Unbelievable

Matthew - June 8, 2010

2010-06-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Our precious and much loved Matthew passed away and went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 8, 2010 at 1:45 a.m. after a courageous, 3 1/2 year struggle with cancer. His dad/Greg, mom/Nancy, brother/Ian, and fiance/Tiffani were present.

Services are on Saturday, June 12 at First Baptist Church, Clinton, TN

Receiving of friends 1-3 p.m.

Funeral 3 p.m.

Burial to follow

2010-06-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been since mid-May that I have updated the blog. Many of you have gotten the updates via other means so this will be a repeat of what you already know. Others of you could use a few details of the past few weeks.

In the middle of May, Matthew had not recovered enough from the chemo he took in April to continue with the treatment scheduled for May 17. He received a blood transfusion on the 19th to improve his hemoglobin. Beginning the 2nd week of May, Matthew had begun retaining fluid and by Friday the 21st the swelling was so uncomfortable, an ER trip was warranted. Because of the excessive swelling in his feet, he developed cellulitis on his left foot as well as a bad rash on both feet due to the irritation of the surface tissue. Matthew was admitted on the 21st, had a paracentisis that removed 9 liters of fluid and was put on IV antibiotics for the cellulitis. He stayed in the hospital until Monday the 24th during which time he also had trouble eating.

After coming home, Matthew began to feel a little better, continuing the strong antibiotics but not being able to eat much because of sickness. Unfortunately by Friday the swelling in his feet returned and on Saturday he had blisters on his hands and feet as well as swelling in both hands. He was unable to walk without assistance and had to use the wheelchair. Due to these changes, we returned to the ER on Saturday afternoon, May 29th.

During this hospital stay, MANY blood tests were run to determine the problem with the rash/blisters/swelling of hands and feet. Nothing is definitive yet but Vasculitis was considered the most probable option. Since steroids are given for someone with Vasculitis and that was not a good option for Matthew, nothing was done. Since more fluid had accumulated, another paracentisis was done on Monday, the 31st removing 6 3/4 liters, making it necessary to stay in the hospital until Tuesday, the 1st of June.

I am happy to say that the swelling is gone in his hands but some sores remain. The swelling in his feet has improved and the blisters/rash is improving slowly each day. They still have a long way to go. We are thankful that he is now able to walk without pain. Matthew is still having a lot of nausea and sickness issues so he is still eating a liquid and soft food diet. Our son and Matthew's brother, Ian, came in on the weekend and has been a tremendous help this week fixing nutritious juices and smoothies for Matthew to help him regain his strength. Ian's energy has been a help to ALL of us.

In the midst of his fatigue, feeling weak and sick and waiting on his feet to heal, Matthew's sense of humor stays in tact. Suddenly in the middle of a conversation his quiet voice will come out with a pun or statement in his own special, dry humor and his Dad, brother, fiance and I will all burst out laughing. I've always told him he needs to become a comedian!

Thank you for all the acts of love, support, and thoughtfulness we are receiving daily. Even after 4 years of receiving these blessings, the support remains strong and your commitment to us never wavers. God has used you all in so many special ways to provide what we need and at just the right time. I pray for God's blessings on your lives and that one day we will be able to reach out to you in your need.

Our prayer requests are: strength & energy for Matthew; less pain; healing of his feet; his ability to eat without so much sickness; the removal of fluid without infection; energy and wisdom for those of us who take care of his needs - doctors, nurses, family and friends.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Nancy

Sometimes it's like a roller coaster ride...

2010-05-19T01:31:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to update you on Matthew and ask for your prayers as we face new hurdles.

Matthew ended his last chemo treatment on April 27. Unfortunately it was a very rough treatment and left Matthew feeling extremely tired and sick with very poor blood counts. We were in hopes that over 2 to 3 weeks break he would recover and be ready for the next treatment to begin on 5/17. Unfortunately that has not been the case. So this weeks chemo was cancelled. In addition to low counts, Matthew has developed swelling due to some liver issues.

Please pray for Matthew especially tomorrow (Wednesday, 5/19). He will have a blood transfusion to hopefully remedy some of the blood count problems. We are in hopes that this will make him feel a lot better.

Back in April, our doctor from MD Anderson told us about a clinical trial at Sloan Kettering in New York (where we went in 2008) that is a specific treatment for people with DSRCT - the rare cancer that Matthew has and that we should consider it at some point in the future. Last Friday, Dr. Anderson recommended that we pursue this now because he felt this is the best option for Matthew at this point. We began making calls today to look into this possibility.

So, you can see the situation has changed quite a bit since the last email. We ask for your continued prayers for strength, direction, and peace about the decisions that are being made. Please pray for Matthew's pain and discomfort, the swelling, and for energy to meet the challenges of each new day.

In the midst of the hard times, we are blessed with laughter and fun times together and we are thankful for that.

Also, we are thankful for your prayers for us and the encouraging cards, texts, and emails you send our way. They help so much.

Nancy

Matthew began chemo today

2010-04-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Just a quick word to let you know that Matthew was able to begin his chemo today. He will be hooked up for 2 wks followed by a 2 wk break. His counts were borderline so he also received a shot for his red count today as well. Thursday he will return to receive his additional chemo (Avastin) that he takes once every 2 wks.

Thanks for the love and prayers,
Nancy

Blood counts are improving

2010-04-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that Matthew's white cell count was better on Thursday but only slightly. This is good news in that the "trend" for all of the counts is on the upswing. This means they have "bottomed out" since the first week of chemo in Houston and are now recovering. Unfortunately they were still way too low for him to begin chemo again. He did receive 2 shots (one Thurs and one Fri) of Neupagen that helps encourage manufacturing of the white cells. Hopefully with the shots and the trend of the numbers already moving upward, Matthew will be in good shape to begin chemo on Monday the 19th. Our appt. is at 1:00 p.m. that day.

Many of you have sent supportive messages this week reminding us that God continues to be in control and things happen for a reason. In the midst of these setbacks, Matthew is feeling much better, eating better and has gained weight. Praise the Lord for that!

I'll send a quick note after Monday's doctor's visit to let you know the latest.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Nancy

Chemo postponed again

2010-04-13T08:09:00.001-07:00

We went to the doctor yesterday for Matthew to begin chemo again. Unfortunately, even though his urinalysis was ok, his blood counts were extremely low and the doctor would not allow him to begin chemo again. He wanted us to wait until next Monday but Matthew persuaded them to check him again Thursday to see if his counts had recovered enough to begin then.

The original intent of this plan of chemo treatment was for Matthew to be "hooked-up" to the chemo 24/7 for two weeks. (They only temporarily unhooked him last week so he could fly home.) Now, instead of an overnight break, it has turned into 4 days and ultimately could be over a week's break. After contacting our doctor in Houston yesterday, he told us that when Matthew gets to start again he will then need to continue 2 weeks from that point. Even though he had already had a week's worth of the 24/7 chemo in Houston, it didn't count since the weeks had to be consecutive.

So... we are praying for patience, wisdom and strength to face these setbacks. We are also praying that Matthew will continue to feel well enough to eat to maintain his strength and weight. We are also praying that his counts have already bottomed out and will begin to recover soon.

Love,
Nancy

We are home from Houston

2010-04-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to make you aware that Matthew's Houston doctor allowed him to come on home to finish his current round of treatment at our Knoxville Oncologist's office. The details were taken care of over a matter of 2 days and we were on our way. Matthew was unhooked from his chemo yesterday morning (Thurs) and we flew home last night. This morning we went to Knoxville for him to "re-hooked". Unfortunately his urinalysis wasn't acceptable so they gave him a large bag of IV fluids and rescheduled his chemo hook-up for Monday. They'll retest him at that time to make sure he is in shape to take the chemo. If so, he will take the 2nd bag of chemo over a 7 day period ending the following Monday. At that point, he will have a 2 week break. When the break is over he will again be connected to 24/7 chemo that will last for 2 wks followed by another break. On June 1st, we will return to Houston for repeat scans.

It is WONDERFUL to be home! I believe that just the positive effects of being home will be a boost all the way around! Thanks to Greg, our yard and flower beds look amazing. Spring has definitely hit East Tennessee.

God blesses us daily through your prayers, phone calls, texts, supportive emails, blog entries and Facebook comments. They definitely lift us up and help us keep moving forward. Since we are home, I look forward to some local hugs as well!

Nancy

Back in Houston 4/1/10

2010-04-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew and I returned to Houston this past Sunday evening (3/28). On Monday and Tuesday (3/29 & 30) Matthew had a Petscan, CT scan, chest xray and blood work. On Wednesday we met with his Oncologist and Radiologist.

The news we received was mixed. First of all, the radiation & chemo therapy specifically on the liver that Matthew received in January & February was very successful. The difference in the visuals of the liver was remarkable. This is very good news.

Unfortunately in the next breath the doctor used the word "but" which is when we were told that while the "good things" were happening in the liver area, the cancer outside the liver had become aggressive. So, what has to be done is to get it back "in control". The plan of attack is that Matthew will begin a regimen of chemo that will be infused 24/7 over a 14 period. (For those that are interested, the drug is Ifosfomide with Mesna.) He will also take Avastin every 2 wks.

Dr. Anderson, (Matthew's oncologist) said, "I guess you are wondering why I didn't suggest this before. Well, I didn't know about it's new use for those in your situation until 3 wks ago." So, we feel like we are getting the most current treatment possibility at this point.

Matthew & I will remain in Houston for at least 2 wks. His doctor may let us go home at some point allowing Matthew to receive treatment in Knoxville.

I will certainly keep you posted as we settle into this new treatment schedule. We would appreciate your prayers that this will be very effective for Matthew. Thank you.

I hope and pray each of you have a blessed Easter, a time to remember the triumph that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ had over death and the sacrifice He made to give eternal life to each of us. Hallelujah! He is risen!

Love,

Nancy

A brief "visit" at home

2010-03-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

Matthew and I returned from Houston on February 20th. He has been hit pretty hard with his new chemo (peg interferon) but has improved this past week. The doctor had told him that he would probably develop a "tolerance" to the chemo and feel better as he continued the drug. Fortunately, that has happened. He still sleeps quite a bit to fight the fatigue from the radiation treatments he had in Jan & Feb.

I arrived home sick with an upper respiratory virus & ear infection. Been on 2 antibiotics and can't seem to kick it. I return to the doctor this week for some additional advice. Gotta get better because....

We return to Houston on March 28 - Palm Sunday. Matthew will have scans and tests on the 29th & 30th. We will see the doctors on the 31st for the test results and to determine what the next step will be. I'll send you information as soon as we have it.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers. That's what helps us meet the challenges of each day.

Nancy

Feb 7, 2010 Update for Matthew

2010-02-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to send an update on how things are going here in Houston. When I wrote last, Matthew was about to begin chemo and radiation at the end of that week. It took awhile to get everything in control but, thank the Lord, things are running much smoother at this point.

At first, Matthew had an adverse reaction to the chemo drug. He had taken it before and told them that he needed "heavy duty" nausea meds for it but the doctor chose to go another route which didn't work. Matthew was very sick for 5 days and lost weight because he couldn't eat. Finally, they put him on the IV meds he had had in Knoxville. Within a day he was MUCH better and after a week had gained back a few pounds that he had lost. The extra meds are given to help with the chemo drug but they also help with radiation treatments and side effects.

Each weekday Matthew has a similar schedule of pre-meds, chemo, radiation, & blood-work. He sees both doctors on Mondays. He has the weekends off of the chemo and RT. One of the meds makes him sleepy and he gets the extra rest he needs. As he continues this week and next we would expect him to become more tired from the radiation as well as sick but we'll just wait and see. No need to borrow trouble!

We were given alot of harsh words of warning about the radiation since it his liver and the treatment is what the doctor called "outside the box". We were very concerned. I am glad to say we are extremely thankful to the Lord that the many warnings of what we could expect have not happened. It's still tough, but not like it could have been to this point.

Matthew will finish his last radiation treatment on Thursday, Feb. 18th. He will receive another new, heavy duty chemo drug on that Wednesday which he is supposed to continue when he gets home. Greg will come in on the 18th and we plan to leave to come home on Saturday, the 20th. Whew, it will be good to be going home for awhile!!

We have received thoughtful cards, drawings from our sweet, great-nieces, a visit from another niece, phone calls, emails, and several gifts that have helped to make our stay easier. All I can say is: WE ARE SO BLESSED!! Thank you, thank you! Thank you, too, for the prayers that give us strength daily.

I have been reading a new book by Ruth Graham (Billy Graham's daughter) called, "Fear Not Tomorrow, God is Already There". When commenting on God's presence in our lives, Ruth uses the scripture Exodus 33:14 which says, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." What an amazing promise! And He fulfills ALL of His promises because we know God is present and by helping us carry our "load" is giving us needed rest from stress, heartache, & weariness. Praise God for His faithfulness to us.

Love,

Nancy

New plan update

2010-01-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

It's Monday, MLK day and many of you are probably home from work and/or school. Hope you have a great day off! Relax and enjoy.

It's quiet here in Houston this morning. The sun is shining bright and the temp is supposed to go to 65 degrees today - 70's for the next 2 days! Yikes!

I took Greg to the airport this morning and he'll be arriving home after lunch. Ian left yesterday to return to DC. Tiffani will be with us for another week.

Tomorrow, Matthew will begin his new chemo that was specifically chosen to enhance the radiation treatment.

This past Friday, Matthew had a "simulation" to give the radiologist the information to formulate the plan for the radiation. She (Dr. Fran McAleer) will be working on that plan this week. Depending on how long it takes her to sufficiently prepare, Matthew will begin the treatments by this Thurs or Friday, or at the very latest, Monday of next week.

