Blue Skies

A commonly used saying is that "No News is Good News" and we are glad to report that good news is all we have had since our last update. We continue to give thanks to God that Fiona continues to be in good health.

Since our last update, Fiona underwent a few sessions of radiotherapy, not to directly address any presence of disease, but to prematurely induce a menopausal state. This is simply to eliminate a growth factor of the disease, which is more active in the presence of estrogens. We are thankful that Fiona went through the sessions easily and with little discomfort but we do ask for your prayers that she be spared the uncomfortable symptoms that come with the onset of menopause.

Fiona has also been for one checkup with Prof Liam, a respected Chest Specialist at UMMC. Based on a physical examination and a reading of the last CT scan, he echoed what other doctors have said recently, which is that Fiona is doing very well. As if to underscore this finding, he asked Fiona to return to see him again, but only in 4 months` time.

Moving ahead, at her next checkup at the UMMC chemo clinic, we expect that the doctors will recommend that she begin taking aromatase inhibitors, which will further surpress any production of estrogens in her body (for the same reasons as the recent radiotherapy sessions). Normal logic would dictate that she will experience even more severe symptoms than the average woman going through menopause, but we pray again that she will be spared these.

At the end of the day, we remain thankful for God`s amazing work of healing, and pray for His continued blessings for Fiona. All glory to Him!

The Love of God

It seems that every time we make a post here, there are reasons to praise God. We do so again, amazed at His love, having seen it at work on completion of Fiona`s 6 cycles of Chemotherapy and her post-Chemo CT scan.

The final of the 6 sessions of Chemotherapy went very well. Other than a few false starts setting the needle, Fiona`s veins held strong throughout. After the session, she promptly got up and walked out of the Chemo clinic at UH, strong and healthy. Amazing, especially after hearing stories from others of their traumatic experiences after each Chemo session, ranging from aches to ulcers to all sorts of terrible side effects.

"O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!"

Following from that final chemo session, Fiona did a CT scan just this Monday. While we weren`t given the report (normal procedure at UH - only doctors get the reports), Prof Yip was wonderful enough to call us afterwards with the results.

The patch of fibrous tissue, or fibrosis, in the right lung has shrunk. The fluid level in the lung which was there before remains very minimal. The indication is that the patch is likely not cancerous, consistent with the previous finding.

The damage in the bones caused by the cancer is still visible. This is to be expected because bone damage takes a very long time to heal, especially since Chemotherapy and the induced menopausal state that comes with it actually weakens the bones.

However, Prof Yip says that there is no way to be certain if there are still active cancer cells in the bones at this stage, but there is no sign of spread since the very first CT scan. At best, the cancer has been removed entirely, and at worst, it is under control.

A way to potentially check for the presence of active cancer cells would be to do a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan, but that is very costly, in excess of RM6,000 in Malaysia, and possibly more expensive elsewhere. Another but much less accurate way would be to do a simple blood test for cancer markers. This rarely is useful unless there is a significant amount of cancer cells in the body. But more to the point, Prof Yip`s rationale is that, regardless of what a PET scan might find, the treatment methods moving forward would still be the same, so why do it?

There will always be arguments for and against such "pro/active scanning" and even doctors will debate among themselves about this. At the end of the day, this is what we believe: The God of all creation has blessed Fiona with much healing and protection from the very first Chemo session. Her recovery from her earlier symptoms were nothing short of miraculous, so much so that the doctors could not explain her virtually immediate recovery from pain and other symptoms, nor could they explain her lack of side-effects from the Chemotherapy.

So whatever we choose to do from here onward, what matters most is that we continue to put our trust in God. And whatever we do will be with the expectation to see good things because our God has proven Himself to be so good. We have seen His mercies with our own eyes and testified them to you here. And so we move forward, continuing to trust in Him, and giving Him all the glory for all He has already done.

"Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky!"

All glory to Him, for His steadfast love endures forever!

