Updates

Diane completed all of her radiation treatments. While there have been side effects after each treatment, they have been less intense and shorter in duration than those from chemotherapy. Fatigue continues to present challenges. She can be feeling fine at one moment and in an instant be overwhelmed with fatigue.

We are told that radiation side effects can continue for weeks or even months, so we will just wait and see. The next step is another PET scan in about 6 weeks. Your prayers are appreciated.

After her last treatment, the radiation center awarded her a diploma and suggested that she ring the bell. The loud bell was a surprise, as you can tell from the look on Diane’s face in the photo below. Her personal celebration was enjoying the first day of the holiday availability of peppermint shakes at Chick-Fil-A!

Thank you for all of your prayers! We know they are effective! We are praying for you! ❤️

Diane had a  CT scan yesterday that was a lot more involved than we had expected. Rather than a typical 20 minutes, it took a couple of hours. In preparation for radiation treatment, they placed her on a bean-bag-like full-body pillow that contained beads of some kind. They worked for over an hour to get her body in a relaxed, or at least bearable, position that provided the best angles for focused radiation (SBRT) on two tumors. After successfully getting everything in the right position, the bag of beads solidified! They hung it on a wall with her name on it. Its customized shape will be used to prevent her from moving during radiation treatments. Amazing!

There were miracles of God meeting her inside the machine and her ministry to the staff. I think it was also a miracle that she could lay flat on a table for 2 hours without sneezing, coughing, or needing to go to the bathroom! 😁

Diane will have a total of 5 radiation treatments spaced out over 11 days. The first will occur at the end of next week. Thank you for praying!

This week was filled with a record-breaking 5 medical appointments – a radiation oncologist, Diane’s gynecologic oncologist, her pulmonologist, an MRI, and our dental checkups.

The gynecologic oncologist agreed that radiation was a good next step for the two new spots, i.e., the one in her liver and on the chest wall. However, he emphasized that radiation was a band-aid solution, and not a cure. Having exhausted the most effective chemo-therapy treatments for Diane’s cancer, he recommended that we consider clinical trial options for newly tested drugs. He will begin looking for an appropriate trial.

I asked the oncologist about the disappearance of cancer in Diane’s lymph nodes. I shared that you all had been praying that the lymph-node cancer would vanish, and asked if the absence of this cancer, after a year of monitoring its presence, was unusual. He stated that while new occurrences were not a surprise, cancer disappearing from the lymph nodes was very unusual. 😊 I don’t recall if I stated, “we simply forgot to specifically pray that no new spots would appear”, but that was our thought! Ha!

The radiation oncologist ordered Thursday’s MRI to allow detailed planning for very focused radiation. He explained that he would treat both new spots at the same time. Three to five treatments all in the same week would complete the treatment, but this has not yet been scheduled. The most common side effects to expect are fatigue and nausea. 

About 12 weeks after radiation, the oncologist will order another PET scan. We assume that the results of this scan will determine if/when/what the next steps will be for starting a clinical trial. We are not looking forward to a clinical trial that would likely involve weekly treatments and extensive monitoring, rather than the once-every-3-weeks routine to which we have become accustomed. Your prayers for elimination of present and future cancer are appreciated.

During this already full-week, Diane was experiencing a lot of coughing. Knowing that her pulmonologist also wanted to review her last PET scan, she asked for, and got, a quick appointment to get advice/treatment for her cough. The pulmonologist offered more detail about her “pulmonary fibrosis”, i.e., scarring in the lungs, that he has been monitoring. The good news is that the PET scan revealed no new scarring, but there was evidence of inflammation and perhaps some fluid. As a result, Diane has started a steroid and diuretic regimen.

If all of the above was not enough for one week, our 6-month dental checkups revealed that we each needed to have a tooth extracted! The dentist told Diane that she needed to get permission from her oncologists. They explained that her infusion medication precluded oral surgery at this time. We have follow-up dental consultations scheduled.

Thank you for covering Diane with prayer! The peace that we are experiencing in this changing journey is amazing and surely the result of much prayer. Another answer to prayer was being able to keep an annual reservation this week at our favorite B&B in the Smokies. We have begun that rest as evidenced by the pictures below. 

Good news! We have experienced a miracle of healing! The cancerous lymph nodes, that Diane’s doctors have been monitoring for over a year, no longer show any evidence of cancer!

However, last week’s PET scan revealed a new nodule in the liver and a small nodule in the chest wall. The infusion oncologist didn’t seem concerned about the chest-wall spot for now, but he referred us to a radiologist for likely radiation treatment for the liver nodule. An appointment with the radiologist is on our calendar for next week.

We expect to also get an appointment with Diane’s gynecologic oncologist to get his assessment of the scan report. The PET scan data will also be sent to the pulmonologist who has been monitoring some issues with Diane’s lung function.

Thank you for your prayers. They have been answered! Please keep praying with this new information. We love you all!

October 5, 2025 – Fifth Interim Update

After learning that our insurance company had overturned their previous denial of a PET scan, Diane's oncologist decided to proceed with the PET scan rather than a CT scan.  As a result, she had the scan this past Friday. We expect to learn the results at her maintenance infusion later this week. Thanks for praying!

September 26, 2025 – Fourth Interim Update

This afternoon, our insurance company called to say that the denial of the PET scan had been overturned! Now both the PET scan and the CT scans have approval. We will give the doctor's office a couple of days to sort this out, and then ask her oncologist which scan he prefers for her to have. The warfare keeps raging but we are resting on the sidelines to see how it turns out. 😊

September 25, 2025 – Third Interim Update

Diane’s infusion oncologist was unable to get a PET scan approved, but he encouraged us by sharing that a CT scan actually offers better resolution for the purpose of accurately measuring and monitoring the size of the suspect lymph nodes. She has an appointment for a CT scan in early October. But strangely, now there are delays in the scheduler getting insurance approval for the CT scan. This is almost humorous and evidence to us of likely spiritual warfare! Such warfare is actually an encouragement because we know the winning side! We have peace and are resting in God’s perfect plan! While we wait, we learned that Diane’s cancer marker has declined!

September 15, 2025 – Second Interim Update

Efforts to seek to reverse our insurance’s denial of a PET scan are still pending. As a result, the previously scheduled PET scan was canceled. Depending upon the outcome of the efforts by Diane’s doctor, a new time will be scheduled for either a PET scan or a CT scan in the coming weeks.

September 9, 2025 - Interim Update

Insurance has denied the PET scan that was planned for this month as mentioned below. Unless providers and prayers change that, we expect that she will have a CT scan in the next week. Click here for a note from Diane!

July 22, 2025

The infusion plans mentioned in the last update, did not happen as a result of Diane’s continued fatigue. At today’s appointment with Diane’s oncologist, it was decided to cancel all plans for the 8th chemotherapy treatment which was to have completed the planned cycle that began last December.

A PET scan will be ordered in September to determine the effectiveness of the 7 treatments that Diane did complete. We think the minor-in-comparison “maintenance” infusions will continue. Diane has been taking these every 2 or 3 weeks for the past two years.

If the September scan reveals that the cancer is still present, or has grown, there are very few options left. Other sets of drugs that are prescribed for some ovarian-cancer patients are known to be ineffective on the genetic makeup of Diane’s particular cancer. Participating in clinical trials of new drugs may be an option.

We are grateful for the past 2½ years of life under excellent care, and immensely grateful that we personally know and are loved by the Great Physician. We will simply pray for His healing, hoping to hear the words of Matthew 8:3, Mark 1:41, and Luke 5:13, where Jesus replies: “I am willing!”

Thank you for praying with us! You are a blessing!

Diane had the first of the two additional infusions that were mentioned in the last update. But several physical ailments (some chemo-related, some not) have brought on a lot of discouragement in the past few days. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated!

The fatigue and her other problems led Diane and the oncologist to agree to cancel the maintenance infusion that was scheduled this week. Rather than delaying it, they decided to skip it all together so that Diane could enjoy our family getting together for the July 4th holiday.

Diane’s final full-dose infusion is scheduled for the week after the holiday. A month later she will have another PET scan.

Thanks for praying! We are praying for you!

To follow-up on Tuesday’s post, there was more “battling” on Wednesday as Diane experienced difficulty (for the first time ever) with her PET scan. HOWEVER, today’s appointment with her oncologist was as smooth as glass. We arrived 20 minutes early because our travel time to the Nashville office was the quickest ever. Another never-before experience was being ushered into the examination room before even having a chance to sit in the waiting room.

The oncologist’s office received the results of the PET scan within hours of its completion on Wednesday. That was surprisingly quick. The doctor’s nurse practitioner called Diane shortly afterwards to share the preliminary results and to confirm her appointment. Today, when we entered the examination room, the oncologist apologized for not personally calling us on Wednesday night. He explained that he had to deal with a medical emergency until after 9PM and didn’t want to disturb us.

The PET scan revealed that cancer remains in two lymph nodes. The more prominent node has steadily reduced in both size and activity since it was identified last September. Another smaller node has remained essentially stable. Even better, there is no new activity anywhere!

Diane’s oncologist explained that he is pleased that the drug infusions have shown themselves to be effective. And because they have been effective, he recommended that Diane continue with two more cycles of chemotherapy to be followed a month later with another PET scan. We are not looking forward to two more cycles, but Diane is choosing to proceed with this recommendation.

Thank you for praying us through the spiritual warfare. And thank you for continuing to pray for Diane’s health. After a week of difficult circumstances, we are experiencing peace! 