Instead of the 2 weeks that we were told originally, it will be 4 weeks of radiation treatment (weekdays only). Each treatment will most likely take about an hour - beginning to end. That along with the chemo treatments will put us at the hospital a minimal amount of time which is good. Matthew will have plenty of time to rest. Two of the most prevalent side effects are fatigue and nausea which increases over time as he takes more and more of the radiation. Fortunately, one of the chemo drugs has very few side effects but the other does. Matthew has taken both of these before. The doc has given Matthew meds to help at least tolerate some of these.

Since last Wednesday when the surgery was cancelled and the plan completely changed, we have been adjusting. I must admit, I haven't been able to answer emails very promptly - I just didn't have it in me. But many of you have sent emails & Facebook comments of encouragement and reminders that God's timing & plan is perfect and we must trust that. Thank you. We have needed to hear that in the midst of our disappointment. A good friend reminded me of the "Footprints" story where there was only one set of footprints on life's journey and that was when Jesus carried the person - we are definitely being carried in the arms of our Lord at this point. Thank you for being His angels as you help "carry us" with your prayers, love, cards, calls, and emails. We are SO blessed to have you in our lives.

When I have more information on the radiation schedule, I will let you know.

May God bless you wherever you may be today.

Love,

Nancy

Surgery is cancelled for Jan 14

2010-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning Matthew's doctors decided to cancel his surgery due to the results of the scans/CT's/tests of the past 2 days. (It is not off the table - only postponed.)

The positive is that the cancer has not spread and his liver enzymes and bilirubin numbers are good. Unfortunately, the liver radiation treatment in December did not make enough improvement in the liver to make it in good enough shape for the abdominal surgery.

Sooooo...... the plan is to do a more conventional type of targeted radiation to the liver along with chemotherapy that helps the cancer as well as makes the liver more radiosensitive for the radiation. We see the radiologist tomorrow and Matthew will probably begin the new treatment next week. We'll be here for at least 2 weeks, may get to come home for awhile and then will return for repeated tests to see if surgery may be an option in March.

It was tough to hear but the decision was made by both the Oncologist and the Surgeon. We knew it had to be the right thing. We also know it has to be right because we (and you) have and continue to pray for God's guidance and His plan to be accomplished. We are claiming that today.

We were able to catch Stan before he boarded the plane and saved him the trip. Tiffani wanted to come on anyway. Looks like we are in for a few days of movies and eating out - a mini-vacation, if you will.

We will see the Radiologist today (Jan. 14) and Matthew will begin treatment next Tues.

We are regrouping and praying for the grace to be flexible. I told the guys that it's like training for a big race in the Olympics, getting your feet in the starting blocks and having the race canceled for a later date that is undecided!

I will continue to send updates when we know more about the upcoming schedule. We cherish your love and support.

Love,
Nancy

2010 Houston Update #2

2010-01-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning. Hope all is well in your world today! I just wanted to update you on things in Houston so far for this trip.

Greg left Saturday and drove ALL THE WAY to Houston - 16 1/2 hours! He did well stopping often and listening to "books on tape".
Martha took Matthew and I to the airport on Sunday. We left right on time at 6:30 p.m.. We arrived early in Houston - @ 9:00 our time - 8:00 Houston time (CST).

Monday was a grueling day with appts, exams, tests, and scans. We began at 9 a.m. and left the hospital at 9:30 p.m.. Matthew was definitely a trooper. We're very glad to have Greg here with us this visit.

Today there are more pre-surgery appts and a full body Pet-scan at 2:30 p.m. We begin the schedule at 10 a.m. and should be finished by 6 p.m. - better than yesterday.
Another great aspect of today is that Ian is flying in this afternoon. It'll sure be good to have him here with us.

Yesterday, in the appt. with our surgeon's Physician's Assistant, the possible side-effects of this surgery and chemo wash were explained again in detail. They are daunting. But we know that for the past 3+ years, God has protected Matthew from the many side effects and permanent damage of the various chemos he has been on. We know He will continue to protect Matthew but I would ask for your specific prayers in this regard. Thank you.

Tiffani and Stan will be flying in tomorrow and we look forward to them being with us. We are praying for safe travel for Ian, Tiffani, and Stan.

There are MANY of you that have contributed Marriott points to help with our accommodations while we are here for such an extended stay. Thank you SO much. I want you to know that we are in a Residence Inn less than 5 minutes from the hospital. We are in a suite with 2 bedrooms/baths with living room/kitchen combo. It's a great set-up with one bedroom/bath downstairs and one up - kind a loft situation. There's a pull out bed in the sofa in the living room so there's plenty of room for us to spread out. A breakfast buffet is available each morning. We feel SO blessed to be here!

Thanks for letting me "chat" with you this morning. I would like to be having a "one-on-one" conversation with each of you this a.m. and this has helped me do just that!

Blessings,
Nancy

To Houston for Surgery

2010-01-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Ours was quiet but ended up being amazingly busy.

The last time I spoke to you, Matthew and I were on our way to Houston for his liver treatment in December. We are happy to say that Matthew recuperated very well from the treatment and his liver enzymes have been lower which is a good sign and the doctors are very pleased with them. This is an especially good way for Matthew to go into surgery. Matthew will have scans the first of next week that should give us some results of what this treatment actually did in the liver.

We are leaving this weekend to go to Houston. Matthew's tests will begin Monday, the 11th. He will be admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with his surgery being scheduled for Thursday the 14th. We don't know the time for the surgery but I would say she'll begin early since it will last 10 to 15 hrs. The surgeon's name is Dr. Andrea Hayes-Jordan.

Greg, Ian, Tiffani, and even our beloved pastor will be there for the surgery. Family will stay various lengths of time for the first week or so. Greg will be there at least until Matthew is discharged from the hospital. Matthew and I may be there as long as 5 or 6 wks for his recovery and follow-up tests and treatment.

I will be keeping everyone posted along the way.

This is an amazing opportunity for Matthew and his future health. We are so thankful for the way God has continued to work in his life and the lives of those around us who bless us in SO many ways including the doctors and other medical staff that will care for him in the coming days. Thank you for all the ways you support us - through your love, prayers, smiles, hugs, encouraging words, cards & emails, and gifts of money, sky-miles and Marriott points as well as taking care of our home and our cats!! We continue to be so humbled by the generosity of so many. God bless each of you!!

Love and blessings,
Nancy

SIRsphere treatment

2009-12-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

Just a quick word to let you know that Matthew had his SIRsphere treatment on the liver yesterday. All went well and Matthew is resting this morning. With the pre and post treatment process, the day was long (9am to 6pm) and exhausting but we are pleased it is done. We will remain here until Sunday since Matthew is still somewhat "radioactive" and can't be real close to people for an extended period of time. We will know the result of the treatment when we return in January and Matthew has new scans. The return date is Jan. 9 to have time for pre-op testing for surgery which is scheduled for January 14th.

God bless each of you and thank you for your love and prayers for Matthew and our family. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Nancy

SIRsphere treatment

2009-12-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

Matthew and I will return to Houston this Wednesday (Dec. 16). Matthew will have a SIRsphere treatment on Thursday at MD Anderson 11:00 CST. This treatment is targeted radiation to the tumors in his liver. We will come home on the 20th to share Christmas with our family in Clinton.

We will return to MD Anderson in January for additional tests and surgery to remove all the cancer located outside the liver (in the abdomen area). There will likely be followup liver and chemo treatment. We will stay approximately 5 to 6 weeks at that time.

We are praising God for our Christmas miracles! May each of you have a blessed Christmas!!

Nancy

Houston - 4th Installment

2009-11-20T09:15:00.000-08:00

We have now been in Houston a full 2 weeks. It has gone quickly but much has been accomplished.

Now that Matthew has completed all the tests/scans needed for evaluation, we have a "plan of attack".

He will continue the chemo regimen he is currently on to hopefully keep the cancer stable while other procedures are completed.

On Tuesday, Matthew will have the diagnostic part of the liver treatment called TheraSphere or SIRsphere. This will be a "dry run" to further determine if Matthew is a candidate for the actual treatment. He has passed all eligibility tests to this point. If all goes well on Tuesday, we will return mid-December for the actual treatment. We will need to remain for about 5 days at that time.

We will return mid-January for more scans and evaluations and the final "ok" for surgery. If the answer is yes, we will remain for the surgery and some follow-up treatment (a month to 6 wks).

I know many of you are just as shocked as we are with the option for surgery. I suppose you could say we hoped for this from day one but had been told absolutely "no" until we arrived at MD Anderson this month.

Matthew has had excellent care since we began 3 years ago: from Vanderbilt, to TN Cancer Specialists (precious people who have been with us every step of the way), to Sloan Kettering. They have provided us with the best treatments AVAILABLE at every step.

You see, Matthew's cancer is very RARE and not very cooperative. Even though study continues on it, there is still a minimal amount of information to work with that is helpful in combating it. It has a mind of it's own.

The surgeon at MD Anderson has been there for 5 years and has done DSRCT surgery for the last 3 yrs. Our coordinating oncologist says she is the best abdominal surgeon MDA has ever had. She has completed a "study" on the surgery for DSRCT (Matthew's cancer) and has done 20 successful DSCRT surgeries. She has recently added a "hyper-thermic chemo wash" to the end of the surgery that increases the success tremendously.

Many of her colleagues question her for doing this surgery because it is grueling and lasts from 10 to 15 hours. She told us she felt if she could help people with DSRCT through this surgery - without harm - she wanted to be able to do so. She also said that it is a blessing to her.

This journey has been a "step-by-step" proposition. Fortunately, we have a God who steps before us and with us on this treacherous path. I used to think that the scripture in Psalms that says, "Thy word is lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path", meant that the whole path would be lit up. I am learning as I pray for my faith to increase that the "light" comes right in front of us and many times, just as we step. The next step may still lay in darkness, but the Lord is holding us, leading us, and protecting us.

Matthew will have a chemo treatment on Wednesday morning. We will prepare to fly to Tennessee that evening to be home for Thanksgiving with Greg & Ian. We will be so happy to celebrate ALL the things we have to be thankful for. Since Ian, Matthew and I will arrive late on Wed., loving friends at our church have volunteered to bring dinner for Thursday! Wow!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! We love you all.

May God bless each of you as you share time with your families during Thanksgiving. We give Him the praise and glory for all He has done and is doing for us.

Love,
Nancy

#3 Houston Update

2009-11-15T21:37:00.000-08:00

We have traveled many literal and figurative miles since our update on Wednesday. Two big items of news are Matthew's eligibility for liver treatments called TheraSphere and for (are you sitting down?) surgery.

Simplistically put, TheraSphere treatment of the liver is a "string" of radioactive beads smaller than human hair that is fed through the artery that goes directly to the liver and deposits the radiation into a predetermined tumor. The idea is for the radiation to "kill" the tumor (of which Matthew has many in the liver.)

As far as surgery is concerned, we spoke to an incredible surgeon, Dr. Andrea Hayes-Jordan, who has been at MD Anderson for 5 years and has done a study on a specific surgery for the cancer Matthew has: Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor or DSRCT. It is RARE and not much study has been done on it anywhere. She has done 20 successful surgeries over the past 3 years for this cancer and feels Matthew is a possible candidate.

In order to erase all doubt that Matthew is eligible for surgery, Matthew will have CT's and CT/PET scans tomorrow as well as a series of MRI's on Thursday. So we should know something definite by Friday.

The amazing thing is that even if tests show that surgery is NOT an option, we still have other things we can do that we have already uncovered since we have been here!! Praise the Lord for options!

This past week was Matthew's week "off" of chemo and his white blood count, ANC, etc. hit an all time low. He received a Neulasta shot on Wednesday (thanks to our Dr. Kubove at Burzynski Clinic and Dr. Anderson at MD Anderson) and had to stay away from crowds. Friday, new bloodwork showed that the white count had doubled so we celebrated by heading to a Tex-Mex restaurant Friday evening. Mmmmm...... Hopefully Matthew will be able to resume chemo this week.

We have had a quiet weekend since Matthew hasn't felt up to doing much. It was a good rest after the busy week we experienced. Tomorrow the process continues. I will most likely wait until I have a definitive plan to report before updating the blog again.

Thank you for your continued prayers for wisdom and calmness as we face each day's challenges. I would ask a special prayer for Matthew that he will be able to rest. Sleep has been very difficult for him here in Houston.

A favorite hymn says:

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord and be of good courage for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord and rejoice for the victory is yours.

Nancy

Houston Update for 11/11/09

2009-11-11T05:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Good morning and blessings to you all as we begin a new day!

Since I spoke with you last, we have had time for relaxation and some good food. Matthew continued to feel well through Saturday but had tough days on Sunday and Monday. He improved a bit on Tuesday.

Monday was our biggest challenge so far in Houston. We visited MD Anderson for the first time. It is an enormous cancer facility with many facets set up to serve people from all over the world. And they were there - MANY people - from all over the WORLD.

We didn't have any problem finding our doctor's location and actually arrived early (at 12:15 pm). Then the waiting began. We finally saw the administrative person to sign legal papers, etc. Then waited until 3:00 before we finally saw the doctor.

Our visit with him was a bit overwhelming and frustrating since he and his staff were not totally versed on Matthew's case. Plus we began hearing suggestions of things we have been told "no" to from day one. Unfortunately, with the experience of the past 3 years we have become pretty adept at handling these situations but were caught off guard at this meeting.

We ultimately left the facility shortly before 6 pm needing to eat and exhausted emotionally and physically. After pizza, a movie and a good night's sleep we were able to sort through what we had heard at MDA on Monday. Basically, for the rest of the week, Matthew will be meeting with several doctors, have some tests and ultimately meet with the same doctor again Friday afternoon for the "ultimate plan" presentation. Tuesday was a much calmer and more informative day at MDA.

