What a surprise!!

Isaiah 58:8-11:


"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail."

When the phone rang this morning, and I looked at the caller id, I was prepared for the worst. As Tim reported, mom and dad were given difficult news by the oncologist two weeks ago and this morning was the appointment with the oncologist to get results of the CT scan. Even Monday, his labs revealed that his tumor markers were elevated, evidently confirming the news the doctor had shared two weeks ago--that the chemo was no longer working. He had recommended mom call Hospice. Well...the CT scan revealed the seemingly impossible...the pancreatic tumor has shrunk!!! The lung nodules have also shrunk. The doctor was a bit baffled, to say the least.

So...now, dad will start chemo again. The chemo regimen may change, as the more toxic of the two drugs creates debilitating side effects including neuropathy in his limbs and fingers and vision problems. A new Phase 3 clinical research trial is beginning in St. Louis. Dad may be a candidate for the study--his M.D. is looking into that as a potential option.

While this is wonderful news, and we're all thrilled, the disease continues to take its toll in numerous ways in mom and dad's lives. They show amazing strength, though the challenges are vast.

As always, we are deeply grateful for the continued prayers and support. We are confident that this progress is due to the power of prayer, the wonderful care dad receives from mom, and the positive outlook he has maintained throughout this experience.

With love and gratitude,
Angie