The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Several weeks ago, Greg and I travelled to Detroit to meet with members of a stem cell transplant team at the Barbara Ann Karmonos Cancer Center. We left at the "crack" of dawn in order to arrive for my 9:00 A.M. appointment. The Center is currently in the process of remodeling and we met with staff members in a "state-of-the-art" second floor section that had just opened two weeks prior to our visit. The floor above us housed all the doctors' offices and the two floors above that held all the research facilities.
The doctor assigned to my case is from Thailand. His name is Voravit Ratanatharathorn. (Don't even try.} Just refer to him as Dr. "R". He was a very friendly man with a good sense of humor. He sympathized with my desire to have the stem cell transplant as soon as possible as our middle son and his family are scheduled to come home for a year from the missionary field in Kenya the middle of July. Dr. "R" said, "So you are thinking you'd like to be home before the 4th of July, yes?" "Yes!" I replied. He thought such a plan was doable. We left for home with a potential time frame in the minds of all.
I've now finished the 1st phase of my chemo treatments. Five cycles of Velcade have been completed. Velcade is a chemo drug that initially was introduced into a patient via IV (infusion). Approximately nine months prior to my being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Velcade was "ok'd" to be given as a shot.
The shot form dramatically reduced one of the most common side effects of the drug - peripheral neuropathy. This is namely a sense of numbness or tingling feeling in the arms, legs, feet, and fingers. In conjunction with the Velcade, I also took a steroid called Dexamethasone. Side effects of this drug include flushed and puffy cheeks and a jittery feeling in the hands and fingers. I did not escape the infusion of a chemo drug, however. Because of bothersome side effects suspected of being caused by Revlimid, I was put on Cytoxan. This drug is infused, the IV drip taking one hour to complete. The final drug of this first regimen was Zometa. This chemical is designed to build up my bones. Zometa is also infused, the drip taking half an hour and occurring once a month.
Currently, I'm going through the testing portion of the prelims leading to the stem cell transplant. I've already had an echo-cardiogram, chest X-ray, and full bone scan (all the bones in my body are X-rayed.) After getting approval from Delta Dental Insurance, I have had my teeth cleaned earlier than routinely scheduled. This week I'm scheduled for a pulmonary test and an EKG. And next week I'll have a bone marrow biopsy. (That will be the only test that will hurt a bit.)
Received a call from the Karmonos Cancer Center yesterday. I'm scheduled for a consultation with Dr. "R" to discuss my test results and make future plans. This appointment is at noon so we won't have to get up so early to make the 3 hour drive. I'm thinking positively and planning on this meeting leading to a scheduled transplant next month. The procedure will require Greg and me to be in Detroit for about a month: 2 weeks at the Center and 2 weeks close-by to monitor the beginning stage of my recovery process. God's hand is in this process as well. Recently, we received a call from our niece in Cairo, Egypt. Last year she and her husband purchased a house in the Detroit area 23 minutes from the Karmonos Cancer Center. They were calling to tell us that we could stay at their house during the stem cell transplant recovery time. Not only would this save us temporary lodging expenses, but also Priority Health Insurance would not have to pay for any of our living expenses. That should make them happy. :)
I have been praising God concerning how well the past three months have gone. Despite all the toxic chemicals entering my body and doing their deadly work on the cancer, collateral damage has been minimal. I've experienced relatively mild side-effects. The most persistent residual effects of the chemo treatments have been headaches, eye problems, and neuropathy. A call to my Oncologist, Dr. Alguire, concerning the neuropathy resulted in a prescription for Gabapentin which is routinely prescribed to treat peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy may never disappear 100%, but the nerve endings affected should improve now that the chemo is no longer entering my body. I visited our Ophthalmologist regarding my eyes. After examining them, he pronounced that I had "Chemo Eyes". That is, the chemo has adversely affected my eyes which also resulted in the headaches. As with the neuropathy, the "C.E.'s" will not go away 100% at this time. But a prescription of Fluorometholone (eye drops) will alleviate the problem 80%.
As I look back over the last 3 months, I see God working in all things. He has shown His love and faithfullness every step of the way. Is this the path I would have chosen for myself? Obviously, not. But I am not in control of my life; God is. He knows and sees all from beginning to end. For reasons totally unknown to me, He is leading me along this path for reasons only He knows. This journey is part of His plan for my life. I admit that obedience is not easy. I am human. I want some control, but I also know that God wants what is best for me. I don't pretend to fully understand how what is currently happening to me is "best" for me, but I choose to trust God's leading. As I pray daily; read my Bible regularly; and engage in devotional readings everyday, God communicates to me and provides me comfort and courage. I also realize that prayers from family, friends, and people world wide have contributed greatly to this positive first phase of my journey. To all of you known and unknown, I thank you will all my heart. Please continue your prayers.
I conclude this entry with the following poem from one of my recent devotions:
He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day.
But step by step my path unfolds;
My LORD directs my way.
My journey continues...next: Transplant plans.
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