Today (Wed) we have "off" from appts and plan to enjoy the area, maybe finding a good "Tex Mex" place to eat.
We expect to hear from Burzynski Clinic today or tomorrow to set up an appt for their "plan presentation". How thankful we are for "options" when we thought there were none!

We continue to enjoy the beautiful weather here - mild temps and nice breezes. It's kind of feels like "beach" weather & that's always a good thing! Ha!!

Until next time...
Nancy

Update on Matthew in Houston

2009-11-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

We wanted to update you on how things have been going since we left for Houston.

Matthew & I left Knoxville on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The flight was great with no delays. After getting luggage and a rental car, we traveled 45 min to Houston to the Residence Inn. Greg had programmed the GPS so that we could just turn it on and go - to the hotel, the clinics and the Mall. Ha! Thanks Greg!

After a good night's sleep, we went to the Burzynski Clinic on Friday. They were VERY cordial & acted as if they were "waiting" for Matthew. They were ready at the front desk with a specific itinerary with his name on it. We went to the registration office and they said, "Hello, you must be Matthew!" Pretty nice. The lady who I had spoken to on the phone that is our case worker came in to meet us as well. She secured all the phone numbers we would need at the clinic during our stay and brought them to us.

Then we saw Dr. Eva Kubove. She has worked with Dr. Burzynski for 25 years. She knew Matthew's case inside and out and had lots of notes in front of her as she talked with us. We met with her approx an hour. In addition to asking Matthew many questions to complete his file, she was very informative about the type of genetic treatment they do, how it works and even about new meds coming out (one this Monday) that are testing positively for soft sarcoma (that Matthew has).

Dr. Kubove left us to consult with Dr. Burzynski and returned about 25 minutes later with him and another doctor, Dr. Weaver. They told us that depending on the results of his genetic testing (to determine genetic cancer markers), they will then be able to tell us what specific treatment would work for Matthew. That should be completed by Wed or Thurs when they will present their plan to us. If we choose to go with the treatment Matthew can start the next day. They agreed (and actually encouraged Matthew) to continue his current chemo in TN if it is keeping the cancer stable while this other treatment is working.

Our overall impression was very good.

On Monday, we go to MD Anderson for an appointment with Dr. Pete Anderson. I'll update you after that visit & then later in the week as have more information. We're not sure how long we'll ultimately be here but know we'll be here at least through next week.

Matthew has felt much better since we've been here than he has the past week in TN. We are praising the Lord for that! We actually went to the HUGE Galleria Mall, had supper and walked around last night. Then we went to the movies before coming "home" and crashing early.

We had an early breakfast and have been relaxing since- me on computer, Matthew playing a video game. I bought 5 Christmas gifts online this morning! How cool was that!

We are so thankful for how God is working in our lives (and others) during this process. We had precious friends that provided us with their Marriott points so that we can stay for 12 days FREE. (We are staying in a Residence Inn with 2 bedrooms/baths, kitchen/living rm.) Other good friends and our Sunday School class provided for our rental car and money for additional expenses. Nobody said anything about needs, but God impressed these things on their hearts and they came to us with their gifts.

Needless to say the amount of prayer that has been going up is phenominal! We are so appreciative & humbled by it. We know that God is in the midst of what we are doing and where we are going. He has given us a positive spirit and peace in our hearts.

May you and yours be blessed today. We'll chat again soon.

Love,

Nancy

A trip to Houston

2009-11-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I've waited to send out a new update so that I could give the most up to date and complete information that I could.

In the last blog entry, we shared that the results from Matthew's scan (of 9/18) showed his cancer was no longer responding to the chemo regimen and had started growing again. Since then, we have been doing extensive research into possible doctors and/or treatments for Matthew.

Our New York doctor had nothing in the form of clinical trials to offer but recommended a new combination of chemo drugs that Matthew began on the 21st of October. The first round will be completed on Nov. 4th. He also gave us suggestions of doctors to contact at the National Cancer Institute and MD Anderson Cancer Hospital.

On Nov. 5th we will travel to Houston, Texas where we are scheduled to see two doctors. One is Dr. S. Burzynski at the Burzynski Clinic which provides a variety of treatment but emphasizes treatment at the cellular/DNA level. The other doctor is Dr. Pete Anderson at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, a world renowned cancer research facility. We are unsure of how long we'll be in Houston since the Burzynski Clinic suggests we be available to remain for 3 weeks if necessary.

In addition we have been in communication with National Cancer Institute in Maryland where testing is being done to see if Matthew is elligible for t-cell therapy.

Matthew has a very positive attitude in the midst of all this. Physically, he is tired and has "good days and bad" as far as pain and discomfort.

I would ask for your prayers for wisdom to make appropriate choices, strength to meet the challenges of each day, and healing for Matthew.

Love and blessings to each of you,
Nancy

The journey continues...

2009-09-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Matthew had an ultrasound today to clarify what showed on Friday's scan as a possible blood clot. The ultrasound showed that there is no blood clot in his inferior vena cava nor is there any restriction there. Whew!! This is really good news because he will not have to be on blood thinner meds anymore and the risk has been eliminated! Praise the Lord!

We also received the results from the scan which showed that the chemo treatment Matthew has been on for over a year has stopped working so he will not be taking it anymore. The cancer has begun to grow rather than stay stable. We are still SO thankful for, at first, the reduction & then, the stability it has given Matthew for almost 15 months!

Our doctor will be contacting our New York doctor to start the process of Matthew's participation in the "protocol" or "clinical trial" at Sloan-Kettering. We don't know yet when that will begin or the steps that will need to be taken to get there. Our son, Ian, has also done much research and has found several options for us to consider as well. We are fervently praying for strength, courage, and God's guidance as we enter this next step of our journey.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." (from Psalm 46)

4 day work week for Matthew

2009-09-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Matthew was able to take his chemo treatments last week - Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri & got his shot on Sat. He didn't have to go back yesterday for a 5th treatment which was good. He did have a pretty tough weekend though but is doing a bit better now.

His next scan is this Friday (Sept 18) at 1 pm. We'll receive the results when we see the doctor next Wed (Sept 23). I'll update you at that time.

Our doctor here (Dr. Dobbs) had a conversation with our doctor in New York (Dr. Wexler). There is a clinical trial in process at Sloan Kettering with possibilities for Matthew for the future if the current treatment starts waning. The longer a person is on a treatment, the more the cancer cells build resistance to the it which is why Matthew's current treatment doesn't reduce the cancer anymore like it did for the first 6 months. It is now keeping it stable. The scan Friday will give us a clearer picture as to whether it is still, in fact, keeping the cancer stable.

Thank you for your continued prayer, love and support.

Blessings,
Nancy

Take your flexibility pill!

2009-09-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

All-righty-then! Do you remember the entry yesterday that gave you the "update" on Matthew's current schedule? Well, forget it all. Ha!

We did, in fact, go to the scheduled chemo appt to begin the week of chemo yesterday. They always take blood levels on the first day - routine. What we didn't expect was that anything would be abnormal. Matthew's platelets were low - just 96 - not bad - they treat at 100. But... his platelets had been 160 the last time and this was a bit of a nosedive. Plus he was getting all three chemo drugs on that day. So, the doctor said, "No."

So, here's the current schedule (don't put it in ink - use your pencil!): Chemo begins next Tuesday (because of Labor Day), will go through Friday.

Then, we'll return on the following Monday to finish with a shot on Tuesday. This will be a first to split it up like this. We'll see.

The scan has been rescheduled for Sept 18. We'll see the doctor the following Wednesday (Sept 23) for results.

After re-scheduling everything, Matthew & I took off for lunch. We ate outside at Silver Spoon. The weather was great, breeze delightful! We talked and relaxed for quite some time. (We also ate!) There is a wild bird store next door so we watched tons of birds coming and going to their feeder and landing in bushes nearby. What great entertainment!!

After lunch, we were off to the Fresh Market to get fresh fruits and veggies to juice as well as some fresh fish. After "juicing" later on, Matthew and friends went to Monday night cards.

So, Matthew is looking forward to another week of feeling good. We're looking forward to seeing a couple of movies, the UT game on Saturday, and Labor Day all without chemo side effects. There are advantages if you look for them!

The weather has felt a "wee bit" like fall the last 2 mornings - mmmm - preview of good weather to come!

God bless each and every one of you!

Fun at the beach!

2009-08-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your recent prayers for Matthew. His last chemo went MUCH better than the last time and he was "on the mend" by the following Wednesday after chemo week. Three days later we left for Va Beach to spend the week in a beach house close to all of our family. Matthew had a good week and enjoyed the time. We returned Sat. pm with a day to recoop.

Chemo starts again today - back to the grind! Matthew has a scan on Thursday of next week so I'll keep you posted on that.

Blessings to each of you.

Love,

Nancy

Matthew is the big "25"!

2009-08-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Matthew just celebrated his 25th birthday! We've stretched the celebrating over a couple of weeks. Ian was here the last week of July, Matthew took a trip to Gatlinburg on his actual day (the 8th), and we had a celebration with friends yesterday. He has felt well and enjoyed his celebration!

With a vacation trip and Matthew's birthday, it's been 5 weeks since his last chemo rather than 3. The extra 2 weeks have been great for Matthew. Today, we return to chemo for the week (Aug 10 - 14).

Next week is Matthew's recovery week at the end of which we will travel to Virginia Beach to be with family. We have rented a beach house (the same one we did 3 years ago). Ian will be in for the week with us as well. We look forward to being with family and enjoying the beach.

We do not have a scan scheduled at this point but imagine when we see the doctor next we will discuss it.

Our prayer requests this week include: 1. that this week of chemo will be very effective on the cancer; 2. that Matthew's side effects will not be too extensive (the heat adds to the discomfort); 3. that Matthew will have a quick week of recovery so that he can enjoy his trip and week at the beach.

Thank you for your prayers, your love, your support and joining us in celebrating Matthew's 25th birthday. God's blessings are evident in our lives.

Love, Nancy

ps - I bought a bracelet this weekend that says, "God surrounds us by His grace." May each of you feel His grace surrounding you today!

Matthew Update for June 8, 2009

2009-06-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

I hope all of you are on the way to a wonderful summer! Enjoy each day because it passes all too quickly!

Matthew has been continuing the same chemo treatments and schedule that he has been on since last July. In the last 2 months he has incorporated a special diet of juicing veggies and fruits, no sugar, more fish and little meat, low on the dairy and processed products plus doing organic as much as possible.

There was a lot of cancer reduction in 2008 but as 2009 arrived, the reduction stopped and stability took its place.

Matthew just had a scan on June 1 with the results being: "no better, no worse, everything stable". Even though we'd love to be seeing reduction, this is still very good news.

Matthew started up another round of chemo today. His usual Temodar, Avastin, and CPT-11 (if that actually means anything to anyone! Ha!) This is the same "recipe" devised by Dr. Wexler at Sloan-Kettering in New York a year ago. He had a great day today with no problems at all. (We are ALWAYS thankful for that.) He will return each day this week for treatments and receive a Neulasta shot on Saturday (to help keep his white blood count up).

Prior to the scan on the 1st, Matthew was able to go to the beach for a week and had a SUPER time! Woo hoo! (All SUPER times are cherished!)

Thank you for continuing the journey with us. We SO appreciate your love and prayers. We couldn't make it without those 2 important components. We would appreciate your specific prayers for moderate side effects of the chemo, continued energy for Matthew and new treatments on the horizon that would specifically treat DSRCT (the rare cancer that Matthew has.)

As you can see God continues to bless us in many ways, big and small. What a great God we serve!

Love to you and yours,

Nancy

Beautiful Day in Tennessee!

2009-04-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a beautiful day in East TN today! Yesterday and today the temps are reaching the 80's so it really feels more like summer than spring. The sun is shining from a gorgeous blue sky. Everything is very green already and almost looks like it's growing before our eyes! What a glorious spring.

Matthew just completed a week of chemo and had his shot today. He is sleeping as I type this update. We are very thankful he has had an easier week than last time (3 wks ago). He will have 2 wks off, another week of chemo and then the doctor plans to schedule a scan. To this point in 2009, the cancer has remained "stable".

Matthew has felt pretty well between treatments and is eating well. He has begun a new diet that is geared around a plant-based diet, soy instead of regular dairy, mainly fish with little meat, organic as much as possible, nothing containing sugar or high-fructose corn syrup plus juicing vegetables and fruits.

Matthew has always had a lot of will power and the ability to stick with something once he's started. His handling of this new diet is no different. He's doing SO well! Greg and I are joining in the diet with him as well as his brother Ian in DC. Actually Ian is the one that has done all the research and is responsible for us being on the diet and doing the juicing. Thanks Ian for your hard work!!

If all goes well in May, Matthew is planning a trip to the beach with friends. He is really looking forward to that!!

Thanks for your continued prayers for us as we travel this arduous journey. I pray that you will be blessed beyond measure for your faithfulness.

Nancy

The journey continues...

2009-02-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow will be one month since I updated everyone on Matthew. Hard to believe, but he has completed 2 full weeks of chemotherapy (the week of Jan 26 & this past week). Thank you so much for your specific prayers because Matthew's side-effects these two rounds have certainly been there but not as severe as previous times as well as the fact that he has had an amazing spirit and peace about him as he has returned to this grueling schedule.

The rest of us have felt the strength and support of your prayers as we help and support Matthew day to day. It still doesn't get any easier seeing him suffer and face such unbelievably tough challenges but as his doctor told him 2 1/2 years ago - "This is your job now, Matthew" - and it is our job to be on the journey with him every step of the way.

