Thursday, February 2, 2012

Thursday update

Thanks everyone for another day of prayers.  We really continue to feel all of your support and pleadings to God on our behalf.  I have more mobility today, it's been easier moving my neck and getting in and out of bed.  Even made a lap around the floor without my walker tonight.  So we are really thankful.

On the future medical treatment front, we have a 1 pm appointment in Bloomington IN on Monday to get all the preparation steps for radiation taken care of there.  We don't have all the details of the treatment figured out yet but will get the positioning devices made with the staff there on Monday and meet with Dr McDonald to discuss his plans for treatment.  We have housing arranged for in Bloomington so that base is covered for now. We are hoping to be released here from the hospital sometime tomorrow as long as things continue to go well.

I'm blessed with a lot of caring family and co-workers who are helping with all the other research into the different forms of chemo and alternatives to it.  So we've got some other doctors we are in the early stages of reaching out to in order to explore what might be applicable to my case.  It seems that everyone agrees radiation is the next best step but the confidence in it is not so high that we pursue it only.  We've got a lab in California doing some testing and checking into a doctor in Boston.  There's a clinical trial at Northwestern that might be an option if radiation doesn't succeed.  It just seems that this is so rare that it made sense to branch beyond the Mayo's family for this.  Just pray that God would help direct us in sorting out these decisions as they are not always easy and take a lot of effort and time so we pray we can make good decisions quickly without wearing us all out.  And meanwhile realizing that ultimately God is in control and we are not trying to discount his capability for just a plain old good fashioned miracle.

One last encouragement to you, as I was drifting to sleep last night and closed my eyes, I just saw this faint image filling the room of people standing around on all sides.  It happened a couple different times as I opened and closed my eyes.  I recognized a few of them as Bros from Tremont church, others I didn't recognize.  It was one of the most re-assuring experiences I have had, as though this represented all those people, some I know, some I don't know, who are surrounding us with their prayers to God for us.  I don't desire the pain for  all my family and friends to watch us go through this, but experiences like this have sure built my faith, and I just don't think you can buy them any other way than going through suffering.  The rest of you probably have been through experiences like this in life and I'm probably just the last one to experience it, but it really builds my appreciation for all of you.

Love,
Derek & Leann

6 comments:

  1. So glad your recovery is going well and you may be released tomorrow. We'll keep praying that things would continue to go well and that your direction going forward would be made clear.

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  2. May the Lord bless you today with His strength and energy... We love you guys!

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  3. So thankful that your recovery is going well. May God continue to lead and direct you in your decision making. Prayers for a safe trip home. Also, that you can be as comfortable as possiblen while traveling. Many thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of you. Thank you for the energy that you put into the updates. They are really appreciated. God bless. Love in Him from Kansas City, Joan Fehr

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  4. Continuing to lift you all up in prayer. Your vision brought tears to my eyes -- reminded me of my vision of Jesus when I was recovering from ecclampsia. God is SO good and knows just what we need!

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  5. So thankful your recovery is progressing so well. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Much love and many continued prayers. Kerry&Kelly

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  6. Continuing our prayers for you to decifer all the information that comes to you. Know that it can be so confusing and sometimes conflicting. Each Dr. has their own opinion and trying to decide which Dr. to rely on is a hard decision. May God give you a peace when you decide on a course of treatment. Keep us in your prayers too, as Stan has his MRI on Tuesday. We'll keep you in constant prayer on Monday, if you'll say a few extras for us between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m on Tuesday. I'm sure you know what it's like waiting for results. May God grant both you and Stan good outcomes, but most of all may it be God's will. Stan & Colleen Ringger

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