Smaller is better, as far as tumors go

Posted for Sheri...

Hi All,

As I write this, I am sitting at Virginia Mason Hospital with Wally as he receives his chemo. I decided I would wait to update you once we received the results from his CT scan, chest x-ray and blood work which he had done yesterday.

The good news is that it looks as if the tumor has shrunk! The doctor said that they had a hard time getting a good picture of it but from what they could tell, they believe it went from 30mm to 16mm (if I have my measurements correct). All of his numbers look good so they are calling him stable – I, of course, might argue that statement :) The only negative thing that was said was that there might be a few more sites on his abdominal wall but the doctor didn’t seem too concerned with that and was actually quite pleased with his progress.

He feels more tired these days, especially the first week after his chemo. This is very common with the other patients undergoing this treatment. It sounds like the accumulation of the chemo just starts to tire you for a longer period of time. He thinks he’s being lazy because he’s so used to going, going, going and has a hard time taking it easy. Of course with the schedule we have been keeping, I’m exhausted too and I’m the healthy one! Within the last 2 months, he’s been to Atlanta, California twice and will be leaving Sunday to go to Baltimore for the yearly Sleep Show! Then we are off cruising with the family and friends on June 20th and a 4th of July party to prepare for when we get home, not to mention the many home improvement projects he has planned for the summer – yes, we did just build a NEW home.

He has learned how to actually read a book cover to cover and enjoy it – he was always a ‘skimmer’. Although please make a mental note that he is not reading a book that has actual paper pages, he had to find some electronic gadget which he can download the books onto. I can see it in his mind that he is already making changes to this gadget and is sure it can be improved upon. Therefore, Reed already has dibs on this latest gadget knowing full well that Wally will get the new version as soon as it hits the shelves!

Wally and I have always been planners for our future together and yet the scripture from James 4:13-15 keeps coming to my mind and reminding us how we should really be living day to day. “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

We are thankful for all of you and continue to covet your prayers as we continue to live day by day in a way that would please our Lord.

Until next time,

Sheri