MRI Results, Pestering Points

(This post was written and edited over several days. If you teach English, please forgive the breaks in verb tense. I didn’t want to go back and rewrite this a fifth time.)

God continues to answer your prayers. For several weeks, Beth’s pain and nausea have been a mystery and now we have some answers.

The results of the MRI show that there is no blockage in her digestive tract. Beth will be able to eat solid foods again, but it will take a while before she can eat normally. For now, she will need to eat small meals throughout the day. Keeping solid food in her stomach will help ease the nausea, as well as help regain the weight she needs to maintain.

The lymph nodes around her stomach are enlarged. Apparently, they have joined in the fight. This is normal and expected. The gastrointestinal doctor said that it is okay for them to be enlarged, because it means her body is fighting the cancer.

The MRI also found a blood clot. One that is significant in the pathway to her lungs. However, she is not in danger. She will begin taking a blood thinner to prevent it from growing and to also prevent new ones from forming. Blood clots are no real surprise in cancer patients. We were told from the beginning that they could occur and that they would be treated as they appear.

And the hardest news of all: the cancer in her liver did not respond at all to this current regimen of chemo. In fact, it is progressing. While that is hard news, the silver lining is the pancreatic tumor seems to be stable even though it has grown a little. It did shrink through previous treatments so it’s not time to hit the panic button.

God has responded to our pestering points from the previous post.

Pray for Dr. Javle. He has been so good to us. His care has been outstanding and we are so grateful to God for putting him in our lives.

Answered! When he sat down beside Beth and held her hand when he talked to us, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this man. God is using him to bring healing to Beth’s body. Did I mention he gave us his cell phone number? THE MAN GAVE US HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER!! I call the number and he answers the phone! Love that guy!

Pray for the nurses. They have worked diligently to make sure we are comfortable and that we have everything we need.

Answered! These nurses have a lot on their plates. The floor we are on cannot be an easy one to work on. They are not dealing with sniffles or broken bones. Each patient has a long road ahead of them and their charts cannot be fun to read and maintain. And one patient’s husband is a 250 pound junior high teacher who stands three or four feet taller than they and asks a lot of questions and is rather demanding at times. They are doing a great job.

Pray for those performing the scans. These imaging procedures will be the backbone of data used to develop a treatment plan.

Answered! The MRI went well and gave the answers the doctors were looking for. The root of the pain and nausea has been revealed and a plan is in the works.

Pray for the kids back home and our family taking care of them. They have been such troopers. School starts next week and Beth really wants to be home for the first day of school.

Answered! They are having a good time thanks to family and friends. And best if all, we are now home. Together with our friends and family.

We have an appointment with an oncologist next week who is part of a clinical trial. Please pray for that appointment.

Pray for Beth’s comfort. The pain is excruciating at times, but relief does come with medicine.

Pray for her appetite to return. She needs to regain strength and nourishment.

Thanks for all your prayers. It has made all the difference.