Quick Upate - Monday February 19, 2007

Good Evening Friends and Family:

Just want to update you on how Muggs is doing since the last chemotherapy treatment. We are now on day 5 (post-treatment) and although she is experiencing some significant fatigue, she has tolerated this round much better than the last two. It seems as if the administration of fluids is key to a better experience. She is continuing to try to do her part to keep her fluid intake constant. She still has difficulty with the taste of water, but is getting creative about the way she gets fluids. Although water is best, she is also eating Popsicles and ice cream bars as well. She does continue to have some nausea, but it is more manageable this time around. Her appetite is some better this round too.

As for the Avastin, the new medication that she received - we think that she tolerated this well, although we don't have a baseline to evaluate any side effects. We understand that side effects with this new drug are not as pronounced, so perhaps she really isn't having any additive side effects.

We continue to experience God's care as expressed through our friends and family, and are so grateful for you. Thanks for continuing to pray for us as we walk this road. Since many have expressed appreciation for specific prayer requests, I thought I would share a few with you tonight:

• Please continue to pray for Muggs' complete healing. Specifically, that the chemo would continue to attack the cancer, and that the new drug would also have its intended effect of preventing blood vessel growth to the primary tumor.
• Muggs is keeping a quiet heart and mind as she walks through this. I know that none of you are surprised by this. God has given her much grace as she has faced this battle. Please pray that she would continue to receive the grace that God is providing.
• We are dealing with some additional illness in the house, as two of our children were recently diagnosed with strep throat. Please pray for God's protection for Muggs - that she doesn't contract this infection.
• I would appreciate your prayers as well - that i would continue to seek God and what He is speaking to me during this time. He has been so kind to meet me during this time, and provide fresh grace for each new day.
• Finally, please pray for the children, that they would have hearts that are attuned to God, and that their hearts would remain pliable and receptive to His truth. And, that they would look for new ways to serve Muggs and be sensitive to her needs each day.

I continue to be amazed that so many of you visit this site and are eager to care for us, and lift us before the Father. I hope that you sense our sincere gratitude and love for you.

For the family,

Andy

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dear Friends and Family:

Thanks for checking-in with us for an update... First, a few words about the photo... Muggs suggested we take it (just for fun) because the glasses matched her outfit so well. I recently found a source for some pretty funky reading glasses, so I bought the pair I'm wearing in the picture. A few of the kids are "totally embarrassed" when I wear them, so naturally, I wear them just because it bugs them - all in good family fun of course!

Muggs had her third round of chemotherapy today. The girls accompanied us to the doctor for the office portion of the visit. They decorated some cookies for Valentine's Day today, so they took them to share with the doctor and staff. We also wanted the girls to see the office and have a chance to see what happens when Muggs goes to the doctor.

We met with the oncologist before she started chemotherapy and learned of a new drug that she wants to add to to Muggs' treatment. The drug, Avastin, has been used to treat colon cancer for some time, but was recently approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of lung cancer. Avastin is different from the chemotherapy regimen in that it is a "targeted therapy" designed to retard or stop blood vessel growth to the tumor. As we understand it, a tumor sends out signals to nearby blood vessels. These signals cause new blood vessels to grow toward the tumor. Once these new vessels reach the tumor, they provide the supply of blood that provides oxygen and other nutrients to the tumor, helping the tumor grow.

We are discovering that treatment involves both science and art. The doctor and nursing staff have been diligently trying go make the experience more comfortable and manageable for Muggs. I think I mentioned before that the doctor wants to get ahead of the dehydration that has caused so much difficulty. So, this Friday, she will go in for fluids before the weekend, hopefully avoiding the severe dehydration that she had before. They will also administer the Avastin during this visit.

I'll close for now, and will keep you posted on how Muggs is doing over the next few days. Before closing, I want to again express our profound gratitude for your care for us. You are ministering life to us in so many ways. So many of you are praying for us, and take time to encourage us by letting us know that you are. Daily, we are reminded of God's specific, intentional care for us - as expressed through you. And, we pray for you daily as well, as our hearts are filled with deep gratitude for your kindness, and the sacrifices so many of you have made for us. Every meal, phone call, note of encouragement, or gift, represents a sacrifice on your behalf, and we are humbled by this.

For the Family,

Andy

Update # 2 for Thursday February 8, 2007

Friends and Family;

This afternoon, we are rejoicing in the abundant mercy and grace of God. We received encouraging news when we visited the oncologist! The primary tumor is responding to treatment. The radiology report reads as follows:

"...mass appears to have contracted slightly since the study of 12/20/06. Associated pleural effusion (fluid) has also reduced. No new abnormality is identified."

