Round.....Something......Ding, Ding

I've lost track of how many rounds of chemo dad has been through. Since they seemed to take forever and many changes took place. I guess we could call this Round 1 since the cancer was gone but now has grown in other places. Dad had a few tests done on Tuesday. His heart is in good shape from the chemo this past winter/spring. He also underwent some chemotheropy on Tuesday. The chemo rounds they will be doing are supposed to be shorter lengths of time. So sometimes dad will just go in for the day and other times it will be a few days at once. I will write more when I know more.

Winter Is Here...

On October 16th, I wrote about an extended family member with some health issues. It's my grandpa and he has been diagnosed with cancer. Leukemia, to be precise. He went in for unrelated surgery the other day for a hernia. That was successful. I'm not sure what the options are for treating Lukemia. There are many different kinds and as far as I know, a person can live with Lukemia for many years. I don't know any more details. I will post them when I can.

This has been a long year for my family. We would covet your prayers for grandpa's and dad's healing. If God chooses not to heal, prayer for strength for all of us. Thanks.

Test Results

I don't have exact details but what I know is that the cancer is not gone, it has spread. There is a speck in his lung. The cancer in his abdominal lymph node is gone but a lymph node in his chest (near the lung) has grown some cancer (4 cms in diametre). And so at this point dad and the rest of us need to decide if going through chemo is viable again. The chance of success has dropped to around 30-50%. I don't know what all the options are but dad or mom will be writing me a more detailed update and I will post it here. Dad goes in again next week, so we will know more then. Thanks to Dr Fibich and all the others working with our family through this.

Life Rolls On

This week we find out the test results for dad. We also found out some bad news about the health of one of our extended family members. I don't want to go into details because not everyone in the family knows yet. Please continue to pray for my family as we deal with dad's results and other family health issues. And for me as I try to find steady work for the winter.

The Things That Tie Us Down

Dad goes for another CT Scan in about a week. This will tell us if the swelling in his abdominal lymph node is from all the chemicals pumped into his body during chemo or if it is still some cancer leftover. If it is just some swelling we are in the clear. I guess going through all of this causes a person to reflect on his or her life and the significance of it. Have I been living up to my full potential? Am I finding meaning in life? Where am I headed in the next few years?

As I reflect on these and many more questions I find that I am not living up to my potential. I feel that there is so much more I want to do and learn in life. There are things in my life holding me back. I look forward to discovering some of these things and overcoming them, as well as overcoming the things that I know are holding me back, as I commit them to God. Thanks for your prayers for my family and I.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"