Saturday and Sunday after the week of chemo is the most difficult but after the January round, Matthew started feeling a little better on Monday which is earlier than usual. We are praying for the same thing tomorrow (Monday). (btw: There isn't a scan scheduled at this point. Matthew will have at least another week of treatments and maybe more before one is put on the calendar.)

If all goes well in Matthew's recuperation process this week, he and I are planning a trip to visit family on Thursday. We plan to see Ian in DC first and then take him with us to Va Beach to visit the rest of our family. This week is my Mom's 88th birthday so we are exited to be there for the celebration. It'll be laid back and flexible to take Matthew's rest schedule into account. We are praying for traveling mercies as well as physical stamina for Matthew & I. (Also, that Mom will not be too overwhelmed with the large family get-together. We can get pretty rowdy! Ha ha!!)

There are many that read these words and each of you face challenges in your lives, big and small, including the uncertainty of the economic situation in our country. My prayer for you is that you will find some peace, calmness, and strength in each day and that God will bless you with His goodness.

Love to each of you,

Nancy

2009 update on Matthew Fay

2009-01-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

Happy 2009!!! Hope your January has been great so far.

It is amazing how over the past 12 months we have re-established relationships from MANY years ago (high school, college, early family friends, etc.) most of which have been through e-mail and Matthew's blog. Whether we have spoken through computer, by phone or in person, rest assured that we are SO appreciative of you being in our lives! As we have updated each other on our lives, love, caring and prayers have begun to flow in many directions, mounting up strength beyond belief. Thank you for these renewed relationships.

And for those who are in our daily lives, your love and steadfast commitment to us through your prayers, strong arms and listening ears are immeasurable. God bless you for standing by us.

The Fays had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Ian was with us for a week at Christmas so we had a great time as a family even though we were unable to see our extended family this year.

Matthew has been taking 1 medicine (Avastin) since the end of Nov. 08. There have been no side effects and he has been able to grow his beard back as well as a little hair on his head. His energy level has increased and he actually went on a ski weekend with Ian and some friends. They had a blast. It has been a fabulous break for him.

When we saw the doctor in early January, Matthew had a long discussion with the doctor as to the best treatment plan for the future. He could continue the Avastin and wait to see if the cancer remained stable or resume the treatment of 3 meds (Avastin, Temodar & CPT 11) which could possibly give him better odds. Even though he will return to severe side effects, loss of hair and feeling bad about 1/2 of the time, Matthew chose to resume the 3 meds.

Monday, Jan. 26, Matthew will return to the schedule he's been on for the last 6 months: a cycle of one week (5 days) on chemo and 2 wks off. It will be a while before a scan is done so we won't have any official word on his status until then.

Some suggestions for specifics in your prayers include: 1. that the side effects will be minimal for Matthew; 2. that there will be renewed effect of the meds meaning more reduction of the cancer; 3. that Matthew will have peace as he begins a new round of extensive treatment;

4. that his Mom, Dad and Brother will have what we need to help Matthew in the way we need to; 5. that new treatments will become available.

God is working in Matthew's life, without a doubt. At the last visit, during the discussion with the doctor, he actually said that what Matthew had experienced as far as results over the last 6 months was "nothing short of miraculous." Of course, we agreed wholeheartedly!

Again, thank you for your love, friendship, support and prayers for us. I look forward to hearing form you.

Love and blessings, Nancy

Matthew's Scan Report

2008-12-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We saw Matthew's doctor late yesterday afternoon to receive the results from the scan he had on Monday. Basically, the scan showed that the cancer is stable with low activity rate and some slight reduction in a few areas.

To help Matthew continue to build his weight and strength from being so sick a couple of weeks ago, the doctor wants to take Matthew off of 2 of the 3 meds he takes as part of his treatment until January. (The 2 he's coming off of are the culprits for his major side effects.) The one left (Avastin) is a very good drug that helps keep cancer stable and should have virtually no side effects. So he'll have a wonderful break through the end of the year.

Matthew had gained 7 pounds back yesterday - great news! He has been feeling pretty good this week, able to get out and hang out with friends, appetite returning. So, without chemo, his basic health situation should improve tremendously through the end of the year. (Boy, that's a paradox, isn't it?) Thank you for your continued prayers for Matthew and our family.

I got to go to choir rehearsal last night for the first time in awhile. Whew, what an uplift and blessing to my spirit! We're working on our Christmas music to sing each Sunday morning in December as well as a complete program on the 14th.

This is the first year in many that I am not directing - a bit of an adjustment. But this year God is giving me the cherished blessing of allowing me to add my voice to the many others who, up to now, I have directed. Along with the choir and a friend who is singing the part of Gabriel, I am singing the words of Mary's response to the angel sometimes referred to as The Magnificat.

Once Gabriel tells Mary of the task that God has for her does she say:
no, or let me think about it, or maybe someone else would be better prepared????

No, she humbly and courageously accepts God's task by responding:
(in the paraphrased words of the song)

My soul glorifies Your name, O God; My spirit rejoices in You.

My offering to You is my service, Lord. Let it be as You say.

My heart embraces Your gift of love;

My hands will nurture Your living Word;

I will be the earthly mother to Your holy Son;

Let it be as You say.

From the Fay Family: Merry Christmas to each of you, God bless you all and, hopefully, along with Mary, our hearts can embrace God's gift of love this season!

Dec. 1st Update for Matthew

2008-12-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. We were blessed to have 13 members of our family and friends to share our Thanksgiving meal. The meal was prepared by our Sunday School class at our church which was a double blessing. Other dear friends brought special gifts of food to round out the meal. We were so humbled and uplifted by all the generosity and love displayed to us that day!! We praise the Lord for His goodness shown to us through these precious people.

Thank you for your prayers for Matthew over these past 3 weeks. It was very tough on him. The combination of the virus and chemo left him dehydrated, weak and with loss of weight as well. He had IV fluids along with additional meds a week before Thanksgiving to give him some help for recovery. He is feeling better now but has not regained his appetite. He is going for his Petscan today. We'll receive results Wednesday afternoon. I'll e-mail as soon as I can.

In the meantime his Dad also contracted the same dreaded virus and is just now recovering after 1 week's time. Thankfully, I just got the "Reader's Digest Version" of the virus. Mom's just can't get sick, right?

As we begin the month of December, let's challenge each other to smile and be especially kind in the midst of the hustle bustle where others may be rushed and agitated (and make us agitated, too!). This is the month we celebrate God's greatest gift to all of us, His son, Jesus Christ. He gave us His greatest gift. As the result of the love we know in Him, surely we can find small ways to give of ourselves to others at this glorious time of year. You never know how the smallest kind act will touch someone.

Love and blessings to all,
Nancy

Update for November 19th

2008-11-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Family & Friends,

Just wanted to bring you up to speed on Matthew's progress.

He did complete his week of chemo that came on the heels of a stomach virus. The week turned out to be one the most difficult chemo weeks in a long time.

When the weekend arrived, we knew we were on the "uphill" climb to Matthew feeling better. But unfortunately, with continued chemo side effects that mimic the stomach virus and the inability to eat more than apple sauce and popsicles, Matthew has been unable to make much progress at feeling better.

We canceled the Petscan that was scheduled for tomorrow (Fri, 11/21) and the doctor has requested that Matthew come in and see him instead. Hopefully, we'll get some more answers tomorrow. His scan will be rescheduled when he feels better.

The most likely scenario is that because of the virus, Matthew's body was in such a weakened state that it could not handle the chemo and its side effects as well as usual. We continue to pray for improvement even if it is ever so slight.

Thank you for the encouraging e-mails and entrees on the blog site. They really encourage us! Of course, your faithful prayers lift us up when we don't have the strength to do so.

In case I don't talk to you before then, I pray that each of you will have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! We ALL have much to thank the Lord for!!

Love to all,
Nancy

Riding on the wings of prayer...

2008-11-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I would like to bring you up to date on Matthew's current situation and schedule. Yesterday (Nov. 10) began another week of chemo (This will be the usual Mon thru Fri w/ shot on Sat). Even after 2 years, Matthew does so well "taking things in stride". He is amazing!

This chemo week had a tough beginning since Matthew had a stomach virus on the weekend that was still underway Sunday evening. It was touch and go to see if he could even begin chemo yesterday. Riding on the wings of prayers of those that knew that he was sick, Matthew was able to get up and make the trip to Knoxville.

Since his bloodwork was acceptable and the virus seemed to over, the decision was made to go forward. Matthew was given extra meds to help him rest during chemo as well as to help his "post virus" symptoms. It was a long day, but thankfully he completed his treatment.

On the ways home, around 5 pm, we stopped to pick up something for Matthew to eat. (He had hardly had anything for a day and a half.) As we left the parking lot after getting the food, a driver to our left did not see us ( I believe the sun was shining right in her eyes) and came very close to "t-boning" us (better known as hitting us broad side on the driver's side). I slammed on the brakes and blew my horn...it was very, very close.

Well, since it was so unexpected, this finished Matthew off and he became so sick to his stomach we had to pull over for him. Needless to say, he didn't get to eat the food we had just purchased. We got home, Matthew ate a little bit of applesauce, laid down and went to sleep. Thank the Lord for restorative sleep! We are praying for a calmer, better day today!

Matthew is also scheduled for a Pet Scan on Friday, Nov. 21st. We'll receive results on the 25th at a follow-up doctor's visit. We will be praying for phenomenal news to add to our Thanksgiving celebration that week!!

It has been 2 years this month that we have been on this journey with Matthew. Thank you for loving us, praying for us, and supporting us through these tough times. Your faithfulness to us has been so humbling and we love you for it. God has blessed us in so many ways during this time and you definitely are a big part of His blessings! Thank you.

Love, Nancy

More great news!

2008-10-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

We received great news from the doctor today! The results of Matthew's recent scans showed more shrinkage of the tumors throughout Matthew's body. He has also gained another pound and the doctor feels Matthew's skin color is looking much healthier.

Praise the Lord for His love and mercy!! Thank YOU for your many prayers to God on Matthew's behalf!

Matthew will continue on the current treatment plan and will begin his next round on Monday, (Oct. 20).

Love, Nancy

Matthew's next scan is scheduled

2008-10-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

Matthew and I went to see his oncologist today. Matthew had gained 1 1/2 pounds and the doctor was very positive about his exam and how Matthew is looking. Praise the Lord for HIs blessings!

Surprisingly, a Petscan is already scheduled for tomorrow (Friday). We go back to the doctor for results next Wednesday (Oct. 15).

We are so anxious to see how Matthew has progressed after 3 more rounds of his "new" chemo regimen. He's now had a total of 5 rounds since July. ( A "round" consists of a combination of 3 chemo medications taken each day for 5 days taking approx 3 1/2 to 4 hours to administer. Two meds are given directly into the bloodstream through Matthew's port. The 3rd is a capsule taken by mouth)

The results of his scans this summer after only 2 rounds were amazing as you recall. That was such a miracle from the Lord; a tremendous answer to many, many prayers. We are trusting the Lord for continued healing this time.

I'll keep in touch when we have more to share. We are so humbled by your love and your committment to pray for Matthew and our family. Thank you.

Love, Nancy

Matthew is taking chemo this week

2008-10-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

We are thankful that Matthew was able to take chemo this week after his delay last week. His white count is still low but not so low that it kept him from chemo treatments.

Matthew was feeling pretty rough yesterday. Hopefully today will go better.

We see Dr. Dobbs (Matthew's Oncologist) next Wed. to schedule scans. I'll keep you posted!!

Love, Nancy

9/22/08 Update for Matthew

2008-09-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Just wanted to send an update to you on what's going on with Matthew.

He has felt quite well with more energy than usual since his last chemo treatments allowing him to get out more and do some fun things with his friends.

Imagine our surprise today when we went in for his scheduled chemo treatment to find that his white blood count was too low for him take his treaments this week. So... he is now rescheduled for next Monday. Hopefully, the extra week will give his body opportunity to re-build his white count to a high enough level to take the treatments next week. So, breakout the face mask and hand sanitizer and stay away from any "sickies"!! Ha!

Matthew had already taken one of the meds he takes in capsule form before the blood test. Since he had no premeds for nausea, etc. today, he got sick from the one capsule this afternoon. We are praying it will be isolated to this afternoon and that he will get back to feeling well until next Monday.

Later in October, following his treatments next week, more scans will be done to see how far we have come since the last scan in August which, I'm sure you remember, was very good.

Hope each of you are having a wonderful day! Thanks for your love and prayers.
Nancy

September Update

2008-09-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends & Family,
Just to let you know that Matthew's blood counts (although still low) were back up enough for him to begin chemo yesterday (Tues). He'll will continue through Friday and have another treatment on Monday the 8th to complete this 5 day treatment.

I also wanted to share with you that Greg (Matthew's Dad - in case you don't know) had another clean scan last week meaning he's been cancer free for 2 years now. We are SO thankful for that news!

Earlier this year I requested prayer for a couple I met from Hong Kong at Sloan Kettering hospital in New York. Jacqueline has been in chemo ever since and has finally seen a ray of hope in the response to her treatment. I humbly ask for your prayers for she and Stephen as they continue to face this horrible disease. Thank you.

Love,
Nancy

No Chemo This Week

2008-08-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

As I have shared numerous times along the way, things can change on a dime on this journey. Matthew and I went to Knoxville this morning fully expecting a week of chemo to find that Matthew's white blood cell count was too low to take treatments this week.

So...he is rescheduled to begin next Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. Hopefully his blood counts will have sufficiently recovered by then.

At least he feels good and can enjoy another week of doing some things he enjoys. He just can't be around any "sickies" because when your white count it down, you are much more susceptible to germs/viruses/etc.

