Early Monday, Mikaela got sick again and I worked to help her and clean up the mess so Steven could sleep. The treatment we were planning on receiving for the bed bugs didn't happen because I didn't want Lynda and Jessica deal with sick girls. We rescheduled the exterminator to come on Friday instead. Steven also had his appointment to check if the blood thinners he is taking is helping with the blood clot. It isn't really working so they increased his dosage. Instead of doing two shots a day he has to do four into his belly and increase his pill dosage. He never filled the prescription for the shots because of the high expense even for just the co-pay. Thankfully, he was given lots of free samples and has now cleared out the cancer center of all their supply. His belly is a pin cushion and has two really big bruises.
Tuesday, I was able to listen to a sermon on "What's Really Yours?" my friend Holly posted on Facebook. This message really administered to me. So many times we can get caught in the trap of thinking stuff that God has given us is ours. I know that through the bed bug trial that is one of the things, I have been dealing with. You can view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y2HxN3OXAA&feature=share Thank you Pastor Chris!
Today, Steven took off work because we had two appointments to go to. The first was off to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for a second opinion on the surgery that will have to take place soon. This cancer facility doesn't look like a hospital, instead it looks like a 5-star resort. This surgeon is talking about taking out all the lymph nodes in his abdomen area, instead of what the other doctor described in our blog "Life in the Slow Lane". Also he will install a filter into Steven's chest area just in case the blood clot becomes loose during surgery. Next Tuesday, the doctor will review Steven's tumor with at a group of doctors. The surgery sounds like it will take place in July, but hasn't been scheduled yet.
We finally got to view the 2nd CT image after all of this time of not seeing what the doctors are looking at. It was so neat and weird all at the same time. It is almost like viewing an ultra sound, but different in the fact that this took place weeks ago and it showed more. It was a lot of pictures taken of soft tissue and it even showed the bones. The images started in his chest area and moved down his body to his pelvic area. So as she would scroll down she would describe the body parts that we were looking at.
The next appointment was at the Utah Cancer Specialist. They were checking his blood to see if the medicine he is taking for the blood clot is working. Which it hasn't improved much at all, so now he still has to do the four shots a day but he also has to up the dose of his pill form of the medicine. All the free shots that Steven has been taking for almost two weeks, will end tomorrow. So now we have to see about buying those shots.
Jacqueline was a huge blessing in watching the girls for us, thank you so much!
Pray for guidance for the group of doctors that meet on Tuesday to discuss the tumors that need to be operated on. It sounds like this other doctor has more experience in this type of surgery, and does about one a week. Please pray for Steven for the constant ringing in his ears, his blood clot in his leg to go away and the medicine to take affect. Also pray for us to get past this bed bug issue.
2 comments:
I just wanted to let you know that we're thinking of you and praying for you. It's just one thing after another, isn't it? I hope the shots do their job, and that the surgery goes well. You are loved!
Thank you for your prayers! We are keeping your family and Jonas in our prayers. Glad the radiation is almost over. We love your family, and I really miss our walks together. Wish we lived closer!
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