UPDATE ON SUZETTE -

I have not addressed Suzette's cancer diagnosis or treatment since my 1-1-11 update.

As most of you know, we are walking out a very difficult journey and a testing of our faith.  We are 6 months & 10 days into this journey which began on 9-28-10.  During this time she has had 8 chemo treatments.  After treatments 2 & 4 she had CT scans that showed a slight decrease in the tumor. 

After her 5th treatment, which was January 20th, she and her oncologist decided she needed a break from the chemo.  She had a Port put in her right side on February 16th.  On February 18th we took her to the hospital to have her lung drained for the 4th time.  She had her 3rd CT scan that showed the tumor was slightly worse.  After her 5 week break on February 24th they began giving her a slightly less harsh chemo (Alimta) . 

On March 3rd she and I attended her first meeting at a support group I had located at the local American Lung Association.  They meet every Thursday at noon.  It was good and we intended to return, but to date have been unable to do so. The following Thursday on March 10th we had an appointment with the oncologist and planned to go from there to the meeting but Suzette was so winded and hurting that we returned to her home.  The following Sunday evening she and Dave attended another support group that meets the 2nd Sunday of each month from 4 to 5:30 at Asbury Methodist Church.  I am so thankful we have located these two support groups.

March was a VERY harsh month, both weather wise and as far as Suzette's health is concerned.  On March 17th Suzette was in the hospital for 4 days for a Pleurodesis procedure.  It is a surgery where talc is placed between the lung lining and the rib cage.  This is to seal it up so the fluid does not collect there and have to be drained.  Both the surgeon and the oncologist are very pleased with the results of the operation.  

During the last number of weeks Suzette began complaining of pain in her right hip area.  The oncologist thought it might be arthritis which can be a result of chemo treatments but on March 24th, when she went in for her next chemo treatment she was so ill the Dr. cancelled the chemo and set her up for an MRI the following day.  On the 25th she had an 1 hour & 15 minute MRI from her neck down below her pelvis.  It was horrible for her....laying in that cold, hard, narrow, noisy tube flat on her back for that long.  

March 31st.....6 months and 3 days after the original diagnosis she was informed the cancer has spread and she has three small spots on her spine.  They will be able to treat these with radiation.  She has appointments this week on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday for both radiation & chemo.  Dave will take off to take  her on Tuesday & Wednesday and Mickey & I will take her on Thursday & Friday. 

During our one visit with the Thursday support group we had been given a brochure about a Cancer Symposium for Saturday, April 2nd from 8:15 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.  We had hoped to go and we DID!!!  Dave brought her at 8:30 to meet me there.  The symposium, called Celebrating the Art of Healing, was wonderful.  The guest speaker, who spoke from 9 to 10 was from Dallas.  Then they had 2 breakout sessions and then lunch at 12:30.  You could either go to the cafeteria or they had box lunches.  Suzette & I opted for the box lunches and went outside and sat on a metal bench in the sunshine and fresh air.  IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, both weather wise and the symposium.  After lunch Suzette felt that it was time for her to go home, she was getting tired, so we left.  I was so pleased we were able to take in so much of the program.  We both learned a LOT.

By the way, we stopped at McD's and ate an ice cream cone in the car on our way home!!!  

OUR FAITH IS STRONG!!!!!!  We are NOT giving up.  As I wrote on my fb post on Saturday, April 2nd,

Help us Holy Spirit to take yet another step into You! The enemy has tried to steal our joy, but we refuse to give it up or give in. Suzette & I went to a Symposium for Cancer Survivors today that was so good and such a blessing. WE WIN ..... because Jesus has done it all, the Holy Spirit is with us and our Triune God is for us......who then can be against us?

I started this post on Monday, the 4th - it is now Thursday the 7th and we just returned from Suzette's 8 chemo treatment and she will have a 9th one tomorrow morning at 8:45.

We had more bad news from the radiologist on Tuesday but we stand with the above fb post of the 2nd and our prayer is that many of you will stand in agreement with us for Suzette's healing. 

JESUS HAS PAID THE COST, BY HIS STRIPES SUZETTE IS

HEALED!!!!!