It has been a couple of weeks since I've sent an update. Rex is gaining strength and energy each day. He has pretty much been working a full schedule the last two weeks. Praise the Lord!
Some of you have the latest update, but for those that don't I want to go back to our visit with the surgeon and update from my last update.
We went to see the surgeon the week before last. He was encouraged by the marked improvement in Rex; however, prior to this last PET scan, the doctors had staged Rex as a stage IV cancer patient, but in their minds were really believing and treating him as if he were stage II. Because of the improvement in the spleen and adrenal gland, they were more inclined to believe that those areas are indeed cancerous. So, with the pleasant surprise of marked improvement, there also seems to be a disappointment among Rex' doctors in the reality of a stage IV battle instead of a stage II battle. Before this last PET scan, there was an aggressive approach, a deliberate approach, and a decisive plan of attack on the part of the doctors. Now, they seem stumped. One of the reasons that they didn't believe the spleen and adrenal gland were cancer was because they had not ever seen esophageal cancer go to the those areas before.
Dr. Sarantou has encouraged us to seek doctors that think outside the box. He recommends us to talk to some surgeons in Chicago and at USC in Los Angeles. As far as oncology is concerned, there is some talk as to maybe doing more chemo and then surgery later. Typically, surgery is not recommended for stage IV patients.
I've expressed before that I am not keen on surgery at all. Certainly, I want Rex to be rid of this cancer. I guess what I don't like about the idea of surgery is that the surgery seems to be treating the symptons not the cause of his cancer. Rex' esophagus, spleen, adrenal gland, or lymph nodes are not the cause of his cancer. And, I guess the typical response to my thinking is that if we could treat the cause then we would have the cure for cancer. If you look at the fact that we all have cells in our body that can potentially turn to cancer; then, given the right circumstances or treatment, we can reverse the mutation with the right treatment. One thing that I am learning is that I have yet to read about a stage IV cancer patient that has survived and become cancer free with conventional medicine alone. There are plenty of cases that you can read about where someone has beaten stage IV cancer with nutritional treatments alone and/or combined with conventional treatments. Because of this, Rex and I are both soaking up everything we can read about nutrition, what affects our bodies and how it affects our bodies.
Since the beginning, Rex has been drinking an herbal tea that is made from four different roots. He has been taking some juice supplements. I have been juicing some fresh fruits and vegetables for him. He is also currently taking a couple of other supplements that are good at putting enzymes in his body. We have made changes in the things that we buy and the things that our family eats. Jordan Rubin's book, The Maker's Diet, has had a huge impact on us. I recommend everyone to read that book. We don't necessarily think that this book is THE answer to Rex' cancer. Nevertheless, it is filled with some very valid arguments about how we eat and what foods we eat. It has certainly made us more aware and more deliberate in what we eat.
Rex has an appointment next Wednesday with a medical doctor who complements his conventional education with alternative treatments. We have been praying for clear wisdom and guidance as we fight this battle, and it is interesting to see God steer us in a different direction. He seems to be closing some doors and opening different doors for us. Continue to pray for wisdom and direction; pray for healing. We give God all of the glory for all of the success Rex has had through this.
Changing gears a little bit--
With the nice weather that we have been having, I have been taking my free time and spending it playing with the girls outside, so I haven't reserved time to send updates. The girls are playing some softball this spring. This last Saturday, we had a scare as they were practicing. Erin had just hit the ball and was on first base. While standing there, she dropped face first to the ground. I didn't see her fall; I just saw her face down in the dirt not moving. The coach got to her before I did, and when he turned her over she was blue in the face and staring straight ahead without any focus. Immediately, I thought she was having a seizure of some sort. She wasn't jerking or anything; the only movement she made was a little bit of jerk like a resistance as the coach was trying to pick her up. By the time, the coach said her name the second time, she came to and got up and started crying. She scraped her chin pretty good. Because it was so brief, I wasn't sure if she had just passed out or had a seizure. She has never to my knowledge had a seizure before. She drank some fluids and got a little to eat and seemed to be fine afterwards. Once we got home, I noticed that she was walking kinda straddled, and I asked her why she was walking funny. She said that her shorts were wet. I then realized that she had experienced incontinence when she collapsed on the field. Because of the incontinence, we are pretty certain that she had a seizure. She will have a CT scan and EEG done on April 17th.
