Chemo #4

Hello everyone!!
I'm sorry for the delay! Apparently when you think life is at its craziest, things can continue to get crazier! Lets update a little. Last week when dad went in for his Stem cell collection, things took a little longer than expected. Instead of one collection, Dad had to do three eight hour collections (one a day). This pretty much drained him out! This past Tuesday Dad went in for his additional Chemo #4, which has gone pretty smooth despite his weakness from the transfusions. The doctors where able to give him some medications to pump him up and even ended up getting shushed by the nurses for being too loud during last nights Heat game! lol Lets just say that by the end of the game he was pumping up all the nurses in the hall way! Dad will be coming home tomorrow night, recover for a week, and then another PET scan on May 29 to see if hes responding to all these treatments. Once that's done he will be going in for the Bone Marrow transplant.

Prayer Request:

• May 29! PET Scan! That God would show us His healing power!
• for my dad's body! That God would protect my dads body while allowing the chemo to destroy the cancer.
• Our hearts! Pray that God would bring us a Peace that transcends all understanding! Pray that in the midst of all the stress God would hold us together.
• Abuela: my grandmother is always such a great help when we need a little extra. Last week she broke her foot and cant drive for 4-6 weeks which has left us with her daily routine of picking up our cousins. Pray for her speedy recover and all the craziness! lol

Dads Stem cell collection: This bag is going to save his life!

 

Dads in for his transfusion!

Hello Everyone!
     As stated in previous posts, May 6th (yesterday), was my dads first check up to see if his body was ready for the transfusion. He has been injecting himself daily with a medication that would create more white blood cells. Once the doctors saw he had a sufficient amount it would be time for his transfusion and the stem cells will be frozen until its time for the bone marrow transplant. At first the doctors assumed it would take a few days, but sure enough he was ready during this mornings check up! His body has been responding very well to this process. Today's process will take from 6 to 8 hours and if they don't retrieve enough stem cells they'll go for a second round tomorrow. Once this process is complete, dad will be going in for his fourth (extra) chemo  next week for four days, then have a week or two off, and then in for the Bone Marrow transplant.
     Thank you all for your continuous prayers, keep them coming!!! God has been so faithful through out this entire process and I am certain your prayers have played a huge role in that. We also ask that every please please please be cautious of my dads health. I know you all want to just love on him when you see him, and that is so beautiful, but the chemo makes him very susceptible to germs bacteria and viruses that may or may not be showing on you. So lots of fist pumps and blowing kisses! =)
Please be in prayer for all that is to come and the rigorous physical side effect that will come with the process. Above all please be praying for our hearts, this has been a long an exhausting process and there is more to come. please pray that God would bring us patience and peace!

Blessing of the week: Joey graduated college!!

Chemo 3, day 3 .. Dads home!!

Hey everyone!!
He had a great third day and dad got to come home today. Everything seems to be going right on track and dad is still responding great to treatment. We are about to head into the toughest part of this whole process, so it's time to step up those prayers! Although, we already know God is already there and in control! For the next week or so dad will be taking these shots that will prepare his body for the blood transfusion (the first step of the bone marrow transplant). These shot cause his bone to ache and cramp up real bad causing him a lot of pain. Then starting may 6th they will start checking him daily to see when his body is ready for the transfusion. The doctors predict he will be ready anywhere between may 8-10th. Once he's ready he will have the transfusion done, then be admitted for his fourth chemo, and then be admitted for  three weeks for the heavy portion of the bone marrow transplant.

Please continue to pray for this process and all the physical and emotional burdens it will bring. I pray that God would be our strength!
I have a special prayer request tonight. A family very dear to our hearts, the Abreus, are going through a very difficult time and we ask that your pray vigorously for them during this time. Ralph Abreu suffered a heart failure last night and was put in an induced comma once at the hospital. Please pray for a miraculous healing, and strength!

I encourage everyone to pray big and pray boldly! Never forget that we serve a huge God and no prayer request is out of Him reach!

