Sunday, March 27, 2011

New Chemo Treatment Plan

It is with a heavy heart that I write update.  We went to Disneyland for spring break last week and had a wonderful family vacation.  The trip started out with the plane having some type of electrical fire right after takeoff.   The pilot turned us around and after the fire trucks circled the plane on the tarmac and the fireman coming on board for a physical inspection, we returned to the gate to deplane and wait on a replacement jet.  After a two hour wait we finally boarded our new jet and took off for Anaheim, CA.  Once we landed we learned that Continental broke Yolanda’s wheelchair.  After waiting at the airport for two hours dealing with the airlines customer service department, we finally headed to our hotel room (what a start to our vacation).   
Yolanda was a real trooper!  She was in such pain but fought through it each day.   The really enjoyed themselves and that was the whole point.  In Yolanda’s last post she informed you all that we received some distressing news from her Neurosurgeon regarding a possible surgery in the future depending upon if she starts to feel some weakness.  In addition to that news, on this past Wednesday we went in for her chemo treatment only to learn that based on her current ailments and complaints Dr. Osbourne decided to run a CT scan instead of the chemo treatment.  THANK GOD he did because the test would show us that her (already aggressive) cancer had spread to her liver and lungs.  The current chemo drugs were not working.  Dr. Osbourne told us that he would like to start Yolanda on a new set of chemo drugs immediately.  These drugs are much stronger and starting tomorrow (Thursday, March 24th) Yolanda will receive her chemo shots once every three weeks.  We had been moving forward under the impression that Yolanda was progressing and the chemotherapy drugs were working and arresting the cancer cells throughout her body.  Now we learned that not only were the drugs ineffective, but her cancer (which was classified as VERY aggressive at the outset) had six plus weeks to continue to spread throughout her body.  IT DID JUST THAT!! 
Today is Sunday, March 27, 2011 and yesterday I had to rush Yolanda to the ER.  She was in so much pain that she was unable to find relief at home.  The doctors ended up admitting her later that evening.  Yolanda’s liver is so swollen that it was pressing against her stomach and causing shortness of breath.  Dr. Osbourne visited us this morning and is recommending Yolanda start back taking her pain meds on a regular and consistent basis plus go back up on her pain patch.  Yolanda had started to drive (although only down the street) and was regaining her independence.  Now we are heading backwards! 
You all know just how long we have been on this journey, but it is very clear now that we face a new and even greater hurdle.  The new set of chemo drugs HAVE TO WORK!!  Yolanda is fighting but needs all of your collective prayers to pull through this crisis. 
GOD I pray that your will be done and that your will is for Yolanda to live and make it past this crisis.  You are all knowing and are the ONLY one with the power to heal her body.  GOD you are a mircale worker and she is in need of a mircale.  You have the power to arrest this cancer and I pray father that you will do just that.  LORD, I humbly ask that you have mercy on my wife and her body.  Please GOD deliver her from this pain and clear her body of these destructive tumors….AMEN!

7 comments:

  1. Lloyd and I are praying with you. I just checked an old email address and found a note from Yolanda sent on March 10 th asking when we'd be back from Ghana - well, we are in Houston for the week and would love to visit if she's up to it. Call me on 832-589-9299.

    Jan Chinn

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  2. Vanessa Taylor JohnsonMarch 28, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    My family and I are praying with you Mike. The prayers of the righteous availeth much....

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  3. I am praying for you always! I can't even begin to tell you I can even fathom how either one of you feel. I am saddened to hear the above news, but I am praying that God's will is to heal and deliver Yolanda! When we are knocked down along our journey- we have no other choice but to LOOK UP (to Him) and GET UP (By His Grace)and CONTINUE the journey. During difficult times, sometimes we don't know what to do or say, but I always know how to PRAY! I am praying for her strength and the strength of the family during this time. I love you guys and if you need anything, I am always here.

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  4. I have been praying and will continue to pray daily for Yolanda and your family.

    Janice Nichols Galloway
    BTW/HSEP Class of 1985

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  5. My family and I are praying with and for you and the your family Mike and Yolanda! Love you LS...so much!

    We are standing in the gaps! God is a healer and way-maker...we must just TRUST!!!

    All my love,
    Rhetta and Family

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  6. I am personally praying for Yolanda and the entire family. we the ministre of Celebrate Recovery are Praying for all of you as well!

    Love Lanetta Johnson

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