Let's try this again.

24-hour pee-pod today.
Blood work and pee-pod drop off tomorrow.
Appointment with Dr. J on Tuesday morning.
Update to follow.

Update to the update

Phil just talked to our P.A. and she said his M-Spike (which is a significant indicator of the progression of MM, and the number they are most concerned with in Phil's case) went down from 2.9 to 2.6. However, it is still up from his initial labs when it was at 2.2 so the plan is to give it another month and repeat the labs to see what the overall trend is.

Phil did meet a man with MM the other day who says his numbers have been all over the chart since diagnosis and he hasn't needed treatment yet so maybe Phil's MM is doing the same. We'll know more in a month.

This waiting is so annoying. I just want to send someone in with cancer grenades and myeloma laser guns and blast those suckers outta there.

November Appointment Update

We wanted to update you all on Phil's recent lab results.

According to the labs taken last week, it appears that the multiple myeloma is active and progressing which is not what anyone, our doctor included, expected to see. They are repeating the labs to make sure it wasn't a fluke and we should have those numbers tomorrow (Thursday). Assuming nothing changes we will begin talking about treatment options.

Here is where we will need lots of prayer for wisdom to make the best decision. There is no standard protocol for treatment, and because Phil is much younger than 99.7 percent of all other multiple myeloma patients we are hesitant to go forward with a clinical trial, yet one is being presented which sounds like it might be promising. Regardless, the fact remains that we will probably need to make a decision in the next few weeks and we don't even know where to begin so we just need some divine wisdom and peace around the best option.

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and will keep you updated as we learn more.

Words of Wisdom

Posted by Phil:

I received an email from a friend and I believe her words were full of so much truth. In commenting on my condition she said: "...believing that in all things God is in control, and he allows us to go through some very painful things because ultimately it is us, our hearts , our devotion he wants to have."

Most people that know me understand that I lean heavily on faith in decisions I make around the way I chose to live. A couple of years ago when I was hit with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) I thought I was being attacked by death. Through some time working through my thoughts in prayer I sensed God telling me that it was him on the other side of the blood clot. He wanted my devotion, my attention and simply put...my life. (Thanks for the reminder Kelly)

I felt for the first time being in the palm of God was the safest place to be, but also maybe one of the most dangerous given that he could squish me like Ocean does little ants. After the PE I received two additional blood clots in the course of 18 months. God seemed to validate to me that he has a stake in my life and I must continue to give it back to him.

I'll end with a verse that must be stuck on auto-play in my head...probably for good reason:
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday. Tuesday will also be our first doctor's appointment since the diagnosis on 8/8. We will be reviewing the recent lab results. Here's a short prayer for Tuesday: "Lord, give Dr. J the wisdom to decipher the best course of action for Phil's case. More importantly, help restore Phil's Michigan Wolverines!"

Love y'all...thanks for staying tuned. -Phil