Monday, October 18, 2010

October 18, 2010

Well, it’s been a long time since we have updated our blog because no news has been good news. Unfortunately the journey for Bonnie has veered off the course we’ve been traveling since her bone marrow transplant a year ago October 9th. Last week Bonnie discovered a sizable lump on the side of her breast and Wednesday was a day of ultrasounds/mammograms and doctor examination followed by a biopsy of the breast tissue. The pathology report of the biopsy of the mass in her breast just came back today and it shows a relapse of the leukemia that presents itself in the soft tissues as opposed to the blood.

At this point we don’t know much more than that. We do know that Bonnie is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy at 9:00 tomorrow morning at Karmanos with the resulting pathology report due back hopefully by the end of the week. At that point the doctors will have a better picture of what we are dealing with and how best to treat this new development. The bone marrow biopsy is not a pleasant procedure so please pray that Bonnie will not be anxious thinking about it as we drive 1½ hours down to Karmanos.

For the past six months, Bonnie’s physical condition has been in line where the doctors expected her to be. She has had monthly visits to Karmanos for blood work and examinations. Besides white blood cells and platelets, the doctors have kept a close eye on her liver and kidney numbers. As her blood work fluctuated and the Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) presented itself in irritating, but necessary ways, such as sores in the mouth, skin rashes, dry mouth, etc., the doctors have tweaked and modified Bonnie’s medications to balance the suppression of her immune system with the containment of the GVHD. The ideal situation following a bone marrow transplant is to have some minor GVHD to ward off and close the door on any rogue leukemia cells floating around, so the doctors have seen it from a positive perspective that Bonnie has had some GVHD.

We were told at the time of the transplant that there was a 50% chance the leukemia could come back in the first 5 years, yet this new development was still an unwelcome surprise, considering Bonnie just had a good clinic visit on October 8th. As we learn more and have information to share we will continue to pass along through this blog.

In the event you were wondering about my (Steve’s) status, I still remain in remission and just recently had my “infusaport” removed, which was a relief, after carrying it around inside me for the past 1½ years.

As we have mentioned several times in the past, we know God is at work in many ways with the circumstances we continue to face and today God once again solidified that in our minds. Before we were aware of the results of the pathology report and before we received a call from the doctor, God prepared Bonnie and the kids in advance as they were reading from the Bible this morning. Bonnie was reading from Matthew 6 and came across the following verses, which we have read many times over the years:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “

Matthew 6:25-27


Following this, Bonnie went to a list of verses she has been compiling over the summer to add this text to the list and the verses on the top of the list were from Psalm 112:

“Happy are those who fear the Lord. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands….When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous….They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.”

Psalms 112: 1,4, 7-8


So as we enter this new road with all its uncertainties, one thing that is certain; God’s word and His faithfulness. What a comfort and joy to know that in spite of our frailties and weaknesses, He knows what we can handle. Please pray that God will continue to pour out His abundant peace on our family and that He will give the doctors, as well as us, wisdom and discernment in the next steps to take as the pending tests and results provide the necessary information. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

Steve and Bonnie

2 comments:

  1. Dear Bonnie,

    It is 9:00 a.m. and I am praying for you right now!

    Love,
    Sandy Mandeville
    Zephaniah 3:17

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  2. Wow, your family is such a blessing! Thank you for your invaluable Christ-like example through hardship. I am praying that God will show Himself faithful to you all, giving you the peace that passes understanding, wisdom, discernment, grace to get through this, perseverance, healing, and that He would show His love and faithfulness in visible, tangible ways.
    I love you all and am praying for you often!

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