Sugar Free

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Welsh and Ewbank clans! We are continually thankful for every Christmas and New Years we spend together and pray you are experiencing many blessings this holiday season! I personally was blessed beyond measure to watch my big sister playing with my baby girl on Christmas morning!

Metisha’s sinus surgery on the 23rd went well. She had more “gunk” (I’m sure that is a medical term) in her sinuses than the doctor anticipated but the surgery was free of any complications. Other than a congested nose that cannot be blown, Metisha is doing well. She rested well through Christmas thanks to the residual effects of the anesthesia and is feeling better every day. Thank you so much for praying through the surgery!

She has a PET scanned scheduled for the 4th to see if there are any other hot cancer spots besides the lymph nodes in her neck and her liver. Metisha knows this chemo has stopped working because her hair has started growing really fast again. Mark and I were discussing how amazing the human body really is that it can build a resistance to something as potent as chemo. And we know Tisha’s body is as strong and stubborn as they come :) Once they get the results back from the PET scan, they will decide which chemo to start next. With new chemo always come different side effects, so we are praying the next one is an “easy” chemo.

If you know Metisha it would not surprise you to see Metisha stand up in a room and say, “Hi. I’m Metisha and I’m a sugarholic.” There is a lot of research around the negative effects of sugar and cancer and Metisha has frequently wanted to kick the sugar addiction to see if it helps her battle. So, at the suggestion of her Aunt Susan, several of us Welsh Warriors are starting a 21 day sugar fast to support Metisha in the sugar ditch. Starting Jan 2nd, we will pass on all sugary treats and temptations while Metisha does the same. We are praying that the additional support (and accountability) will give her the edge over sugar! So if you see, talk, text or Facebook with Metisha and want to join in on the fun, tells her how your sugar free day is going!

We are praying that 2011 begins with good news and a PET scan that does not reveal any additional cancer. We are praying that 21 sugar free days turns into a powerful weapon against cancer. And we are praying that 2011 is a miracle year full of celebration!

CAT Scan, Scheduled, Complete and Back …

And unfortunately it shows the lump is cancer in several lymph nodes :( A previous PET scan had shown a hot spot here before, but then it went away on later scans but has now come back. So this means the current chemo is no longer working and it is time to move on to another treatment. The next step is to get a PET scan done to ensure the only new spot is this lump.


Metisha is taking the news in stride, like she does so many times. Her family, well we aren’t as strong as she is. But we continue to believe in a miracle. We know she can be healed, and we have to stand firm in that hope.

So now we are praying a PET scan can be scheduled quickly (specifically tomorrow so she can continue with her Christmas plans), that surgery on Thursday will be painless, and that the PET scan will show additional cancer spots.

We celebrate Christmas and the miracle of our Saviors coming. We celebrate the hope he brought and still brings today. We celebrate that life continues past this world. We believe that a God that orchestrated the salvation of a world can and will CURE cancer!

Chemo Today, Surgery Thursday, Scheduling CAT Scan …

Metisha had chemo today and met the oncologist. While he couldn’t give any definitive answers about the lump, he thinks it may not be cancer but might be related to her chemo port. He does want to schedule a CAT scan on the lump but we don’t know yet when that will be.


So for now, we are believing this lump isn’t cancer and are praying God will quickly reveal that to be truth. Metisha is still scheduled for sinus surgery on Thursday and we are praying that is a painless procedure with a quick recovery.

Metisha did just get back from a trip to Disney World and cashed in on the cancer card this trip. Because she is in chemo, she and her entire party got an all day fast pass. If you’ve been to Disney World before, you know that is gold! :) The Disney trip was fun as always and we are always so thankful to celebrate another year of Metisha’s life!!!

Prayer Update

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted an update, but that is typically a good thing because that means everything is going well. Metisha is continuing to do 3 weeks of chemo and then has one week off. She gets tired from the chemo, but overall is tolerating it very well. Her markers have been going up gradually but her overall number is still low.


