From the Lord

Updates: 

• A lot has transpired since my last update! We have spent the week connecting with lymphoma specialists from around the country. Jenny and I even took a trip to Houston to visit the main campus of MD Anderson.
  
• My open lung biopsy came back with results indicating that I have Primary Refractory Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This means my previous treatment plan was unsuccessful and my cancer is more aggressive than originally thought.
  
• I will be changing treatment facilities and seeing a local lymphoma specialist due to the more unique nature of my case. My new treatment plan will include six weeks of “high-intensity chemo” to prepare me for a bone marrow transplant. Every doctor I’ve spoken with believes I need a bone marrow transplant. I will begin my new chemo treatment ASAP.
  
• Several people have wondered why my open lung biopsy was just a biopsy and didn’t remove the growing mass completely. The answer is that the mass is not the primary issue. Lymphoma is a blood cancer. Even if the mass were removed, the cancer would still be present and would simply relocate to another area in my body. The goal of this new round of chemotherapy is to eradicate the mass by killing every cancer cell in my body. The aim is to attack the cancer at the cellular level instead of superficially.

Prayer Requests and Praises: 

• We are grateful for the clarity provided by the recent biopsy. My surgeon was excellent, and the procedure was crucial for informing the next phase of my treatment plan. We praise God for this!

• This next phase of treatment is very important, and we need the Lord’s help. The doctors believe there is still a possibility of a cure with a successful transplant. We are grateful there remains a good treatment option! But the Lord is more important than what any doctor thinks or predicts. My family and I would ask that you pray for us during the next several weeks, that God would cure me of this illness. Please pray my body will have strength this next week for the chemo – especially after my recent biopsy as I am still recovering.

What I am Learning: 

• While it is good that my biopsy was conclusive, it is hard to hear that my mass is cancerous. We had originally planned on receiving two more treatments to complete my original twelve and then be in the clear. We are now entering a more difficult phase than we initially expected. I have had various responses and reflections since receiving the news about my mass. The most important one is that I must confess with Job: “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10)
  
• The Lord is the Lord, and He is in total control of my life. Our God is in the heavens, and He does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3). Every twist and turn of my life is ordained by Him and under His sovereign care. Jesus did not stop loving me when I got lymphoma, nor when I realized it was refractory lymphoma. The Lord is kind and faithful to my family, regardless of hard news. He will continue to “keep” my life “from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 121). I am confident of this because Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave victoriously. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

What Has Been Encouraging: 

• My wife is the very best. As we traveled to Houston, she took care of everything. She brought all our medical files, bags, and gear with us. I was completely useless traveling because I am not allowed to lift anything due to my recent surgery.
  
• Jenny faithfully and joyfully took care of me, and we had a great time. No one wants to travel to a different city for cancer care, but it was our first trip since I was diagnosed. I am so blessed by the Lord to have a wife who is committed “in sickness and in health!”

Ps. I have been locked out of my Facebook account because I don’t currently look like the photo ID that Facebook has on file (due to chemo). I have tried everything to get back into my account and discovered that Meta is notoriously difficult with customer service for individuals in my situation. I will continue to persist. For now, the best way to get updates is via email from this blog. So sorry!