Do you believe in spiritual warfare? We do! We have been convinced in various ways during our lifetime that warfare involving us happens behind the scenes in realms that we cannot see with our human eyes.

During the past week, strange things have been happening regarding Diane’s medical procedures, scheduled tests, and appointments with doctors. There are just too many highly unusual circumstances to explain away, other than concluding there are battles going on in the spiritual realm that are expressing themselves in our lives. Fortunately, in every case, despite our efforts, it becomes clear after “waiting” that another victory has been won on our behalf. Thank you, Lord.

We don’t know whether the battles are going to continue for a while, or whether they will come to an end if Diane’s PET scan is completed on Wednesday and the results are transmitted to her primary oncologist in time for her appointment on Thursday. Who knows, there may be bigger battles that will be fought in the days ahead.

We have nothing new to report at this time, but we covet your prayers during this time. If everything goes according to plan, we will have something to share at the end of the week regarding next steps.

Thank you for your prayers! They are keeping our heads and hearts above water when everything around us seems to be shouting: “Watch out! Things are falling apart!” We have learned again that God is good and is fighting our battles for us. He gives us peace in the waiting, again and again.

Wow! It’s been two months since our last update! I hope you have assumed that the absence of updates is good news, because that is indeed the reason. We have continued to sense the power of your prayers.

The potent chemo infusions #4 and #5 went smoothly, except for the typical, but uncomfortable, side-effect that usually reaches a peak between days 4 and 6. As I write this, Diane is having infusion #6. This was originally the last infusion planned for the cycle that began when last September’s PET scan revealed some cancer remaining in her abdominal lymph nodes, but that plan may be changing.

Today, the infusion oncologist said that he had gone ahead and scheduled infusions #7 and #8, because it’s easier to get insurance approval to continue, than to start them up again after a delay. A final decision about these potential infusions will be reached after we meet with Diane’s gynecologic oncologist in early June. We expect there will be another PET scan prior to that appointment.

The infusion oncologist explained that he is very pleased with how well Diane’s body is tolerating the chemo drugs and that they are being effective. All blood tests are good! He has ordered another echocardiogram to test Diane’s “ventricular ejection fraction” since heart damage is a serious side effect of one of the drugs being used. Her last echocardiogram revealed that there has been no change after her going on the current chemo regimen. Please pray that the next echocardiogram will indicate the same good result and that neuropathy in her feet will not get worse. (It’s OK to pray that the neuropathy will improve or go away entirely!)

We are so thankful to God that this round of chemotherapy has had good results, without the very difficult and scary side effects of the 2023 round, i.e. nausea, fainting, and more! We have enjoyed travel and plan more travel to the Smokies and distant family in the days ahead.

Thank you again for your prayers! We are praying for you!

March 19, 2025 - Bonus Update

The oncologist's office called unexpectedly today. The nurse said that the doctor wanted to immediately share the good news that yesterday's tests revealed that Diane's cancer marker had a significant drop! We are praising the Lord! 🎉 Thank you for your prayers! 

March 18, 2025

As I write this, Diane is undergoing chemo infusion #4 in the planned cycle of 6. Treatment days are long so we come prepared with books, magazines, our devices, etc. Fortunately, the infusion center supplies snacks and drinks to carry us through, and there’s always a hot dog or pizza at the Costco food court next door. 👍🏻

The oncologist was pleased with Diane’s appearance and strength after delaying the treatment for 2 weeks. We are all pleased that reducing the steroid dosage has stopped sleepless nights while maintaining a good level of energy and appetite during waking hours.

As a result of Diane’s good condition and good blood work, the dosage of today’s chemo poison has been bumped up a little. It was reduced in the last two treatments. Please pray that side effects of today’s treatment will be tolerable, not long lasting, and will not prevent some planned travel. If prayers are answered, and nothing new develops, there may not be another update for quite a while. 😊

There have been two important medical appointments since the last update, both with good results:

• We met for the first time with a palliative care NP.  After learning of Diane's fatigue and recent weight loss, she prescribed a low-dose daily steroid. It has greatly improved both her appetite and energy. The downside is that it has caused some sleeplessness during the night. Hopefully, adjustments in the dosage and frequency will fix sleeplessness without losing the benefits.

• The visit to the pulmonologist offered a great report! While scarring in the lungs is present, he found no inflammation and saw no changes in the lungs when he compared last September’s scan with this February’s scan. He doesn’t know if the scarring is from a past infection or something else, but he will inform the oncologists that the current chemo regimen has not affected Diane's lungs.

Thanks for your prayers. We are praying for you!

We returned safely from our Florida getaway on Wednesday evening and woke early Thursday to fight Nashville traffic to visit Diane’s gynecologic oncologist.

The PET scan revealed the following:

• Cancer is still present in the lymph nodes, but chemotherapy is reducing it.

• Other than abdominal/portacaval lymph nodes, there is no evidence of cancer elsewhere.

• There is inflammation in Diane’s lungs.

We are being referred to a pulmonologist to identify what’s going on in Diane’s lungs. In the interim, she will start a steroid and antibiotic. We expect to have a follow-up chest-only CT scan in 4 weeks. This newly-identified lung inflammation may explain frequent coughing that Diane has attributed to other things, e.g., allergies.

We went to the infusion center today expecting to begin Diane’s 4th round of treatment. We met with the medical oncologist and discussed the PET scan with him. Diane also described her increasing foot pain, joint pain, achiness, and fatigue. After discussion, the oncologist decided to cancel today’s scheduled infusion. He said: “I think we should let your body rest a bit.” The 4th round of treatment has been delayed until the middle of March.

Thank you for your prayers! We are grateful that: 1) a previously unknown lung issue is going to receive attention, 2) chemotherapy is doing its job, and 3) Diane will have a few weeks of rest from the chemo drugs!

Please pray for proper diagnosis and effective treatment for Diane’s lungs. And please pray that a few weeks of rest from chemo drugs would make a difference in her comfort.

As planned, we returned from the beach in mid-February for Diane’s echocardiogram, PET scan, and low-potency infusion. The echocardiogram indicated that Diane’s heart is stronger now than the baseline test before she resumed chemotherapy in December. WONDERFUL!

The low-potency infusion went smoothly, but the following 10 days were difficult. The difficulty began with a sore throat and some nausea. Her gastroenterologist advised her of numerous flu cases and a lot of cases of norovirus. The sore throat became severe after we returned to the beach, but it improved after a couple of days. Diane’s symptoms ended after a week, but aches, shooting pain, increased neuropathy, and lack of strength continues.

We will end our time in Florida mid-week. The first order of business is an appointment with her primary oncologist. At that meeting we should learn the results of the PET scan and hear his evaluation of the side effects she has experienced. We will also find out if he plans to change anything about her chemotherapy. If nothing changes, she is scheduled to have her 4th high-potency infusion the following day.

Diane’s protein cancer marker has been declining since she resumed chemotherapy, but not so significantly that we expect to get an “all clear” PET scan.  However, a miracle of healing is OK with us! Expecting that side effects of the chemotherapy may be cumulative (i.e., increasing neuropathy, aches, and joint pain) it would be nice to see an end to chemotherapy.

We will post another update or send an email after we learn the results of the PET scan.

Your prayers for safe travel, God’s wisdom for the oncologist, and for our encouragement, are appreciated. Our hope is in the Lord.

As I write this update, Diane's third high-potency infusion is underway. It will last several hours.  Pre-infusion lab work was good and previous wheezing in her lungs has cleared up. There was discussion among the medical staff about modifying today's drug cocktail to reduce the increasing neuropathy and pain in her joints. We are trusting that the right decisions were made in this regard.

After the low-potency infusion in mid-January, we were able to travel to the beach! Residents blamed us for bringing record low temperatures and the all-time record snowfall on Florida's panhandle. This rare event was an interesting experience. While high winds blew most of the snow from our balcony, a couple of inches remained. That was enough to allow us to build several small snowmen!  😊 ⛄️

Today's infusion marks the midpoint of the resumption of chemotherapy that the oncologist recommended after last September's PET scan. Because it's the midpoint, Diane's oncologists have ordered an echocardiogram and another PET scan. Our plan is to travel back to the beach, and come back home for these tests in mid-February. The echocardiogram is for the purpose of determining if the change in Diane's drug cocktail has weakened her heart muscle. This is a potential risk that comes with one of the drugs in her new regimen.

Please pray for minimal side effects from today's infusion, that the neuropathy and joint pain would decrease, that the scheduled echocardiogram would reveal no heart damage from the drugs, and that the mid-February PET scan would indicate a significant reduction of the cancer in her lymph nodes, or better yet, "It's all gone!" THANK YOU!!

Diane’s second high-potency infusion occurred as anticipated on New Year’s Eve. Lab results before it began indicated that blood work was good. Some side effects during the past week have been troublesome, but all in all she is feeling much better than after the high-potency infusions of 2023. This is the result of the change in chemo drugs and/or your effective prayers! Thank you for praying!

Future plans include her low-potency infusion next week after which we are anticipating/hoping to travel to the Florida coast. We will return home for the high-potency infusion at the end of January and then hope to sneak away again!

We have had a restful stay-at-home Christmas season. We can’t remember one that didn’t involve some out-of-town travel, but we have enjoyed pausing, reflecting, and resting. In general, the side effects of resuming high-potency chemotherapy in December have been less than those she experienced when she began chemotherapy in April 2023. Please pray that this continues.

Diane’s second of six high-potency infusions is scheduled for New Year’s Eve. The low-potency infusion will be 2 weeks later. Please pray that these go smoothly and that uncomfortable side effects are minimal or non-existent!

