December 2009 MRI comes back clean!

For those of you who keep an eye on the blog for periodic updates, Karen had her most recent MRI last week and the great news is that it came back clean again. She has a 6 month follow-up and then another MRI in a year.

Thank you all for your love and care for Karen. We are happy to know that so many others are rejoicing along with us.

Can you believe it has been more than three years!

January 2009 Update

We got good news and then even better news yesterday. Karen's scans have not changed since the end of radiation more than 24 months ago! That's the good news.

The even better news is that the doctor said that normally if any change was going to take place we would have seen it in the first two years. We appear to have reached a new point in this whole journey where I think we can rest more easily about our future, at least in so far as the cancer is concerned.

I do not want to presume upon God's mercy or his plan, but I truly expect to have a long and fulfilling life serving our Savior Jesus Christ ALONG SIDE my beautiful bride. God may choose to alter this plan, and I am confident that many more interesting twists and turns are ahead, but my heart will rest easier after yesterday's news.

God was good two years ago when we all thought Karen had been issued a sentence of death and he's still just as good today. I hope that those of you who are going through trials of your own will cast your cares on Christ now in the midst of the trial and will remain faithful regardless of what trials or joys may be brought before you.

God's mercies are truly new (and surprising) every morning.

The results are in from the latest MRI. We met with the Radiation Oncologist and he said that things continue to look great and that there are no changes from 7 months ago. He said He is very happy and it goes without saying that we are as well.

Thanks to all who continue to lift Karen up in prayer. God has demonstrated His faithfulness in wonderful ways the past year and a half.

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies!

Just a quick update.

Karen had an appointment with the Endocrineologist and the results are expected and good. The thyroid medication is working well and though she may need to adjust it a bit we can definitely see the difference in energy levels etc.

Thank you all for your continued prayers!

Good News!


The results are in and Karen's liver has freckles. Essentially little bundles of blood vessels. Nothing abnormal and nothing to be concerned about. Needless to say we are very happy and very thankful.

We were also able to get Karen the needed Thyroid medication and so She is looking forward to beginning to feel energetic for the first time in a long time.

We will be placing this new news onto the ever growing heap of blessings we have experienced over the past year.

Thank you again for your ceaseless prayers on behalf of Karen.

I think we'll begin our Thanksgiving tonight :)

After the appointment with Dr. Massullo last week he ordered a panel of blood work to be drawn in large part to verify the status of Karen's endocrine system (pituitary, thyroid etc.). This is a concern primarily because Karen's pituitary gland was radiated during her treatment and that tiny little gland acts as the control system for the rest of the endocrine system.

Karen's OBGYN called this morning to tell her that some of the levels that had been way off in the past were now very close to the normal range. There was (as usual) a significant caveat. It appears that Karen's thyroid may have pooped out.

I chatted with Dr. Massullo's colleague and he said that this can be very easily treated with thyroid medication. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

We'll discuss this with Dr. Massullo tomorrow at the same time we get the results from Karen's Liver MRI.

I'm hoping the new year will mark the transition into normalcy. No more "interesting" changes. All Hum Drum on the health front is the news we're hoping for.

In the meantime thank you all for your faithful prayers.

Dave.

We just found out that the next MRI will be this coming Tuesday at 7:45AM. This one will be a 45 minute long concert with audience participation. Karen will get to hold her breath in harmony with the MRI machine as instructed by the director (AKA technician). It promises to be a marvelous marriage of man and machine. Something akin to a blend of "Stomp" and synchronized swimming ... but without the water ... or the throngs of smiling people ... or the applause.

As always we are thankful for your prayers as to the result of the MRI.

A new update will be forthcoming on Tuesday.