Round 12 is behind us! We are very thankful how well Rob is doing, this is the first time ever that he walked in AND out of the hospital to the car on his own! A sign that his strength is building up! He also started driving last week too for the first time in 7 months and wow does that ever give a taste of independence back. Also gives an indication of how he's feeling...
Rob now has a date for his CT scan; next week friday. Hopefully this will give us some positive results; we ask for your fervent prayers that our God will grant His healing mercies to Rob. We have no idea yet when we will hear results but it likely won't be for a week or two after the scan.
Psalm 31:24. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Monday, 6 May 2013
Update #19
Round 11 has come and gone and things have been steadily moving along. Rob has been doing very well; we almost dare to say that there has been a constant improvement after each round of chemo in regards to how he's feeling and the strength he's been gaining! Each round comes with the typical tiredness, nausea, lack of appetite, etc for a couple days but even with all that he's gained a bit of weight in the last month and has a slight bit more energy!
We are very much enjoying the switch to Boundary Trails and the fact that we are in our own home. Next round of chemo (in two weeks) will come with a CT scan again, and we are hoping for positive results but like always this is in the Lord's hands and we will take what comes.
There really isn't a whole lot of other news. As can be quite routine with chemo patients Rob has gotten quite a number of blood transfusions in the last couple months. With every transfusion there are about 5 or 6 people who have donated, so now in about total there are about 35 - 40 blood donors who have enhanced Robs health. If you ever wonder while you're donating if you're actually helping out any one, know that you are. If you ever wonder whether you should take the time to go donate blood, please know that you are helping save someone's life! If you wonder if I'm getting paid for advertising for Canadian Blood Services, I'm am; my husband is improving :)
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Update #18
Dear all,
We're coming up to chemo round #9 this week. Rob is scheduled to go into hospital tonight and have his treatment tomorrow. Things have been going really well, Rob has enjoyed a short burst of energy in between his last few treatments and we can honestly say that after every treatment so far he is improving in physical strength. So thankful!
We met with our doctor this week to hear more about the results of the CT scan that Rob had two weeks ago. Dr. Wong is extremely happy with the way things are going, the scan showed that the cancer has not progressed at all, that it is stable. We asked again about the possibility of surgery and Dr. Wong said that the tumor would have to shrink a significant amount yet before that is an option. Of course while we would have liked to hear that the tumor has shrunk significantly, the doctors are happy with how its going and we are too.
People often ask us how many more rounds of chemo there will be and like we explain every time, we simply don't know. The doctor doesn't know, and we don't know. The plan is to continue with this treatment until the cancer has shrunk; and if at one point they detect that the tumor isn't responding to this chemo, they will switch it over to a different regiment of drugs and keep going. As you can imagine, the not-knowing of any type of time frame can sometimes be harder to deal with than to know. We ask for your prayers that in this we also may put our complete faith and trust in God's promises and that He will continue to give us peace and strength for the journey yet ahead.
Another step forward for which we are thankful is that we have completely moved back to our house! If all goes well and as planned, we are switching treatments over to a different hospital closer to home. Rob will still remain under the care of our doctor here at St. B, but in a effort for us to be more self-sufficient we are going to be seeing more of Boundary Trails Health Center which is closer to home. Rob has chemo every 2 weeks, and so he is knocked down and out for pretty much a full week after his treatment. By the time he builds back his energy a little bit, he only has a couple of days to enjoy before it is time to head back in for another treatment. We are looking forward to being able to be at our home for this whole time period then, especially as we are looking at a indefinite amount of chemo treatments to come. We are appreciative of all the people who would like to pop by for a quick visit, please be patient with us! We do miss seeing everyone, but since Rob has only such a short time while he's actually feeling okay, the visits are kept to a minimum for now.
We are still so thankful and always encouraged by all those who think and pray for us. God has indeed been merciful to Rob, answering the prayers of all those asking for some healing. We ask that you will please continue to remember him in your prayers, for we know that God hears them and has blessed us. In all things we know that He has a purpose for us, and we pray that that purpose might be fulfilled and that in due time Robs health may be restored to him.
We're coming up to chemo round #9 this week. Rob is scheduled to go into hospital tonight and have his treatment tomorrow. Things have been going really well, Rob has enjoyed a short burst of energy in between his last few treatments and we can honestly say that after every treatment so far he is improving in physical strength. So thankful!
We met with our doctor this week to hear more about the results of the CT scan that Rob had two weeks ago. Dr. Wong is extremely happy with the way things are going, the scan showed that the cancer has not progressed at all, that it is stable. We asked again about the possibility of surgery and Dr. Wong said that the tumor would have to shrink a significant amount yet before that is an option. Of course while we would have liked to hear that the tumor has shrunk significantly, the doctors are happy with how its going and we are too.
People often ask us how many more rounds of chemo there will be and like we explain every time, we simply don't know. The doctor doesn't know, and we don't know. The plan is to continue with this treatment until the cancer has shrunk; and if at one point they detect that the tumor isn't responding to this chemo, they will switch it over to a different regiment of drugs and keep going. As you can imagine, the not-knowing of any type of time frame can sometimes be harder to deal with than to know. We ask for your prayers that in this we also may put our complete faith and trust in God's promises and that He will continue to give us peace and strength for the journey yet ahead.
