I
have been humbled much by myeloma, by physical limitations, by the overwhelming
support of friends and family, by the peace and guidance and miracles from
God's hand... but I have been humbled recently in another way, that again
is just overwhelming. It seems as if myeloma has chosen the wrong host by
the way God is guiding us to the right doctors, the right drugs, and using the
power of His grace in amazing ways as we see wonderful healing progress.
There is much to go through yet, but up to this point, for the affliction
that I have to endure, we can't ask for better news over and over, from
the early detection, to the slightest of side-effects, to the lastest results
that the doctors did not expect in the least. I believe that God has prepared
me, in my heart and in my mind, through the encouragement of His Word, for
whatever the world, or Satan, or just the natural course of life hands
me. I've known and heard of God's children healed from the worst of
afflictions for His glory, but I've also known and heard of some of God's
sweetest, most faithful children walk gracefully a path without healing for His
glory. I have been humbled recently by the blessing after blessing I am
receiving on this journey, while I pray and see and hear of others on similar
journeys, with more harsh and aggressive afflictions, without the same good
news... unanswered prayers... more uncertainty... And even
though I know the ultimate blessing is not found here in this life, that
comfort doesn't last, that the healing of our bodies today doesn't promise us a
tomorrow without some other affliction... even though I know
that the ultimate blessing is what God offers us though what Jesus did on
our behalf, and through His power over sin and death, for when this life is
used up… a renewed, eternal life with Him and without affliction, a life after
ultimate, total and complete healing… even though I know all these things, I
still want to see the healing and the blessings and the good news for all of us
today, and I am humbled that I enjoy so many through this journey. And it
might sound like I feel bad or down because of this, but though I have
been humbled, I am still filled with joy for what I have been blessed with...
I actually think I appreciate them even more. I am still ecstatic
talking to people about the test results, I still celebrate the wonderful
blessings me and my family receive, and still cherish every prayer and
encouragement and blessing from all you who have come up along side of us
through this... even those of you we have never met face to face (little
shout out to the Sunday School in Kingsport, the church in the Ukraine, the students
in La Limonada... I wish I could write about everyone... I wish I
knew every one). I wish only the best outcome for every
affliction, but it is not up to me to decide, that belongs to God and I believe
there is purpose for every journey, wonderful purpose that is most likely
difficult to walk in, but so worth it in the end. I have been commended
quite a few times for my faith as we go through these trials, which is humbling
in itself because that too is a blessing from God which I can't accept credit
for. The Apostle Paul, of who's faith I would consider myself near-zero
in comparison to, says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of
you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has
given you." (Romans 12:3 - NIV). He recognized that the faith he had
was a measure given to him by God, and I am beginning to recognize that truth
in myself. Thanks to all of you, for being part of a humbling process
that has drawn me even closer to my wonderful God of all comfort, the great
Physician, my King, my Savior...
brady... a man no more deserving, no less deserving, no better, no worse... just blessed for a purpose much bigger than myself...
There's a great song that prompted some of these thoughts you can find on YouTube by searching for "mercies in disguise." It's worth a listen.
1/3/2013 - Powerful Prayer and Amazing News
I don't want to do too many updates too close together, but
we just got some amazing news today that I've got to share... for God's glory! According to what the experts were expecting,
who work with hundreds and hundreds of myeloma patients constantly (I mean
seriously, they are myeloma doctors, that's all they do), my bloodwork results
today are nothing shy of miraculous as far as I'm concerned. I could be surprised, or not surprised, if
the possibility of divine intervention doesn't come up talking with the experts
about this, but I am very interested to find out... so let me tell you what we were expecting to see
today, according to my local doctor, and the two myeloma doctors from U-Penn
Hershey and U-Penn Philly.
