4 day work week for Matthew

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!

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!

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"!

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

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!

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...

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