Health Update

We just wanted to update our friends and prayer partners on our visit today to the neuro-oncologists office.

The last month had been a little discouraging to Tim and I as we have not seen any improvement and in fact felt that he regressed somewhat with his ability to walk and function with his motor skills and fatigue, etc. His platelet count has been too low to start his chemotherapy which he should have started a month ago. So all in all it was very good to have the conversation with the doctor today.

The oncologist, Dr. Maher, feels that the physical symptoms and fatigue is caused from swelling and the brain's slow ability to heal from the trauma of the surgery and radiation. Tim has been on a low dose of steroids but she is increasing that and we will be talking with her office on a weekly basis to see how high we need to go on the dose etc. as to how his symptoms improve. The higher dose of steroids does effect his blood sugar levels so we will have to be more on top of that too.

Tim's platelets are still low at 123. She would like to have them up in the 150s but she is going to start him on the chemotherapy anyway and have his blood work monitored closely. She did not want to wait any longer to start the chemo. It will be by pill form for 5 days a month for up to a year or however long he can tolerate it. So pray that his platelet count does not fall too low as it can cause internal bleeding.

Some of you may know that Tim is part of a research study and has had these high tech MRIs done that give a much different look into the brain than the normal type of MRIs. The study is to help identify pseudo tumor progression versus real tumor progression. From this study they can tell what type of cell is in the inflamed area by their metabolic character. His definitely show that it is normal cells vs tumor cells. It is a bit complicated for the lay person like me but she showed us the scans and it was very helpful. She said that Tim is the best case study from this research and she said "his scan was a gift to her from God". It will help tremendously in future treatments, not only for us, but for everyone affected with this disease. So, his wonderful brain is about to be pictured in the medical journals.

Thank you all so much for continuing to partner with us in prayer for total healing. Whenever we get discouraged God sends us a gift through your hugs, scriptures that come to your mind while praying for us, a note card in the mail or email, a gift of fruits and vegetables, lawn work, household fix-it things, tree branches and firewood cut, and the list goes on. We know that our God never slumbers and that He delights to give good gifts to His children. Thank you for being part of that "good gift" to us!!!! Your encouragement is a help to us to stand firm in our faith and to not waiver!!!!

With great love and gratitude,

Janice