July 2008 Archives

Luc and I met with his oncologist, Dr. Lemons, yesterday.  I was expecting to hear all about the oral chemo that Dr. Randall had mentioned.  Instead, he recommended a "new" treatment.  He told us about a patient he has that had the same type of thing happen to him a couple of years ago.  The boy was 12 or 13 and had a desmoid tumor in his abdomen.  After surgery the growth of the tumor just "exploded" (like Luc's is doing now).  Dr Lemons called around the country to different medical centers to see if there were any "new" options that doctors were trying.  He said he found one that the doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas were having success with.  So, he tried it with this boy.  It was successful in shrinking the tumor (it didn't go away, but got smaller) and after 1 1/2-2 years there has been no sign of growth!  That is amazing because this is during a time when hormones are raging in a boy.  (That's what desmoid tumors feed on.)  This made me feel hope that maybe we can get this tumor under control and buy some time.

Now, the treatment.  It is a pretty rough treatment :(  The treatment consists of 2 I.V. chemo drugs (Doxorubicin and Dacarbazine) and 1 oral drug (meloxicam).  Luc would have to be in the hospital for 4 days, as the I.V. drugs are given continously over 4 days.  He would do this once a month for 4-6 months.  The side effects are not very pleasant.  He would most likely have to go to school only part-time if at all. 

I feel so torn because this gives us a hope we have never had, but Luc is not okay with this treatment.  He had such a rough time before with his chemo treatments. How do I willingly turn my son over knowing what he will have to suffer?  I want to do this for the results, but I don't want him to suffer.  I also don't want to force him to do something he doesn't want to do. So, if this is the right thing and the best thing for him, please pray for him that he will be okay with it and feel peace and the arms of his Savior wrapped around him. I love him with all that I am and this is a difficult decision.

Dr. Randall's nurse called this afternoon with appointments for Luc to see his oncologist, Dr. Lemons, and a radiation specialist, Dr. Millions at Huntsman's. The three of them are going to brainstorm and try and figure out what to do next. We won't know what they've decided to do until the first part of August. Lucas seems to be doing a little better. I think it helped him to spend a few days with his cousin (they went to Lagoon together on Wednesday).  I know he just wants to be a "normal" kid.  I am proud of how well he handles everything.  I have a lot to learn from him.

--Marley

Well, what was supposed to be a baseline M.R.I. turned out to be something else.  Dr. Randall said that the tumor is growing in a new place, adjacent to the original site, and that it is growing pretty fast.  He was perplexed about what to do.  He said that if he goes in and does surgery again we would probably be looking at the same outcome in 3 more months.  He will meet with Luc's oncologist and a radiation dr. to see what they think.  We are supposed to hear within the next couple of days when they want to meet with us.

Please keep Luc in your prayers.  He is very upset.  He feels like this is never going to end.  He is such a strong kid, but I think he's tired of being strong.  I would do anything to take this and do it for him.

We know the Lord is watching over us and knows what He is doing.  As George Washington said to his men before the battle of Trenton, "The greater the battle, the greater the victory!"  We expect a grand victory, but that doesn't mean there won't be injuries or casualties.  We just trust the Lord to get us through and know that He has suffered this and knows how to succor Luc and us.

--Marley

Luc just got home from a week-long scout camp. He had a good time and got a few merit badges.  One of them was the shotgun merit badge. He loves to hunt and has a good aim.  He said that he shot 19 out of the 25 clay pidgeons. The reason he missed the first 6 is because the gun was so long and heavy and he couldn't hold up the barrel with his left arm because of how weak it is. As soon as the man in charge held up the barrel Luc shot every one. I believe he has now earned his Life and is starting to work on his Eagle. I am grateful for his scout leaders and the other boys he was with who made it a fun experience for him.

This Tuesday, July 15, is Luc's M.R.I. He is feeling very anxious. He says he can tell the tumor has been growing because he feels a different kind of pain than he normally does. I think that the pain is probably healing that is going on inside. Whatever it is we will most likely get a better idea when he has his M.R.I. I am expecting that we won't find out much, but that this scan will be a baseline for future scans. At any rate, please pray for Luc that he will feel peace and that he will do well during the M.R.I.

I also just found out that the little girl in our ward, Sadie Huish, that has a brain tumor has had significant growth in her tumor and is having increased symptoms. We ask for your prayers for her and her family. We pray that the Huish family will feel heaven's continual peace and blessings and that Sadie will be free from any pain and discomfort. We love the Huish family dearly.

If I could also ask for one more thing in your prayers. Ron is still without a job. Please pray that the job that the Lord has prepared for him will come into our path this week. He has been doing his part to find one, but it has not happened yet. We still feel very peaceful and are grateful to our Father in Heaven for that. A few more prayers couldn't hurt though.

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. It means so much to us.

--Marley