Show my ennemies how you love me

From Dave in the hospital.

The radiation therapy that I'm taking now is to deal with a lesion in my vertebrae which is pressing on my spinal cord.This is causing loss of feeling in my lower body and loss of force in my legs.If the pressure can be removed soon enough,the nerves can recover.After that, the paralysis becomes permanent.
This morning I was sent for a consultation in orthopedics to see if we should consider spinal surgery.(I was supposed to have the consultation yesterday but the spinal surgeon was called away while I was there waiting.)
The surgeon who looked at my case this morning wasn't sure what to do. He explained that he wasn't a spinal surgeon and that there wouldn't be one at the hospital for the next eight days. He might have to send me to another hospital for a consultation.
When I heard that,I really needed to pray, but I wasn't sure how to get started. Unable to think of anything else, I started reciting the 23rd Psalm.The following verse caught my attention:

"You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows" ( Ps 23:5 NIV)

Who are my enemies here?
Figuratively speaking,Death and Disease. I remembered also that anointing someone's head was a sing of honor. My heart began to pray "Lord show my enemies how you love me"
As I prayed in my distress, who should come into the room but the spinal surgeon I missed yesterday! As I continued to pray he discussed the case with his colleague and gradually things became clear to them.

The operation, if it ever takes place, is an extremely difficult one, Therefore, we will give the radiation time to act. The surgeon has a next Thursday clinic, two days after my last radiation treatment. He'll evaluate me then. If my lower body condition seems to be stable or improving, we'll wait.If things are deteriorating, we'll have the possibility of operating rapidly should we decide to.

Please, my friends, join me in praying that it doesn't come to that.Pray for sings of improvement in the next few days. Finally,Thank the Lord for giving me the prayer I needed at just that moment,and then supplying answer as I prayed.

A trip cut short

Our family went to Elim lodge after the OK from Doctors.We enjoyed two days with the Brown relatives from Ontario.We were glad to have made it,but new symptoms of pain and changed sensation in Dave's lower body forced us to come back.We were transfered on tuesday the 28th of July from the Peterborough hospital to our CharlesLemoyne hospital on the south shore because they could not do tests and treatments in a timely fashion there.Later on Dave's legs became too weak to support him.
Yesterday,the MRI of the spine showed as expected compression of the spinal cord at the mid back level(T4), and he had the first of 5 radiotherapy treatments to that site.
We pray and hope
Our car and children stayed behind with our relatives who will take care of them till the end of the vacation week and bring them back.
In the midst of our troubles we came across the following verse, chosen for us by a friend:"Call upon me in the day of trouble (in french-distress);I will deliver you, and you will honor (in french-glorify) me "
This verse has really encouraged us to look for God's deliverance in this time of distress.
Liette

Vacation!

My family usually gets together for a week's vacation each summer, renting cottage or motel units at Elim Lodge in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario.

Last year I couldn't go because I had immunotherapy treatments at the hospital. Liette stayed with me, and we sent the children by train to Kingston, where my brother picked them up.

Three weeks ago, when it came time to pay the balance for this year, I was still in the hospital. We decided to cancel, since it didn't seem likely that I could make the trip.

However, with the radiation therapy last week, I began to feel better. I'm still not very mobile; I need a wheelchair, crutches or walker to get around, but I have a lot less pain. Apparently it can take up to six weeks to reach the full effect of the radiation therapy, so I can look forward to futher improvements.

As I began to feel better, we starting thinking about our trip again. The doctors even encouraged me to go. We called and found out that our unit was still available. Not only that, but they will supply the wheelchair for me and leave it in the unit! Little by little the other pieces of the puzzle fell into place, with the result that we are leaving this afternoon! We'll break up the drive by stopping overnight in Kingston.

We are all thrilled by this, and are looking forward to a great week (even if the forecast calls for rain for the next 6 days).

For Better Or For Worse

Friday was our 16th wedding anniversary.

In the morning, Liette took me to my appointment with the oncologist. We got the results from my latest blood test, which were encouraging - everything was in the normal range, although some of the values were just on the edge. This is a long way from being cured, but at least it's good news.

In the afternoon we went for my second last radiation therapy session. The therapy is helping - I have less pain and more mobility, but I still have a long way to go before I can even walk unaided.

After that we went on a few errands with Jeremy: taking the lawn mower to be fixed (we needed him to lift it in and out of the car) and buying barbecue accessories (he has a proprietary interest, since he and my niece assembled the new barbecue).

