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

7/21/14

親愛的家人，

剛從醫院回來，心裏充滿感謝與讚美，第二次的化療仍然沒做成。除了護士搞錯時間，最重要的是和醫生談過後，她也同意可以再等到九月份的PET/CT ，若肺部腫瘤有繼續增大，或肺積水惡化才需立刻化療。以下是CT與MRI的結果，

1. 腦部MRI穩定，沒有腫瘤。感謝神。
2. 肺積水明顯下降，但醫生認為是我們常在家裡抽，所以當然減少。她似乎忘記我前一陣子是因為肺水隔天大量回來，導致有化療的想法。
3. 肺部的原發腫瘤仍然消失，但數個小腫瘤皆有增大傾向，但速度緩慢。
4. 醫生用我肺水癌細胞檢驗基因突變，發覺都沒有可進入她臨床實驗的突變，因此若惡化，目前化療是唯一控制之法。基本上只會4-6次化療，之後繼續服標靶藥，直至FDA核准新的治療方法。

好些家人認為我第一次化療因心跳過快，從化療室被送進急診室，是神的美意。如今第二次又沒作成，必定有更多家人堅信神有美意。我目前能確定的是神免了我兩次，讓我有足夠時間去恢復體力，因為每次抽肺水，都讓我失掉一些養分，使得體力虛弱。而孝棟抽肺水的技術也純熟了，能掌握每次的抽水量。此外，我在這個月與神的關係大有長進，也聽到神對我的期許：'妳要為我開開心心的活著.' 是的，我要為祂，而不是為我自己而活，且要開開心心的活著。化療或不化療不再是我的關切，如何每天為祂而活，且開心的活著是我的標竿。家人們，讓我們同走天路，一起經歷祂的美意。

Sue

7/11/14

親愛的家人,

六月中,  麗芳的肺積水突然急速增加. 醫生因此在右胸裝了引流導管. 醫生懷疑癌細胞已經產生抗藥性. 因此建議開始化療來嘗試減少積水. 然而, 就 在化療之前, 麗芳因為心跳過快 (>150/min) 被送到急診室,  醫療後已無礙 (原因至今不明);  但化療因此沒有進行.  此時, 我們發現肺積水的情形在裝了引流管後,迅速改善. 從隔天抽水, 到昨天的五天抽水. 且份量減少及顏色也不含血色!

 因為肺水情形改善, 化療將暫不進行. 下周將做 MRI 腦部掃描及CT 肺部掃描(因為肺積水減少), 希望對病情有進一步的了解!

在過去幾周, 病情的起伏- 肺積水的來勢汹湧, chemo 的陰影 (做後免疫系統的受影響), 心跳的居高不下, 讓我們也是心情隨之上下!  像門徒一樣的大喊- 夫子, 我們喪命啦, 你不顧嗎? 但轉眼, 一切似乎又平靜下來. 目前我們等候進一步的檢查- 是否藥已產生抗藥性? 若是, 是否有超過 1cm 的腫瘤? (要經過檢驗才可能參加新藥試驗). 腦部是否仍然沒有腫瘤?

前路未明, 有的只是你們的代禱及神恩手的扶持. 神哪! 我們等候你的救恩!

Pastor Donald

6/23/14 update

親愛的家人，

看完醫生後，情況雖不好，心裏卻有平安，知道神的帶領在其中。這是神兒女何等大的恩典。以下是病情現況及代禱事項：

1. 上週一去醫院抽水前，發代禱信給大家。結果抽了2,000 cc, 第二天照了CT, 結果水又回來。如此洶湧的速度，讓醫生不得不下個結論，Tarceva已無法控制肺部癌細胞的擴散，雖然CT 因肺水之故，無法看見腫瘤，醫生決定下週一開始化療。每三週一循環。但Tarceva仍繼續服用。
2. 肺部大量積水仍然要拿出，因此明早我會到醫院裝導管，之後在家自己每天抽。若化療有效，積水會慢慢減少，直至收乾。
3. 請為明天裝導管一切順利以及化療有最大果效，最小副作用禱告。謝謝你們一路的陪伴。

Sue

6/16/14 update

Dear All,


我今天下午又要去抽肺水。最近，咳嗽不斷，氣喘噓噓，昨晚，連躺下睡覺都覺得不舒服，只好睡椅子。食慾也不好，不斷打嗝，可能是水影響了胃部。今早致電胸腔科，感謝神，醫生願意下午就看我。請為以下禱告，

1、 抽肺水過程順利，時間應該是2：30 左右。
2、求神保守我的肋骨，不應咳嗽而骨折。
3、抽完肺水後，有正常食慾。
4、 明天照心臟超音波，晚上照CT. 願神顯明祂的引導。
5、6月23日(下週一）看醫生，會再給大家update.

Sue