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying. God continues to bless us! We are praying for you, especially that 2025 will bring many blessings to you and your family.

Diane’s chemotherapy which had been scheduled for Monday Dec. 2nd was postponed until Wednesday Dec. 4th. This delay was ordered by the oncologist to treat some wheezing in her lungs and to allow for a port dye study. (The test confirmed that Diane’s infusion port was in good shape for the resumption of treatment.)

The infusion on Wednesday went according to plan. We returned to the infusion center on Thursday to get an injection to bump up her white blood cells. Diane has felt well since the infusion and has slept soundly. This afternoon she is feeling some fatigue.

This chemo infusion was the first of 6 which will occur every 4 weeks.  It includes a drug that Diane has not previously taken. Two weeks after each of these infusions, Diane will have a low-dose maintenance infusion with the drug that she has been taking every 3 weeks for the past year.

Thanks for your prayers! Please pray that side effects will be minimal over the next few days.

Since our last update, everything has been stable. However, we did want to give you a brief update regarding some of the items mentioned in that October 11 update.

Regarding our decision to delay the resumption of chemotherapy until after Thanksgiving, everything is now set. Diane will have her first treatment December 2nd. Please add this date to your prayer calendar.

Regarding the echocardiogram, Diane completed it with flying colors. There were no issues that would prevent the use of the new (to Diane) drug that will be part of the planned chemotherapy regimen. The ‘cancer-killer poisons’ will be administered on a 4-week cycle for six months. Two weeks after each cycle, Diane will receive the ‘maintenance drug’ that she has been taking every 3 weeks since last December. The infusion oncologist knows that we may skip some of these mid-cycle ‘maintenance’ infusions for the purpose of enjoying some travel. 

Regarding our request to ask God to hold the cancer at bay, we are pleased to report the latest miracle. Ever since the PET scan revealed cancerous abdominal lymph nodes, Diane’s cancer marker has stopped rising! It has held steady for 9 weeks.

In addition to praying for Diane’s healing and peace as she faces the resumption of chemotherapy, please pray for our niece. Last month, she received the same cancer diagnosis that Diane received in March 2023. She has now begun the treatment protocol that Diane began in April 2023.

Thank you for your prayers! We are praying for all of you!

Yesterday morning, Diane had the planned appointment with her gynecologic oncologist. We went with our list of questions. Our questions and understanding had improved after receiving a printed copy of the PET scan report at Monday’s appointment with the infusion oncologist.

The oncologist’s first words were “I recommend that you start chemotherapy immediately.” He proceeded with giving a very clear explanation of the benefits of starting now versus the risks of delaying until after the holidays. We were not prepared to hear that recommendation since previously both oncologists seemed to indicate some flexibility in the start date. “Flexibility” was important to Diane since all of our children and their families are coming to Nashville for Thanksgiving.

After laying out the risks of delaying treatment, the oncologist stated that it’s our decision whether we want to take those risks. We left the office troubled by what we had learned and were “all over the board” in our discussions about starting immediately versus delaying treatment. But we have peace this morning! God provided new whispers of His love during the night and this morning our daily Bible reading plan began with Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (NLT)

Regardless of the treatment start date, the next immediate step is to have an echocardiogram. This is scheduled for Monday. Both of Diane’s oncologists explained that resuming chemo would include a drug (Doxil) that is known to damage the heart muscle in some patients. The doctors want to get a baseline reading of Diane’s heart before treatment to make sure there are no existing problems and to allow future monitoring of any negative side effects.

At this point, we have decided to start treatment after Thanksgiving. Please ask God to change our minds if our chosen timetable is not His best plan for us. Also, please ask God to continue to hold the cancer at bay as He has for the past 10 months.

Thank you for your prayers! We are praying for all of you!

This past Monday Diane had the PET scan mentioned in the last update. And this afternoon, Diane received a call from her primary oncologist with the results. There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that the PET scan revealed some enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen that the oncologist believes is evidence of the return of cancer. The good news is that the PET scan did not show the presence of anything else, other than enlarged lymph nodes.

The oncologist’s immediate recommendation was that Diane should start chemotherapy again, but replacing one of the two main drugs used before with a different drug. He wants to drop the use of the drug that is probably the source of Diane’s neuropathy, since resuming it would only make her neuropathy much worse. (Thinking about resuming chemotherapy and its side effects is not easy.)

We discussed potential timing with the oncologist and learned that there is probably some flexibility. We discussed the value of continuing her maintenance infusions, the next of which is scheduled for this coming Monday.  In the end we decided to proceed with the scheduled infusion and also schedule an appointment to meet with the oncologist after both he and Diane have conversations with her infusion oncologist.

Her appointment with her infusion oncologist is on Monday, and her appointment with her primary oncologist will be next Tuesday or Thursday. This timing will allow both of Diane’s oncologists to discuss the PET scan and potential chemotherapy regimens. It will also allow us to pray more specifically and develop a list of questions for them.

Thank you for your prayers. In the midst of all of this, we are still experiencing remarkable peace! We are very grateful that the PET scan revealed nothing other than the enlarged lymph nodes. 

Please pray for wisdom for Diane’s doctors and for us to ask the right questions about next steps.

Good news! This week’s CT scan revealed no changes in comparison to June’s scan, i.e., it is still clear! Thank you, Lord!

While the oncologist was pleased, he is still surprised by the good results. He explained that if the routinely tested cancer marker had stayed steady at the previously high level, he would be satisfied. But since the marker has continued to climb over the past three months, he wants to understand why it continues to climb and has reached such a high new level. After examining Diane and learning that her comfort and appetite remain good, he explained that he wanted to order a PET scan to see if it picks up something that the CT scan is not seeing.

We are not sure when the PET scan will happen, since we have planned a busy travel schedule! But I’m sure we’ll find a time to work it in. 😊

Your prayers are so important to us! When the oncologist expressed his surprise at the results, I mentioned: "There are 100 people praying!" I’m sure that your prayers also contributed in a big way to the peace that we both have experienced this week as we faced so many unknowns. In fact, experiencing that peace as we waited for this week’s results was truly remarkable and clearly a gracious gift to us.

Thank you for praying! We are praying for you!

In our last report (June 13 – available below), we reported that while Diane’s last CT scan was clear, that result surprised her oncologist because a cancer marker (tested every 3 weeks) had reached such a high level. You may recall that we reported that he said: 1) “You’re defying science.”, 2) “I expect that there will be visible cancer within 5 months.”, and 3) “The next 5 months are a perfect time to travel and enjoy Diane’s current health and mobility.”

His travel advice probably wasn’t necessary for our prone-to-wander plan for summer. In June we spent 5 days at our favorite B&B near Gatlinburg, TN. In July, our Michigan family and our Nashville family, all joined us in visiting our Northern Kentucky family to celebrate July 4 together. After leaving Kentucky we drove to Ohio’s Amish country and spent a week enjoying the peace and quiet there. We relaxed while watching farmers cut and bale hay with horse-drawn equipment, watching Amish families load horse-drawn wagons with stacks of hay, and consuming the area’s food offerings! In mid-August we celebrated Diane’s birthday by spending a week at the beach.  We enjoyed great food, clear weather, and watching the beautiful surf and star-filled skies.

Since our last update, here are some things that have changed. Some days Diane lacks strength or enthusiasm for doing anything. She grows tired very easily, but has brief spurts of energy to do the things she enjoys, e.g., pulling weeds! She is experiencing more pain in her feet, making it uncomfortable for her to walk. There are occasional shooting pains in various other places.

Having an infusion this past Monday has brought us back to the realities that we face in the coming weeks and our need (request) for prayer. Diane’s already-high cancer marker has continued to climb since June’s visit with her primary oncologist. Her next CT scan is scheduled for the first week in September followed by a visit with the oncologist to learn of the results and his assessment.

We have been praying that Diane would continue defying science! While we know that the Lord can continue to do that, we also hear voices reminding us that the cancer marker has reached dramatic new heights. While we put our faith and trust in God, we also ask ourselves: “What is His plan?” The most rational possibility concerns us and scares me. But the words of Isaiah 41:10 bring peace: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)

Much younger friends and acquaintances of ours have passed away in the past month. That make us very grateful for being given such long lives. We could not ask for more, or anything better than what we have already experienced. We want to be good stewards of whatever time remains. We know that God loves us and our love for Him continues to grow! 

Please pray for Diane (and me) as the Spirit leads you! Please pray for our peace as she faces the September CT scan and learning its results. Pray for wisdom for all those involved in the process of planning next steps.

Diane’s CT scan was all clear! There was no evidence of cancer! However...

Her oncologist began today’s appointment with some sobering words regarding a cancer marker that has been steadily rising. This marker has been tracked over the past year with bloodwork every 3 weeks. The oncologist was not too concerned with the steady increase the last time we met with him, but this time he shared that the marker had reached such a high level that he fully expected that this week’s CT scan would show the return of cancer. Since it didn't, his exact words were: “You’re defying science!” (The power of your prayers and God’s intervention!)

Based upon the marker, the oncologist says that he expects that there will be visible cancer within 5 months. He offered three options:

1. He could do surgery now to take a look inside (laparoscopy) to see what he could find.

2. We could stay the course and continue the maintenance infusions until the cancer manifests itself.

3. We could begin chemotherapy again starting now.

He commented as follows on the options: 

• He did not recommend surgery because he is likely not to see anything since the scan couldn’t see anything.

• He did not recommend starting chemotherapy again now. He shared that medical studies tend to show that in this situation starting chemo again sooner rather than later does not improve survival rates. 

