More good news!

Dan had his blood checked today and his counts are in the normal range. We have started to taper down on his steroids and his NO (neuro-oncologist) is re-adjusting the rest of his meds (he took 52 pill today alone) in order to see if that can account for his side-effects. Depending on how well we make it through the next week, the NO will try for another round of the CCNU (chemo) on May 12.

MK had her annual check-up yesterday and her doctor found a heart murmur that has not been there in the past. We are going to get an EKG on May 8th just to make sure all is well. The doctor is not concerned, but we might as well be careful and check it out.

We are so thankful for today. So many days we take our physical and mental health for granted and this past year has really blessed Dan and I with new eyes to see, new ears to hear and new hearts to love one another without expectations.

May God bless you and keep you, tonight!
Leah

Praise Report!!! Clean MRI

We can praise God for another clean MRI! The MRI results have preliminarily eliminated re-growth of tumor from Dan's list of possible complications. The steroid increase seems to have leveled Dan out and he is back to himself--Thank you, Jesus!!!

If all continues on this path, we expect to be back to our "normal lives" asap. Your prayers have been life-sustaining over the last few days. Thank you, again.

I am happily exhausted and ready for a good night of sleep. Susie (Dan's mom) made it here safely and we had a soul-satisfying dinner at my parent's house tonight. I thank God for you each of you who encouraged us to turn to Him instead of falling into the grip of fear and I thank God for this moment of peace.

Sweet dreams,
Leah (and Dan)

Udated Prayer Request for the weekend

Hey,

Dan is having a tough weekend. We have increased his steroids and he is resting comfortably. We are in contact with his NO (neuro-oncologist) and we are going to try to get a MRI approved for Monday. If there are any changes in his condition, then we will go to the ER and have a scan through the hospital. As for now his condition is not getting any worse so we will try to ride out the weekend (isn't it amazing how everything happens @ 5PM on a Friday night)!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support and I will update as things change. We are so fortunate to be in town with my parents and Dan's mom was already scheduled to visit on Monday, so we will have a lot of help. Terri and Rob (some of our friends from Celebration) are staying at the Disney Vero Beach Resort this weekend, so the kids are having a blast playing with their buddies--"Thank you," Z family!!!

Love,
Leah

***Update (midnight 4/27)...Dan is doing much better. I have uploaded a photo of him resting comfortably in Mom and Dad's hammock! Thank you for your prayers. I will update soon.

Home Sweet Home

We made it to Vero without too much trouble. The move has been a bit overwhelming, but we seem to have made it. The kids have transitioned well to their new school and Dan and I are working hard (with the help of our parents) to make our beautiful house into our beloved home.

Dan has had the hardest time of it. We moved on a Thursday and Dan was right back to a new chemo regimen by Monday. This new round has hit him hard in the fatigue area. He has a hard time staying awake for extended periods of time. We also had a difficult time transferring our medications to the local pharmacy. As a result, we have had a few weeks of real challenges. Dan seems to be stable for the moment and we are actually able to enjoy the new home. Last night we ate dinner and spent a little while in the hot tub before bed.

Tomorrow we are going to meet with a local oncologist and get Dan's lab work done for the week. His blood counts are good for now and we are encouraged that he will be able to continue his chemo. We are specifically praying for clarity of thought, memory, wisdom and discernment.

I saw that some of Dan's SAE brothers have posted this week following the death of one of their brothers, Robert Dykes II. Robert has a son, Matthew, whom he used to bring to events when we were in college. Robert was a deputy in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He died of apparent suicide related to stress at work.

My heart just breaks over this loss. Due to Dan's inability to work during this time of treatment, I have begun to realize how much men depend on their work to define them. As a wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt and mother of a boy, I also realize how little a job actually defines the men that I love. If every man knew the joy that their mothers felt when they did little more than breathe their first breath, they would never feel less than perfectly created.

This week I pray that the men in our lives feel honored, loved and important. I also ask for prayers for Robert and the family and friends he left behind. Finally, I ask for prayers for our new church home, Trinity Episcopal. This is the church that I was reared in, married in and I love deeply. It is going through a great trial right now. I pray that God will direct, strengthen and empower the clergy and congregation to do the work that God intended for them to do for His glory.

Many blessing,
Leah