Unfortunately I am updating today because we do have an urgent prayer request. Metisha found a lump above her collar bone yesterday. She has a call into her doctor. We are praying first that it is not cancer and second for quick answers. It would be amazing to not have this clouding over Christmas. We believe this can be nothing. We believe she can be cancer free. We are praying this nothing but Satan trying to shake our faith and God will prove immediately it is not cancer.

A second prayer request is for Thursday. Metisha is having surgery on Thursday. They are removing palaps from her sinuses. It is a minor surgery, but we are praying that it is an easy surgery with quick recovery.

Thanks for praying with us. I promise I will update as soon as we know anything.

A Great Day!

Metisha got her scan results today and we are BLOWN AWAY WITH JOY!!! The only cancer hot spots that showed up on the scan are in her liver, nowhere else! We were all expecting bad news and are overwhelmed with joy by God’s plan today.


The extreme pain that Metisha has been experiencing is a result of the chemo working, not the cancer spreading. Her oncology team is working to adjust her pain meds to help with the pain. But today, Metisha isn’t feeling the pain in the same way as she was yesterday :)

We are so excited and humbled by God’s healing and the power of your prayers. Metisha isn’t 100% healed yet, but this is HUGE improvement and definitely feels like a miracle to us!

There were larger spots on her liver that have shrunk but smaller spots that have grown so Metisha will continue with this chemo routine, but they are contacting MD Anderson again to make sure they do not recommend changes at this time. Her oncology office is also sending her back to the ENT who did her sinus surgery several years ago because the scan showed sinus problems again.

Continue to pray for relief from the pain, increased energy, and compete healing. Also pray for Metisha’s oncologist. He had a very minor stroke over the weekend. He is doing well and is expected to fully recover but we want to lift him up with prayers of healing too.

Praise God for peace and a hope for the future!

Scan of Faith

Metisha’s pain has continued and is intense enough that she frequently admits she’s in pain. None of us can really understand what she faces every day, but I know she is amazingly strong to deal with the pain, exhaustion and random sleep patterns on a daily basis and maintain a fighting spirit. She is the most amazing person I know!


Metisha has a very high pain tolerance, but when the pain increases it’s hard to ignore the fear that the cancer may be spreading. So Metisaha spoke with her oncology team yesterday and they agreed it’s time to do a PET scan to see how the chemo has been affecting the cancer. They are trying to schedule the scan for this week. They do believe the pain may be from the chemo killing the cancer cells and hope the scan will prove the treatment is working. Her doctor is also going to send her scans to the radiologist who worked on her neck last time to see if they can do treatments on her spine to help relieve some of that pain.

I was blessed to be with Tisha last weekend. She told me she needs to focus on believing she will be healed because she feels like her faith in healing is what has kept her in such good health over the past four years. So pray with us that the PET scan will be a faith builder and show that God is working a healing miracle in Metisha.

Oh, and if you have some spare dollars, Metisha’s favorite sister-in-law Kaley is helping eRace breast cancer in the Komen Houston Race for the Cure. You can donate to Kaley’s race here. Go Kaley!

And because we all need a little humor in life, I will share a “Metisha Moment” to end this post. When we were in college/high school, Mom took us to Oklahoma City to go shopping. While we were driving to the city Mom kept complaining about a bad smell. Once my Mom gets a hold of a bad smell, there is no stopping until the source is discovered. Well it didn’t take much sniffing to determine the fowl smell was coming from Metisha’s sandals (apparently Payless Shoes “leather” isn’t so breathable). Metisha liked her sandals and they were fairly new so she wasn’t ready for a bad smell to cause a breakup so she made Mom stop at the first Target/WalMart and bought this new product called Febreze. She found the miracle product, soaked her sandals in the spray and happily reapplied them to her feet. Problem solved … for about 10 minutes. Then her feet started to burn, a lot. Apparently Febreze was intended for fabrics, not skin. And as I remember it, the Febreze didn’t kill the smell either! So the sandals ended up in the trash anyway and our next stop was Payless for new shoes.

