Now that we have a more thorough understanding of Linda’s prognosis I wanted to offer an update.

Linda and I were able to spend a bit of time (too much if you ask either of us) in the hospital again yesterday.  Our visits there have been frequent and rather long.  I have conquered quite a few levels on Candy Crush though . . . for those of you who may have been concerned with our boredom 🙂  Thank you so much for the many who have helped pick up the kids and get them to the different places they need to be.

Yesterday we found out that she has multiple myeloma which is a cancer in her bone marrow.

The treatment . . . she has had 5 treatments of radiation and this will continue each day until next Wednesday.  The next day, Thursday, she will start her chemotherapy.  They are planning on putting her on three different drugs, two oral and one shot.  Kind of a bizarre side note . . . she’ll probably have to take about 20-30 pills each time she goes in.  That sounds so bizarre to me and so different from the chemotherapy I was imagining.  Two of the drugs have minimal side affects but they are adding in a third which has the potential of some more challenging side affects such as hair loss, nausea, and fatigue.  They think they should be somewhat minimal but present all the same.  They are planning to do chemotherapy once a week for the next 3-4 months which would be 3-4 different series of chemotherapy treatments.

The outlook . . . If you are like us you may wonder what the outlook is for this type of cancer.  We struggled a bit yesterday as our doctor told us that there is no cure for this . . . BUT . . . we were encouraged when he told us that 90% of the time these drugs are able to manage and control this disease and allow for a fairly normal and productive life.  Simply put, this is a chronic disease that has the likelihood of being well managed.

How we’re doing . . . Pray for the kids.  They are doing pretty well, but there have been a few low moments.  I’ve been trying to understand this even though I think Linda understands better than me, but the kids really struggled when Linda admitted that she will likely lose her hair.  I figured it was time for her to experiment with different colored wigs and fashionable hats [Please know I’m more sensitive and actually do understand the gravity of this situation 🙂 ]  Linda thinks that her hair loss is a more visible sign to them of her sickness which will constantly remind them that she’s not well.  Right now she doesn’t look any different so they can go through most days and not really think about it.  That will likely change.  Pray for them.

Linda and I are doing pretty well.  Our morning walks have been really good for our marriage.  We’ve had a lot of time to talk and think through things together and encourage one another.  Of course there have been low moments, but for the most part we are pretty optimistic and positive.

I am so thankful for the certainty that whatever God chooses to do and/or allow is good.  He is doing a good work in us even though it is rather challenging.  I was so encouraged by Janelle’s pointing out Spurgeon’s statement . . .

“I have learned to kiss the wave that strikes me against the Rock of Ages.”

That has been such a wonderful word picture for me the past few days.  Anything that makes me cling to Christ is something of value, not to be despised.  As well Linda has been most encouraged by Psalm 145 lately . . .

Psalm 145:1–5 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

God is always glorious and we are striving to dwell on His glory and beauty instead of all the hypotheticals or even temporal, physical realities.  There are so many bad places our minds could go, but we refuse to go there.