This somewhat hit Rex and I pretty hard -- seizures can be a scary and debilitating thing to deal with. It is possible that this was triggered by low blood sugar and/or slight dehydration since it had been several hours since she had eaten or drank. Not long before that incident she had said that she was thirsty, but I don't think that she got herself anything to drink. She did have a head injury two years ago, and didn't show any signs of brain injury that you typically look for. However, I would be more surprised if this incident didn't tie back to that injury than I would be if it was something unrelated. I just ask you to pray that the results of the testing would give us some conclusive answers. I would love for this to be a one-time occurrence.
As you make choices leading into summer, please give much thought about making an impact on those around you, an impact that is eternal. One of the reasons that we decided to get the girls involved in softball this spring is so that we could be around unchurched people. With Rex' cancer, we have an opportunity to really show others the hope that comes from Jesus Christ. So, while the girls are having some fun, they are also learning much more than softball. We have a door opened to be around other families, develop relationships and hopefully share the Good News. When we were signing up to play softball, I explained to the girls that they would learn the game of softball, but that they were also going to be around kids that didn't come from a Christian home, and that they would probably see or hear things that we don't do. And, that we need to show them Jesus' love and pray for them and be an example for them and share with them.
So often, I see the extremes in family habits. I see the homes where the parents spend a great deal of time keeping their kids sheltered and innocent from every part of the world, and then I see other families that claim to be Christians that are so entrenched in the world, you don't see anything different in them that what you see in the world. I am habitually observant of people. I grew up being a part of both of those extremes at different times in my life, and I have some thoughts that are affecting the way I parent.
I have seen kids that have been so sheltered and lived apart from anyone different than them that became adults not knowing how to talk to or relate to people that lived a different life. Then, as adults, they either chose to stay in their sheltered world never venturing outside of their comfort zone, or they just dive in and live like the world with no boundaries in sight.
I do believe in sheltering them from evil. I have chosen to shelter them from ungodly things, such as trash TV and false doctrine. I have not sheltered them from every person that doesn't live and breathe the things we live and breathe. There are unbelievable teaching moments if we will only grasp them. Most everyone lives in a family that may have lost family members, whether immediate or extended. Take those family gatherings and teach your kids to love that lost family member or unchurched family member and be Christ to them. And, while they may see things or hear things that are so unlike your family, even unrighteous, you can teach them how to interact and develop relationships with people that live differently. You can teach them why we do things this way; most importantly, you can teach them that people need Jesus to live a righteous life. There is no other way to live righteously apart from Christ.
See, I look at this as a "controlled environment training." There is going to come a day soon, probably as a teenager, when my kids are going to be faced (when mommy and daddy are no where around - an "uncontrolled environment") with a choice, a choice to do the right thing or a choice to join in something that they have been taught that is clearly wrong. If you haven't allowed them to be around people that live different as a youngster when you are close by and ready to redirect or steer your children with a righteous response, then you have allowed perfect training time to escape. More than that, "controlled training environments" make it easier for your kids to get out of their comfort zone and minister to the world as they get older. Now, I don't have a family that has drunken parties. If it's the type of gathering that starts out ok and eventually turns drunken or whatever, then going early and leaving as it starts to get out of hand is probably the best choice. And, as you are going home, explain to them why you left when you did. It's not because you think you are better than them; rather, you belong to Christ and that is behavior that does not please Him, therefore, we do not participate. Use it as an opportunity to pray for them right then.
My oldest child has a very sensitive spirit to our friends and family that do not attend church or show interest in spiritual things. She has on a few occasions been very broken about it and cried for them and wished that they loved Jesus. I was able to take those times at that very moment and sit down with her and pray for these loved ones she was crying over. I want to nurture that burden in her heart; I want her compassion to be a passion to lead them to Christ. I want my kids to see that passion in my heart. I want to be that example for them.
Whether it's in a sports league or just your family, teach your kids to care for those around them, especially that person that is the most annoying on the team or in the family. Use it as a chance to show the love of Christ. I don't want to teach my kids to be scared of unchurched/lost people; I want them to embrace them with the Good News. What a tremendous opportunity you have with this.
Thank you for your prayers. Even in the midst of this storm that seems to never let up, I know that God is good.
Psalm 106: 1 - 5 1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise? 3 Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times! 4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people; Oh, visit me with Your salvation, 5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.
Have a blessed day!
Donna Meadows
We made it through The Promise. 