A Light Unto My Path

A Happy New Year to all, especially dear friends and family who have been praying for us. We thank God for you and your prayers, and we thank God for his goodness. Because of His work of healing, Fiona continues to grow stronger everyday.

As per our three-weekly schedule, Fiona was at UMMC yesterday undergoing Chemo #5. This was her second-last cycle. There is just one cycle remaining, and that is scheduled for January 25.

Chemo #5 went very well. By their second attempt, the nurses found a vein that worked and lasted throughout the 3-hour infusion (unlike Chemo #4 where the vein collapsed towards the end of the infusion, leaving a chemo burn covering much of the back of Fiona`s left hand). Up to today, there have been no visible side effects and Fiona remains strong and active. This is something that we still marvel over.

However, prior to the infusion, a discussion with the doctor revealed further details from the previous CT scan. Apparently, the "consolidation" previously visible in the right lung is considered to be mere "fibrous tissue" now, which is wonderful. However, some lesions remain visible in the bones. On the whole, it is an improved picture.

The doctors will be ordering another CT scan after Chemo #6, likely early February. In faith, we pray and claim God`s promises and expect to see that the scan wil be completely clear, and ask that you do the same.

On a day-to-day basis, Fiona is definitely stronger. She goes to work for about 4 half-days now each week, generally leaving in the morning and returning by lunchtime. While she is not quite up to 100%, symptomatically she is so much better as compared to 3 months ago. We give thanks.

Halfway

Earlier this week, Fiona underwent a CT scan to check on her progress and determine if she should continue with her Chemotherapy. (She has had 3 of 6 cycles, so this is effectively a halfway checkpoint.) Prof Yip, who was so good to take time off from her hectic schedule to personally review the scans, said that the consolidation in the right lung looks to be "much improved", and she has no doubts that Fiona should continue with the Chemotherapy.

We rejoice and are in awe before our God at this news, and say Thank You, our mighty and loving Jehovah Rapha, our God who heals!

While the CT scans also showed that the bone damage from before is still there, Prof Yip said that this is only to be expected as bones take a long time to heal. There is no way to know if there are still cancerous cells in the bone without a bone biopsy, but the fact that there is no increased damaged is already a good sign.

Apart from the results of the CT scan, Fiona is also showing visible improvements in many ways. Her bone pains and leg cramps seldom happen, although she does get back aches when tired. The Chemotherapy tires her, and she typically feels exhaustion for a few days after each cycle, but there are no other side effects. For all these mercies, we thank our loving and gracious heavenly Father.

For all of you who have journeyed this far with us, thank you, thank you too. We know that our God has been moving in response to your heartfelt prayers, some of which are coming from around the world. We have been recently reminded that many are praying, and we are so touched and encouraged. We ask you to please continue, and pray too that our God will bless you even as you rely on Him for Fiona`s healing.

Amazed at the Glory of You

As a family, we continue to testify about God`s goodness and faithfulness as Fiona grows in strength and health. We are especially thankful for a smooth Chemo session last thursday. Fiona`s blood test results, while not as good as the last time (no doubt due to the flu she was fighting), were good enough for her to proceed. She experienced some pain during the 3-hour Chemo infusion, but everything else went fine.

Before the infusion started, the nurses questioned Fiona about her post-Chemo side effects, and were thoroughly confused and amazed at the lack of anything significant. "What? No fever? No nausea? Sure or not??" We can only lift our hands and hearts again heavenward and give thanks.

"And I stand here, before you

In wide-opened wonder,

Amazed at the Glory of You."

Looking ahead, the doctors have scheduled a CT scan for December 4 to visually check the progress of the Chemo.

Please pray:

• for quick healing from the flu that still lingers
• against any side effects from now until the next session
• for increase in strength and health for continued complete healing, and for the scan on the 4th to show no signs of the cancer.

God bless you, and thank you for your prayers!