Today Dad came home from the hospital and he was so glad to be out of there. Continue to lift Dad up in prayer that he will be strengthened and will gain weight (he's now only 114 lbs) and that he will be completely healed of the cancer.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Psalm 145:21
"My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever."
We are praising God for another answer to prayer! Dad has continued to be able to eat and the doctor said now there's no need for a feeding tube. Mom said it's been fun watching him gobble up food. :-)
"My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever."
We are praising God for another answer to prayer! Dad has continued to be able to eat and the doctor said now there's no need for a feeding tube. Mom said it's been fun watching him gobble up food. :-)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Psalm 41:3
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Good news! Dad was able to eat a little bit today and he didn't throw up. Thank You, God, for this answer to prayer. Mom said the doctor told him he wasn't ready to get the feeding tube yet because something (Mom couldn't remember what it was exactly) wasn't at a high enough level. But now that he has started eating again, maybe he won't need to get the feeding tube. Please pray for wisdom as Dad makes these decisions.
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Good news! Dad was able to eat a little bit today and he didn't throw up. Thank You, God, for this answer to prayer. Mom said the doctor told him he wasn't ready to get the feeding tube yet because something (Mom couldn't remember what it was exactly) wasn't at a high enough level. But now that he has started eating again, maybe he won't need to get the feeding tube. Please pray for wisdom as Dad makes these decisions.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Dad has had a rough week following the first round of chemo. He was throwing up constantly, unable to keep anything down. As a result, he lost even more weight (now he's probably less than 120 lbs) and became very weak. On Thursday he was put on an IV to get re-hydrated. He's
starting to feel better now and is glad that the tumors are shrinking. Tomorrow, (Sunday) the doctor wants to insert a feeding tube. The problem with this procedure is the possibility of the cancer spreading to his stomach. Please continue to lift him up in prayer for strength, that he'll be able to eat and get the nourishment he needs and that the cancer will die and not spread to anywhere else in his body.
starting to feel better now and is glad that the tumors are shrinking. Tomorrow, (Sunday) the doctor wants to insert a feeding tube. The problem with this procedure is the possibility of the cancer spreading to his stomach. Please continue to lift him up in prayer for strength, that he'll be able to eat and get the nourishment he needs and that the cancer will die and not spread to anywhere else in his body.
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