“The Stars Have Aligned”

Updates

• I reached the stem cell collection goal and have been cleared for transplant to start next week!
• I have been released from the hospital after experiencing a serious allergic reaction during a minor surgery.
• Chemo has started, and “high-intensity chemo” begins on Wednesday of next week.

Prayer Requests and Praises

• This week was a wild one for us. My stem cell collection was proceeding slower than anticipated due to allergic reactions to a particular shot used to stimulate white blood cells. My goal was “5 million cells” (which is actually five million per kilogram I weigh, totaling over 300,000,000 cells), and I was lagging. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big problem, but the doctor told me it would delay my transplant start date by seven days. This was concerning because my cancer is so aggressive that even a week’s delay could allow the cancer cells more time to fester and grow. Neither we nor my doctor wanted that to happen.

• A real answer to prayer occurred on Thursday when the doctor signed off for me to proceed. He said I would meet the necessary cell collection goal by the end of the day. This means the high-intensity chemo won’t be delayed! Appointments were immediately lined up for surgery to remove my stem cell collection device and replace it with the high-intensity chemo catheter.

The exact words we were told: “Multiple stars had to align for you to get that, and it just happened.”
Praise the Lord! As many of you have pointed out, it wasn’t the stars, but rather the Creator who made the stars — not random chance, but divine providence.

• Things are now moving quickly, and I have begun chemotherapy treatment. Please pray for no more allergic reactions and for minimal (or no!) side effects.

What I Am Learning

• The same day I received the great news about reaching the cell collection goal, I later experienced an intense allergic reaction during a minor surgery. They believe it was likely due to the numbing medication given at the start of the procedure. My breathing became difficult, and I was experiencing chest discomfort — all while my whole body turned as red as a hot pepper. I was awake during the procedure (under a very hot blue tarp!) and was quickly rushed to the ER and stabilized.

• I am thankful to God that He preserved my life and gave me clarity of mind during the procedure to communicate with the many doctors and nurses working to help me. I admit I was becoming anxious during this ordeal but thought about Philippians 4:8-9. That passage speaks about dwelling on things that are good, lovely, right, and true. I thought about the key people God has placed in my life to care for me — Jenny, my parents, my kids, and individuals from First Baptist Church. I thought about deacons and staff members I work with who have shown us the love of Christ in extraordinary ways. God has truly blessed me and my family with great Christian fellowship that continues to sustain me even in urgent situations.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise — think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9)

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me. (Psalm 30:1–2)

What Has Been Encouraging

• I have repeatedly thought about my family this week. In this blog, I want to highlight the constant love and support from my mom and dad. Our original plan was to spend the weeks in Houston leading up to transplant with our children, and then have my parents take over during my isolation period. That plan changed. My entire life I had never had any allergic reactions, but they began during my immunotherapy treatments back in March. Due to these allergic reactions, it became necessary for me to spend the past two weeks on campus at the hospital. My parents were thrown into 24/7 babysitting — and they rose to the occasion. They took care of me growing up, and now they are taking care of me through cancer by taking care of our kids.

• Below is one of my new favorite pictures. It shows my whole family visiting me while I’ve been restricted to the hospital campus. They are leaving the property holding hands, and I am so grateful for their tireless effort to support me during this trial!