We ended up near one of our favourite "date" restaurants, so we brought him along for our anniversary supper!

Liette is a real blessing to me in this difficult time, with her faithful love and practical help.

I'm In His Hands

If only the cancer would stay still, I sometime feel the doctors could catch up to it, with radiation therapy and other treatments to deal with the symptoms. However, that's not how it is, so I find I need encouragement these days more than ever. Here's a note from one of my friends,

I've been thinking about Stanley Ditmer, composer of "I'm in His Hands". You probably know he wrote that while ill and expected to die with cancer. He went on to live many years after that!

"I shall not fear though darkened clouds may gather 'round me -
The God I serve is one who cares and understands.
What though the storms I face would threaten to confound me,
Of this I am assured: I'm in His hands.

What though I cannot know the way that lies before me,
I still can trust and freely follow His commands.
My faith is firm since He it is who watches o'er me;
Of this I'm confident: I'm in His hands."

Praise to God who not only watches over me, but holds me in His very own hands.

Radiation Therapy

On Tuesday, I was scheduled to see the Radio Oncologist to see if radiation therapy could help me. I have to admit that I was concerned that things would proceed slowly, with at least a week's wait before I would start treatment.

Not at all. When the doctor met me, it was clear that she had already studied my file and had identified possible sites to be treated. Furthermore, she had already set up appointments for marking and for my first treatment THE VERY SAME DAY. I was quite impressed and thankful.

So I have now actually had three treatments, and this series of will finish on Monday.

The sites being treated are those that caused me the most pain: the leg that was operated on, my right rear pelvis and my sternum. These are all locations where the cancer has attacked the bone (metastases).

The pain is already declining, but I still required help to walk, in the form of a walker or crutches. I have very little in the way of side effects, mostly just tiredness, plus some soreness at one of the radiation sites. Based on what I was told in March, it can take up to four weeks for the full benefits to be felt.

It's Me Again And I'm Back Home

I was released from hospital this afternoon. What a relief to get home and eat leftovers instead of hospital food :)

The staff at the hospital was wonderful in every way, but there's still "no place by home."

It's surprising how quickly life can change. A few weeks ago, even though I knew I had cancer, I was still feeling reasonably well and was still making long term plans. Then, bingo! Now, everything is up in the air.

Still, I got my hip operation soon enough, before the cancer could incapacitate me, and I have begun treatment for some of the other tumours, with more appointments to come. The future may remain a mystery, but there's lots to be thankful for in the present.

Thanks, Liette, for keeping my blog up to date while I was in hospital.

Thanks also to all those who continue to support us in thought and in prayer, and by helpful actions.

"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;" Psalm 23:4

Home again?

Tomorrow friday the 10th of july Dave is supposed to come home.
The doctors have controled the pain(without too much drowsiness),diminished his high calcium, gave him some blood,gave some medecine to eliminate the extra fluid etc...He is walking with a walker and has learned to manage steps with crutches.We will have follow up next week in oncology and radio-oncology.
Dave seems clinically better than his "chart"would have us think. --Your prayers are precious--
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may recieve mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews4:16
Liette

treatments

Today the new oncologist (for the next 2 weeks on the ward)visited Dave.He will be getting a blood transfusion for anemia and I.V.'s for getting the calcium down. Maybe radiotherapy for the bone.
Things seem to be happening fast
Liette

Progress

Since 2 days, David is doing better. His pain is more controlled. We walks short distances by himself with a walker. He is less drowsy, but still has disturbing side-effects (dreams). He can receive visitors. He has been transfered to the oncology service and a pain management specialist also sees him. He is at the Charles-Lemoyne Hospital in Greenfield Park. I often print your e-mails and bring them to him. They encourage him a lot.

Liette

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

Hospital Stay

I am writing for David today. After going to the ER on Saturday the 27th, at the recommendation of the oncologist, because the pain in his leg was worse (he couldn't walk) and he had pain in his chest, he was seen on Monday the 29th by the orthopaedist who decided to operate on his hip that same day because a tumour there rendered it very likely to break. it was done under spinal anaesthesia. They put "cement" in the weak part, and pin and screw. He is recuperating from that at Charles-Lemoyne hospital. He should be able to walk. He was up on the chair for 2 meals yesterday. We still need to know the plan for the rest of the problems (tumours elsewhere). They are adjusting the medication so that his pain should be well controlled but not too many side effects like "sluggishness".

Many people are praying, sending notes, offering to help. Thank you so much. We see you are God's extended hands and heart.

"'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

- Liette