Faith over Fear
We have been busy since returning home from Hope 4 Cancer on March 26th. We made the most of our time away not only with all the therapies at the clinic (which I also participated in the second week) but with time in nature, enjoying the sunshine, the beauty of the turquoise blue ocean and each other. Julia and Jackson flew down to Cancun to spend the last 3 days with us, which was a great way to finish the three weeks. We ate out, walked the beach, relaxed under cabanas, read, talked, played in the ocean, and watched NCAA games. We were so glad that it worked out with Jacks schedule and that Julia’s husband wanted her to have time away with us before baby number five comes along. There was some electrical issues at the clinic the last three days (a transformer went out) so only the IV therapies were available, and it was very hot inside. It was still a great experience and we would recommend Hope 4 Cancer to anyone dealing with cancer.
We hit the ground running the day after returning to Iowa with a zoom call with Mike’s oncologist from Mayo to discuss going on Gavreto (formerly Blu667). Before we left for Cancun the plan had been for Mike to start the systemic kinase inhibitor when we returned, but Dr. Molina threw a curveball and suggested another CT scan and MRI first, or possibly waiting another 8 weeks or starting a new clinical trial (one in Chicago or one in Texas)……. We were a bit confused by this because Mike had gotten his mind prepared to start the drug but we were also relieved because of the side effects and to give the light and oxygen therapies that we brought back from Mexico a chance to work. We did agree to an MRI but not a CT because he had one a month before and it was “cause to celebrate” so we didn’t want him to have the extra radiation. Long story so I won’t try to explain it all but the MRI results were a bit confusing…Growth in one spot that they treated with Gamma Knife, but the other 4-5 spots looked stable or maybe slight growth depending on who is reading the MRI. We met with Mike’s brain surgeon on Monday after he got back from vacation and all decided that another Gamma Knife Surgery was the best course of action and that is scheduled for Wednesday April 26th. We are however, getting a second opinion from Barrow Neurologic institute in Phoenix AZ asap. We will also continue to pray for guidance in the next steps. As a side note we have decided to call the METS “the cowboys” from the movie Tombstone as we know they are going to throw down their red sashes and give up❤️🙌🏼🤍
Mike has been feeling great and is doing a great job of getting his at home therapies done, which is actually like a part time job because they take several hours a day. He even thanks me every day after I give him a shot in his arm or belly (Sunivera) and really never complains. We also have been walking daily in this beautiful spring weather and are enjoying time with our kids and grandkids. Mike is also working on letting go of things from his past and trying to concentrate on things that matter, because that is also part of healing.
We met so many incredible people in Mexico and we are even going to have zoom calls monthly to talk, share, laugh and pray. We really are blessed and hopeful. I encourage everyone to get in nature, get some sun in your eyes, enjoy the beauty of Gods creation and try to only glance at the bad news all around us and don’t focus on it! I recently read a Jon Gordon quote that I love: “What do faith and fear have in common besides the letter F? They both believe in a future that hasn’t happened yet. Fear believes in a negative future. Faith believes in a positive future. Don’t believe the lies of fear. Choose faith and believe in a positive future today. “
Be Blessed,
Paula