She is Human …

This is from Metisha:

“Feeling defeated today:(. Please pray for my positive attitude and belief in healing to return. I'm doubting. I don't like to feel this way:(. I want to live to be an old lady. God is in charge of my life and I'm at peace with that. I just hope his plan is for a long healthy life for me:). Love you all!”

Anytime Metisha feels down or defeated she thinks she’s being a wimp and letting all of her supporters down. But we just tell her it’s ok to be human and she is a million times stronger than we could ever be in her shoes and she can NEVER let us down!

The chemo is starting to hit her hard and she has another round today. She is feeling run down and overall not good. She’s also having a lot of pain in areas where there is known cancer and some numbness. When she has pain it always triggers fear that the cancer is spreading. When she goes to treatment this afternoon she is going to ask if they can move her next scan up so we can know sooner if this new chemo is working.

It’s hard to watch her hurt and to see her down and to feel like there is nothing we can do to help. But no matter what we can always pray. We don’t know what God’s plan is for Metisha but we know he loves her beyond measure and her health is in his hands. Of course that doesn’t stop us from trying to march up to him and tell him exactly how we want this to play out! Well the Bible tells us we don’t need to march, just prayerfully submit our requests to God. Please continue to pray with us:

• Pray that Philippians 4:6 can be real in our hearts (especially Metisha's) as we wait to see if God is using this chemo for healing.
• Pray that Metisha will be uplifted and will not remain in this valley.
• Pray that Metisha can regain all of energy and not feel any affects of chemo.
• Pray that all the pain and numbness will be gone, immediately.
• Pray that Metisha will feel the love and support of everyone who loves her and not let Satan turn that into a sense of pressure to be strong.
• Pray that cancer is shrinking to extinction, not growing.
• Pray that God is using the chemo to give her a miracle of 100% complete healing and that she can soon stop the chemo and remain cancer free.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Philippians 4:5-7

Dear God, we pray that you wash Metisha’s body with a miracle and clean her cells of all cancer. We ask that you restore her strength, both mentally and physically, and relieve all the pain in her body. We believe this chemo is your tool that will heal her and pray you keep that faith strong. We are so thankful for the blessing Metisha is to her family and friends and for the constant inspiration she is to us. We are thankful for the good health you have given her through her cancer battle. And we are most thankful that she is your child, fiercely loved by you!

Full Speed Ahead with an Aerodynamic Head

Metisha is doing great on her new chemo regiment and is continuing to move full speed ahead in life! She gets tired on chemo day and school days are hard on her feet, but she continues to show super human strength in this battle!


The new school year has started and she has a great class. They asked to see her bald chemo head so she promptly removed her wig which created a moment of stunned silence. She asked them if they had ever seen a bald woman to which she received a unanimous “no”. In true Metisha style, she said, “Now you know why!”

Last time Metisha lost her hair to chemo she was pretty self conscious about her bald head and constantly wore wigs that looked very close to her natural hair. This time around she has a “it is what it is” attitude. She would still prefer to have her hair but is much more comfortable being open with her baby smooth head. As for wig selection, this time she is going for a new look!

I think she looks like a hottie with her new style! But I don’t think it’s the right look for her friend, Chad.

 
Metisha continues to have an amazing attitude and fighting spirit. She keeps fighting and planning for the future. However she will use the “I might not be here next year" line when it works to her advantage, like when she is trying to guilt you into going to Disney World with her!  She knows how to play that cancer card :)   


We are continually amazed and blessed by how well Metisha feels. We know she isn’t always honest and is definitely masking over pain, but when you are watching Metisha ride mountain bikes, you just keep asking yourself how she can be so sick but look so good. We know God is blessing her health daily and just keep praying he will give her a miracle very soon!