• He recommended the second option, i.e.,  just staying the course with the current treatment until the cancer manifests itself on a CT scan or through new symptoms. 

He suggested that the next 5 months are a perfect time to travel and enjoy Diane’s current health and mobility. He stated that when she begins chemotherapy again, she might spend the majority of the rest of her life on chemotherapy. We asked if this would be the same drugs that brought so much pain and discomfort last year. He explained that one of the drugs would be the same, until her cancer became resistant to it. He also told us of a new drug for ovarian cancer that had become available in the last two months. He stated that he would be testing the tumor he removed last August to see if this drug might work. We were shocked to hear that the tumor samples were still kept and available for testing. The oncologist explained that yes, they keep everything for a very long time. 

We are at peace. We know that God is in control and that He can defy the science that He created as long as He wants by answering your prayers. Please continue praying for Diane. Pray that her defying science will lead to opportunities to share the gospel with her oncologist and others. (Diane will have another scan in 3 months.)

Our May 15 update described a “port dye study” that was scheduled as a result of the behavior of Diane’s port on the day of her last infusion.

There is good news! The appointment for the port dye study was yesterday. As nurses accessed the port to begin the dye study, the port functioned exactly as it should with blood return! Yay! Despite this important result, the complete dye study was performed. The test confirmed that the port was delivering meds into the vein exactly as designed.

We are grateful for these answers to our prayers and yours! Thanks for praying!

Since our March update, results from Diane’s blood work have continued to show improvement, although there has been a steady rise in one cancer marker. Since lots of factors can cause such a rise, the important next step will be her CT scan in early June.

Diane’s infusions have been continuing every 3 weeks without any issues or concerns until yesterday. At yesterday’s appointment, her port was not cooperating. After connecting to the port, drawing a little blood into a syringe is the nurse’s method of confirming that they are accessing the vein for delivering the infusion. Yesterday, they could not draw blood from the port even though there was evidence that the vein was receiving the “flushing” medication that precedes infusing the cancer drug. Basically, the port seemed to be administering medication into the vein, but it was not working in reverse. We were told that this problem is not at all uncommon. In fact, it occurred with Diane once before, but a thrombolytic medication corrected the problem. This time, that medication did not work. Various other procedures to correct the problem also had no effect. This turned a short appointment into a long day.

Due to the port’s behavior, yesterday’s cancer drug was administered via an IV in her arm. To assess the issue, a port dye study has been ordered for next week. This study will hopefully identify the issue and determine next steps. According to yesterday’s nurse, the study might determine that the issue is simply scar tissue that has built up. In that case, the port might continue to be used for pumping chemo meds into the vein even though tissue inside the vein is blocking the catheter when trying to pull blood out of the vein. Fortunately, the prescribed maintenance infusions can be delivered via IV. However, use of the port is very convenient and is necessary if Diane needs to resume high-potency drugs in the future. Have you learned more than you ever wanted to know about chemo ports? 😁

Please pray for those performing the assessment of Diane’s port and ask the Lord for good news and a functioning port for her next infusion. We love you all!

GOOD NEWS! A visit today with Diane’s oncologist confirmed that Monday’s CT scan showed NO EVIDENCE of cancer!! YAY! 🎉

Upon arrival at the oncologist’s office, and on the way to get Diane’s weight and blood pressure, her doctor happened to be walking toward us in the hall. He broke out in a BIG smile when he saw Diane, rubbed the top of his head as if to communicate: “You have hair!😁”, then hugged her. 

When he later arrived in our assigned examination room, he shared how pleased he was with the good results as revealed by the scan. After a full examination, he again expressed how very encouraged he was with the results of the surgery and chemotherapy treatment. He explained that Diane should continue the maintenance infusions for a total of fifteen. She’s had 4 of these infusions, so 11 more will be scheduled. Since ovarian cancer is known to come back in a high percentage of the population, he ordered another CT scan in 3 months.

Thank you so much for your powerful and effective prayers! Join us in praising God for such encouraging answers. Diane told her doctor that he was being prayed for and he responded: “I’ll take all of the prayers I can get.”

While it may be a while before we post another update, we covet your continued prayers for Diane’s neuropathy, her other discomforts, and all of her medical team.

Please let us know how we can pray for you!

We are back from our extended stay on Florida's panhandle and are preparing for a busy "medical" two weeks.

First up is blood work and Diane's infusion scheduled for Tuesday afternoon! (Update: Blood work was good and infusion went smoothly.) The following week includes the important next CT scan, followed by dental appointments, annual physicals, and lastly a meeting with Diane's oncologist to review the results of the CT scan.

Diane is feeling pretty good. She continues to have a good appetite and sleeps well.  She has bursts of energy (for example, she did laundry today all by herself 😀) and then she sits to rest and read. She is pleased to have enough new hair that she has stopped wearing hats! 

Your prayers for these two weeks and the results they hold are appreciated!

It’s been over a month since we posted an update, primarily because there is not much new to report. But we still covet your prayers for our physical, emotional, and spiritual condition so we wanted to let you know that we haven’t forgotten about you and don’t want you to forget about us.

We are currently enjoying an extended visit on the Gulf of Mexico. The aquatic sights and sounds, and even the storms, are a reminder of a loving and awesome Creator. While we always enjoy watching it snow, we are pleased to have missed the extended icy and bitter conditions that our neighbors have recently endured. We are especially enjoying this annual visit not knowing God’s plan for the future.

We will be traveling back home in early February for a couple of days in order for Diane to receive an infusion. You may join us in praying that the snow and ice will skip those travel days! 

As reported in the past couple of updates, the drug used for Diane’s “maintenance” infusions has not produced difficult side effects. That is a blessing! Her most uncomfortable condition at the moment is neuropathy that is attributed to her previous chemotherapy. Numbness or tingling in her hands is present, but it does not significantly impact her day-to-day comfort. However, the pain and numbness in her feet and legs affect her the most. For example, Diane previously enjoyed daily walks on the beach during our annual Florida visits, but walking hurts so much that she’s only taken a couple of walks during this winter’s beach visit. She pushes through walks in the grocery store to build up stamina, but declines longer walks.

Her medical team told us that neuropathy is a frequent side effect of chemotherapy. They shared that improvement may be very slow in coming, if at all. A drug that can sometimes help has side effects that Diane chooses to avoid at this time. So, we wait and pray. Would you join us in that prayer?

We also ask that you join us in praying for a good report from Diane’s next blood work and CT scan. The January lab results showed a slight increase in a cancer marker. There will be additional blood work at the time of her next infusions in early February and March. The CT scan and her next visit with her gynecologic oncologist are planned for March, shortly after the infusion.

We are so grateful that you are on the other end of these updates. Thank you for your past, present, and future prayers! Please also pray for our dear neighbors. Several of these friends are enduring difficult medical situations.

Diane had her scheduled CT scan Tuesday and today we met with her gynecologic oncologist. He informed us that the scan was clear except for a one-centimeter “unknown” on her left side. He shared that he studied the scan carefully, but could not draw any conclusions. He offered that the unknown could be scar tissue. Since it’s too small to biopsy, the plan is to have another CT scan in 3 months to see if there are any changes.

The oncologist indicated that Diane’s maintenance regimen, a 3-week cycle of Mvasi, will typically last at least a year.  The only side effect that Diane has experienced thus far from this drug has been occasional nose bleeds. Compared to the numerous difficult side effects of her earlier chemo infusions, this side effect is minimal.

The doctor was not surprised by Diane’s fatigue, but at the same time, he advised her to push through it to regain stamina. When we questioned the oncologist about the maintenance cycle versus our plans for an extended stay in Florida, he encouraged us to enjoy the vacation. While he emphasized the importance of “quality of life” during this time, he also encouraged us to return for at least one treatment. We will discuss this further at the infusion center at January’s scheduled treatment.

Have a blessed Christmas! Thanks for your continued prayers!

It’s been 3 weeks since the last update. The good news is that there is nothing dramatic to report, but we wanted to keep you in the loop regarding answers to prayers, Diane’s current condition, and next steps. Answers to prayers include:

• Diane’s troubling abdominal pain seems to have disappeared.

• There have not been any noticeable side effects from the maintenance drug infusion that Diane received 10 days ago.

• We received official confirmation that Diane’s hospital and doctors will remain in our health insurance’s network of providers for 2024.

As other side effects of chemotherapy have abated, Diane has begun experiencing more neuropathy in her hands and feet. At this point, she is trying an over-the-counter remedy for this, but she may switch to a prescription medication soon.

Diane continues to struggle with fatigue. Since this may be the result of lower-than-desired hemoglobin and red blood cell counts, she may have a blood transfusion on the day of her next maintenance drug infusion for the purpose of bringing her counts up. Her follow-up CT scan will happen the next day, followed by a visit to her gynecologic oncologist later in the week to review the results and discuss the future.

Thank you so much for your powerful prayers.

Diane has continued to improve since the last update. She can taste food once again, and perhaps as a result, has a very good appetite. For the most part, the only discomfort that remains is fatigue.

She had an appointment today at the infusion center for a general checkup and to receive a report of her most recent blood work. The lab results were all within acceptable ranges for someone undergoing chemotherapy. Her checkup was good.

We did have one big surprise, however. We learned that the oncologist recommends immediately starting a maintenance regimen using a cancer drug named Mvasi. This drug was already being used as one of the several drugs in the last two rounds of chemotherapy.

The good news is that this drug is not expected to produce the side effects that have caused Diane such misery. These infusions will take place on a 3-week cycle and begin before Thanksgiving. Instead of a 3 hour infusion, the duration may be as little as 20 minutes.

