Tuesday, November 17, 2009

New Word in Our Vocabulary

Danny is in Remission!!!! Yeah!

That is a new word I will have to get used to saying. It will be nice to be able to replace the ugly word cancer with the positive word... REMISSION!

The nurse had given us the good news that the radiologist didnt see any cancer on his PET scan from last week however, it is very reassuring to hear it from the doctor and to hear the entire report read aloud! No, no, negative, no, nothing, no, negative, no, no.... these were the words from Dr. Anagnost as he read the full report. Excellent news, not only is the mass gone but the lymph nodes that were in his abdomen & upper body no longer show any signs of cancer as well. He is completely clear of cancer! Whoo hoo... we are so very thankful!

As far as the pain goes, that remains a mystery. Dr. A does not believe it is related to the cancer at all. He feels there is a separate issue causing the pain. He really didn’t want Danny to have any more tests, especially x-rays due the radiation. But he felt with the amount of pain and the fact it was getting worse along with Danny needing pain medication he really didn’t have a choice. He didn’t want to wait it out so Danny is scheduled for a C-spine & T-spine MRI this Saturday at 3:00.

We do not go back to see Dr. A for 4 weeks unless anything changes or the results from the MRI make it necessary. In the meantime we are supposed to continue weaning Danny off of the medication. He will work on the Marinol first. He takes it 2 times a day now so we will go to only once and see how he does for a week or so and then drop the last dose for a week or so before moving on to another medication. He hopes to have him medication free by the first of the year. Dr. A expects that the ringing in his ears will subside sometime the first of the year too.

He has maintained his weight. He lost around 35 pounds in the beginning and had gained 13 pounds back at our last appointment. All of his blood test came back good with the exception of his hemoglobin, it was a little low but nothing concerning. Dr. A said his body is working hard to heal and is doing as it should & showing signs of improvement. Danny's hair is continuing to grow; slow it is very fuzzy & white. I am curious to see his new hair-do. Most people have said it would probably come in curly and white... no curls yet, we will see.

Overall, Danny is doing very well. If it were not for the pain in his chest and back I would say he was well on his way to complete recovery. We will wait to see what the MRI shows to see what, if any obstacle is next. We feel after all he has been through with the cancer and chemo we can certainly handle what is next! The Lord is good all the time and all the time the LORD IS GOOD!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Danny and Regina,
    Karen and are so happy to hear the GREAT news that you are cancer free. I know you can't thank our Lord enough. He has been so loving, gracious, caring and supporting. I can hardly believe all of the people He has sent to help you spiritually, financially, physically, and emotionally. He's a Great God who knows when, what, how we need before we do. He has the answer for the pain and knows its cause and He will sustain you through it as well. It's exciting to serve a living God who cares about the details of our lives. Psalm 23 is so real isn't it? "The Lord is my Shepherd I want for nothing." He fully and totally supplies all of our needs.
    We are still having fun with AWANA. Our store opened and was a HUGE success. The clubbers were/are so excited. They bought us out the first night. This has been good and bad. Bad were out of stock but good that when we re-stock it will take them a little while to earn their "hucka-bucks." The clubbers are going to help me with the Sanctuary Choir cantata by singing as a children's choir during on of the songs. They are also learning about Lottie Moon and International Missions and are going to help me put on a Dinner and small play about Lottie Moon.
    My Senior Singers are singing a cantata on Saturday, Dec. 12th. People are buying tables and decorating them with their Christmas settings and then inviting family and friends to hear us sing and eat deserts. It should be a fun night. The Sanctuary cantata will be that Sunday, Dec. 13th. We are incorporating the Lord's Supper into this service. I've never done a Lord's Supper during a cantata but am excited to do it this year. Olivia is going to Disney with her school choir to sing the first weekend in December. She and I are going to do a duet for her choir Christmas concert the following week. She's excited; I'm scared to death.
    We are coming home for Thanksgiving. My brothers and sisters and I are all getting together with our families. We will be going through things at the house. Please keep us in your prayers. It's going to be difficult but I know we will also laugh alot too. The separation and been very hard but the memories are far greater and we will be together again.
    We all have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to a wonderful holiday season. It's different but in a good way.
    I'm looking forward to reading good news in the next several days after your test. I pray you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

    For God is good.... all the time
    and All the time.....

    Love you!

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  2. Our God is an AWESOME God, yes he is. I prayed every single day from the very beginning and knowing God answers prayers restores my faith in him even more. 2009 has not been a good year until now, knowing another Survivor of Cancer is pushing forward.

    Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
    with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go! Onward,Christian soldiers, marching as to war,with the cross of Jesus going on before.
    At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
    on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
    Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
    brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we,
    one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
    Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,but the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.
    Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
    Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
    this through countless ages men and angels sing.

    Love and prayers continue, Jamie MABE Fitzsimmons

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  3. Thank u so much for coming by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I am so behind and am just getting around to reading ur story. I can't imagine the strength u must have to go thru this. Congrats on Danny being in remission. I will keep u all in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs.

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  4. I just hit this link by accident and remembered how worried I was about Danny last year at this time. I am so thankful that everything turned out the way it did and that you both shared this story with us.

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