Immanuel - God With Us
What a relief to be finished with the first part of treatment. A huge weight was lifted each day that Dennis was feeling better; and we had the best Christmas ever. As I look over this, I am reminded that the chemotherapy treatment didn't go as we expected. On the negative side, the day Dennis went in for infusion took much longer than we had first been told. But on the positive side Dennis didn't have the extreme side effects we were told to expect. Another reminder that God is ever present with us, working in our lives for our good and His glory. . .
December 26, 2010
Just a little update to let you know how things are going and what’s next.
Dennis completed the first part of his treatment on Friday, December 17. The last week was pretty rough for him. He was very fatigued and began to suffer from skin irritation from the radiation, which was very painful. It was such a relief to know that we had made it through the first part.
Last Tuesday we met with the chemo oncologist for a follow up and to plan the next step. In three weeks Dennis will have another ultrasound as well as an MRI to discover how the cancer has responded to the first part of treatment. If all looks good, he will begin the next part of treatment on January 17.
This next step will be chemotherapy only. It consists of three different drugs that will be administered in three different ways. On Monday, he will go to the infusion lab to receive the first two medications. The first one will be administered through his porta-cath over an hours’ time. The 2nd one will be administered quickly – in just a couple minutes. The third one will be the same as what he had before, which will be given through a pump that he will take home with him for two days. On Wednesday we will go back to the lab so he can be unhooked from the pump. Dennis will then be off chemotherapy for 12 days. He will do this four times. While it will be less driving back and forth, this chemotherapy round will consist of higher dosesof medication which will increase the chances of side effects. This will be the time when he may experience the nausea, hair loss, and likely the mouth sores will return as well as increased fatigue. He will also have a much more compromised immune system, so he will be quarantined to home in order to stay as germ free as possible. Lots of hand washing and sanitizing going on here!
Dennis has been feeling better everyday. Christmas Day he felt quite good, and was able to enjoy the day with the family. That was an especially great gift for us! We look forward to being home together this next week before the school break is over.
Thank you for your continued prayers. God has truly been caring for us these past weeks. He has provided for our financial needs in an amazing way through the generosity of ACA and people we don’t even know. It is so very humbling to be the recipient of such gifts. God has been our strength when we’ve been weak, and continued to give us hope when we’ve been discouraged. He truly is Immanuel – God with us. This Christmas was an especially sweet time as we focused on celebrating the birth of our precious Savior who is our redeemer, rock and fortress. We are looking forward to the New Year with hope, knowing that God holds us very firmly in His hands.
God bless,
Carolyn
December 26, 2010
Just a little update to let you know how things are going and what’s next.
Dennis completed the first part of his treatment on Friday, December 17. The last week was pretty rough for him. He was very fatigued and began to suffer from skin irritation from the radiation, which was very painful. It was such a relief to know that we had made it through the first part.
Last Tuesday we met with the chemo oncologist for a follow up and to plan the next step. In three weeks Dennis will have another ultrasound as well as an MRI to discover how the cancer has responded to the first part of treatment. If all looks good, he will begin the next part of treatment on January 17.
This next step will be chemotherapy only. It consists of three different drugs that will be administered in three different ways. On Monday, he will go to the infusion lab to receive the first two medications. The first one will be administered through his porta-cath over an hours’ time. The 2nd one will be administered quickly – in just a couple minutes. The third one will be the same as what he had before, which will be given through a pump that he will take home with him for two days. On Wednesday we will go back to the lab so he can be unhooked from the pump. Dennis will then be off chemotherapy for 12 days. He will do this four times. While it will be less driving back and forth, this chemotherapy round will consist of higher dosesof medication which will increase the chances of side effects. This will be the time when he may experience the nausea, hair loss, and likely the mouth sores will return as well as increased fatigue. He will also have a much more compromised immune system, so he will be quarantined to home in order to stay as germ free as possible. Lots of hand washing and sanitizing going on here!
Dennis has been feeling better everyday. Christmas Day he felt quite good, and was able to enjoy the day with the family. That was an especially great gift for us! We look forward to being home together this next week before the school break is over.
Thank you for your continued prayers. God has truly been caring for us these past weeks. He has provided for our financial needs in an amazing way through the generosity of ACA and people we don’t even know. It is so very humbling to be the recipient of such gifts. God has been our strength when we’ve been weak, and continued to give us hope when we’ve been discouraged. He truly is Immanuel – God with us. This Christmas was an especially sweet time as we focused on celebrating the birth of our precious Savior who is our redeemer, rock and fortress. We are looking forward to the New Year with hope, knowing that God holds us very firmly in His hands.
God bless,
Carolyn
God is continuing to BE your strength. You guys shine SO brite!
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