Keep praying for Metisha’s energy to remain high so that she can do all the things she wants to in life. And pray that the pain in her feet from the oral chemo will improve and disappear. And always keep praying for our miracle for all the cancer to be gone from her liver, stomach, intestines, rib and spine!  Her last blood work showed her markers have gone down so we believe God is answering our prayers!

Treatment #2

Tisha has her second treatment of the new chemo today. So far this new treatment has been easy on her! She hasn’t gotten sick and is not more tired than normal. Praise God! We are praying she continues to be protected from side effects and continues to feel good. Metisha has her fight back in her and her spirits are high. Her attitude never ceases to amaze me remind me to suck it up :)


Keep praying that the chemo will work to stop the cancer from growing and will substantially shrink the tumors quickly. Pray for relief from the back pain she is experiencing and for continued protection for the side effects of chemo. Prayer works, even when the answers aren’t exactly what we want, he is still answering!

At First Chemo Treatment

Metisha is already at her first chemo treatment for the new chemo plan! Praise God for quick movement! She’s in good spirits today but will continue to need prayers of encouragement as she faces indefinite chemo treatment. Last time she knew it would be six treatments and so she could count down with each one. This time there is no definite end, she will keep doing this until it doesn’t work. Of course the doctors look at statistics which say the cancer can’t be completely killed but we have faith that she can be cancer free again! Last time Metisha did traditional chemo her goal was to be cancer free by her 30th birthday and she did have cancer free scans days before her birthday and stayed that way for some time. Tomorrow is her 33rd birthday and I’m praying that she can be cancer free again by Thanksgiving, stay that way and live to be a spunky old lady! I can’t think of a better Thanksgiving than sharing it with a cancer-free Metisha!


Pray that the chemo is easy on Metisha and she is completely protected and spared from all side affects so she can go and do all the things she wants to and continue to truly live with cancer.

Good News!!!

There is NO cancer in the brain! Praise God! They think the headaches are caused by sinus/allergy issues again so she needs to go back to the ENT who did her last surgery. Short of no cancer, this is the best news we could have today!


There are three spots on her spine and the one in her lower back is the worse and causing her the most pain. While there is a trial available that may help with all of the cancer in her body, Metisha couldn’t get into the trial for at least 6 weeks and then would have to have a liver biopsy to see if she qualified. There is only a 1 in 4 chance that she would qualify so Metisha and Mark agree tradition therapy is the best choice at this time. She will start a new chemo that will attack all the cancer in her spine, liver, stomach, intestines and rib. She will get treatments one day a week for three weeks and then have a week off and keep repeating this cycle. She will be able to get the chemo in Fort Worth and the doctor said many people can still work while on this chemo. Unfortunately this chemo has the normal side effects of hair loss, fatigue, etc.

We have some huge praises from today:
• No cancer in the brain
• Treatment can be done in Fort Worth so Mark and Metisha can be at home
• She may be able to continue to teach school
• There is a traditional protocol available that may help

There are several things we need to pray for now:
• This new treatment plan can begin this Friday. The doctor could see growth from scans done just a month ago.
• Pain relief. The lower spine spot is causing increasing pain. And you know that if Metisha says she has pain its significant.
• She can get to her ENT quickly to get the headaches resolved.
• Protection from side effects of the chemo so she will not be too sick to work.
• Strength and courage for Metisha as she faces traditional chemo again.
• Quick shrinkage of the cancer until it is gone!

We are so thankful to everyone who prayed for Metisha during our prayer vigil last Friday. To know she was constantly being lifted up in prayer provided some moments of peace and rest for us. Metisha would love to hear what was spoken to your heart during your prayer time. Just leave a comment on this blog post, shoot us a Facebook message or an e-mail. We are praying that you are blessed for all of the time you have spent loving Metisha through prayer!

Organizing Prayer

Ok prayer warriors, I’m organizing prayer and not just because I have a Type A personality!