We rejoice in the improvements that are so evident in the past week! Thank you for praying!

As I write this, Diane is beginning day seven of recovery from last Monday’s final round (prayerfully) of chemotherapy. As has been typical, nothing seemed different for the first several days after the infusion. But by Wednesday, she began experiencing difficult side effects. There were some minor new side effects, as well as some typical ones. Extreme fatigue is the most prevalent one, but also other uncomfortable ones.

Nevertheless, God’s grace has been sufficient, and we both believe that today may mark the turning point on this treatment. Her appetite is fairly good and her abdominal pain is much less prevalent than it has been. Since Diane was very tired entering this last round of chemotherapy, we fully expect that fatigue will be a side effect for many weeks to come. But Diane’s recliner and bed are comfortable solutions.

Compared to the terrible side effects of the fourth round of chemo (the first after surgery), the side effects of this final round have been a blessing. We attribute that to your generous response to our Oct. 28 request for much prayer. THANK YOU!

As Diane continues to recover and gain strength, we look forward once again to the possibility of restful travel at the end of the month and in early December. Upon our return from this travel, Diane will have another CT scan and a meeting with her oncological surgeon. At that meeting we expect to learn if Diane will begin some form of maintenance therapy. Please pray that the CT scan will reveal that no cancer remains!

Again, thank you so much for your prayers and other expressions of love. We love you all and praise the Savior who gave Himself for us all.

Diane’s health has remained about the same since our Oct. 17th update. Fatigue is the major issue, but she also continues to have frequent abdominal pain. We don’t know if this is a side effect of the chemo or if this is related to healing from the August surgery. (The doctors don’t know either.) Regardless, it’s bothersome!

This coming Monday morning (Oct. 30) is a landmark event for us. Hopefully, it is Diane’s final chemotherapy infusion! This is the sixth infusion since her cancer diagnosis and the third since her surgery. I mention “third” to remind you of the impact of your prayers on the third chemo after her diagnosis. (Find and read the June 12 update below.) If you can provide that level of prayer support again, we would greatly appreciate it!

Finally, it’s important for you to read Diane’s personal note of yesterday. It reveals her inner struggles, the strength that comes from your prayers, and our prayer for you.

The last 10 days have been pretty good for Diane. The areas of discomfort reported in the last update have steadily improved. Random pain still remains, as well as fatigue. 

She has received IV fluids on three different days since the last update. This was the recommendation of the doctor to try to stay ahead of adverse side effects resulting from dehydration. There is one more of these on the schedule for the week, but it’s optional and we may cancel it.

One disappointment is that we've learned that there are still critical contract negotiations going on with our insurance company and the hospital system / providers that we have been using. Earlier news seemed to have signaled that all was good, but that news was apparently premature. Please make this a matter of prayer.

The great news is that we are expecting that Diane’s health will allow us to keep and enjoy a Gatlinburg reservation later this week!😊

Thanks for your continued prayers! We know that they are making a difference!

Unlike the last chemo round when the 3rd and 4th days after chemo were “miserable” (with bloating, acid reflux, vomiting, constipation, no appetite, dry mouth, coughing, temperature swings, and more), yesterday and today Diane is experiencing just these areas of discomfort – aches, pains, and an uncomfortable rash on her head. (These symptoms appeared after the very first round in April.) Tylenol helps and she has been sleeping comfortably. Importantly, her appetite remains good compared to not eating for a week after the last round. 

Part of the pain Diane is experiencing comes strangely from hair follicles pressing into her scalp. They feel like needles. This morning she woke with the thought of the pain Jesus endured with the crown of thorns! Not so strangely, today’s worship service (in which we participated via the web) was a call to not forget Gethsemane and the agony Jesus suffered for us. The hymn that concluded today's message was Lead Me to Calvary which includes the lyrics “Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, lead me to Calvary.” Diane’s pain remains, but she and I have a changed perspective!

Praise the Lord! Thanks for your prayers! We are having a great day of worship!

We had a good visit with the oncologist yesterday prior to the start of Diane’s second infusion following her August surgery (the fourth since the cancer diagnosis in March). The doctor answered our many questions and explained some changes in the treatment protocol.

An additional cancer drug was introduced with this infusion. This drug (Mvasi) inhibits the formation of new blood vessels thereby depriving cancerous growth of oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. The drug was discontinued in the last infusion prior to Diane’s surgery and in the first infusion after surgery, because her body needed the growth of blood vessels for proper healing.

Since Diane had such a difficult time with side effects of the last infusion, another change made yesterday was a reduction in dosage of the chemo drugs. In addition, the doctor recommended scheduling Diane to return four times in the next ten days for IV fluids. After seeing the remarkable impact of IV fluids as reported in the September 22 update, we both quickly affirmed his recommendation. We will return to the oncology center tomorrow, and next Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for that purpose.

Thank you for your prayers! We are overwhelmed daily by this show of support as we submit to God’s plan and see His gifts to us in this journey. Click here to find Diane’s personal note for October 5 where she describes some of today’s gifts.

We love you all!

The past week has been a continuation of the good turnaround that was reported in the September 22 update. Likely as a result of her continued good appetite and comfortable rest, Diane’s strength has steadily improved as evidenced by evening walks where she challenges herself to go a little bit further each day. This routine activity in the cool twilight has also afforded the opportunity to visit with loving neighbors who are also enjoying being outside at this time of year.

A troubling item in the past week is a new abdominal pain. Diane was first concerned that this pain was related to her extensive surgery. While the pain only occurs when she moves a certain way, it has not changed or gone away. In a call to the surgeon’s office, the nurse practitioner suggested that the pain is not likely to be related to the surgery since it’s been 8 weeks since the operation.

Diane’s hair is mostly gone again as of last Thursday. (We were encouraged that it had come back after the discontinuation of chemo treatments in preparation for her surgery and recovery, so we anticipate it coming back again after the last rounds of chemo are complete.)

The next chemo infusion is on Wednesday, October 4. This chemo round and the new abdominal pain are two of the items listed on the Latest Prayer Requests page.

Thank you for your love and prayers!

Good news! After receiving IV fluids on Thursday, Diane’s appetite started coming back and her difficult symptoms started leaving. 😊 She had a comfortable afternoon and evening, including an evening meal of home-prepared mac-and-cheese, i.e., I boiled water, opened the Kraft box, and followed the directions!

Diane slept better last night than she has in the past week! She only woke up once during the night and slept soundly before and after. What a blessing!

Today she went back to the oncology center for more fluids and on the way home she wanted a Chick-fil-A sandwich! Going from zero appetite to wanting a chicken sandwich in 24 hours is clearly an answer to prayer! Thank you!

We pray that all of you who are reading this and have been praying will have an especially blessed weekend! We love you all!

Update from Diane:

I am so grateful that you are praying for me. I really need prayer. I am miserable.

My misery is from various things I attribute as new side effects of this chemo cycle that started 5 weeks after my surgery. I’ve eaten very little actual food since Friday. It’s hard to eat.

At the beginning of this journey, I was told some things to expect. I was also told “each time could be different.” You accept this advice, but you never realize what it means until you are going through something “different.”

My cancer journey started at a visit with my gastroenterologist. I’ve had digestive and intestinal problems for over 20 years. These problems have intensified with this treatment.

I spent the morning listening to our worship team’s Awakening CD. (Some of these songs are on my music page.) The Biblical truths are helping with my spiritual well-being and the songs help me with my “lamenting” – crying out to God.

Prayer of Lament was a topic covered in a Bible study that I watched this summer entitled “When You Pray.“ Before this study, I don’t think I had put a label to this type of prayer. Lament has become a close companion this past week. It’s a way for me to be honest with God and what I need in a very trying situation.

Once again, I want to thank you personally for taking time to pray for us. It’s a source of joy in the middle of this very frustrating health drama.

Diane

“I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and He hears my voice.” (Psalms 55:17 CSB)

10:00 AM – A lot changed in the hours after Friday’s update! The full force of the chemo drugs hit Diane during the night and this morning. She aches all over, has random shooting pain, and is not able to eat at the moment. Prayers appreciated!!

1:35 PM – Diane is some better and has been able to eat a bit.  Thanks for praying!

8:00 PM – Nothing much has changed. Diane is still very uncomfortable with aches and pain. There hasn’t been much improvement in her appetite, but she has eaten a few bites of various things including a half bowl of ice cream. Praying for a good night’s rest.

September 17, 2023

1:00 PM – Diane got a fairly good night’s rest. She slept in spurts. Tylenol helps with the aching. There were fewer aches and pains this morning, but she has felt a little nauseous and hasn’t felt like eating much. After reading her journal entries from the infusions in April and May, she discovered that the symptoms she is now having match ones she had before. She is pressing through.

7:30 PM – This afternoon and early evening have been pretty rough. What little food Diane tried to eat, she couldn’t keep down. She still has a lot of overall discomfort. Praying for a better tomorrow.

Diane’s chemotherapy on Wednesday went as planned. She had no difficulties or ill effects. Thursday was also a good day with normal strength and appetite.

Today we went to the oncology center for recommended IV fluids and a Neulasta® shot. Neulasta counteracts the common chemo side effect of decreasing the number of white blood cells (which weakens the immune system.) This drug was effective in Diane’s earlier treatments.

Diane’s appetite changed today as a result of her mouth and tongue becoming irritated. Any kind of seasoned food became uncomfortable to eat. We remember that this was a side effect of her very first chemo treatment last April. And Diane remembered to ask for the recipe of warm water, salt, and baking soda that the nurses recommended at that time. Neither of us remember how long this irritation lasted in April.

