Decisions Made...

Thank you all for your continued prayers for Michelle, the kids and me. We so appreciate them and have felt each and every one. It has not been the easiest last 24 hours for us as we have considered the post-op treatment options placed before us. We really didn't believe that chemo would be in the "mix" and we REALLY didn't want to go through that all again. To say it has been a bit emotional would be an understatement I think. It's funny how easily we can slip into looking beyond where we find ourselves now... yesterday served to "slap us" back into the reality that none of us knows what tomorrow will hold. Reminds me of one of my "Selah" posts; we plan, but then we need to commit it all to the Lord because only He knows the "real plan!"

So, the decision: we have decided that we are going to opt for the Taxol and Herceptin combination. What that means is Michelle will take them both once per week for twelve weeks, followed by Herceptin once every three weeks for the remainder of a year. Once she has recovered sufficiently from the Taxol, she will then begin Radiation Therapy. The next question: when will that all begin? Well, it seems like the first part of April at this point, as long as Michelle continues to heal up well. Between now and then she will need to have a MUGA Scan, which tests the strength of the heart as well as checking to be sure there are no abnormalities in how it is "working". They need to do this to create a "baseline" for how the heart is operating so that they can track that and be sure the Herceptin, which has a low risk of affecting the heart, is not causing problems. This is especially important since the Adriamycin, one of the two chemo drugs Michelle took the last time, also can affect the heart though we have no indication it did. Anyway, that test is next Friday. Following that, on the 27th she will need to have a port put in that they will use in administering the chemo and Herceptin. Sigh.... honestly, it brings tears to my eyes to even type this...

Please pray for Michelle right now, this is not easy for her and certainly stirs up memories and fears she would rather not remember or deal with. In the midst of it all, we heard today a friend of ours is dealing with the fact that his cancer has returned and is untreatable. While I have not asked "Why us or Why him, Lord...?", I have certainly found myself asking "Why, Lord?" The only answers that come are that in our weakness He is shown mighty, that He is using this all to glorify His name, that He is using it to grow us, and that He will use the truths and lessons we learn as we walk through our tribulations to comfort others who walk through similar difficulties... I'm sure there are so many "divine reasons." While our flesh cries out against this, our spirits say, "May it be so, Lord." Please continue in prayer for us and also pray for our friend, Mike, and his wife (Jennifer) and kids. Thank you for all your prayers... we love each and every one of you! - Steve and Michelle -