Hospital

Just a quick note: Susette was spitting up blood today so she was taken to Hoag Memorial Emergency. The doctor took tests and said he wants her to be admitted to better follow and treat the problem. She is on pain killers and is feeling much better. PraiseGod! She will meet with a GI doctor tomorrow to determine if they will put a tube in her stomach for food.

i am blessed to be able to stay with her tonight at the hospital. i am leaving right now. We don't know how many days she will stay. Needless to say, please keep praying. Thank you.

Keep Praying!

Susette went to UCLA and had a probe of her throat. It was determined that the problem was not food but the damage caused by radiation. Apparently, the radiation fried her esophagus and that is why she has so much pain. The food was not the problem. The doctor said to stop all radiation until she is healed (1-3 weeks). We are praying to stop altogether.

We spoke to our radiologist and he couldn't understand what happened. He said that she had a very light dose (12) and that most treatments are more intense (60). Nonetheless, we are thinking we are done. Pray that God will give us clear confirmation.

As i write, Susette has not had solid food since Saturday. She is barely drinking water. PLEASE pray that she will be able to at least take in Ensure. The other option, if she doesn't, is to hook her up to an IV and/or food tube through the stomach.

Please Pray!

We had something that recently happened with Susette that requires prayer. She was at our daughter-in-law Cindy's baby shower on Saturday when something got lodged in her throat. She had increasing difficulty swallowing after the 6th radiation treatment so she has been very cautious. When she took a bite of the quiche, it was a very small bite. The food was not blocking air but felt like it is was just stuck. She said it felt like it was cutting the inside of her throat. After a short time she said she was o.k. and that she could drink and the food was working its way down her throat. It worked its way down in about 2-3 hours but there was a good degree of damage in her throat and in her chest. She said she was o.k. but later developed a fever and we immediately rushed her to Hoag Memorial emergency. Hoag could not figure out what was going on and just gave her pain killers. They said to go see our Radiologist on Monday. We did and he couldn't figure out what was happening. As it stands right now, we are trying to get in to see another doctor who is a specialist. She has not eaten since Saturday and can barely drink. We are giving her Ensure and Pedialyte which she can barely get down. Please pray for Susette and that we might get to a doctor who can better direct us. Thanks.

In Remission

We are half way through the radiation treatments (7 down, 7 to go!). Susette's throat is getting sore from the treatments and it is becoming increasingly difficult for her to swallow. Please pray that she can get through the radiation with minimal discomfort.

We met with Dr. deVos our oncologist yesterday. He looked at Susette's latest PET/CT scans and said that not only is Susette cancer free but she is now officially in remission. Praise the Lord! God is so great!

For you prayer warriors out there this is not new news. We all knew she was healed a long time ago however, for our doctor to make this proclamation is big news. The entire doctor's office was celebrating. People were even crying. One girl at the office who is completing her RN said she wants to come to Haiti on a missions trip and we don't think she is a believer. Another person in the office who is a part-time stand-up comedienne said she wanted to put on a fund raiser for the kids in Haiti.

It was an awesome day! Praise the Lord for He is good, faithful and mighty!

Radiation Begins

Yesterday, Susette had her first radiation treatment. Our appointment at UCLA was at 6:45, so we had to leave Orange County super early. The treatment only took 10-15 minutes and we were back on our way home.

Susette couldn't pin-point how she was feeling. She said, "I just feel kinda spacey." Then, i asked her, "Now, tell me something different that you are experiencing." After she hit me, we just laughed a lot. i was joking about her "chemo brain" reactions which she has been experiencing for the past 6 months.

When we got home, she went right to bed and didn't get up until the afternoon. She wasn't feeling pain but had lost her appetite, was very tired and was just feeling slow.

Please pray for her. We have 13 more of these treatments, every day, Monday though Friday. Today's treatment is also at 6:45am (it is now 4:11am).

Thank you for your prayers and love. We love you all so very much. God bless you!

