An update on Pop's white blood cell count....Tuesday, Pop's white blood cell count was low; it was down to .8, which is too low. (Friday it was 2.6 and that is what they told us at Tuesday's appt.)A drug called neupogen was administered; the purpose was to stimulate white blood cell production in his bone marrow. Pop was to receive an injection daily until his count came up to an acceptable level. Wednesday, his count was up to 1.3, which, while an improvement, is still too low. (The oncologist wants his white blood cell count to be between 4 and 10.) Thursday it was up to 5.7...Yea! And today, Friday, it was up to a whopping 18.3!!!! Pop told me that incredible news himself! PRAISE GOD!

I told Pop I was so proud of his bone marrow! Yippee! A time of celebration is here! This is such great news!! He will start off his 2nd cycle of chemo next week with a high white cell count! Other than a total and complete healing, I am not sure we could've gotten better news this week!! God is SO very good!!!

2 Corinthians 12:9 states that "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness."

Isn't that the truth!! I don't think anything more needs to be said on that!

Today Nana, Pop, and I went to see the oncologist followed by Pop receiving iv fluids. (He gets iv fluids twice a week on the weeks he is not undergoing chemo. The fluids give Pop a boost plus help his kidneys.) The appointment went well. Basically everything is looking good. He is scheduled for his 2nd cycle of chemo next week.

The physicians assistant that we saw went over Pop's latest bloodwork from last Friday. (He gets lab work done each time he receives his iv fluids.) Pop's blood levels are good with his white blood cell count a little low. His hemoglobin is good as are his platelets. Due to a cat bite on his hand, he was put on an antibiotic to prevent and/or treat any possible infection.

We did find out that he is receiving two different cancer drugs; we had thought it was only one to start off with. The reasoning behind the use of two drugs is that what cancer cells one doesn't kill the other will. He also receives a steroid to prevent nausea, act as an anti-inflamatory, and boost the cancer drug's effectiveness.

Colossians 1:9b-10, "We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, & we ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor & please the Lord, & you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better & better."

Sorry...slacked off last week. Just to give everyone an update on Pop...he's doing WONDERFULLY! Praise God! First cycle of chemo went well. Lab work done twice last week showed his blood levels are good as are his kidneys. He's eating well and looks GREAT! He says he feels good. We couldn't ask for anything more, except for a complete and miraculous healing, of course.

This week he has a regular appt. with his oncologist. I will let you know how that goes.

Please keep up the prayers. Pop is not used to having so much spare time on his hands. Pray that God helps him deal with this side of it. If you know Pop, you know he has worked hard all his life (i.e. he's a workaholic). This is definitely a challenge for him to spend so much time resting. Nana is trying to keep him occupied, but she will be returning to work soon.

Psalm 34:8-9, "Taste & see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him. Let the Lord's people show Him reverence for those who honor Him will have all they need."

Well, Pop's finished his first cycle of chemo this week. He's doing really well, too. He was given a steroid the first day, so he's not been sleeping a lot. This is supposed to help control the nausea. It did.

Each day (Tuesday - Thursday) he underwent 4 1/2 hours of treatment with Nana waiting patiently in the lobby/waiting room. (What a woman! She's going to do whatever is necessary for her man!) He will go back twice next week for lab work and an IV. We think the objective of the IV is to maintain good kidney function, but we'll have to verify that. His next appt. with the oncologist is July 21, 2009.

Keep up the prayers. We all appreciate it! God bless!

Psalm 27:13, "Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living."

Well, today was Pop's first day of chemo. He came through it with flying colors!! PRAISE GOD!

Nana stayed in the waiting room while he underwent 4 1/2 hours of chemo. Pop said he feels great so far! YEA!!!!!

"When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:14-19

Today, July 2, 2009, we went back to the oncologist. Results from the MRi were good...no cancer in the brain. Unfortunately, the PET scan showed cancer in Pop's liver. The radiation doctor had told us the previous day that bit of information. It was quite a blow, but Pop said he wasn't surprised. The good news that there wasn't any cancer in the brain was received gratefully. We needed to hear that.

The oncologist said chemo would start next Tuesday. Pope will get 4 cycles of the chemo drug, called cisplatin. Each cycle is 3 consecutive days of chemo followed by two weeks off. The 3rd week begins another cycle. Each week he will have lab work to check his blood work, kidneys, etc. to make sure they are okay.

After the 4 cycles then another CT scan will be done. If the cancer is responding to the drug then two more cycles of that drug. If not, then VP-16, another cancer drug, will be used.

When Pop is having his chemo, he will be more susceptible to germs. He may feel tired and weak. Other side effects may occur, but one of the main ones is the change in his blood counts. He will have to be careful to try and eat right and drink lots of water and rest.

Please refrain from exposing him to germs if you are sick with anything. Please wash your hands as this is one of the main ways of spreading germs. Also, try not to shake his hand. Pat him on the shoulder or something, as this is less likely to spread germs.

The family thanks you for your support and prayers. Please keep praying.

"Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish exceedingly, abundantly more than we would ever dare to hope, ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

Just an update on this week's info on Pop. Pet scan on Tuesday; MRI on Wednesday. These tests will help determine if the cancer is present anywhere else besides the left lung. Appt. with oncologist on Thursday to review this week's tests results and determine Pop's treatment plan. Chemo should start Monday, July 6, 2009.

Pop is is unflappable in his faith. He states that no matter what it is all in God's hands. AMEN!