Hello family and friends, Happy Halloween! Sorry, I haven't updated you in a while, but no news, is indeed, good news. Dave received his results back from the bone marrow extraction several weeks ago and the results show he is still in complete response (remission). This is our first indication that the stem cell transplant was a success. I thought it was a no brainer because he went ino the stem cell transplant in complete response. But, I just learned that a fellow multiple myeloma patient's number actually went up after getting the stem cell transplant. Knowing this, makes me feel even more blessed for Dave's continued success. Our goal is to stay in remission as long as possible. There are so many patients trying different things to battle this incurable cancer. Some take an extremely agreesive approach with back-to-back stem cell transplants followed by several years on maintenace drugs. Others, choose to forego maintenace and wait to relapse before enduring another stem cell transplant or additional drug therapies. Studies are really mixed on both these approaches and it will possibly be years to prove that maintenance after stem cell transplantation increases life span. Individuals like Dave, who suffered from neuropathy due to Velcade (which is one of the drugs used in maintenance therapy), often prefer to take a break from the drugs until relapse.
This has truly been the most painful 13 months of my life. Each day I wake up and pray that I can give all the problems, loss, and heartache my family is going through to God. It is a struggle because I always want control and want to fix everything. I realize more than ever that I can not. Therefore, I pray for a tender and forgiving heart. I pray that I can say the right things, listen with an open-heart, and have strength when others need me most. Dear Lord, protect my family. Bless each and every one of them with your grace. Reveal yourself to them so that they can see and be filled with your unwavering love. Fill up the holes that make them empty and allow them see the love and truth that is before their eyes. Thank you Lord for the many gifts of healing you have given us.