Based on the measurements provided from both readings, it looks like it amounts to an approximate 30% reduction in overall size - if my math is correct. We have been praying for God's intervention, and would have counted no growth as an answer to prayer. But God gave us more than what we expected, and we are so very grateful. While we are aware that this is a long-term battle, we are rejoicing in the victory God has given us for today - and it is not insignificant.

As is normally the case, there is more that I would like to add to this posting, but I'll let that go for now. We know you will be rejoicing with us at the encouraging news, and in the faithfulness of God demonstrated towards us. So, because I know many will visit this evening for an update, I wanted to be sure to get this good news posted. Thank you ever so much for your prayers.

Update for Thursday - February 8th

Good Morning!

If you have visited here in the last few days, you are aware that today, we meet with Muggs' doctor to discuss the results of the CT Scan. Even though we have been cautioned not to expect too much progress, or at least not to be discouraged if we don't see much progress, we are still a bit on edge. Perhaps I should speak for myself... I am anxious. Yet, I know that God is the same today, as He always has been, and as He always will be.

Faithfulness is the essence of His character, and of His disposition towards us. Please do pray for us today. Yes, we earnestly desire to learn that the chemotherapy is having its intended effect, and that the tumor is shrinking - or at least, not advancing. But, whatever the report, please pray that we will remain steadfast in our trust in Him. That is difficult for me to even write here, because I want so desperately for God to heal Muggs of this cancer. By faith, I am endeavoring to trust Him nonetheless. And, where my faith is faltering, I am trusting in the faithfulness of Christ, whose perfect faith has been credited to me.

Our appointment is at 1:30 today. I'll update the blog sometime afterwards. Thanks for your faithfulness to pray.

Brief Update

Friends and Family:

First of all, thank you so very much for continuing to visit the site. You may have noticed that I installed a site meter on the blog to measure traffic. Honestly, I was astonished when I visited the site this evening and noticed that we've had almost 200 visits since I installed the counter on Saturday afternoon.

I am very humbled by this, and at the same time, deeply grateful. It reminds me that so many of you are carrying us on your hearts. I am also aware that many of you are diligent to lift us before the Lord - both as you visit, and in the in-between time. I wish that I could reach out to each one of you to express my profound gratitude for caring for us in this way.

The other effect that this kind of traffic has is that it increases the pressure (in a good way) I feel to update more consistently. I have many thoughts to share relative to what we are walking through - I have been keeping hand-written notes on these thoughts and hope to compile them in the next day or so. Keeping up has been difficult. Even though the activity level for us as a family has slowed a bit, we still find ourselves "compressed at the margins" of life. I'm certain that each of you can relate to this. However, just as you are so faithful to "check-in" on us, I want to be faithful to provide fresh content.

I want to share with you a bit about where we are walking these days. I will "unpack" these thoughts in more detail later. As I wrote earlier, the cycle-time between the onset of the effects of the chemotherapy and Muggs' recovery was much shorter this time around. What does seem to have lasted is the fatigue. Muggs tires more easily, and finds that she does not have the stamina to keep her normal pace of life. Both Muggs and I often get discouraged when we ponder what we are facing - in terms of duration. We are aware that this is a longer-term battle, and that's discouraging.

Yet, at the same time, it is possible to grow familiar with one's trials, and lose site of our desperate need for God's intervention. (This is what I will discuss in a later posting) But we are desperate - not only during seasons of trial, but every day. We never really move on from our desperate estate - we just grow self-sufficient. And, when we become self-sufficient, we necessarily fail to depend fully on Christ as our all-sufficient Savior. So this is one tangible way that you can pray for us: That we will constantly be aware of our desperate need, and refuse to rely on our own strength. I was reading this morning from a book containing the writings of Charles Spurgeon. This morning's reading contained the following thought: "God's rest and God's presence is a ring of finest gold set with the choicest pearl." During my most difficult hours, I have found this to be true of my experience - and I never want to move on from His active presence and rest.

There are also a couple of other prayer requests - specifically for what we are facing this week:

• Tomorrow, Muggs has a CT Scan to measure the tumor and evaluate the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Please pray that we would experience God's peace, and freedom from anxiousness as we await the results. We will discuss the scan results with the doctor on Thursday afternoon
• Please pray that the chemo would have its full effect and that it is effectively killing any cancer cells, and attacking the tumor.
• Pray that Muggs would experience a lifting of the fatigue that she is experiencing, and also relief from some aches and pains resulting from the chemotherapy.
• That God would grant us victory over discouragement, and instead, fill us with His joy.

In closing, thank you again for carrying us on your hearts, and for praying for us. For those of you who are posting comments, they are a steady source of encouragement to us, and a reminder that God is actively caring for us through you. We thank God for you on a daily basis.

For the family,

Andy

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Ps 46:1