Monday, January 16, 2006 4:10 PM Update

Hello,

I haven't updated since last week, so I thought I would back up to our appointment with the surgeon this past Friday morning.

Dr. Sarantou was very thorough with his explanation of this surgery. There are 2 ways to do the surgery. I went in there taking this surgery a little more lightly than I should have. I didn't realize that it was going to be as major of a surgery before this. In one type of surgery, a vertical cut would be made down the middle of his chest and a horizontal cut would be made from the middle of his abdomen around to his back. A good portion of the esophagus and 1/3 -1/2 of his stomach would be removed. He will also have to remove a rib or two in this process. His intestines would be loosened and everything shifted up and sewn back together. The other surgery involves a single cut to the chest and the affected parts removed, but the stomach would then be moved to his neck and sewn in. Neither of these sound fun, so I have more resolve to pray for God's healing before surgery. The timeline for the surgery will be 6 weeks after completing radiation. The reason for this is that radiation is still working for 4 weeks after we discontinue and the two weeks will be for a little healing of the tender area. Dr. Sarantou thinks the first type of surgery would work best on Rex.

Today, Rex had a PET scan which is just another diagnostic test to help with the staging of this cancer. i.e. confirmation that it is not anywhere else and there are no other questionable areas. It might even help us with the single questionable lymph node.

We also met with the oncologist again. He originally wanted to admit Rex in Catawba today and start a chemo drip and radiation for this week. There has been a change in plans though. We will not able to start the radiation until Wednesday, so the chemo drip will not be as effective unless we can start on Monday. Both oncologists (chemo and radiation) believe that these two must be given together to reach maximum effect. And, since radiation is only given Mon-Fri, there's really no point in giving the chemo in the drip Wed - Fri of this week. The doctos think that he needs a full week to really have an impact on this cancer. So...Rex will be taking a chemo pill starting Tuesday night, so it will be in his system when he starts radiation Wednesday. Then, on Monday the 23rd, he will be admitted to the Catawba for the chemo drip. He will do a chemo drip for the full four days and also will be taking his pill each day. He will continue to take the pills for the full duration of the radiation. He will only take pills during the week when he's having radiation, and he will not take them on the weekends. This change in treatment will actually be easier on Rex, not as harsh of treatment. The radiation oncologist will probably check the mass sometime during this process to see if we are making headway and hopefully it will shrink to nothing. This change is better also because I was feeling pretty bad Sunday night. I had chills during the afternoon, but just thought it was hormonal. But when we went to church, the longer I sat, the worse I felt. So, we came home early - I ran a fever 100 -102 throughout the night with my body aching from head to toe. I was very worried about having this right before Rex was to go in the hospital for both the reasons of exposing him to it and also being able to be with him at the hospital. God took care of it since he won't be admitted til next week. I even believe that he allowed me to get sick and allowed the change in treatment because it will be better served.

Sometimes, this all seems so surreal. I never would have thought that we would have been strong enough to bear this; amazingly, God has given us the grace and peace to confront this and lean on Him. We feel somewhat numb sometimes. Through it all, we have a peace that passes understanding. We definitely feel the prayers that are being lifted up.

I can't express enough how much your prayers mean to us. When I send these updates and when you reply, Rex reads all of them. He is not a typist, so he prefers that I do it. I guess I look at these emails as part of my privilege in helping to care for Rex, because I believe that there is more power in prayer than any treatment man can give. As long as people will pray, we welcome your prayers.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive."
Jer 29:11-14

Isn't this powerful and comforting? God is good all the time!

Michelle Stewart reminded me of this scripture when she called and left a message for me. Thanks Michelle.

Only because of Him,

Donna Meadows