Jonathan’s Medical Updates

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." -Matt 6:34 [View of Paris Mountain from hospital room] High Level Process Update Several decisions have been made for me by kind Providence since I last wrote, and there has been much mercy involved that I will share with you. When I last wrote, I had just been assured by X-Ray analysis that I was suffering from a bit of constipation and not a colon obstruction. This diagnosis turned out to be a little off base... Long story short, I ended up in the ER the next evening (Fri, May 6) with an obvious colon obstruction, and required near-emergency surgery the following Monday. In this open-abdominal surgery the primary tumor in the colon was removed and I was given a colostomy. I was in the hospital until this past Tuesday, May 24, but am now recovering at home. Well that didn't go as planned... True, this is not a step I was exp...

 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." -Phil 4:8 High-Level Process Update Chemo rounds 8 and 9 were endured not so cheerfully since I last wrote, and then I had enough. My last infusion was Apr 4, and since then we've been in a holding pattern debating on what to do next, and seeking additional opinions. My PET scan on Apr 29 didn't look so bad, but clearly I don't need to be taking a very long break before starting chemo again. Despite that, it has been great to feel normal again for the past couple of weeks! Physically and mentally. More Options We have gotten a couple of additional opinions. The first was from Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The overall view was that we've done the right thing so far with chemo, but...

"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.  He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." -Ps 147:11 [Photo: Andrew Peterson in Augusta. The front row was empty for some reason. He closed with "Is He Worthy?"] High Level Process Update Chemo rounds 6 and 7 have passed since I last wrote. I was the sickest so far in round 6, and I was sick or otherwise nonfunctional the longest in round 7. I worked from home as much as I could, and only went into the office one day this week. I lost 13 lb from my peak last week, and haven't lifted weights at all. I will not be able to maintain weight for five more rounds of this if, despite all medications, I can't eat or retain any nutrients. On the much brighter side, I had my 3-month CT scan. The report sounded ominous - additional area of unknown growth found on my liv...

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Heb 12:1-2 [Photo: Amphitheater in downtown August, GA on the bank of the Savana River. I know it's a stage and not a track.] High Level Process Update Round 4 and Round 5 of chemo have passed since I last wrote. I should have felt at least a little bad for the past couple of days, but I haven't. Thank you for your prayers - the Lord hears and answers! With Round 4 my biggest complaint was stomach cramps for a few days. This time I have a different strategy with meds, so we will see how it goes. Some of you have asked about my weight... It goes like this: No weigh...

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" -Eph 5:19 Round 3 in Progress Third infusion was yesterday, the pump is with me and comes off tomorrow afternoon. This time Pepcid and Benadryl were administered in the premeds, which somewhat mitigated the side effects (we assume) of oxaliplatin: Twitching eye muscles, difficulty thinking clearly, and difficulty speaking due to numb or paralyzed tongue (very funny to observers, I assume). There was much more drowsiness throughout infusion and especially into the evening this time. But as of 1:30 am today, I'm happy to report zero drowsiness! Christina credits this to a steroid in the premeds, and cautions not to make any important decisions, speak out of turn, or think anything is as important as I think it is (I may have added a couple of those myself, but that last one is definitely hers). A good suggestion coming out of yesterday's visit was to use...

 "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight." -Ps 144:1 High-Level Process Update Round 2 of chemo is in the books, Round 3 starts this Monday. I didn't feel well around days 10-12 after infusing again this time, but different symptoms. No body aches like last time, just feeling nauseated, and Imodium hasn't worked that well if you know what I mean. The #1 problem on my mind to improve in the next round is to get faster and better at regulating bowel flow somehow. There are multiple constipating and loosening effects going on a different times, and in either case it's very difficult to eat - a big problem since my highest priority is maximum calorie intake.  Otherwise, in terms of side effects, the sensitivity of my hands and fingers to cold objects and air was a little worse this time. So I'll wear gloves more often. That's it. I had MANY days in a row during Round 2 where I felt great, even better than norma...

"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." -Ps 34:1 Photo Credit: Joshua/Natalie Unger High-Level Process Update Second labs and infusion Mon 12/27, pump stays on 2 days and gets removed Wed 12/29. It turns out red and white blood cell counts are lowest between days 9 and 14, so maybe that explains why I've been mostly confined to bed with body aches since Tue night... My dad says it could be the bones attempting to produce more white blood cells. This is plausible because I was told to expect this after the white blood cell booster shot I received last week, although I didn't feel a thing then. Or maybe I'm just sick. Celebrate small wins, even if you still have a big problem I'll get to the small win shortly (which I actually consider a relatively big win), but first an explanation. Of every psalm presentation I've done in church over the years, I think the lesson of this one has been repeated back to me more times...