Another step forward for which we are thankful is that we have completely moved back to our house! If all goes well and as planned, we are switching treatments over to a different hospital closer to home. Rob will still remain under the care of our doctor here at St. B, but in a effort for us to be more self-sufficient we are going to be seeing more of Boundary Trails Health Center which is closer to home. Rob has chemo every 2 weeks, and so he is knocked down and out for pretty much a full week after his treatment. By the time he builds back his energy a little bit, he only has a couple of days to enjoy before it is time to head back in for another treatment. We are looking forward to being able to be at our home for this whole time period then, especially as we are looking at a indefinite amount of chemo treatments to come. We are appreciative of all the people who would like to pop by for a quick visit, please be patient with us! We do miss seeing everyone, but since Rob has only such a short time while he's actually feeling okay, the visits are kept to a minimum for now.
We are still so thankful and always encouraged by all those who think and pray for us. God has indeed been merciful to Rob, answering the prayers of all those asking for some healing. We ask that you will please continue to remember him in your prayers, for we know that God hears them and has blessed us. In all things we know that He has a purpose for us, and we pray that that purpose might be fulfilled and that in due time Robs health may be restored to him.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Update #17
Family and friends,
Very close to 5months ago I started a blog and wrote about the path God has placed us on, well we spent the past weekend in our own home for the first time since that first blog post. God indeed has been merciful to us to allow us to go home together even if it is only for the weekend (although it was a long weekend, from Friday to Tuesday). It has not always been an easy path these past 5 months with its many ups and downs yet through it all God has watched over us and given us all that we stood in need of. We do not know when this specific journey of health concerns will be over but we trust in God and His unfailing promises He spoke in His word that He will neither leave us or forsake us. He is indeed faithful, no matter where this path continues to go, we will put our trust and hope in Him alone.
Thus far our faithful Father has blessed the work of the doctors and I continue to slowly feel better and gain more strength back. I am scheduled to go back to the hospital on Wednesday night and will receive another round of chemo on Thursday and the plan is to leave the hospital again on Friday sometime. The plan was last time I was admitted for chemo that I would have a CT scan but that never happened so Felicia and I are hoping that happens this week so that at least we will have a better idea of where things are. There is not any other news to share at this time. We continue to ask for your much needed prayers as we continue on this path, prayers for strength but also for healing.
Saturday, 2 March 2013
Update #16
Dear family and friends,
The last round of chemo went very well and Rob came home the next day. And now so quickly the next round is coming up in this week ahead. We are very thankful with how things have gone, Rob has been blessed with good health and we are praying that this continues so chemo may not be pushed back. In the meantime we are enjoying the ability to have a routine at 'home' and enjoy being in the midst of a family environment. Rob and I even had the opportunity to enjoy our first date again in 4 months, we took a drive out to a local park together! We could not have been more thankful that this opportunity was available to us again, we are so grateful for how far Rob has progressed and look forward to getting out a bit more as Rob builds up his strength.
Chemo is scheduled for next week thursday, 5 days from now. There will be a change made with one of the 3 drugs that he is receiving; one will be switched to a different kind of drug that is less toxic to the heart. Rob will also be having another CT scan done with this coming treatment so we are praying for good results this time as well. Dr. Wong mentioned that if the tumor has shrunk again, it may be time to start thinking about talking with the surgeons. This is another step forward and we ask for your prayers as we look ahead to this possibility. We realize there is no guarantee about any of this, but Rob is in the care of the Great Physician and we have the comfort and peace that He is working for our good.
Time goes so fast to us, which may be a surprise for you to hear. The days and weeks whip by, even so that it only just sunk in for Rob that he was in the hospital for 4 months, which is a third of a year! There have been so many hard days, yet we can see in it all to so many blessings!
Phillipians 4: 4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The last round of chemo went very well and Rob came home the next day. And now so quickly the next round is coming up in this week ahead. We are very thankful with how things have gone, Rob has been blessed with good health and we are praying that this continues so chemo may not be pushed back. In the meantime we are enjoying the ability to have a routine at 'home' and enjoy being in the midst of a family environment. Rob and I even had the opportunity to enjoy our first date again in 4 months, we took a drive out to a local park together! We could not have been more thankful that this opportunity was available to us again, we are so grateful for how far Rob has progressed and look forward to getting out a bit more as Rob builds up his strength.
Chemo is scheduled for next week thursday, 5 days from now. There will be a change made with one of the 3 drugs that he is receiving; one will be switched to a different kind of drug that is less toxic to the heart. Rob will also be having another CT scan done with this coming treatment so we are praying for good results this time as well. Dr. Wong mentioned that if the tumor has shrunk again, it may be time to start thinking about talking with the surgeons. This is another step forward and we ask for your prayers as we look ahead to this possibility. We realize there is no guarantee about any of this, but Rob is in the care of the Great Physician and we have the comfort and peace that He is working for our good.
Time goes so fast to us, which may be a surprise for you to hear. The days and weeks whip by, even so that it only just sunk in for Rob that he was in the hospital for 4 months, which is a third of a year! There have been so many hard days, yet we can see in it all to so many blessings!
Phillipians 4: 4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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