We feel so blessed knowing that there are so many friends praying! Thank you! May God richly bless you this weekend!

It’s now been 5 weeks since Diane’s surgery and her appetite is approaching normal. While fatigue is still an issue, she has steadily progressed in making longer walks each day. Pain and discomfort remain when she moves around, but she is comfortable in her recliner and usually rests well at night.

This Wednesday, September 13, Diane will begin another three rounds of chemotherapy. Please pray that we will rest in the promise that “God can be trusted!” as we renew the cycles of infusion and recovery over the next 9 weeks. Please pray that side effects of each treatment will be miraculously absent or minimal, and that the treatments would have the desired effect of eliminating all remaining cancer.  Finally, pray that Diane’s pain and discomfort from last month’s surgery would grow less and less each day and would soon disappear entirely.

It’s now been 17 days since Diane’s surgery. While she is still dealing with fatigue, discomfort, some pain, and loss of appetite, there are subtle improvements that provide encouragement.

This week we had post-operative visits with the surgeon directing her treatment and the oncologist responsible for administering her chemotherapy. The consensus statement of both doctors was “Everything looks great!” When asked about the symptoms mentioned in the first paragraph, the surgeon was emphatic: “This was a BIG surgery.” He assured us that everything that Diane is experiencing is normal.

The infusion oncologist was very encouraging and helpful. He has scheduled the next cycle of chemotherapy to begin September 13. As with the first cycle, the plan calls for 3 rounds of infusions each 21 days apart. Some of the medications (as well as long-term treatments) may be different based upon genetic testing of the removed tumor. The results of this testing are not expected to be known for several weeks.

While we know when the infusions will begin and what we might expect, we are not looking forward to the side effects. We will again request your prayers to see us through!

In the interim, please pray for Diane’s continued recovery. Getting back her strength before chemo begins again is important. Thanks again for all of your expressions of love!

We’ve been home from the hospital for 7 days now and it’s been 12 days since surgery. Diane’s appetite has not returned, but she’s eating and enjoying simple small meals. (Unexpectedly, our Medicate Advantage plan shipped us 14 complimentary frozen meals. While only a few sounded appetizing to her, I have enjoyed a couple of them!)

There have been a few setbacks and a lot of discomfort. But as we look at the long incision and consider all that was removed in surgery, it’s quite amazing to consider that her body is in the process of healing. We were warned about standard complications, but we are grateful to report that there have been no complications! On Tuesday we visit the surgeon and will get his assessment of her condition and progress.

Diane has written an important personal note for today. Click here to find it.

After a 4-day stay in the hospital recovering from surgery, Diane is continuing her recovery at home. We are grateful to God that the almost 3-hour surgery accomplished its purpose exactly as planned by the surgeon and as we anticipated by his advance explanations.

If you didn’t follow the daily updates, this is a quick summary of last Monday’s surgery: The surgeon reported that the chemotherapy was clearly effective. It reduced the size of the largest tumor to less than a half-inch in size and eliminated other cancer cells observed with the laparoscopy. The plan to remove cancer in these other locations in her abdomen was not required! We are very grateful and attribute this to your prayers and God’s loving plan.

Diane is uncomfortable (or feels some pain from tenderness) when she has to get out of her recliner or bed to go empty her bladder. This activity has been occurring frequently during the night and day, probably because her body is continuing to process all of the IV fluids that she received. The good news is that this is forcing her to walk, which is also important to her recovery.

Diane will have a follow-up appointment with the surgeon/oncologist in 10 days. At that time, plans will be made for another 3 rounds of chemotherapy. The purpose of this follow-up treatment is to kill any remaining cancer cells that were too small to see during the surgery.

Thank you for praying for Diane’s recovery.

Good news! Diane is home from the hospital after a successful surgery on Monday, August 7. Hopefully soon, there will be an update that summarizes the last 5 days.

In the interim, you may wish to find and read the lengthy updates for August 7, 8, 9, and 10. Those updates are below.

Prayers for healing and comfort are appreciated.

5:00 AM - Mornings start early in the hospital! Diane completed today's first stroll. She walked 2 laps of the hall, another record! She and I both had a good stretch of a few hours sleep the first half of the night. The second half was less comfortable with multiple interruptions. Please pray for goals that need to be achieved today!

9:00 AM - Diane's surgeon stopped by and examined her. He told us that Diane can go home THIS AFTERNOON if she passes her milestone goals and if she feels like it. Otherwise, we will see him again this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Even if she achieves today's goals, another night with the multiple caregivers here sounds like a good idea to me. 😊

3:30 PM - It’s been a good afternoon, especially because Diane accomplished all of the milestones that allow her to check out of the hospital! 🥳 🎉 However, we are opting to remain in the hospital overnight and checkout on Friday. (Since we’ve come this far in the most expensive hotel we’ve ever stayed in, it seems reasonable that we should treat ourselves to another day of hospital food and the endless stream of friendly drop-in visitors in the middle of the night!)

My prayer is that there will be no more important Thursday updates to share! Thanks for praying us through today!

6:30 AM - We’ve had a setback this morning. Based upon bloodwork during the night, the surgeon has ordered two units of blood. They are preparing to administer that now.

8:30 AM - The surgeon stopped by.  He examined Diane and asked questions.  His examination and Diane's responses raised no concerns. Staff will continue to check vitals and do bloodwork. Dr. Nizam will come back later today.  Diane is feeling fine and has no pain while she rests. She enjoyed eating scrambled eggs and toast this morning. 

10:30 AM - Diane rested after receiving the first unit of blood. A little later one of the nurses asked if she wanted to take a stroll. Diane said "Yes" and walked a loop around the hospital hall. The distance was probably 20 times further than previous strolls! Afterwards she didn't get back in her bed, but sat in a chair by the window. She is receiving the second unit of blood while sitting there. She is still comfortable; no pain.

6:00 PM - The afternoon went well. Diane continued sitting in a chair by the window for several hours. She nibbled on her lunch, but later in the afternoon she reached an important milestone! She said, "I'm hungry." (She has not had an appetite since Monday's surgery.) The nurse brought her a popsicle. When she was ready to get out of the chair, she asked the nurse if this was a good time for another stroll.  They proceeded down the hall and ran into Diane's surgeon who was headed to our room. Dr. Nizam joined the stroll. He was pleased with the afternoon's test results along with Diane's appearance and activity. He will be back to see us in the morning. Thanks for praying us through the day!

7:15 AM - Diane slept well during the night. She hardly seemed bothered (or aware) of nurses drawing blood or taking vitals every couple of hours. At 5:30 AM they helped her stand up for the first time. That was a painful experience (as expected), but an important next step. Beginning after midnight, she has been much more alert when awake. Pain meds are keeping her comfortable (if she doesn't move) and she continues to sleep most of the time. 

9:25 AM - The surgeon and his assistant visited about an hour ago. He checked Diane out and is satisfied with where she stands at the moment. The orders for today are drinking, breathing, moving about some, sitting in the chair, and rest. Diane has the rest part down pat! 😴 💤 Breakfast was delivered shortly after the doctor left. I enjoyed the grits, coffee, and fresh orange (none of which Diane wanted.) She nibbled on canned peaches and scrambled eggs.

1:00 PM – Diane is doing well considering what she has been through. The nurse helped her get out of bed and challenged her to a brief stroll. She made it to the nurses’ station and back – perhaps a 40-foot round trip. Compared to the effort and pain of just standing at 5:30AM, her stroll was remarkable. (Perhaps she was on more pain meds. Don’t know. Regardless, moving those muscles is necessary.) Lunch included broiled salmon, carrots, mashed potatoes, and peaches. She ate one small carrot, a bite of salmon, a couple of bites of mashed potatoes, and enjoyed the peaches. When Diane inquired of the nurse about brushing her teeth, the nurse offered to walk her to the bathroom. She declined and accomplished it in bed with a little help. 😊

4:30 PM - Diane spent most of the afternoon sleeping. The surgeon stopped by around 4 PM, but he didn't want to wake her. He was pleased to see that her color had returned and he asked me a few questions about her movement and appetite. He stated that Diane needed more time to regain strength and stated that she would definitely not go home on Wednesday.  Shortly after the doctor's departure an early dinner arrived, but Diane's appetite has not returned. She nibbled on just a few things.

6:00 PM - A short while ago the nurse arrived to take Diane on another stroll in the hall. She accepted the nurse's challenge and walked substantially further than her first stroll this morning. After settling back into bed, she requested chocolate ice cream. "Nibbling" is not the right word to describe how she consumed her chocolate reward! Ha!

8:15 AM - We are at the hospital. Have checked in and Diane has already had blood drawn for testing. Thunder, lightning, rain, and hail woke us 15 minutes before the alarm clock! But highways were clear and dry for travel!! Waiting for the next steps.

9:00 AM - We have moved to the preparation room and the nurse has started those processes. The surgeon (Dr. Nizam) just stopped in to give Diane a hug and ask if she's doing OK. Very nice, warm, and unexpected visit (since we've noticed from the status board that he is already busy with procedures on others.) Multiple nurses and doctors checked in for various purposes.

10:20 AM - Diane has been moved to the operating room. Our son, Keith, is with me in the surgery waiting room. I expect to receive multiple calls with progress reports during surgery which could last a couple of hours.

12:20 PM - One of the operating room nurses just called to report that the surgery is still in progress, going as planned, and Diane is doing well.  The nurse expects the surgery to continue until around 1:00PM. She will call me again at that point.

