Seven days after the first chemo (9/23/14)

Dear Family, thank you for your prayers. The side effects of the chemo has been manageable.

The nausea symptom was there but was not too bad. Sue could get by through taking level I (there are three levels) anti-nausea pills. It was at day 4 when we realized that Sue had the constipation problem. Fortunately, it was resolved that day. But now it is diarrhea. Sue slept through most of the day 3- day 5 without eating much, and now Some energy began to come back to hertoday.

Although she still cannot eat much now, today she began to bug some sisters to prepare some weird foods for her, like (猪脚，馄饨 。。。). Her taste has become so unpredictable. She may craving for something in the morning and change her mind in the afternoon. (Thank you sisters for spoiling us!)

Currently, Sue's status with the church is "leave without pay". The church has been generously providing insurance to her, which covers most of the major medical spending. Pastor Lam has also granted Donald full flexibility in taking care of Sue. Financially, we are O.K.!

Dizziness still hit a couple of times each day. We learned to battle it with prayers. We can only let go and let God to catch us. Just like Apostle Paul experienced:

8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (II Corinthians 4:8-9)

By God' grace, we choose hope, we choose to believe.

Please pray for Sue's spine specifically since many of her symptoms associated with the healthiness of her spine!

Donald & Sue

第一次化療 (9/15/14)

親們,

謝謝大家的代禱.麗芳今天下午順利地做完第一次化療, 目前精神還好. 據醫生說, 虛弱的情形會發生在第 2-4 日, 仍需大家代禱. 這次化療是每三周做一次, 做4-6次. 目的是壓住癌細胞的反彈.

今天也與醫生商討了其他的療法. PD-1 自身免疫療法FDA已批准, 但不是用在肺癌. 用在肺癌, 需自費, 且需測是否有PD-1 蛋白 (30% 機率). 而且目前沒有商用公司在做. 醫生答應替我們聯絡安排! 另一個 Clovis clinic trail 也需3-4 周準備. 化療後, 應會知道更清楚有甚麼其他選擇!

醫生目前比較擔心的是癌細胞在脊柱骨髓的活動 (可能是引起暈眩的原因), 請特別為麗芳的脊柱禱告. 這是一場屬靈的爭戰. 然而靠者你們的代禱與耶穌基督之靈的加力, 我們深信終必叫麗芳得救!

Donald & Sue

在化療前夕 (9/13/2014)

親們,

當聽到麗芳要開始化療時, 我們收到很多關心我們的弟兄姊妹質疑的聲音. 因為化療殺癌細胞也破壞自身的免疫系統, 也有很多弟兄姊妹提供各式各樣中西的偏方, 秘方, 土方.

先說說 偏方, 秘方, 土方吧! 首先, 孝棟與麗芳在此感謝所有關心我們的弟兄姊妹. 你們的愛心我們都收到了, 也紀念在天上. 這一年來, 我們收到的偏方, 秘方, 土方不下50種 (包括食物, 飲料, 按摩, 針灸, 中藥, 加熱, 加氧, 處理水). 我們在研究後, 有些我們覺得合適的, 我們都會嘗試. 舉例來說, 最後堅持下來的綜合蔬果汁. 因為姊妹們契而不捨的提供果汁機, 甚至輪流榨汁送來, 我們試了也覺得很好, 就堅持了一整年了! 枸杞紅棗水也是另一個被堅持下來的! 我們也試過 smoothie, 檸檬汁, 但麗芳的胃不適應也就沒做了. 如果你看到一些偏方, 秘方, 土方,仍歡迎你寄給我們. 我們會選適合的試用的!

謝謝弟兄姊妹輪流送菜. 在岑禕姊妹的嚴格把關, 精心調配下, 我們吃的很均衡健康, 又享受了你們各家不同的菜色. 偶而額外送來的蒜泥白肉, 梅菜扣肉, 海南雞飯, 各式小吃, 讓我們也能小小放鬆一下, 享受你們的愛心並懷念健康時的口福! 我們去看了營養師, 她說妳們吃得很均衡健康, 甚至不必補充甚麼蛋白質. 化療後可能胃口比較不好, 調味可以重些. 先打招呼啦!

麗芳目前用的是 TARCEVA, 是屬於靶向治療類, 它要求癌細胞要帶某種基因結構. 這藥只殺癌細胞. TARCEVA在麗芳身上十分有效, 副作用極少 (都是你們的禱告的結果)! 有許多人介紹一些在臨床試驗的新藥, 有的是麗芳沒有那藥所需的基因結構, 有的是麗芳不合他們要求 (大多臨床試驗的新藥都要求要有一公分以上的腫瘤好採樣, 可是麗芳目前身上沒有 1cm 的瘤,都是小顆粒! ) 我們都會與我們的主治大夫討論! 目前最有希望的是 PD-1 免疫療法, 麗芳也不符合他們的臨床試驗要求. 目前 PD-1 在FDA 的快速審核通道, 希望明年上半年可通過. 據說, 療效極好又沒副作用. 我們拭目以待!