Metisha met with the oncologist at MD Anderson this morning. This doctor feels it is best to pursue trials now because she has seen the best results from these drug combinations. Tisha isn’t against doing trials but many of these would not allow her to return to school this fall which is a huge disappointment. But there is a more urgent issue. For the last two weeks Metisha has been having a lot of back pain and headaches and the types of headaches she has is concerning to the doctor. If the headaches are caused by the cancer spreading to Tisha’s brain, she will not be able to do these trials so the doctor is scheduling an MRI of her spine and brain. The scan of her spine is Friday and her brain scan is Monday.

Yesterday I was hit with the thought that I need to organize a 24 hour prayer vigil for Tisha and I can’t shake it. When I shared that with Tisha she said that is funny because she was just thinking about the last time they thought the cancer may have spread to her brain and how much of a difference people’s prayers made that night during emergency surgery.

So I am putting a call out to all prayer warriors who are willing to commit to pray for Metisha for 30 minutes. I am looking for enough warriors to cover each 30 minute increment (12am to 12:30am, 12:30am to 1:00am, etc) beginning at midnight tomrrow, covering all day Friday, July 23rd. Please send me a Facebook message or email me at unruhregan@att.net if you are willing to set an alarm and spend 30 minutes praying for Tisha.  Please tell me which 30 minutes of the day on July 23rd you will be praying so I can ensure we cover the full 24 hours.  Of course we are grateful for any prayer so please say a short prayer for Tish even if you can’t participate in the vigil.

Here is what we are praying for:
• The headaches to once again be caused by sinus issues, not cancer. No cancer in her brain.
• Immediate relief from the headaches and pain in her back.
• Wisdom for the doctors.
• Wisdom for Metisha and Mark.
• A fighting attitude for Metisha. She is feeling very weighed down.
• Physical, mental and emotional strength for Metisha.
• Metisha to be able to go to school in the fall. This is important to her.
• The cancer to be gone from her liver, stomach, intestines, ribs and spine
• Mental and emotional strength for Mark.
• Mark and Metisha’s families as we strive to support Mark and Tisha. Metisha’s parents Danny and Barbara, sister and brother-in-law Regan and Jeremy. Mark’s parents Lyle and Ann, sister Kaley.
• FOR A MIRACLE OF TOTAL HEALING FROM CANCER HERE ON EARTH.

We are so thankful and grateful for your prayers!

UPDATE ON THE PRAYER VIGIL: 
I have a name in every spot!!!!  Thank you so, so much to everyone who has dedicated 30 minutes of their Friday to pray for Metisha and please know we are praying for you too!  If you still want to participate, pick any 30 minutes and let me know when you will be praying.  Blessings to you all!

From Metisha

Metisha posted this on her Facebook page this morning and I love her prayer request:

At MD Anderson waiting to see the doctor. Pray God will put my path to healing in her brain. Love all of you prayer warriors! May God bless you today in a special way:)

Off to Houston

Mark and Metisha are leaving this morning to head to MD Anderson. Tomorrow morning Metisha will have blood work and a physical work up and then meet with the doctor. They still don’t know what to expect or how long they will be in Houston.


Metisha has been having a lot of pain in her lower back so we are praying for relief of that pain quickly. Also pray for strength for Tish. Facing more treatments and likely more chemo is very hard and definitely has her a bit down right now. We are praying that this trip will bring some positive news!