One of the "upsides" is he can enjoy his Labor Day Weekend plus the first UT football game of the season! Woo hoo!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Blessings to each of you,
Love, Nancy

More Great News for Matthew!

2008-08-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Are you sitting down? We had more great news yesterday that just came "out of the blue"!

Matthew had a routine doctor's visit yesterday that is always scheduled in between chemo treatments. When we arrived, the doctor had "new" news about Matthew's most recent scan.

Three weeks ago I sent you the wonderful news about that scan... that the new treatment was working. It had not only stopped the growth of the cancer but had reduced it as well.

The "new" news is that last scan was compared to the February NY scan instead of the June NY scan. As many of you may know, there was considerable growth from February until June when we received very devastating news.

So...What does this mean? It means that there has been much more reduction than we originally thought in July and we are pre-February in the size of the tumors!!! Can I hear a Praise the Lord??

Matthew has also gained some weight and felt well enough to get out this week. We're having the big 24th birthday celebration with his friends on Friday since he was in chemo on his actual day (8/8/08)!!

Matthew will resume chemo on Monday (8/25) for 5 days. He'll have 2 wks off and then another chemo week with 2 wks off before another scan is done. So, the next scan is in @ 6 weeks.

God blesses us each day but yesterday we got an extra helping! Just couldn't wait to share the great news with all of you!

Love, Nancy

Great News!

2008-08-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Great News!
The chemo meds that Matthew has been taking in June and July are working! Not only did the meds stop the "growth momentum" of the cancer but there has been some reduction! We are praising God for His blessings and miracle in Matthew's body.

Matthew begins his next round of treatment on Monday, August 4th (5 days worth). Not sure when the next scan will be. We'll figure that out later. Right now, we are just very happy!

Let's bombard the heavens with prayers of thanksgiving to God for His mighty works thus far! We thank you in advance for continuing your precious prayers of healing - as Matthew certainly has a long road to go.

God bless each of you and thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Love, Nancy

Quick Update

2008-07-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I just wanted to bring everyone up to speed on the latest schedule for Matthew. He has completed 2 rounds of the new medication that began in June. On Mon., July 28, Matthew will have a scan to determine how well this medication is working. He will receive results on Wed., July 30. I will send out an update as soon after that as possible.

Please continue to enjoy Matthew's picture that Ian has posted and print it out if you wish. Please see below for instructions from Ian. We have had enthusiastic response from Ian's blog entry! We are SO thankful!

Love, Nancy

Heal

2008-07-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I'm writing today to ask your help in healing my brother. I went home recently to spend time with him and my parents. It was a heavy emotional experience to say the least. We are desperate for hope right now, especially since his last two treatments were shown to be ineffective against combating the cancer. I haven't spoken up much about his condition, I guess somehow it was a coping mechanism -- I didn't want to really believe that my 23 year old brother, whom I love very much, is still battling this vicious disease. After over a year and a half of this, I want to try and multiply the power of the multitude of people supporting and praying for Matt all over the world. Whatever your beliefs may be, I know that visualization has a lot to do with how we as humans connect on a spiritual level. I took this picture of Matt from an overlook in our neighborhood while I was in Tennessee. I ask you to print out this prayer card (It fits perfectly on an 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of paper) and put in it in your daily sight. Please have it in your presence when you pray, send loving thoughts, or any similar meditative activity. I have also included a high resolution photo if you want to use it in another form, and a smaller photo if you want to have something to print that will fit in a book or wallet. Please print any or all of these, forward this message to friends, notify your support groups, and through this collective network of love, I know we can help heal this amazing person. I love Matt Fay, odds are you do too.

::Download links::

Prayer Card - http://www.matthewfay.com/prayformatt.jpg
High Resolution Photo - http://www.matthewfay.com/prayer_hires.jpg
Mini Card - http://www.matthewfay.com/miniprayformatt.jpg

::Join The Facebook "Help Heal Matt Fay" Group::
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=509133645&k=ZWM3XXSYR26M5AGEX166UQ

Please let me know if you have any trouble downloading or printing these files. (contact@ianfay.com)

Love,
Ian

Sunny & breezy in East Tennessee

2008-07-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Just wanted to bring you up to speed on the last 2 weeks.

Matthew completed 5 days of chemo treatments on Friday, June 20th. The week started out uneventful but as it progressed became quite grueling. Matthew was very ill from Friday to Tuesday and then had an additional 5 days of feeling very weak, tired and nausous.

Yesterday, (Monday, June 30) Matthew had an amazing day of strength and feeling alot better. What a blessing! Today started out good, as well, but this afternoon, has taken a bit of downturn. We are so thankful for every hour that is a good hour for him.

Ian has been with us since June 22 and plans to stay until after the 4th of July. It's been great having him here. Obviously, Matthew has enjoyed having him to "hang out" with, someone other than the old parents he sees daily! Ha!

Matthew begins another round of chemo treatments on Monday, July 7th that will last for 5 days. The treatments will be identical to the ones he finished on June 20. After having two weeks off from the treatments, he will have a scan to see how this medication is working. That will be the last week of July.

We have received many loving calls, cards, e-mails, food and treats these last 3 weeks. Thank you so much! God's timing is so perfect as He works through you as His Angels to encourage us and meet our many needs. It continues to remind us that we are not alone in this journey!

Love, Nancy

Update for Matthew for Tuesday, June 17

2008-06-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Dearest Friends and Family,

Matthew began a new regimen of chemo yesterday. He will have treatments for 5 days this week, have off 2 weeks and then have this same round of treatments again. He will have scans in about 6 weeks from yesterday.

His first day went very well even though it was very long. He actually was able to have friends over for a visit last evening. Today went ok but he is very tired this evening, not wanting to eat much, and having some stomach issues. There have not been any other bad side affects so far so we are thanking the Lord for that. We are praying for strength and endurance for him through these days of treatment.

As many of you know, these last 2 weeks have been very tough. Thank you for the extra words of encouragement, powerful words of scripture and prayers sent right through your e-mails and blog entries!! Knowing that God is "everywhere" takes on a whole new meaning when we think of His word and power coming through cyberspace!! Thank you, too, for sharing our needs with more of your friends that have felt led to pray for us as well.

We have exciting news that our son Ian is coming in for a visit next week. It will be so good to have him here with us!!

We have had absolutely beautiful weather today - blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and an amazing cool breeze. It's supposed to even be cooler tomorrow! We are thankful for less humidity and the ability to be outside. Matthew was able to sit out and enjoy the weather for awhile late this afternoon.

Isaiah 41:10 says: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Love and blessings, Nancy

Update from NY on Wed., June 4

2008-06-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Don't have much time but wanted to give you a quick update this afternoon.
Matthew and I are in New York where Matthew had scans yesterday and we received the results today. Unfortunately, those results were not good. There has been more growth of the cancer.

Matthew will begin another chemo combination next Monday in Knoxville with our doctor there with updates being sent to New York periodically. Not sure when we'll do scans again.

We are going to be able to come on home tonight which we are very thankful for. Our flight has been delayed and will not leave until 11 pm to arrive in Ktown at 1:23 am. We plan to go to Matthew's favorite Japanese restaurant and maybe catch a movie before we leave.

Please, please, don't let up on the prayers. If anything, let's all pray even harder. Thank you. We still believe God is in control.

Love to you all,Nancy

May 23 update

2008-05-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

Good morning! What an incredibly beautiful day here in East Tennessee! I hope you have the same where you are.

Although there is not much NEW news, I want to update you on Matthew. He has continued to do well on his new medication with one exception. For the last two weeks, his white count has been low so the doctor has decreased his cancer medication dosage to see if that will take care of it. He returns next Wednesday for another check on his bloodwork. Hopefully by then, his white count will have increased.

Matthew has not felt as well the past two weeks and we are wondering if the blood count is a contributing factor. He still eats pretty well and is able to get out occasionally for walks and to see friends. He drove himself to the doctor on Wednesday and did just fine.

Some fun news is that Matthew was able to go to Nashville with friends and their family last weekend to hear a comedian. They were gone Sat. and Sun. Although some parts of the trip were rough on him, Matthew had a great time. I think this week has been a bit of a recovery time from the weekend!

We will go to New York the first week of June for scans to see the progress that this medication has made on the cancer. We are praying for great results!

We are so thankful for the time at home to rest and be with friends. "There's no place like home." God bless you all!! Love, Nancy

May 2 in Clinton

2008-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in a week so I thought I would bring everyone "up to speed" on how things are going with Matthew.

Matthew continued to have a wonderful week last week - getting out in the beautiful weather, spending time with friends, eating better and going to some church activities. Matthew has not felt very well the last few days but at least he and his Dad got to go to the movies last night. They've been anxious to see "Ironman" and both really liked it.

Matthew went to his local oncologist (Dr. Dobbs) on Wednesday for bloodwork needed for his New York doctor (Dr. Wexler) for the new medication that he is on. All of his counts were good and he had gained some weight -- really good news! We go back for the same checks every two weeks until we return to New York.

Our return trip to New York is scheduled for June 2nd. The scans will be on June 3rd and hopefully we'll get results the next day.

We certainly serve an amazing God and continue to discover the immense ways He blesses our lives. Thanks to each of you for being a BIG part of those blessings.
Love, Nancy

So thankful!

2008-04-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today, Matthew has had the best day he's had in several weeks!
We are SO thankful! Just wanted to share!
Love, Nancy

Beautiful Spring!

2008-04-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been home from New York for almost a week. It's still so good to be home!!

Matthew has had a bit of a "roller-coaster" week -- some good and some not so good days. But thankfully, after a tough weekend, the past 2 days have been good. We'll take every good day we can get!

Matthew's new meds seem to be going well. There are no apparent side effects so far that we can detect which we are very thankful for. One week down, five to go!

Matthew has such amazing friends. They have been calling and visiting steadily since our return from New York. They have been such a boost to Matthew. Friends have a way of doing that!!

Our weather has been gorgeous with the cool breeze, warm temps and bright sunshine. We go for at least one and sometimes two walks per day. That helps all of us!

A good friend recently reminded me of a scripture about hope and strength that is also a beautiful choir anthem many of us have sung often. It is from Isaiah 40:31 and says, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Love and blessings, Nancy

Tuesday, 4/15

2008-04-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

Matthew & I saw Dr. Wexler this afternoon. The good news is there are NO new tumors.
But the rate of growth of what is existing is 25% which is too high for Matthew to remain on the current medication (clinical trial).

Sooo....Matthew begins a new treatment today which is in pill form that he will take everyday for 6 weeks which is when we will return to New York for scans. We will also see our oncologist in Knoxville, TN in two weeks.

There have been many positive results shown in studies about this new medicine that Matthew will be starting. If I could remember the name of it I would tell you but my brain has not been in top form recently! If you ask Matthew, he'll know! We are encouraged today about beginning this new medication.

We are leaving NY on the 9:20 pm flight and will be home hopefully by midnight. We are looking forward to being in Tennessee!!

Much love and blessings to you all,
Nancy

Monday, April 14 - partial results

2008-04-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

Whew! It's been a long day. Remember I told you that we have learned to "expect the upexpected"?? Well, today added more evidence to that statement.

We arrived at Sloan Kettering at 10:15 am and for various reasons didn't see the doctor until after 2:30 p.m. We have some answers but not all that we need so we have to stay another night to see the doctor tomorrow afternoon. He needs to have more consultation with the radiologist in the morning to determine the final results.

As you can probably figure out, the results were not good or we would already have a definitive answer. The cancer has grown in several areas but what they are not sure of yet is if there are new areas. That is what will be definitively determined tomorrow. If there are no "new" areas, then we can continue the clinical trial.

Ian is here for another few hours so he and Matthew have gone to the movies. Then, we are all going to supper together before Ian's train leaves. The three of us have enjoyed our time together this weekend.