目前, 我們尋求後, 覺得化療是合適的選擇. 神可以讓我們免了化療, 也可以在化療中保守麗芳毫髮不傷, 如同但以理的三個朋友, 神既沒有免去他們火窯的試煉, 就賜下火窯中的同在. 當然, 化療並不妨礙我們迫切的禱告, 祂是我們唯一的醫治與保護. 再好的藥, 仍可能無效, 再難的情況, 神能一夜扭轉! 我們謝謝你們的代禱, 過去一年, 是你們的禱告拖著我們, 前面的路, 仍要你們的同行! 在化療前夕, 我們有天上來的平安!


孝棟, 麗芳 (9/13/2014)

9/12/13 Update

Dear Family,

The outcome of the CT/PET scan on 9/9 (past Tues.) showed increasing cancer cell activities all over her body.  Some small nodules in her lung are also growing in size.  Thus, the doctor has ordered chemo to be added to the current targeting treatment (TARCEVA).  Monday will be her first treatment.

Please pray for the effectiveness of the chemo and strengthen Sue's body (she has been feeling weak these days).

Donald

9/4/14 (Part 2)

Dear family,

Just as we thought all is well & calm and we can wait peacefully till mid September for further test, the wave rose again. 

Sue has been feeling dizzy for a while.  Blood test showed no anemia.  During the long weekend, more symptoms occurred- light-headed, fainting darkness, stumbling in walking, double vision, and losing appetite.  The most terrifying thing is- all these symptoms coincident with the symptoms of the brain metastasis (cancer cell in brain).

Although brain MRI one month ago showed no cancer in brain, the doctor won’t take any chance.   She ordered an emergency Brain MRI.  The good news is that MRI results was good- No signs of brain metastasis or stroke.   The bad news is that the doctor still cannot identify the real cause for Sue’s dizziness.

The dizziness is an ongoing one.  Sue has to give up her daily walk.  She is losing appetite (feeling nausea) and having blur vision (thus, she cannot drive). She feels terrible and looks awful in Donald’s eyes. J

This is THE anniversary- One year ago, Sue was diagnosed with cancer. We learned that life is a gift from God daily.  We have received 365 gifts since then. We are learning our faith lessons daily.  We enjoy your prayers (all over the U.S.) and loving cares (food services every other day plus some special orders).

But, we are tired.  We learned that we are not as strong as we thought we are, we learned that we need to depend on Him daily. Sue lost 10 pounds.  She is getting weaker physically, and somewhat depressed emotionally.   Every day, we are facing some new challenges.   We learned to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings until the disaster has passed. (Psalm 57:1) We cried to God - Lord, when will you deliver us from these constant sufferings?  This is a marathon and we in this race.

More exams are coming. Pet scan will be on 9/9.  It will show how the bone metastasis goes.  Please pray for our spiritual healthiness and Sue’s emotional strength.  Pray that Sue will be protected and get rid of the dizziness symptom.   Pray that the drug resistance will come as late as possible, if ever.

Sue was asking the LORD, “Are you going to heal me and violating the natural laws?” This is what the LORD answered, “Cancer is NOT the natural law, but a violation of the natural law.  Healing is to recover you to be under the natural laws!” May His gracious words be realized on all of us who follows Him!

Donald & Sue

Update (9/4/14)

Dear family,

Sorry that we have not updated our status for more than a month.  The fact is when all is calm; there were not much to report.  When things happened, we were swamped and did not have time to communicate.  Afterwards, we were exhausted and did not have energy to write... I know you will take our excuses graciously.

Sue had serious lung effusion (water accumulation in the chest cavity) at the end of June, and the doctor installed a pipe on her chest, so that we can drain water at home.  After about a month, we noticed that water drained was decreasing steadily, from 400-500 cc every other day to 200, 100.  The interval that we drain water has also being lengthened to 4-5 days a time.   When taking x-ray, and the amount of water left was very minimum.  The doctor want us to keep draining for 10 days and then stop for 2 weeks to see if the water will come back.   On 8/1, we completed every day draining (the water drained dropped tp 10 cc/time at the end) and the waiting period (2 wks).  We then returned for x-ray.  Praise God, the water did not come back.  The chest doctor was happy and considering removing the tube. Yet we are waiting for the results of the exams in September to make the final decision together with the oncology doctor. 

Praise God, this is a miracle.  If you ask people with doctoral background, they will tell you most of the water accumulation case would be getting worse than getting better.  Although the water came like a wave (In the beginning, we drained 2000 cc from her before we installed the tube, and the cavity was still almost full), it had also retreated quietly at God’s command and your prayers in just 2 months (6/30-7/31).   As God has promised in his words given to Sue

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. (Isaiah 43:2)

It was not fun, even painful, in the process, but God has been faithful to be with us through your loving cares and prayers.  Thank you!

Donald & Sue