Chemo #3, Day 2

Hello Everyone!
     Thank you all for your continuous prayers! Dads surgery went great yesterday! The new catheter is in and the doctors were able to start using it right away. Dads real happy about this because now they don't have to pinch him every time he comes in or when they want to draw blood. Dad continues to show "out of the norm" side effects, instead of nausea and vomiting  he has been walking up and down the halls and has a full appetite.
     We have been so blessed with awesome people throughout this entire process  from our family and friends, our amazing family at Christ Fellowship, at Dance Town, and the staff here at the Sylvester Center. When my dad was admitted into the hospital this week he met a man who had a much more severe case of the cancer he has. It was so clear see that God was placing this man in my dads life for a purpose   He had a successful bone marrow transplant a year ago and was able to answer all of my dads questions. He had an amazing faith and a positive cheerful heart. He even came back later that day to visit my dad and brought his wife to meet my mom. My mom even questions if he was real or an angel. lol

• Please continue to pray for our hearts, that God would continue to bring us a peace that transcends all understanding
• Pray that the Chemo continues to do its job and that God would protect the rest of my dads body
• Pray for wisdom for the doctors; although we received good news last week, they decided the have my dad undergo a 4th chemo instead of the original three

Chemo #3, Day 1

Hey everyone!
so its been a while since dad has gone back in, they gave him a nice little break. Today he went in for his third round of Chemos. I want to thank everyone for their prayers! God has truly been so faithful to us throughout this whole situation. Here are a couple updates and things to be praying for:

• The doctors have decided that they want to do a fourth set of chemos. Although it stinks to have to do an extra chemo I am grateful that we have doctors that rather take an aggressive approach at all this. Because of this the bone marrow transplant will be delayed a little bit but they will still be starting the process of extracting his stem cells on May 6th.
• Because my dad had his port taken out back in December, He will be going in tomorrow morning for a minor surgery where they will be putting in a Triple Catheter into his chest.

It looks something like this...

• Please be in prayer for all of us, especially my dad, as we prepare physically and mentally for what we will be facing during the Bone Marrow transplant.

God has used this song to bring me so much Peace throughout this whole process. Mercy me - Jesus Bring the Rain

God Bless!

GOD is so Faithful!!

Hey everyone!
 Ive got a lot of updates, praise and prayer requests for you all!
I am so grateful for everyones prayers! Dad was feeling so good this week that my mom and him came to Orlando with us for our dance competition! He even drove most of the way and spent the day by the pool at the hotel!
Today was dad's bone marrow biopsy, this is a painful procedure where they had to drill into his hip bone. Praise God it was mainly pressure and heavy discomfort as apposed to the pain that was expected, and thank God its over!
But the biggest news is this! Tomorrow dad was supposed to have an appointment to receive the outcome of the scans that where going to determine whether all this treatment what working or if the cancer was winning. The appointment was canceled because the doctor came to see him today after the biopsy. We were thrilled to be informed that the treatment was working better then the doctors had expected and that my dad is making awesome progress!! The cancer that had attacked his bones and would light up the PET scans has decrease more then the doctors had expected!  Praise God!! Our hearts where so heavy for this news and it was so overwhelming to receive it today!
Now although we have received this AMAZING news, the toughest is yet to come so please continue to pray! Dad will be going in to the hospital for his third chemo next Tuesday instead of this Tuesday and then will begin the Bone Marrow transplant May 6th. The Transplant is going to be the toughest and most rigorous part of this whole process.
Please continue to pray for physical and emotional strength, for physical healing, and for God to provide financially.  Thank you again and God Blees!

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Sorry for the delay, but DADS HOME!!

Hey everyone!
     Sorry for the delay!! Everything ran smooth this time around again and Dad came home late Friday night. He's even got a new hair cut and is rocking the bald look!  Once again I want to thank everyone again for all your prayers and for all your concerns.
Under the circumstances, dad is doing great. During chemo at the hospital, dad is feeling good and constantly keeping up with work through his laptop. Once hes home he starts to feel pretty nasty for a few days, but good in comparison to the typical side effects. Then he'll feel good for a few days, and then if back to the hospital for the next round. We only have one round left before the bone marrow transplant process begins on May 6.
      Here's a few things we would like everyone to be praying for as we approach this week:

• This Thursday dad will be getting a scan done to see if the chemo is doing its job and kicking that cancers butt! We will mostly likely be receiving the results when he is admitted back in on the following Tuesday.
• Dad's starting to catch a cold. This is dangerous as the Chemo brings his defences way down. It is also very important that he stays as healthy as can be for his treatments and for the Bone Marrow transplant process. (Please refrain from hugs, kisses, and handshakes; Fist Pumps are whats in ;) lol)
• Continue to pray that the chemo will attack the cancerous cells and that God would protect the rest of my Dad's body.
• Continue to pray for emotional strength for my dad and the entire family!

We praise God for being in control of the entire situation!

PS. Dad thinks we should reconsider our definition of visiting him.. lol