Getting Ready for Radiation

Susette and i are both ecstatic that the chemo therapy is finally behind us. Praise the Lord! We have not stopped praising Jesus for the miracle He performed in her healing. One of Susette's biggest joys was having the pick line removed from her arm -- literally minutes minutes after her last chemo (and not soon enough). It was kinda like having a ball and chain removed. The next day, we had an informal Independence Day celebration with family and friends and Susette truly celebrated both her freedom as an American and as a chemo survivor.

She has been such an incredible inspiration for me throughout this whole process. She is a truly amazing woman! Her optimism is inspiring. She even shampooed her barely visible hair for the first time in nearly 6 months -- getting ready for their triumphal return... The only drawback to her wonderful enthusiasm is that by Sunday, three days after her last treatment, she was beat and not feeling good at all (tried, run down and nauseous) so she had to slow way down. By Tuesday, after resting and taking it easy, she was doing much better.

Well, on Monday we met with our "new" UCLA doctor, Dr. Selch - the oncology radiologist. He reviewed her case and determined that she should definitely conclude her chemo treatment with radiation -- even though there are no visible signs of cancer. What he will do is look at the earliest PET/CT scans and radiate the areas where the cancer was located (prior to God's miraculous removal of the disease).

On Tuesday, we went in to have a scan and marking of the area to be radiated. Yes, it's true, Susette has tattooed! (Eat your heart out Jasmine! lol) Well, it wasn't exactly a flower or beautiful landscape of Yosemite and Half Dome but it was a series of microscopic tattoos -- little marks on her chest and neck, barely the size of tiny moles, that will help the doctors pinpoint the radiation.

The next step is a dry run on Wednesday, July 16, followed by the first radiation treatment, 11:30am, Thursday, July 17. Then, we will come in to UCLA, Monday through Friday, for 13 days, for 10 minute treatments each day. That will be it!

After that, she will be free, except for periodic PET/CT scans and doctor follow-up visits. There is even a possibility that she may be able to return to Haiti with the rest of us on August 10th -- but only if she is ready. Keep praying that God's incredible miracle will continue!

Dear friends, thank you for your continuous prayers. Radiation today is a lot less devastating than it was in years past but it is still a risk. Instead of broad-brushing radiation throughout her body (as they would do in the past) it is very directed, with precision, avoiding vital organs and residual damage. However, radiation can also (theoretically) ignite cancer cells to return and she will have her already ailing thyroid radiated in this process, which is a further risk. So, please keep her in your prayers.

We'll try to give you updates once the radiation begins. God bless.

Finis!

Praise the Lord! Susette had her last chemo therapy treatment yesterday! We cannot believe it! Today (July 4th), we're celebrate two independence days! And we have nothing but praise and glory to offer up to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for getting us to this point. And for all of you, whose prayers of healing and comfort helped us through this difficult time, we humbly give you our deepest depth of gratitude. God bless you.

Our last day at the U.C.L.A. medical center was bitter sweet. We were excited that it was all over but, at the same time, will greatly miss some of our dear new friends we have made along the way. Nurses, doctors and staff, and fellow patients -- some of which still have a very long way to go before their treatments are over. Susette and i gave lots of hugs and some little gifts of appreciation.

Her treatment went very quickly and, when it was over, the nurse removed her pick line, her temporary medicine treatment line that consisted of two caps, attached to a thin line threaded up her vein to her heart. Susette was not sad to see that go!

When we got home, our kids had decorated our house with balloons and signs of congratulations. It was a joyous day to be sure.

Now what? Well, it's not completely over yet. We have a PET/CT scan yet to complete and a meeting with a radiologist on Monday to discuss the radiation treatment. We have no idea, at this point, what that will involve but will update the blog as soon as we know.

In the meantime, we're focused strongly on feeding her right and building up her immunity. Please keep praying. It isn't over yet.

Praise God! His love endures forever!