The Final Round? (2/9/2007)

Hello to All,

I remember standing in the lobby of M.D. Anderson back on September 1st, making phone calls back to Dallas and elsewhere. The doctor had just confirmed that Ann had angiosarcoma. The initial treatment plan would consist of an aggressive 6-8 rounds of chemo, which would require Ann to live in Houston for the first five weeks and then every third week after that. I remember being overwhelmed with questions like "What will the chemo do to Ann?", "Where will the kids stay?", and "How will I manage work?".

Ann starts her eighth round of chemo this afternoon. There were certainly times when we wondered if we would make it this far. Yet here we are. God has proven his strength and love. Here are the "BigTen" reasons that we made it through these eight rounds.

11. Health insurance.
10. A flexible and accommodating work schedule.
9. Meals and gifts, cards and emails from family and friends.
8. Our kids - for their patience, resilience, and child-like faith.
7. Dave & Joan, Jim & Laurie - for walking with us because they walked it before us.
6. Bill & Sue - for providing a safe refuge in Houston.
5. Our mom's - for putting their lives on hold to keep ours from falling apart.
4. Ann's toleration of the chemo - It set her back, but it didn't knock her out.
3. The effectiveness of the chemo - The tumors shrunk by 50% twice, are now stable, and perhaps dead.
2. Prayer - ours and yours.
1. The Bible.

Prayer Requests:
* That this "last" round of chemo will completely douse any smoldering tumors.
* That the cancer would not return when we take a break from chemo.
* That God will fill Ann with hope in his character and deliverance.
* That God would heal Ann in his time and way so that she can know our grandkids.

Ps. 62:11-12
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.


Thank you for your continued prayer and concern,
Howard & Ann