Your love and prayers are so important to us. It's such a comfort knowing you are "there".
Love, Nancy

News from our friends in Hong Kong

2008-04-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to share the news I heard from my new friends, Stephen & Jacqueline Chu from Hong Kong. They received much better news from the doctor yesterday than they expected. The doctor actually believes Jacqueline may be able to "beat the odds" as Stephen put it.
They will return to Hong Kong mid week and Jacqueline will begin chemo very soon.
I told them how thankful I was for answered prayer but that the prayers would not stop since they are only at the beginning of their journey. I also told them I would be communicating this with all of you as well. Thank you for your continued prayers for this precious couple.
Let me say also that in the midst of their despair this week, they continue to ask about Matthew and pray for good news for him on Monday. Isn't it amazing that we will be praying for each other from one continent to another?
I shared Romans 15:13 with Stephen and Jacqueline on Thursday and Stephen felt it came alive for them on Friday. It says: "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

"Not so Short" - Update

2008-04-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's taken so long to send an update. Believe it or not, I had the whole, long e-mail typed yesterday and the computer automatically re-booted on me, making me lose the whole thing! I just didn't have it in me to retry at that point, so....I waited until today!!
Matthew had his treatment on Tuesday and scans on Wednesday. We are waiting for Monday for results and the next step.
Now, if you are busy and want to stop there, you've got the basic info. But if you are like me and like DETAILS, then read on. Let me say at this point that we have learned on this journey that when you are trying to figure out what to expect, expect the unexpected. So...
We arrived at McGhee Tyson Monday evening for our 6:20 pm flight. Thirty minutes before the flight came the fateful words: "The flight has been delayed, maybe as late as 8:20 p.m." Great!!
So Matthew & I decided to go get a bite to eat not knowing what the night would bring. We were about to give our order when the announcement came for all passengers on the New York flight to come IMMEDIATELY!! (It was 6:50 pm) So much for the food!
They changed our flight to go to Cinncinnati and then change planes to go to New York. They were frantically getting us on the flight and getting our luggage re-routed before the plane had to leave. Whew! We made it!
As soon as we got in the air, Matthew started feeling bad. I think he has become allergic to planes now! Ha! It was a short flight to Cinncinnati and I got him to a place to sit so I could go get pretzels and a coke for him. There were 2 other Clintonians on the flight, the Cunninghams, that we met up with on the layover in Ohio. Mrs. Cunningham, being the prepared teacher she is, pulled out a bag of pretzels to the rescue. We enjoyed getting to talk with them while we waited for the NY flight which - you guessed it - was also delayed.
The flight to NY was uneventful until we landed and then we sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes before a shuttle took us from the plane to the airport back door where we climbed the steps to the terminal. (flying just ain't what it used to be!!) At 11:55 pm we were finally in the cab to Manhatten. At 1:00 a.m. we were sitting in our room at Ronald McDonald House eating a sandwich from the 24 hour deli around the corner.
Matthew had a tough day Tuesday. He didn't feel well when he arrived at the hospital so they gave him meds to help him before the treatment. The nurse, Chris, that has put his IV in several times before took 3 trys using both arms before getting him set up. That's never happened before and she was mortified. During the treatment, Matthew had a reaction to the meds for his stomach. Not a fun day for him. He finally fell asleep after the treatment and since they didn't need the room, I let him sleep until he woke up which was after 4 pm. The sleep seemed to help him alot.
Tuesday evening we enjoyed watching the Lady Vols win the NCAA National Championship over Stanford! What a game! I actually wore my orange shirt the next day.
On Wednesday, we arrived at the hospital at 12:30 pm and after drinking the "yummy concoction" Matthew had his CT scan at 2:30 p.m. His Petscan was scheduled for 4:30 pm but we got there early thinking we'd get out early - we left at 6:10 pm - par for the course.
Matthew slept most of Thursday since he wasn't feeling well again. Today, he's a little better and we hope to go to Central Park for a ride around the park after I finish up here. Ian is supposed to be here before supper today.
I'd like to ask for a special prayer request for a couple I met when Matthew was having his scans. Their names are Jacqueline and Stephen Chu and they are from Hong Kong. Jacqueline was diagnosed last week in Hong Kong with a sarcoma and was given a few months to live. Within days they made the 17 hour trip to New York to Sloan Kettering for tests to see if anything can be done. They receive their answers today. They are in their mid-30's and have two small children. We are communicating by e-mail. Thank you for remembering them in your prayers.
God continues to bless us by meeting people that bless us and that we can hopefully bless by sharing our story to encourage them. As I sit here in the computer room at Ronald McDonald House, I look at children who are at the computers with their precious bald heads and smiling faces. They are an inspiration to be around! I ask your prayers for them, as well.
Well, now that you've had to eat a snack, take a walk and a nap to finally get through this message, I'll close. I send my love and thankfulness for each of you. Love, Nancy

Quick update for week of 4/7/08

2008-04-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,
Just wanted to let you know that Matthew and I are flying out Monday evening (4/8) at 6:20 p.m. to New York. It's a direct flight so we should be settled in by 10:30 p.m. at the RMcHouse.
Tuesday, Matthew has his 6th treatment beginning at 10:00 a.m. We are usually there until about 2:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, (4/9), Matthew will be at the hospital at 8:30 a.m. with exams and scans throughout the morning. We're not sure when we'll be done that day because there is usually alot of waiting during this process.
We are looking forward to Ian coming up either Thursday night or Friday to spend the weekend with us.
On Monday, (4/14), Matthew will see the doctor at 10:00 am to receive the results from the scans from the previous week. If the scans show the 6 treatments have worked, Matthew will have treatment #7 that day and we will continue on with weekly treatments. If the 6 treatments have not worked, we will discuss the next choice of new treatment for Matthew which will be a form of chemotherapy.
If there is more news as the week progresses, I will certainly send out an update.
We are leaning on the arms of our Lord where we receive our strength.
Love to all, Nancy

April 1st Update on Matthew

2008-04-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let you know that Matthew had his 5th treatment yesterday (Monday, 3/31) and we arrived home at 11:30 pm last night.
Matthew had a very difficult time with the Sunday flight to NY and ended up sleeping most of the day. Matthew felt better on Monday and we were actually able to walk to the hospital for treatment.
Dr. Wexler was glad to hear that Matthew had done better this past week. Since the exam and bloodwork went well, Matthew was able to have his treatment. Matthew slept until early evening when we left for the airport to return home.
Next week is Matthew's 6th treatment. It will be on Tuesday (the 8th) instead of Monday.
On Wednesday the 9th, he will have scans to see if the treatments are working. We will stay until the following Monday (the 14th) when we'll receive the results of the scans.
If the scans show that the treatments ARE working then we will continue treatments (Matthew will have his 7th one that day - the 14th). If the treatments are NOT working, we will discuss our other options that day.
We continue to pray for Matthew's healing. We also pray for grace and strength to meet the challenges of each day. Thanks to each of you that still lift us up in prayer and encourage us with your gifts, e-mails, and calls. We are SO humbled and filled with gratitude.
Love, Nancy

Just a quick note

2008-03-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that Matthew has improved over the last few days. We are so thankful! This is so good because he'll be better equipped to handle the trip tomorrow.
We leave at 7 a.m. on Sunday and have a lay-over in Cinncinati. It was the only flight we could get since Delta is cutting back on flights these days.
Matthew's treatment is at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. We'll return on Monday evening. I'll update everyone after I get back.
Hope each of you has a wonderful week.
Love, Nancy

Good News for Tuesday

2008-03-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Thankfully Matthew was able to take treatment #4 today and he & Greg will be coming home tonight!
They are taking the late flight because it is a direct flight with no stops. I'll pick them up about midnight.
Matthew is on an antiobiotic, his fever is coming down, and he actually had some Fruit Loops this morning. I just received a text from Greg that the treatment is over and they are heading back to Ronald McDonald House to rest before the plane ride. Hopefully, that will build Matthew's energy for the trip.
We are praising the Lord for good news today!

Treatment #4

2008-03-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Just an update to let you know about Matthew's week home. It ended up being very difficult with alot of pain. We were in touch with New York several times and had to go to our local oncologist as well.
With pain meds in tow, Matthew was able to return to New York on Easter Sunday with his Dad to hopefully have treatment #4 today. Instead of treatment, many tests were done to try to determine the reason for the pain and fever. After a difficult day of a rollercoaster of news, Matthew's doctor determined that there was nothing alarming in the tests but that the pain is probably from the tumor.
Matthew is feeling better and the doctor has changed some of his meds and has determined that it would be ok for Matthew to get a good nights rest, and, barring any complications, have his 4th treatment tomorrow and then go home tomorrow night. So, that's the plan!!
Thanks so much for your continued prayers.

HOME, SWEET, HOME!!!

2008-03-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,
I'm sorry it took me so long to update you about the latest with us. I have to admit I've been a total "blob" today (Tuesday - 3/18) trying to get over the 3 weeks gone plus the amazingly long day yesterday trying to get home to Clinton, TN. But, yes, we are, in fact, HOME!!!!

Our weekend was pleasant with our family in for a visit. We ate out at the Japanese restaurant again (at Matthew's request), looked around in some beautiful stores, and saw their oldest daughter's apartment that lives in Chelsea in Manhattan. They joined us at the hospital on Monday during Matthew's treatment which was very cool since we're used to it being "just us"!

After the treatment on Monday, we returned to Ronald Mc House and rested for awhile. Matthew and I neither one rested very well in NY so we always needed a little rest to get through the day. Sure glad we got it because we would need it later on.
We had to vacuum, clean the bedroom and bathroom, and wash & fold linens before we could be inspected to leave Ronald McD House. We already have a room reserved there for the weeks we will return for Matthew's future treatments. They are SO great there.

We packed and decided to go ahead and get a cab and wait to eat at the airport so we wouldn't rush. As soon as we sat down to eat at the airport, we found out that our flight was delayed an hour, from 9:30 to 10:30 pm. It was 7:45 p.m. at the time. Yes, we had PLENTY of time!!
We finally boarded at 10:45 p.m. on a through flight which put us in Knoxville at 1 am and home at 2 am. We drug in the suitcases, brushed our teeth and went to bed! Ahhhhhh! In our OWN beds!

The good news is that Matthew made it through the evening just fine and has felt well today. He's played his video games, talked with his friends and had a buddy over for a while. It was good to hear him laughing with his friends. That's always a good sound!

We found out from Corporate Angels today that they will not be an option for us because there is no one they work with that flies out of Knoxville because the airport is so small. We thankfully have precious friends at church who have made our next few trips available through their sky miles.

Greg is planning to go with Matthew for his next treatment. They will leave Sunday evening (Easter) and return on Monday evening after Matthew's treatment that day.

I will continue to keep everyone updated on Matthew but possibly not quite as often. Let me express my deepest gratitude for the calls, cards, gifts, and e-mails we have received over the past 3 weeks while in NYC. We have received so much encouragement and strength from them. I still love to get up each morning and the check the computer to see what "mail" I have.
Many of you I look forward to "hugging" in person in the next few days!!
God bless each of you.
Love, Nancy

Another week in NYC

2008-03-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
It's Friday morning, March 12 and we are having a quiet morning in New York.
Greg arrived last night at about 9:45 p.m. After unpacking, the three of us walked to our favorite Italian restaurant around the corner so Greg could get a bite to eat. No plans for today yet.
Matthew has done well this week since his treatment. He's been able to get out and do a few things with his friends that are here. That at least helps him get a break from me on occasion!!
Greg's sister, husband and daughter are coming in this evening for the weekend. We are looking forward to spending time with them.
We continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and love being sent our way during this part of our journey. Many of you have offered skymiles and through Greg's Sunday School Class coordinating things, we have several tickets already lined up to get us back to New york for Matthew's weekly treatments. Isn't that amazing? Matthew and I are SO appreciative because we can't wait to be home. Some people don't have the option to go home, so we are truly thankful and are praying for those who can't.
Our prayer request today is for strength to be positive in this time of uncertainty.
Love, Nancy

Just a quick update

2008-03-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Matthew had treatment #2 today without any problems. But since they are SO thorough, he was examined by the nurse practitioner and one of the doctors on the team, had his blood checked twice, blood pressure and temperature taken 4 times during the treatment, etc. We were there from 10 am to 3 pm. The actual treatment only takes an hour. Yikes!
He has to go tomorrow for a Petscan at 4:30 p.m. He can't eat for 6 hrs prior to the test so we're getting up early and I am cooking a BIG breakfast so he can eat before the 10:30 a.m. deadline.
We are off for the rest of the week. If all goes well the next couple of days and Matthew has no reactions from the meds, we will plan to be here for next Monday's 3rd treatment and then come home.
Greg is coming in Thursday evening and will be here for the treatment. We hope to get the same flight he has to return Monday evening. Once we are home, we'll be making the weekly flights to get Matthew here for his Monday treatments. We are both looking forward to being in good ol' Clinton, TN!
Let me say a humble and heartfelt thank you to those who have already helped make it possible for Greg to fly up this weekend and for those who have offered sky miles to get us back up here as the weeks and treatments come and go. We hope for MANY weeks since that will mean the treatments are working. I may have already said this, but after the sixth treatment a Pet and CT scan will be done and we will know for sure if it is being effective. If it is, we can keep on going for as many as 18 weeks total.
We have a precious nurse, Ava, that takes care of Matthew from beginning to end every time we are at the hospital. God once again has blest us with one of His Angels - this one is named Ava!Nancy

New York Nicks

2008-03-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

We went to the New York Nicks game last night at Madison Sq Gardens thanks to my nephew, Kip, in VA. Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, Matthew started feeling really badly. I suggested some meds that might help and then he laid down to rest. I went ahead and got ready and prayed.
The final decision that he felt like giving it a shot to go was made about 30 minutes before we needed to leave. We took a cab, arrived and got our tickets that were waiting for us. Then...
WE WENT TO THE CLUB SUITES ON THE 10TH FLOOR AT THE TOP OF THE ARENA - PLUSH & COMFY!
The room had it's own 2 rows of comfortable stadium seating. We sat in the front where the glass is and had a perfect view. There was food - hot dogs to die for, chips, cheese, fruit, drinks, etc. The sauerkraut & dog was top notch!! (Don't say yuck - I love sauerkraut!) Matthew got feeling so much better that he ate 2 hot dogs and sampled everything else as well! He hadn't been able to eat all day.
The game was great!! The score ended up at 108/108 and went into overtime. The Nicks lost but the locals said they played better than usual. #4 - Robinson scored 45 points (a career record) and he was only 5'9"! The rest of the guys were from 6'6" to 6'9".
I was so thrilled that Matthew got feeling better to be there and enjoy. We laughed and routed for NY like we were New Yorkers. Fun stuff.
Hope you all have a blessed Sunday, Nancy

