Beth is in quite a bit of pain lately, and while I can’t comment on it from a medical perspective, it seems as if she is indeed suffering from “hollow bones and thin blood”.
Her most recent bone marrow biopsy said the cellular matter in her marrow was down to 20% (for normal folks, it’s 50%), and her primary blood levels – hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets, continue to fall and hover at low levels. On her most recent blood chart, her white blood cells are a “critical low”.
The Vidaza she is taking is a form of chemotherapy that has two functions: a cytotoxic effect, which just simply kills bad (and good) cells, and a genetic component, which is supposed to allow some of the “undifferentiated” blast cells (baby blood cells) to “grow up” and differentiate into the kinds of cells they are supposed to be. The first effect continues to work – she feels terrible – but I think that, because her brand of leukemia is so rare, the Vidaza doesn’t quite touch on the genes that enable these blast cells to differentiate normally.
So the net effect is that she is receiving a light version of a chemotherapy (which is working), but with none of the good effects.
And the overall effect is that the various pressures in her body are causing pain, “way deep down” as she says, in her bones.
The good news is that we now have one individual who qualifies on the DNA (10 of 10 matches on HLA markers) scale to be a donor, and who has agreed to do it. There are two more people who are 10/10 matches who are undergoing final testing, and we may hear from them this week.
Please keep us in your prayers.
I shall pray to our Lord's throne of grace John. He truly does care, and He can be trusted, even in such a heavy season as you have. I know these words may feel empty, as they should. But, His Word is truth: eternal truth.
ReplyDeleteDon, your words are not empty; they are wonderfully true. And what we have been given to deal with is not nearly so severe as many of God's people have to deal with. The good news is that we are and may be called "His people". Some time ago I mentioned that Beth has indeed been experiencing "the peace of Christ". That continues to be true even as she is experiencing this physical discomfort.
ReplyDeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates.
We continue to hold you all in prayer.
Peace.
Thanks Constantine :-)
ReplyDeleteAmen John!
ReplyDeleteWe have several situations just in my own fellowship where it seems a medical life and death struggle ensues!
The only consolation in this is we are Christian and the fear of Death is not on the table.
If there comes about a death from this medical condition the hope is a Living Hope that all have who have been "born again":
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
With that, I offer this internet prayer, too:
LORD JESUS, YOU ARE THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
HOLD JOHN'S WIFE, BETH, TOUCH HER WITH YOUR HANDS, NOW. BREATHE UPON HER SPIRIT REFRESHMENT AND PEACE AND COMFORT. GIVE HER RELIEF FROM PAIN AND ANGUISH OF SOUL ACCORDING TO THE POWER YOU HAVE BY SUFFERING YOURSELF FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, WOUNDED AND BRUISED SUFFERING THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE. BY YOUR STRIPES WE WERE HEALED.
MANIFEST THAT HEALING TODAY.
AMEN
Thanks Natamllc. Part of your prayer has already (and continues to be) answered -- she is relieved from anguish of soul and has been for some time now.
ReplyDeleteAt her Vidaza treatment today, the doctor did prescribe Vicodin for her. I haven't talked with her since, but I would imagine she's sleeping. She sleeps a lot.
It's good to see how the family is all pulling together, too, to help in this. I took Beth to her appointment Monday, but my oldest two sons have been driving her around the last two days, and they'll split Thursday and Friday, too.