Daniel's Prayer Updates: A time away and then keep right on going

A few people have been wondering at the delay in an update. It’s been a busy week.

Last Tuesday, Daniel and I headed to Stillwood Camp near Chilliwack for a few days of rest and a change of pace. Our kids stayed with my parents and very much enjoyed their time. My mom suggested the kids stay an extra day, and thus we would stay at Stillwood until Friday and then head to the ARH for our previously scheduled check-up on the way back to Cloverdale.

The extra day was very helpful, as it took me a while to decompress. Daniel felt very ill for most of our time there, but nonetheless the time was very much appreciated. The staff took care of our meals and we enjoyed the use of a beautiful cottage overlooking Cultus Lake. We had the opportunity to play board games, go for a few short walks, visit the lake, and even go to Castle Fun Park for a game of mini-golf. Daniel mentioned afterwards that a year ago, if he felt the way he did that day he would not have gone mini-golfing. But in our current context, that was a pretty good morning, so we went. Otherwise, we did a lot of resting, reading the Bible, and slowing down.

I was also able to dig in to more research, and so was then able to discuss our next steps with Daniel. Based on what I was learning, we decided to take a break from the chemo for a few weeks. Daniel’s weight is still too low and dropping, which is not sustainable when he has already lost around 40 lbs since January from a lean frame at that. The supplements he’s on are also affected because they need a stronger body with which to work.

So, at our check-up with Dr. Uhlman, I strongly suggested a two-treatment break and then re-evaluate in a few weeks and check Daniel’s levels and how he feels, and decide from there. We will likely be switching chemo drugs once Daniel is healthy enough to return to chemo; Dr. Uhlman suggested the 5-FU that Daniel took initially on ward, and see if that helps. It’s not as strong (in effect or side effects), but something had seemed to help a week after that first chemo round. We’re not sure it was the chemo or not, so we’re faced with a big guessing game. Dr. Uhlman said it was a “long-shot.”

I also had to insist on Daniel’s liver levels be monitored. I asked if they had been doing that, but the medical team had just established a baseline at the beginning and haven’t been checking since. Dr. Uhlman said it wasn’t necessary because Cisplatin empties out through the kidneys and they’ve been checking that every two weeks (and those levels have remained strong, which is good!). I said I require his liver numbers be monitored because of all the other meds he’s on for pain, nausea, etc. From my research, I learned that people have died from liver failure while on chemo and other meds because the doctors failed to keep an eye on it.

Returning home was a busy transition. My weekend was filled with getting things back up and running – grocery shopping, laundry, transitioning the kids back to our regular routine, household tasks, etc. We had a wonderful visit with the Goerzens on Saturday afternoon, and they encouraged us even in the midst of their own cancer battle with Jesse. [For those of you who know them, please continue to keep them in your prayers too.] On Sunday, we all attended church again, and I had a good long nap that afternoon, but I was way too groggy to blog at all that day.

Monday (yesterday), while we had the break from going out to Abbotsford for chemo, we saw Daniel’s GP and then his Naturopath in Langley. His GP adjusted his pain meds and dosage (this will be an ongoing process), and the naturopath addressed a few of the other symptoms that Daniel is dealing with (lack of appetite, nausea, teeth pain and sensitivity and the inability to clean them because of the size of his tongue). The supplements he suggested have already been helping.

The naturopath also mentioned something encouraging – the swelling that Daniel is dealing with in his tongue and underneath his jaw isn’t necessarily the tumour growing (which was a huge concern I had, because it’s swelled so much even in the last month). The ND said that it’s most likely oedema (fluid retention) that will naturally go away once the tumour – the cause of it – recedes. It’s actually a good sign because it means Daniel’s body is reacting to the tumour and not just ignoring it. He said it’s not something you want to try to get rid of with diuretics because that would just dehydrate the rest of Daniel’s body.

So, as far as prayer requests, well, I’m sure you all still know we are continuing to pray for full healing and restoration of strength, energy, and speech. Daniel is still dealing with a lot of pain, nausea, gagging from phlegm, and difficulty eating and sleeping. Please pray this break would significantly help these areas. We’re seeing a speech therapist tomorrow at ARH to see if he/she can recommend anything to help. Please pray Daniel would be able to eat a lot consistently so he can regain weight and strength. Please continue to pray that I would have the strength and energy to manage so many responsibilities with the kids, house, and Daniel’s care. Please pray for us that emotionally/psychologically we would be encouraged by seeing progress. Arrangements were being finalized this past week at Timberline for campfire leading in Daniel’s absence, so that’s so hard for him too, having led it for twenty years!

Please pray that the main curative supplement he’s on, Salvestrols, would be effective and show progress soon. Being natural, they work with the body to destroy cancer but they also take a while – three to six months sometimes before one notices a decrease in the main tumour’s size. Plus, every person’s different too. Please pray that God would use them to destroy all of the cancer in Daniel’s body. Our hope remains in Him!

Thank you to those of you who have helped us and continue to support us in so many ways. May God bless you for your generosity and service! We have been so encouraged. We so long to see God glorified in all of this.

Psalm 29:1, 2 ESV

"Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Our view from the cottage deck at Stillwood.