Saturday in NYC - rainy, dreay and cold

2008-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!
It is Saturday morning in NYC... dreary, cold, and rainy. Unfortunately, it's the 3rd day this week like this. Oh well, we needed the extra rest inside anyway.
Matthew developed a cold Wed night with a low grade fever. We went for bloodwork on Thursday and really struggled to get there, he was feeling so badly. Unfortunately, he had to "fast" and not eat 8 hours before the test which didn't help things. In addition to the clinical trial bloodwork, they did blood cultures and other tests to make sure there was no bacteria anywhere. So, thankfully, his cold was viral.
I'm glad to say that Matthew was feeling alot better last night so it looks like we are on the mend. Just in case you are wondering, this cold had nothing to do with his treatment. His next treatment is Monday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Everyone continues to be so generous to us. Greg has been invited out to eat 4 times so far so he's being well taken care of at home. Also, Greg's Sunday school class has gotten him a flight so he can come visit us next weekend. How cool is that?? Thanks SS friends!!
My nephew called me this week and said he had a friend who was able to get us tickets to the Nicks game (vs. Portland) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Madison Square Gardens!! We will be in a "suite" with 8 chairs and it's own bathroom. We cant wait!! You da man, Kip!! So glad Matthew is better to be able to go!!
So are you ready for my "escapade" yesterday? I decided since Matthew was ok, I'd go out for a little while. I took the subway downtown to Macy's to shop. There are lots of other stores right there, too, so I thought I'd be set for a couple of hours.
I left here at 3:00. I got to Macys to realize that I needed another map similar to my subway map to find my way IN the store - 7 stories - tons of elevators - tons of people - in the store. I shopped a bit and decided to buy some "good" shoes. They were a little pricey but if they would help my feet it would be worth it.
My phone was going dead so I had it "off" until I called Matthew to check in. He told me it was raining and I said I would start heading back. I walked out of Macy's to find it was raining cats and dogs and me with no umbrella. Now what? So I started walking and getting wet. Suddenly a guy walked by me selling umbrellas for $3. Needless to say that was an amazing blessing.
So, then I started trying to hail a cab. Nothing doing. Because it is now around 5 pm, downtown NY, raining and just about every cab is full! I thought to myself I would pay a hundred dollars for a cab to just GET ME HOME!!
I stopped to got shelter in a store front area to put on my coat, scarf and gloves. I laid down my Macy's bag and when I picked it up it fell apart from being wet. So I took the shoe box out and put it in the large shoulder bag I had with me. I found a trash can and threw out the Macys bag.
I kept walking and trying to hail a cab every now and then. There were a million buses...if I only knew which one to take! Ha! By the way, have you ever tried to walk on a very crowded NY sidewalk, people going both ways.....WITH UMBRELLAS!!!
I finally walked the 8 blocks from Macy's to Grand Central to get on the subway. I stepped on the subway and the door closed ON me. Thank heavens for the guy on the subway that opened it for me to get in! (I told you it was funniest home videos!)
I got off the subway at 68th and tried to get a cab once again. I walked a block trying to do that and when I realized I had walked a block in the wrong direction, I thought I would scream!!! I am now drenched, including my shoulder bag and the shoe box IN the bag.
Finally a cab stopped to unload a passenger and motioned for me to get in next. I was so thrilled to be in the cab. I thought hugging the cab driver would have a been a little overboard so I restrained myself. He deposited me at Ronald McD and I drug myself to the 9th floor.
I announced to Matthew that I would probably never leave the house again while in New York. I told him my story and of course he laughed and eventually got me to laugh, too. I told him that the shoes I bought better be the best shoes I've had in my life!!!
Thank you for the comments on the blog. It is phenomenal that some of you don't even know us personally yet you continue to pray for and support us because your friends have asked you to!!
So many of you have asked what can you do to help us. As a need arises, we certainly will let you know. Sometimes the comment is "I guess all I can do is pray". That is the biggest thing you can do! Just think that all of you out there that are praying are a part of this miracle unfolding for Matthew. If it ends up helping others with this type of cancer also, you will be a part of that as well. Our hearts and minds are joined together in an amazing journey together. I praise the Lord for the opportunity!! Love to all, Nancy

Sunny and warmer in NYC

2008-03-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

Today went well for Matthew's first treatment at Sloan Kettering. We were there at 9 am and left about 1:30 pm The actual treatment took 90 minutes. He is feeling well so far - so thankful for that. We go back for blood tests Tues and Thurs then we are "off" until next Monday when Matthew will have treatment #2.
Not sure when we'll be home. We'll be here at least until after the 3rd treatment, maybe longer. After the 6th treatment, more scans will be done. If the treatments are working, we'll continue them. If not we'll be done. There will be a recheck every 6 weeks to access how well the treatment is working. The doctor even ventured to say that if it works like they want it to, maybe surgery could maybe become an option by late summer. But...I'm getting ahead of myself....one step at a time!!
Matthew's treatment is called R1507. It is an antibody that is supposed to attack a certain protein in cells (in this case - the insulin-like growth factor 1 cell receptor). By blocking this protein the hope is to prevent tumor growth and cause tumor shrinking. We are praying for it's success in Matthew as well as the other 257 who will participate. If it works for us, there are potentially thousands that this could help once it is approved by FDA.
We had quite a busy weekend. We decided to splurge Saturday and go to see "The Lion King" on Broadway. It was amazing!!! Then, we woke up on Sunday and there was a note in the "house" (that's the Ronald Mc House) that there were complimentary tickets for "A Chorus Line" at 3:00 p.m. So, we were able to go!!! FREE!!!! Another fabulous time.
Greg left this afternoon and Ian left this evening. Matthew felt well enough to go hear a band with a friend of his that works here in New York. Mom, the old fogey that she is, is happy to be back at the RM house, in my room, in comfy clothes, talking to you (or should I say "typing" to you.) My feet and legs can't believe what I've done to them these past 6 days!! Matthew and I are definitely sleeping in tomorrow!!!
I'll send any knew news as we have it. Love to all, Nancy

Friday in New York

2008-02-29T12:18:00.000-08:00

I still can't believe we're in NYC!!! Somebody pinch me and wake me up!
Matthew is napping as I type. He had quite a morning. We arrived at the hospital at 7 a.m. and met with Dr. Wexler for Matthew to sign all the necessary legal documents to take part in the clinical trial. He, then, escorted us downstairs to the imaging center for his scans. Yes, I said that the doctor, the best in his field in the country, escorted us to Matthew's scan location. We had a wonderful conversation all the way there.
Then, Matthew started his delightful adventure of drinking about a quart of foul, thick stuff for his Petscan which took 2 hrs to complete. Then, he was given another quart of another absolutely awful concoction to drink for the CT scan. All this on an empty stomach, of course. Scans were completed by 1 p.m. afterwhich Matthew went for a burger and fries!!
Dr. Wexler has called twice since we have returned with numbers to the Corporate Angels for us to contact about flights for Matthew's weekly treatments. Hopefully, we can work out something. After 6 wks, new scans will be done to see if the treatments are working. Then, treatments will continue (weekly) for another 6 wks, then scans and so on in 6 wk intervals. So, we will be able to know where we stand pretty quickly.We have to be at the hospital at 9 am Monday for his initial treatment, additional bloodwork, EKG's and other initial tests that need to be done. Should be done by @ 1 pm.
Greg just came in and gave me news of another of God's miracles today. He called Delta about Matthew's and my flights that are supposed to leave with Greg on Mon @ 4:30 p.m. Greg explained the situation and that we didn't know when Matthew and I would be flying out. The person he spoke to immediately said, "Well, you have enough to deal with at this point. I will put a note on these tickets that they are "open" until you need them and there will be NO fee." OK, are you believing in miracles out there??? No doubt!!
Ian will arrive in early evening. We look forward to a fun weekend. Probably won't hear from me for a couple of days (unless I find a great deal at one the stores here! Ha!) Love to all, Nancy

News from New York

2008-02-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

We arrived in New York Wednesday afternoon with no problems. We got settled in the Ronald McDonald House which is very nice and the people are SO nice and helpful. $35 per night in Manhattan!!!! We qualify because this is a pediatric cancer and are working with the Pediatric Dept at Sloan Kettering. (Be sure to drop your coins in the donation box the next time you are in McDonalds!)
Today (Thursday) we had quite an amazing day! We met Dr. Wexler at Sloan Kettering this morning who had a precise grasp on Matthew's condition and treatment beginning with 11/06 and all committed to memory. He explained in more depth about Matthew's cancer (Desmoplastic small round cell tumor or DSRCT). As we knew, it is a tough cancer and with the year of treatment and three treatment medications that have now stopped working, the cancer is even tougher to fight.
He presented us with 3 possibilities. The first two choices were combinations of chemo regimens that we would use until it became unsuccessful. Then, we'd try another type of chemo regimen.
The third choice was a clinical trial that is being offered to Sloan Kettering for patients with various forms of sarcomas. Sloan Kettering will only have 25 patients that will be able to participate and only 258 patients will participate worldwide at other hospitals.
The treatment would be given once a week through the IV/port and would last about one and a half hours. So far, they believe there will be no adverse side effects that patients typically have with chemo.
The way the treatment works is by blocking the message receptor to the cancer cell that tells it to grow or multiply. Ultimately the hope is that the cell would die. Amazing!!
It took Matthew, Greg & I about a minute (or less) to opt for the clinical trial option! Then, Matthew had to qualify by meeting a several page list of criterion. After bloodwork & chest exray was done at noon, we found out at about 3:00 p.m. that he had qualified!!! Praise the Lord!
So, Matthew will have a Petscan and CT scan in the morning and will begin treatments on Monday. He will have 6 treatments (6 weeks, 1 per week) and then they will repeat the scans to see if it is working. If it is, we will continue. If not, we'll go for one of the other options presented today.
Dr. Wexler was very careful to give us information about the choices and not do a "sell job". Once we showed our interest for the clinical trial, he said that he and his colleagues don't recall when they have been so excited over a clinical trial. Obviously, there are no guarantees but we feel this is a chance of a lifetime for Matthew!!
We also feel that God's timing is so evident in this opportunity. He is continuing to honor the many prayers that are being prayed for Matthew. Thank you for those prayers.
On a lighter note, Matthew is meeting a friend from high school for dinner tonight that just took a job in New York. How cool is that?
Greg will return home on Monday. Matthew and I will stay for a couple of weeks at least to see how he does on the treatment. Then, we'll come home and fly up weekly for his treatments. Many of you have offered your sky miles to help out. We may have to take you up on your offer. But not just yet. Dr. Wexler says there is a program called "Corporate Angels" that offer their company jets free of charge to transport people in our situation that live very far from our treatment location. He is checking to see if we have that in our area!
I promise to do a better job keeping the blog updated as we have new info. Thank for your love, prayers, and that you are "staying the course" with us on this journey. Nancy

February

2008-02-22T19:50:00.001-08:00

I know it's been since November that I updated the blog. Our lives have taken many amazing twists and turns. Matthew began his new chemo treatment in December and had a second treatment in January. The treatments lasted about 3 hrs each day for 5 days. In between the treatments, Matthew celebrated Ian's 30th birthday by going on a weekend ski trip. Matthew absolutely loves to snowboard and had to skip it totally last year. This year the doctor said "OK". He had a blast!
After a scan at the end of January we learned that the new treatment had failed. The cancer had not only not reduced, it had grown by a small margin. So, now we are on to Dr. Leonard Wexler at Sloan Kettering in New York. We have an appointment for Thurs., Feb. 28. We will be prepared to stay for treatment depending on what the doctor recommends. He has all of Matthew's records up to the current scans and has reviewed them already.
We feel SO blessed that we have the opportunity to see this new doctor. He is a specialist in the research and treatment of the rare kind of cancer Matthew has. Please pray that he has the very plan that will ultimately bring about Matthew's healing.
Once we know the "scoop" I'll try to update everyone. Blessings to you all, Nancy

I'm back!!

2007-11-15T20:41:00.001-08:00

Sorry I've been off the blog for so long. To say that life has been busy is the biggest understatement you can imagine! I do want to bring you guys up to speed on the latest. Matthew had chemo from August through the end of October. Since he's over 3 weeks away from his last chemo, he's really feeling pretty good.
Matthew had scans last week and we got the results on Wednesday (the 14th). The results were what the doctor called "marginal", no big change. Apparently, Matthew's body has built up resistance to the chemo drug he was taking making it ineffective.
The doctor has suggested a new drug which has been in use for 3 years. He will also be checking with Matthew's doctor at Vanderbilt to see if there are any new treatments on the horizon. We are prepared to go to any of the major cancer research hospitals that would be a help to Matthew.
We go back to the doctor in 2 weeks when we'll know whether we start the new drug right away or be on the road to see a new doctor. We appreciate your prayers in this regard.
Greg has declared that these 2 weeks are a "vacation from cancer." Since there's nothing else we can do until we see the doctor and Matthew's is feeling ok, we're going to be as normal as possible until then. We are looking forward to Ian coming in from D.C. for Thanksgiving!! Maybe we'll have another early "Black Friday" shopping spree like last year!!

No School This Fall

2007-07-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

We have finally gotten the final word on the plan of attack for Matthew at this point. Since the chemo has continued to work on the cancer, the Oncologist from Vanderbilt wants to continue with two more cycles which will begin on July 30 and continue through November when another scan will be done. With this new plan, school is out of the picture for now for Matthew which is a big dissappointment. We are adjusting to the additional 4 months of treatment and are kind of glad we didn't know we'd still be at this when we started last December!!
Thank you all for hanging in there with us with your love, prayers and support! That and the love of our great God is what will continue to sustain us! Love, Nancy

Upcoming schedule

2007-06-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew completed his chemo week. It was a rough week but, Praise the Lord!, he is now feeling better! His condition turned around Monday evening. We are so thankful he has started feeling better so quickly.
Matthew has a scan scheduled for June 29th and we see his Oncologist on July 2. Then we'll know what the next step will be. God bless you for you prayers. Nancy

Another Marathon Week

2007-06-12T05:21:00.001-07:00

Good morning to all! Matthew is on his way to day #2 of his chemo marathon week. Matthew slept through day#1's treatment and was able to get a good night's sleep. As the week progresses, he will become more tired, weak and achy with queasiness. This treatment lasts through Friday with his follow-up shot on Saturday morning. The 3 to4 days following that will be his worst. But then, he typically starts feeling a little better as the next week progresses. Hopefully by the end of June we can have another scan to see what progress we've made.
I hope having this update will help to know how to pray for Matthew this week. We love you and God's blessings on you all for your love, prayers and encouragement through these 7 months. It's still not over so hang in there with us!! God is blessing us at every turn and we give Him the praise for that!! Love to all, Nancy

"Back in the saddle again"

2007-05-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

You can't just "read" the title, you have to "sing" it!
Matthew started his chemo yesterday, Monday, May 14th. He also had a round today. After a shot tomorrow, he'll return for one day next week and one day the following week. He'll be off a week and then he'll return for the "5-day, all-day" round.
This past weekend Matthew, his dad and I went to the Smokies and stayed in a cabin that belongs to good friends of ours. We rested, ate, enjoyed the gorgeous view, shopped (a little), played putt-putt and rode the go-carts. We had a blast!!
We are SO thankful for God's daily blessings - big and small!!

