Saturday, June 26

The spinal test was given yesterday at 12:30pm. No results of that test are in yet. Doctors are looking to determine if there is any cancer in the spinal fluid. They also gave a chemo treatment to the spinal cord as a proactive measure, since they were working on that area anyway. Next week Wednesday, Mark goes to Ann Arbor to initiate procedures for the stem cell transplant. More information will be in to start the search for a match. Siblings John, Mary, Amy, and son William are potential candidates. Please pray that an affective match will be found.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Thank you, Lord! Mark is feeling good today! Thank you for your prayers and support! This week Friday at 12:30pm he has a spinal test. July 8th he starts a second round of chemotherapy for 5 days. Please continue prayers for a complete recovery.

Monday, June 21

Mark just come back from meeting with Doctor Scott. The rest of the results of the bone marrow biopsy are in. They indicate that Mark will need a stem cell transplant and 5 more days of chemotherapy. Please pray that a donor will be found. Please also pray for strength as Mark remains weak from the first round. The scheduling will be arranged tomorrow. We'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the prayers! We feel them!

June 19, 2010

Great news! I get to go home for a few days. I have to wait to get a liver scan this morning some time. Then I can go home. I have to see a doctor on Monday to see what the next step will be. Preliminary results of the biopsy are good. It takes longer for some of the results to come in. But we'll take on day at a time. Thanks for all the prayers.

June 18, 2010

Thanks for the prayers and support we have received. We can't thank everybody enough. We truly know how much we are blessed. Thanks to each and everyone.

June 17, 2010

One day later than expected. Just finished biopsy. Sure glad that's done.

June 16, 2010

Feeling pretty good this morning. Still have a tube in my nose. They want to make sure I can keep food down. So far it's been going ok. Biopsy around 1:00pm today. Praying it turns out good.

Tuesday, June 8

Mark seems to be turning the corner. His fever is gone, less and less bile is draining from his stomach. It appears that the infection is going away. Mark remains quite tired and weak. He did not sleep at all last night. His mind was not letting him rest. They are talking about a return to the regular floor and out of ICU in the next few days. The bone marrow aspiration and biopsy will be done once he has regained some strength.

Monday, June 7

Mark is feeling much better today, since they removed over 2 liters of bile from his stomach, and changed antibiotics. They ran some blood tests and learned there is no cancer in his blood! A bone marrow aspiration is scheduled for Wednesday to determine if the cancer is still in his bone. They are still working to eliminate the infection. We praise God for the encouraging signs today! Thank you Lord!

Sunday, June 6

Not much sleep last night. Mark was given a CAT scan at 4:30am. Fortunately, that test came back ok. Mark was later moved to ICU where they can more closely monitor his condition. He was assigned a physician that specializes in infections to resolve the infection that seems to be taking over. It's hard to see Mark go through this and yet he actually still smiles, trys to untangle the leads and wires, and talks about the tangled fishing lines.

Saturday, June 5

Another rough day. Mark's fever continues to climb due to an infection. He is confused, uncomfortable, and in and out of sleep.

friday june 4

Not feeling to good today ran fever all night had first transfusion. Will add platelets sometime today and start feeding me through Intravenously today. Bowel infection. Not able to eat. Not up to visitors.

June 1, 2010

Hi, this is day 6 of the chemo. Lola and I are still getting used to the computor and just learning how to get in and use facebook and this blog. My sister Mary is here right now walking us through this so we can attempt to update this on a regular basis.