1:10 PM - Surgery is complete! And it's great news! The surgeon shared that the chemo was clearly effective in reducing the cancer. He described the surgery as "optimal" where the only cancer he found was less than one centimeter in size, and he removed that.  We are grateful that there were no surprises and the surgery was not as extensive as it might have been. Dr. Nizam anticipates that she will be in the hospital at least 3 days, but that determination will come later. The surgeon said that Diane will need to resume chemo in about a month to kill cancer cells that were too small for him to see and remove. Diane is being prepared to leave the OR and move to the recovery area.

3:55 PM - The recovery room nurse called about an hour ago. They have been focusing on managing Diane's pain and breathing. They planned to keep her longer to allow things to become more stable.  They gave me Diane's room assignment in the Sarah Cannon hospital and I am waiting in that room now for her arrival.

5:30 PM - Diane arrived in her (our) hospital room a few minutes ago! She's very uncomfortable and drifting in and out of sleep frequently. Please pray for her comfort and the ability to sleep.

8:00 PM - Diane is doing as one might expect after major surgery. She is still drifting in and out from anesthesia (and/or pain medications?). For the most part she has had limited pain, but some nausea. They are administering meds for both.  [The meal they delivered tonight was pork loin with gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes, roll, and a lemon bar. She asked for applesauce instead and has eaten a few bites. 😉 ]

Hopefully we will both settle in soon for more sleep. Thank you for praying throughout the day!!!

Diane's surgery is scheduled for 10:00AM tomorrow (Monday, August 7.) We have been asked to arrive at the hospital at 8:00AM for preparation work. Please pray along the lines of our latest prayer requests regarding this important day.

For family members and those of you who want specific details of where things stand throughout each day of Diane's hospital stay, my plan is to post a running update here. If you signed up for email updates, please note that I do not plan to send an email alerting you to each of these updates. Just visit the website as often as you wish to check for new information.

If you choose to visit the website frequently but don't see any new information, it may be because your browser displays a saved (cached) copy from your last visit without it checking to see if the page on the Internet has changed. You may get around this browser behavior by reloading the page a second or third time.

Thank you for your love and prayers!

Our saga of confusing and changing schedules is continuing. The short version is that Diane’s surgery has been postponed for one week. If you want to know the long version, read on:

On Monday we traveled north on our way to Walnut Creek, Ohio – a favorite relaxing place to watch Amish farmers, their families, horse-drawn buggies, and listen to their corn grow! We were scheduled to head back home today, but yesterday morning Diane’s surgeon called. He expressed concern about a chest x-ray from the hospital’s pre-admittance testing.

The surgeon explained that he would like for Diane’s primary care physician to review the x-ray and examine Diane. We immediately contacted her and she scheduled us for an appointment this morning. We quickly packed up our belongings and left the hotel (a day earlier than we had planned) and drove the 8½ hours back home.

Today, Diane’s primary care physician explained the chest x-ray concerns. A radiologist had identified a possible enlarged heart! We discussed the possible causes/consequences of that condition (e.g., congestive heart failure) but also learned that the radiologist’s conclusions would indicate a surprising change in the short time since the last CT scan (which is more definitive than an x-ray.) Diane’s doctor explained that the next step needed to be an echocardiogram and an appointment with a cardiologist. Miraculously, she and her staff made the arrangements for all of that to happen later this morning. In the interim, the surgeon’s office called and informed Diane that Monday’s surgery would be postponed one week.

A cardiac center in Nashville completed the echocardiogram; and within 30 minutes the nearby cardiologist met with us to review the results. (Another miracle.) The bottom line: Diane does NOT have an enlarged heart! Based upon both the echocardiogram and an EKG, the cardiologist told us that he couldn’t find anything wrong with Diane’s heart. He is sending an “all clear” report to Diane’s surgeon.

We are puzzled by God’s plan for Diane, but we are trusting His timing. We are learning lessons that Diane describes in her latest personal note. To find her version of today’s events and the important lessons, click here!

Diane’s surgery is scheduled for July 31 at 10:30AM. Thank you for your prayers! (See July 28 note explaining why the surgery date published here changed.)

We prayed through the options and decisions that Diane faced as explained in the July 6 update. The decision came easily for Diane. I’m sure that it’s a result of your prayers that we quickly had great peace that the next step should be surgery to remove cancer wherever the doctor sees it.

We attempted to communicate that decision to the oncological surgeon on Monday July 10 for the purpose of getting on his schedule. We were promised a call back, but it didn’t happen. On Tuesday we tried again by reaching the surgeon’s assistant. She seemed put out that we were calling again and re-iterated that she had already left a message with the doctor. We left another message on Thursday, but this time no one returned the call. We know the doctor is usually in surgery on Friday, so we are not expecting to hear back today.

We had expected that our next journey update would provide you with a date for surgery. Instead, we are asking that you pray that we would have wisdom, patience, and continued trust that God is in control. 

Click here to read a note that Diane posted to the website July 9. It describes our confidence that God is not surprised by any delays. We are puzzled, but we trust His timing.

Today was Diane’s appointment with the gynecologic oncologist as we mentioned in our last update. He talked us through the results of the June 27 CT scan. The scan shows a significant reduction of cancer in all areas where it is present. Cancer markers from the last blood test also indicate significant improvement. This means that the three rounds of chemotherapy accomplished the original intended purpose of preparing for a surgery that is potentially less extensive.

At this point, Diane can choose surgery in the next 2 to 3 weeks, more chemotherapy before surgery, or no surgery at all. We asked a lot of questions and the oncologist suggested that we continue to discuss these options and call him with questions or a decision. The oncologist recommends surgery now with more chemotherapy starting about a month after surgery.

Since next steps are our choice, please pray that we would have wisdom in these matters and that we would walk in God’s perfect plan!

The answers to prayer reported June 12 continues! Diane is stronger, has her normal appetite, and has not fainted. If it wasn’t for lingering fatigue, a few body aches, and no hair, it is surprising to consider that she had a chemotherapy infusion just 2 weeks ago (when her other infusions created many more issues.) Her strength allowed us to enjoy Father’s Day visits from family and is allowing another trip to Gatlinburg. This time she’s not nibbling off of my plate at the B&B, but insisting on her own full meal! 😄

Another answer to prayer is the prompt scheduling of next steps. The CT scan will occur June 27 and a review of the scan results (with the gynecologic oncologist) will occur July 6. On that latter date we will learn of recommendations for next steps, i.e., more chemotherapy or surgery. Of course, we would be pleased if God’s plans surprise the surgeon and he says: “Go home; you are cancer free!”

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for results that exceed expectations. Click here for the latest requests.

After the June 5 infusion, we were somewhat apprehensive about the days (and now week) that followed. After discussing the prolonged and difficult side effects of the second infusion, we were told that chemotherapy side effects can be cumulative. We didn't want to hear that as Diane faced the third infusion! However, we have learned that YOUR PRAYERS ARE MORE CUMULATIVE!! The most uncomfortable side effects have been totally absent or greatly diminished after this third infusion. Her appetite is returning faster; her fatigue has not worsened; and she is sleeping more comfortably.

Diane will have a follow up appointment this week for blood work. Assuming that all is looking good, we are expecting to schedule the CT scan that was planned after three rounds of chemo. The results of that scan will determine if surgery or more chemo comes next.

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for results that exceed expectations. Click here for our latest requests.

The third infusion went smoothly. The meds were all the same except for one that was avoided because of the pending surgery.  Whether that surgery occurs next, or when it might be scheduled, will not be determined until the oncologist has the results of a CT scan that will probably occur in 3 weeks.

We return to the oncology center twice more this week for IV fluids and one medication that is administered as a shot. The extra fluids are a precaution seeking to avoid another fainting spell. This and the other side effects that have been the most difficult have occurred in days 3 - 5 after the earlier infusions. Prayers appreciated!

Some of Diane's thoughts about today's visit at the oncology center can be found on the Notes from Diane page.

Diane has experienced slow but steady improvement since the last update. Her appetite is pretty close to normal, but she still tires easily and requires frequent rest.

Monday is the day of her third infusion. Prayer requests in that regard can be found on the Latest Requests page and on the Notes from Diane page.

Thank you for praying!

Since the last update, Diane’s appetite, comfort, and strength have improved significantly and the chronic indigestion has eased up. Her improved condition allowed us to travel to Gatlinburg (a day late) for a B&B reservation that we’ve had for a year and couldn't cancel. We return home on Monday.

In addition to delicious breakfast options, the B&B offers optional gourmet dinners and will pack a sack lunch for guests. That worked out great for us, since Diane could simply rest in a comfortable chair, sit on the private porch, or rest in bed – all without losing a beautiful view of Mount Le Conte. Our car has been parked since last Thursday. Hopefully, it will crank up to make the 3½-hour drive back home. ☺

Diane has not been strong enough to venture more than a few hundred feet outdoors, but the change in scenery and the food has lifted both of our spirits! 

Thank you for your prayers! Please also pray for neighbors and friends who are battling cancer!

Diane had another fainting episode around 11:30 AM today. Fortunately, she knew something was wrong, called me, and I arrived at her side before she passed out. As with the event on April 19 (and described in the April 20 update), she crumpled to the floor with me holding on to keep her from falling. She recovered enough to make it back to bed with my help.

At that point I called our daughter-in-law (who was planning to bring a meal over) to tell her what had happened and that Diane could not receive a visit from her family. Since Abby has extensive medical experience and training, I asked her opinion as to whether I needed to immediately call the ambulance again. She talked me through important next steps and guided me in evaluating Diane’s condition over the next hour or so. 

