Dear Friends and Family,
We just got home from our trip to Nashville to have a consultation with an oncologist at Vanderbilt Cancer Center.
We had a good visit with the doctor and really liked him. He threw a lot of information at us as far as research and studies that have been done - he definitely has a lot of knowledge.
In a nutshell he said that he would recommend 3 months of chemo but not strongly recommend because he can't guarantee that it would really do any good. He is going to take Mark's case before the board at Vandy next week and he will let us know what they came up with as a whole. We were very startled and excited that he stressed diet and nutrition and was very familiar with an integrative approach to cancer. I do believe he is the first doctor we have ever met with that has brought up nutrition as a way to treat the disease.
After finding out that we have 3 children he is going to do some genetic/mutation testing on Mark's blood to determine if our children have a high risk of getting colon cancer. If the test come back positive they will have to start having colonoscopies every other year.
To wrap it up he said that every single case is unique and what works for one person may not for another. We told him we understood and that we know and have faith that this is all in God's hands anyhow and that we are just trying to do what we can with the knowledge that God gives us.
We definitely felt like it was a worthwhile trip and enjoyed our visit as well as our time away together - it is a beautiful drive to Nashville and we had a very nice time.
We so appreciate the prayers and ask for continued prayers for healing as we know the ultimate healer and his name is Jesus! Pray that we will make the decisions that He leads us in and that it will be clear as to the paths we should take.
All for God's glory,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 139:14-17
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Isaiah 40:28-29
Do you no know? Have yo not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Update - 3/6/12
Friends and Family,
So sorry to have not updated in a while - Mark's incision is much better - it is still open but we wash it and pack it every day and it is getting better.
We were very thankful to be able to make the trip out to Kansas City for Realtime - a once every 3 year FCA convention for staff all over the US. We heard so many great speakers and got to fellowship with lots of other staff - it was a very real blessing to us. It also blew me away when I would meet someone from the Kansas City office and they would know who we were because they pray for Mark. Someone told us that they pray for Mark as much or more than any other staff member - wow!
Right before we left we had a visit with our oncologist - she took Mark's case in front of a board where they discuss the harder cases - she said basically the other 20 people on that board couldn't believe he was still around after hearing his history the past 3 years - she told them not only is he still around, he is healthy - she can never get over how healthy Mark is every time we go - his blood work is always good, he looks and feels good - sometimes it is really hard to believe he has cancer.
Since the cancer has returned 3 times and he has already had 6 months of chemo they are not exactly sure what direction to go in. Since the cancer keeps returning they fully expect it to return again - we told her that was totally up to God and that we would just trust Him!
We are scheduled to go to Vanderbilt on March 21 to see a specialist there so we are anxious to hear what they have to say.
In the meantime we were encouraged by some FCA friends who are in a very similar situation to be aggressive in treating this naturally. They follow a very strict protocol which includes daily shots, supplements and of course diet. I believe that is just what we needed to hear - they are 2.5 years cancer free. They have shared all their research with us and we are fired up and ready to go!
We have an appointment tomorrow with a local doctor that practices an integrated approach to cancer and can help us tremendously with prescribing the shots and supplements we need.
Prayer requests - 1. Clear direction and confirmation of approach to treatment when meeting with doctor tomorrow. 2. Visit to Vanderbilt will go well and shed some light on direction 3. Currently Mark has a terrible cold and is feeling very weak from that plus recent surgery I'm sure - please pray healing
Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf - we are grateful!
Much Love,
Mark and Lee
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally...and it shall be given him.
Psalm 41:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord: and He...heard my cry. He brought me up..out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
So sorry to have not updated in a while - Mark's incision is much better - it is still open but we wash it and pack it every day and it is getting better.
We were very thankful to be able to make the trip out to Kansas City for Realtime - a once every 3 year FCA convention for staff all over the US. We heard so many great speakers and got to fellowship with lots of other staff - it was a very real blessing to us. It also blew me away when I would meet someone from the Kansas City office and they would know who we were because they pray for Mark. Someone told us that they pray for Mark as much or more than any other staff member - wow!
Right before we left we had a visit with our oncologist - she took Mark's case in front of a board where they discuss the harder cases - she said basically the other 20 people on that board couldn't believe he was still around after hearing his history the past 3 years - she told them not only is he still around, he is healthy - she can never get over how healthy Mark is every time we go - his blood work is always good, he looks and feels good - sometimes it is really hard to believe he has cancer.
Since the cancer has returned 3 times and he has already had 6 months of chemo they are not exactly sure what direction to go in. Since the cancer keeps returning they fully expect it to return again - we told her that was totally up to God and that we would just trust Him!
We are scheduled to go to Vanderbilt on March 21 to see a specialist there so we are anxious to hear what they have to say.
In the meantime we were encouraged by some FCA friends who are in a very similar situation to be aggressive in treating this naturally. They follow a very strict protocol which includes daily shots, supplements and of course diet. I believe that is just what we needed to hear - they are 2.5 years cancer free. They have shared all their research with us and we are fired up and ready to go!
We have an appointment tomorrow with a local doctor that practices an integrated approach to cancer and can help us tremendously with prescribing the shots and supplements we need.
Prayer requests - 1. Clear direction and confirmation of approach to treatment when meeting with doctor tomorrow. 2. Visit to Vanderbilt will go well and shed some light on direction 3. Currently Mark has a terrible cold and is feeling very weak from that plus recent surgery I'm sure - please pray healing
Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf - we are grateful!
Much Love,
Mark and Lee
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally...and it shall be given him.
Psalm 41:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord: and He...heard my cry. He brought me up..out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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