A little history to set the stage:
My myeloma presents itself as certain proteins present in my
blood, and the tumor (plasmacytoma) in my vertebrae. The tumor was easily found because it shows
up on x-rays, CAT scans and MRIs. It was
treated pretty easily with radiation because of the size and location, and
we're over that hump already. The
myeloma is a different animal because unless they suck out and test every bit
of my bone marrow, they don't really know how much of my bone marrow is
cancerous. It is not distributed evenly throughout,
so a bone marrow biopsy could truthfully give a 0% cancer cell result, or a 50%
cancer cell result depending on if they hit a pocket of cancer cells with the
biopsy needle or not. So... they use cancer markers, which are very good
for myeloma, to tell if cancer is present because the cancerous cells produce
these proteins that go into my blood and can easily be measured. Mine happen to produce Kappa Light Chain
Proteins (as opposed to Lambda ones).
Whereas a normal person would have about 1.0 mg/dL (or between 0.3 and
1.9 mg/dL), mine were much higher. Along
with finding 5-6% cancerous cells in my bone marrow biopsy, that is how I was
diagnosed with myeloma. Since all (and I
mean all) other indications that myeloma could present itself with are
absolutely normal in all the tests they have done, the Kappa protein level is
what they use (and is actually better than a biopsy) to track the presence,
activity and aggressiveness of the cancer.
And now, you are an expert too :)
Leading up to today:
10/14/2012 : Kappa level of 754 mg/dL
10/16/2012 : Bone marrow biopsy, 5-6% cancerous cells
11/08/2012 : Kappa level in 800's mg/dL
12/04/2012 : Kappa level of 1310 mg/dL (large jump, level
pretty
high and consistent with other patients
with kidney
failure on dialysis. Though my
kidneys
were functioning perfectly according
to their
tests)
Expert expectations:
After meeting with both myeloma doctors for a Bone Marrow
Transplant Consultation, and other research I had looked up on clinical trials
that have been documented, the effects of the chemo drug treatments usually
show up 6 - 8 weeks after treatment starts (I am on a 4 week cycle
regiment). So they told us not to expect
to see the numbers to go down after the first cycle, and they may still go up
before seeing results in the second or third cycle. Not every drug works for everyone, in which
case it wouldn't be effective at all and the numbers would continue to go up
instead of slowing or going down after the second or third cycle. I was prescribed four cycles, but if more
were necessary at the end of four, we could possibly go five or six. Remission would be considered achieved when
my Kappa level dropped to half of the highest number they found previously, so
starting my treatment, we were shooting for something below 650 mg/dL unless it
came back higher after my first cycle, and they anticipated that it would take
four cycles to get there.
Today's results:
Well here's what the doctor said when I went in to see her,
"Numbers are fabulous... they're freaking amazing actually... you went
from 1,310 to 1.2." And after I
cleared up that she actually said 1.2, I was floored... which I shouldn't have
been, since hundreds of people are praying for me and I believe that God does
amazing things, miraculous things, to let the world know He's there and He's
the One. The doctor was very surprised
as well, but wants to stay the course of treatment until she gets some feedback
from her colleagues and the myeloma experts we met with. We also really want to talk to the experts
with the news and see what their take is on this amazing news.
What we need:
Wisdom. Studying the book of
James in Sunday School is very appropriate and timely, since it talks much
about wisdom. We would appreciate
prayers for wisdom over the next few weeks as well. We have a lot of big decisions to consider,
and with this recent development, we may be under a little more pressure to
make them before we thought we had to.
Thank you, thank you, for all your prayers... for those that
were specifically for today’s results, for those for my family and all they are
going through because of everything happening to me, for those for my strength
of body and spirit, and for those I don't even know about that lift me up every
day. Today was healing in more than just
my body... I needed a day like today,
and my family did too... my cheeks hurt
from smiling so hard and my spirit was soaring.
Since I took my steroids today, and my brain was going about a bazillion
times faster than normal (a little like what I would expect ADD to be like),
and I was given utterly amazing news, I don't know when I've felt more giddy
and excited.
What a great day! I
pray everyone has days like these J…
Brady
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