Scan Results

2007-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

We went to the doctor today to receive the results from Matthew's Petscan from last Friday. The good news is that the tumor has reduced an additional 40% for the last scan meaning a total of 80%. We are so thankful for that! Unfortunately, Matthew will have to have another cycle of chemo and we're a little down about that today. But we know that's the only option and it is, in fact, working!! Matthew's doctor will be consulting the Oncologist at Vanderbilt that we saw in December about the decision to do the additional chemo. If he concurs, Matthew will start up within the next couple of weeks and will take about 8 weeks to complete before we can do another scan.
Thanks again for your prayers, notes, and encouraging words. We'll keep you posted!!

Final Chemo Finished!!

2007-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Matthew had chemo all day, every day this past week. The great news...it was his last! Woo hoo! Friday was quite emotional as we left the people that have taken care of us for the last year, first with Greg's chemo last summer and then with Matthew for the past 5 months.
We see Matthew's Oncologist tomorrow where we will schedule scans for later this month. We'll keep you posted on the scheduling.
Matthew tolerated the week of chemo fairly well. It is extremely tiring and by Friday he was not feeling well at all. After the Neulasta shot that he had Saturday morning, he has had the normal side affects of extreme ache deep in his bones. Thank goodness for pain meds! He's doing a little better this evening.
I'll update later this week. Nancy

Spring is here!

2007-03-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather!! Our allergies are having fits here in East Tennessee. We've had a pollen "explosion"!
Matthew was to finish this round of chemo today and the doctor decided to cancel today's treatment. Matthew has been experiencing a problem with his foot. It has been going on for quite awhile now. He does not have full range of motion, cannot lift the foot towards his leg. The doctor had checked it about a month and a half ago and seemed to think it was nothing to worry about.
Well, today, when Matthew mentioned it again, the doctor decided it may be the very medicine he was going to take to today that was the culprit. So, he cancelled.
Matthew now has an appointment with the neurologist on Thursday to check his foot out. We're anxious to hear what he has to say.
This is one of the possible side effects of chemo, but some cases are more extreme than others. Some symptoms will go away after awhile after chemo, some don't.
Matthew has "off" Easter week and will then have his last scheduled treatment beginning April 9th. We'll keep you posted!! Love and God's blessings to all!

One more to go!

2007-03-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Matthew got the majority of his 5th treament behind him this week. He has two more subsequent follow-up meds the next 2 Tuesdays. Then, he'll have one last treatment in April - one last marathon week of 5 fulls days in a row. After that, more tests will be done to see what the next step will be.
So far this week, Matthew has only had one "bad" day. He had shots today which usually affect him within a day or so. Please pray for him as he makes it through the weekend.
As I began this new post, I looked at the title that Ian gave this blog originally - "Unbelievable". As we have settled into "what has to be done" from day to day, it is still unbelievable that we are in the midst of this journey. I reallybelieve that the strength that we have received from the amazing number of prayers that go up daily for Matthew and our family has made it possible to laugh, get an occassional good night's sleep, take each challenge as it comes, and try not to be overwhelmed with what the future holds.
Love to you all - Nancy

"Normal Days!"

2007-03-07T02:02:00.000-08:00

It's been 2 weeks since I updated the blog. During that time, Matthew completed his marathon week of chemo, got through a tough weekend of his body responding to the treatment and after that, 10 days of Matthew feeling good; basically "normal". He has enjoyed getting out on his own, driving to Johnson City to be with his friends who are on Spring Break and even going for bloodwork and other check-ups at the doctor on his own. (I'm sure he's SO glad to get away from Mom and Dad for a bit. They do tend to "hover" at times! Ha!)
Next Monday & Tuesday (March 12 & 13) begins Matthew's next round of chemo. He will have follow-up treatments on the two following Tuesdays. This regimen of treatments usually has more harsh side effects which will hit the later part of next week. We appreciate your prayers during that time.
God continues to bless us with precious friends and family that pray, constantly support and bring us meals. Let me give you an example. Our pastor and his family live across the street from us, which we absolutely love! Lydia, our pastor's wife, put lights in the windows for Christmas making sure that two lights were in the windows facing us. All the Christmas decorations came down at their home except the two lights in the window facing us which shine every night. Lydia tells us that they are our reminder that they are there, loving us, supporting us, and would come in an instant if we needed them. I can't tell you how many times I've looked out of my kitchen window and been uplifted and encouraged by the shining lights in those windows! God is SO good!

Great News!!

2007-02-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

We received great news from Matthew's scan! His tumor has reduced at least 40%!!
There is also reduction elsewhere, we just don't have specific dimensions. After Matthew completes this week of chemo, he will have 2 more rounds of treatment which will take him to the end of April . At that point the doctor says we will "re-access" with other tests and see what we do from there. We are thrilled and praising the Lord for this miracle!! Know your prayers being heard. Celebrate with us!!

2 good weeks

2007-02-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
The past 2 weeks have been relatively uneventful with Matthew having some good days almost feeling fairly "normal", if that's possible at this point!!
On Friday, Matthew had scans to check the effect the treatments are having on his cancer. We'll see the doctor on Tuesday morning (2/20) for the results.
Next week, Matthew will have his next round of chemo. It will be every day, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Then, he gets his shot on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Fortunately, when his treament starts each day, he is given additional meds that help him sleep through the majority of the day. At least that helps him deal with the length of time each day. After this treatment, he will have a couple weeks "off" without treatment until his next round.
Greg also had a scan last week and we are thankful that his results were clear. He doesn't see the oncologist again until May. Praise the Lord!
I'll update you on the results we receive from the doctor. Until then...

Headaches are gone!!

2007-02-02T21:11:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that after 3 weeks of Matthew struggling with horrible headaches, staying horizontal, taking pain meds, and finally having a "patch" on Wednesday, the spinal tap headaches finally ended!! We are so thankful! We are looking forward to some uneventful and relaxing days!
He will see his doctor Thursday when we will hopefully schedule scans to see the progress of Matthew's treatments. We'll keep you posted! Thanks for the encouraging comments.

Another week of victories!

2007-01-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

Matthew completed his chemo treatments for this week. He's already having the usual side effects. So, things will be up and down for him for the next few days. We saw the neurologist on Thursday and she definitely thinks his headache is from the spinal tap. His prescription is being horizontal 24/7 with no activity. We're praying he'll get better by the first of the week so we won't have to do the "patch".
Matthew continues to get amazing cards of encouragement and the last few days has received 4 amazing goody boxes and gifts. Thanks to you all for your thoughtfulness!! It DOES make a difference!!

January 24

2007-01-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hey, Friends,
Alot has happened since the last post. Sorry it's taken so long to update. Since our last post, Matthew battled a stubborn virus with bad headache and high fever which took him to the hospital for a battery of tests including a spinal tap. The virus subsided but the headaches from the spinal tap have persisted. Consequently, he did NOT have chemo on Tuesday, the 23rd, but had an MRI of his head instead. Thankfully, we have received word this morning that all was clear on the MRI. He will see a Neurologist about the headaches and go ahead with Chemo treatment today (January 24th) and tomorrow.
Matthew was able to see his friends in Johnson City which was a big boost. They are such good "buds" and took good care of him.
We have so many taking such good care of us in SO many ways. Thanks for the encouraging words, cards, prayers, meals, and many other "random acts of kindness"!! We are blessed!!

Marathon Week!

2007-01-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

Matthew has made it through marathon chemo week!! He started this round of treatments on Tuesday, Jan. 2nd & finished Fri., Jan. 5th. Each day began at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, he got his Neulasta shot which builds the white cells to bolsted his immune system that the chemo destroys. The side effects of the week has mainly been extreme fatigue and weakness with some nausea yesterday and today. We are praying things don't get any worse over the next few days.
We are so proud of Matthew. He is SO courageous!!
We see the doctor on Tuesday and will update then. Right now his next treament is scheduled for Jan. 23rd.
Thanks for your continued love and support. We trust the Lord daily for each challenge. We are blessed!!

Christmas/New Year's Update

2006-12-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry we've haven't updated the blog recently. The last 3 weeks have been busy yet good. Matthew had a rough week immediately after his first two days of chemo. The following 2 treatments which were on the two Thursdays following (the 14th & 21st) were light and fairly uneventful. Christmas week was Matthew's week off from treatments during which time he has had some very good days.
Ian left this evening after spending almost 2 full weeks with us. The 4 of us have had a great time watching movies, eating, sleeping in and laughing.
Next Tuesday, Matthew begins his second month of treatment with a completely new regemen of medication. The treatments will be everyday, Tues thru Fri, from 8:30 a.m. thru the majority of the day. Then, he has 3 weeks off before returning to the treatment schedule he had in December.
Thanks to you all for the encouraging comments and amazing cards!! Your prayers and support are truly amazing! God is so good and gives us the grace to meet each and every day!
We pray for a blessed New Year for each of you!

Chemoed

2006-12-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

Matt has successfully completed his first chemo treatment. Apparently they deliver it throught Sprite cans these days. Pretty cool technology.

Keep up the support as I know this day is the start of MANY tough ones ahead for Matt. He's tougher than me, but that's not saying much.

Interim To Start

2006-11-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

The fam went to Vandy on Monday to see a surgeon and an Oncologist who specializes in Sarcomas. They felt surgery was not an option and that aggressive chemotherapy was the treatment of choice to make the Sarcoma managable. The Oncologist developed the "recipe" for chemo and related that information to Dad's Oncologist in Knoxville (Dr. Dobbs).

Today, they met with Dobbs to schedule the treatment. Matt will have a heart scan tomorrow to make sure everything is ok there to tolerate treatment and to get a baseline scan since some the meds can adversely affect the heart.

Monday, Matt is scheduled for surgery to put in a port-a-cath to receive the chemotherapy treatments. Chemo will either begin on Dec. 7th or 11th. I always thought that I was going to be the first Fay to have some technology implanted.

The treatments will consist of two different regiments of medication, one administered hopefully next week and another Janurary. The first set of treatments will be two days in a row with follow up treatments in 1 week intervals. The following month, the treatments will be 5 days in a row. There will be at least 6 months worth of treatment. To put this in perspective, Dad had 4 treatments total, post surgery.

Matt is looking forward to spending this weekend with his pals at ETSU. They have lots of fun things planned I hear. Also, two of his professors have helped him be able to complete this semester's work at this point. He'll take an incomplete in the other 2 courses will the ability to complete them within the next 12 months.

Thanks for the continued love and prayers. They are amazing.

Thanksgiving!

2006-11-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

We've had an amazing Thanksgiving Weekend at the Fay's house in Clinton, TN!! Matthew came in from ETSU on Wednesday evening. Ian flew in from D.C. on Thursday afternoon. We have laughed, eaten, laughed, slept, laughed, shopped, laughed and eaten some more!!

To explain the picture that Ian has included up top... on Friday morning, the 4 Fays (or should I say "FAYS 4") got up at 4 a.m. to make a treck to HHGregg to buy a TV. So not like the Fay's at all, but we had a blast!! No one was allowed to stay home, it was a complete "Fay Adventure"!

Ian flies back to D.C. today but will be back in a few weeks for Christmas! Whoo hoo!

Tomorrow, Greg, Nancy and Matthew will make a trip to Nashville to see doctors at Vanderbilt Hospital to find out the next step in the treatment for Matthew. We certainly appreciate all of your love and prayers as we continue on this journey.

Between Ian and Nancy (that's me!), we'll keep you all up to speed! God bless each of you. "We thank God for every remembrance of you!" (to quote my good friend, the apostle Paul!)

Go

2006-11-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

Who would have though that Matt Fay, a true picture of health, has been diagnosed with Cancer. Last Thursday I'm in the security line of Regan National Airport when my father calls to 'keep me up to speed' as he says. They found out that Matt had a 4 inch mass in his abdomen. I had to struggle to keep it together. Seeing how this was the third cancer diagnosis of my three closest male family members this year, I've learned the word 'compartmentalize'. I called him when I arrived at my destination to tell him I love him. That's about all I know to say.

So I determine that the next 'step' is Monday, where the results of the biopsy will be back. Work on Monday morning was compartmentalized. It was Mom who called. Found out then that it in-fact was malignant and we're waiting for a response from Mayo.

Yesterday they took a PET Scan to get a picture where it was in the body.

Today they met with doctors and determined the type of cancer is Demoplastic which is in the Sarcoma family.

I just got off the phone with Mom, waiting for the results from the PET scan.

As you can see, my comments on these 'steps', I have dwindled down to just facts. My form of compartmentalizing. Between those facts I've been made aware and recieved the support and prayers of an overwhelming amount of friends and family. Those are all appreciated, welcomed, requested, and uplifting.

As the waiting game begins, we will try and make this the central point of information flow. I know it's important to keep your chin up. So chin up.

Ian