Diane and I decided that we did not want to spend another 10+ hours in the emergency room! On our last visit to the ER, they eliminated all of the scary reasons for fainting. We conclude that both the first and second episode is what is known as “vasovagal syncope.” (I will let you Google that term if you’re interested.) This conclusion fits with the other circumstances of both syncope episodes.

Diane rested in bed for quite a while after this and now she is pretty much back to the state she was in when she woke up today. (That’s not a particularly comfortable state, but not so unusual for the timeline in her chemotherapy regimen.)

I wanted to share another update since your prayers are coveted. (I’m now going to edit yesterday’s post to change the uppercase “BUT NO FAINTING!!” to lowercase letters followed by a period! ☺ )

We’ve reached day 5 after the second chemotherapy infusion. Discomfort, weakness, and some side effects are tracking closely with the timeline of the days after the first infusion, but no fainting. One different action taken was a liter of IV fluids the day after the infusion. And after reporting a new side effect and some other symptoms on Thursday, they asked Diane to come in for yet another liter of IV fluids.

The new side effect, perhaps the result of one new medication, is a severe rash on Diane’s head. And if she had hair, we wouldn’t notice how bad it looks! After examining the rash during the IV treatment, a special medicated shampoo was recommended. This and the shampoo’s directions to leave the lather in the hair for a few minutes seemed strange to us. What hair???

Diane has been sleeping well, except for the interruptions from the fluids that don’t want to stay in her body for 8 hours! One difference today is that Diane woke with indigestion. She also woke feeling very oppressed and anxious about all that she is going through. These emotions are something she hasn’t experienced since the day before her first infusion. Please consider this a CALL TO PRAYER! You’re prayers have been very evident. Please continue to pray for Diane’s well being.

Listening to her music this morning is helping! She is feeling much better now than earlier this morning.  Find Diane's May 13 note to learn more of what happened today. A new song has also been added to her music page.  THANKS FOR CARING AND PRAYING!

We arrived at the oncology center at 8:30AM for blood work. Next we had a good visit with the doctor where he explained some changes he was making in medications. The second infusion began shortly after that and was completed at 3 PM. Everything went smoothly!  (Thanks for your prayers!)

Since one new medication was added to the regimen, the nurses paid particular attention to make sure there was not an allergic reaction. The doctor also ordered a couple of other changes, including returning tomorrow for an IV to make sure Diane remains hydrated. The extra IV, along with a different approach with steroids, are an attempt to reduce any chance that Diane faints as she did on the third day following her first infusion.

Now it’s “wait and see” to discover what the rest of the week brings. It’s all right with us if you pray that all side effects are miraculously absent!

At the follow-up appointment after Diane’s first infusion, the side effects she has experienced were reviewed. None of these were major issues, although the one episode of fainting was initially concerning. Although we had been told that everyone reacts differently, Diane has been classified as “atypical.” (Ha! We all knew that!) Here’s the latest example: The oncologist predicted that if she experienced hair loss, it would occur after the second infusion. Well… her hair started falling out after my last update, and now it’s mostly gone! At this rate, she won’t have any hair when she starts her second infusion on May 8. She’s eager to surprise the doctor and staff! 

Click here to find a May 3 note written by Diane!

The oncologists tell us that everyone reacts differently in the days after a chemotherapy infusion. Diane “hit the wall” earlier than we personally expected when she “hit the floor” on the evening of the second day after her first infusion. (If you haven't already read about that experience, look for the April 20th update below.) Fortunately, passing out is not a typical side effect. And after tests, the medical staff concludes that this event was probably just a fluke. Except for that very weak second day, and a couple of disconcerting side effects, she has primarily experienced fatigue, weakness, and overall discomfort. My personal scale for the amount of her discomfort is GPH – Groans Per Hour! By the way, there is something about groaning that helps!

After the first four days, her weakness, fatigue, and GPH dropped considerably. And it’s exciting to report that beginning two days ago, my GPH measure has stayed at ZERO!! While she still tires easily, yesterday it seemed that her old vivacious personality returned. She enjoyed shopping in the morning and evening, ate three typical meals (typical for us that is) and had long conversations via Zoom with two of her Ukrainian refugee friends. Today she may start working in her flowerbeds!

We are both convinced that the many prayers being offered have made a huge difference! They’ve not only carried Diane through her discomfort, but they are giving us great peace and confidence that we are walking in God’s perfect plan for us. He is making His Presence clearly known in various ways. (If you haven’t read Diane’s April 22 note about one of His ways, you can click here and find it at the bottom of that page. I’d recommend it!)

Based upon good reports from follow-up blood work and the follow-up visit with the doctor, the second infusion is on schedule for Monday May 8.

There may not be another update or email next week, unless we sense that you need a reminder to keep praying!!! We will continue to review and change the latest specific prayer requests, but without alerting you via an email. Thank you so much for caring and praying!

The past 3 days have been better! For the most part Diane is comfortable in her recliner and is a bit less tired. She occasionally has surprise symptoms, some even hard to describe. One of those hard-to-describe symptoms occurred in the middle of last night. It kept her awake for a couple of hours. Eventually she fell asleep and rested comfortably. The “feeling” is gone now.

Yesterday, Diane wandered around the outside of our house to “survey the crops.” You’ll need to read her latest note to hear her explanation of the term and to learn about the music running through her head. Click here and look for the April 25 note.

After the exhausting experience we reported on April 20, we both slept 10 or 11 hours that evening! The following day was Diane's best day since her first infusion. She was alert, although weak, and Tylenol and ibuprofen were effective in relieving joint pain that is a side effect of one of her meds.  We so much appreciated receiving two phone calls from nurses at the oncology/infusion center, just asking if everything was OK and if we had any questions. It was a helpful conversation!

Diane had another good night's sleep last night, but today is best described as one with a lot of discomfort. She continues to rest in her recliner as I write this, and wrote a special note to offer to all of you who are reading these updates. Since she may want to offer additional personal notes in the future, I've added a new page in the menu to access these. Click here and look for the April 22 note.

Today's update is tiring to recount. At the moment this is posted we’ve been awake for 24+ hours. The saga began last night as we were preparing for bed. We had both just finished brushing our teeth when Diane passed out! Fortunately, I was standing right next to her. (That's a miracle since it’s extremely rare for us both to be standing at the vanity at the same time!) She crumpled to the floor with me holding on to keep her from falling.

Initially she was too tired or too incoherent to try to get up. Eventually she was able to get to her knees and I was able to help her stand. But she continued to lean over the counter and groan loudly with tremendous discomfort. (She doesn’t recall the pain, but wondered why she had been on the floor.) Gradually she was able to gain enough strength that with us working together she was able to make it onto the bed.

I called the oncologist’s office. The on-call provider recommended going to the ER. I called 911. The paramedics arrived quickly, took her vitals, and recommended that she be transported to the hospital for evaluation.

We arrived in the emergency room a little before midnight. All kinds of tests were performed, including CT scans of head and lungs. All results were normal except white blood cells. That count was very elevated prompting an antibiotic. Later, the morning shift doctor made contact with Diane’s oncologist and they are no longer concerned about the white cell count. 

At 8:00AM they told us we could stay for continued observation, or go home. We chose the latter. We are back home and headed to bed for a nap! Ha!

If we learn something definitive, I will update this post. Prayers are appreciated!

Today is the second day after the first chemotherapy infusion. Diane didn’t feel any side effects yesterday! Today she is feeling more tired, a little light-headed at times, and having some joint pain. (The latter is a known side effect of the nausea medicine that she has been prescribed to counter the chemo. She is grateful that she has not had any nausea.) 

Diane is also experiencing a few random shooting pains. She has decided to claim that these short duration events are attacks that the chemo is making on cancer cells! Random shooting abdominal pains was what led her gastroenterologist to order the first CT scans that eventually led to the current diagnosis.

I have added a page to the website where Diane offers some scripture that she wants to share with all of you. Click here to take a look.

Last night was a bit scary, but everything worked out great. It began with Diane feeling "tingly" all over, and heart racing. Paramedics arrived about 3 minutes after dialing 911. They quickly determined that she had elevated blood pressure and was hyperventilating. After helping with  breathing and further evaluation they concluded that the issue was simply anxiety about the first infusion. Diane started joking with the 4 (!) paramedics and they decided "we think you're fine, but if you want to go to the hospital we will take you." Diane declined and was fine the rest of the evening. They offered to come back, having explained that Wilson County was paying for their visit. :-)

This morning we proceeded to the treatment center for her first infusion.  Everything went according to plan. There were no difficult or unexpected reactions to the multiple medications and chemotherapy drugs. She napped during portions of the treatment. It lasted around 4 hours.

In addition to fatigue, there could be multiple side effects over the next several days. (Pray for zero!) The doctor has prescribed medicine to be used to handle nausea which often occurs. Various other uncomfortable side effects may come, but they can't be treated until they come and we/they know what they are.

Thanks for your prayers! Please pray for minimal (or no) side effects in the days to come!

Diane's port placement went on schedule as planned, although we were not expecting a 5-inch diameter bruise from this minor procedure. She had a good night's sleep and did not have any pain.

In order to take a shower per doctor's directions, she removed the compression bandage that was used to stop some oozing. Unfortunately, the bandage pulled away some of the super glue that was used to close the skin (instead of stitches). This resulted in a little bleeding, but it quickly stopped. Diane called the doctor's office and the on-call doctor apologized for the bruising and suggested that she not take a shower for a couple of days. He gave instructions for monitoring the site. All appears OK at this time.