Mexico, Fort Worth, 4th of July, Mexico, Fort Worth, Houston …

If there is one thing we have learned we can count on through this cancer journey, it is that progress, answers, and doctor offices move at a slower pace than we want. Everything just takes time. So in the time since Metisha got the results of her last scan, her oncologist has been working to get another consult with MD Anderson and since we knew that would take time, Metisha went on a previously scheduled trip to Mexico with a friend. She was in Mexico when the hurricane and earthquake hit but we are happy to report she did not blow away or have any buildings fall on her. So for the record, she has survived cancer, a hurrican and an earthquake :)  They had a great trip and were not hit by the hurricane or earthquake and she returned just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend. While Metisha was in Mexico, the doctor at MD Anderson was also on vacation so no consulting occurred :( Now Metisha is back in Mexico celebrating her and Mark’s 10th anniversary and a few more than 10 years of marriage for Mark’s parents, Lyle and Ann. Definitely two great things to celebrate! As for the consulting, she is now scheduled to go to Houston to see the doctors at MD Anderson on the 21st. She doesn’t know what all will happen, all she knows is to show up with all of her scans. So we will wait for the 21st and hopefully move to a new treatment plan at warp speed!


Metisha was having pain in her abdomen area before the scans but that has gotten better and we know that is because of your prayers! We are praying for Metisha to feel great, for quick answers on the 21st and for a new treatment plan that WILL kill all of the cancer in Metisha’s body. Keep praying, it works!

Happy Anniversary Lyle and Ann and Mark and Metisha! 

Only God

I don’t want to write this because I don’t want it to be real. The PET scan results came back today and the cancer has spread and is now in Metisha’s liver, stomach, intestines, rib and neck. As Metisha wisely said, Only God can fix this.


I wish I had the words in me to make this better. I wish I had a way to instantly make all of this cancer go away. I wish I had a way to see the future. I wish. But right now Metisha is still ready to fight and as long as she wants to fight, we WILL stand next to her and fight. And right now the best weapon we have is prayer and prayer is Metisha’s only request. There have been cancer miracles before and we still believe Metisha can have a cancer miracle. Lance Armstrong had cancer in multiple places and now he’s cancer free. There is still hope and we have to cling to hope.

Hope and prayer must be our foundation.

So now Metisha and Mark have to cycle through the options for the next steps. The immediate discussions are around seeing a breast cancer specialist in Dallas, going back to MDAnderson and pursuing trials.

We are praying for:

• A quick recovery from Tuesday’s liver bead treatment. The chemo has hit her so hard she’s admitting she’s not feeling well.
• Wisdom in choosing the next steps and for God to quickly open the right doors and shut the wrong ones.
• No matter what the next option is, Metisha can continue to have the active life she wants. This is the most important thing to Metisha.
• Comfort, peace, hope, reassurance in God’s plan.
• Metisha to be 100% cancer free here on earth.
• No matter what the next option is, Metisha to still have tens of thousands of good, happy days not clouded by the storm of cancer.

As I am writing this blog update, I just got a text from Mark: It’s RAINING in Forth Worth for the first time since mid May! Throughout Metisha’s journey we believe God has given us two signs of a promise of healing: Rain and Red Cardinals. Thank you God for giving us rain!

Go Beads!

Metisha got her 3rd round of beads this afternoon and was moved to her recovery room around 5:30. The procedure went well and the surgeon felt like he didn’t see a lot of growth which is positive. She is in quite a bit of pain but they are hoping to go home around midnight tonight.


Pray that she doesn’t get very sick from the beads. The first round made her sick for about a week but the second round was much easier. She also had her PET scan yesterday so pray that those results come back quickly and show good results with no new cancer anywhere else. And pray that the beads will do a good job and kill off a lot of cancer!

More Beads!

Metisha is scheduled for another round of liver beads on Tuesday, June 22nd! We are very happy she is getting a treatment again and are praying the treatment is easy on her and she is able to quickly recover.

Because her last round of blood work showed her cancer markers had risen, Metisha’s oncologist and the liver bead oncologist want to do a PET scan to see if the cancer has popped up anywhere else. This will happen very quickly and we are praying fervently that the PET scan will show there is no cancer anywhere else in her body and that the liver still looks stable. We would LOVE to get a good PET scan result and believe it can happen despite the concerning blood work!

Pray for the PET scan and Metisha’s spirits as she waits for the results. Pray for protection over her that the liver bead treatments will be easy and she will not have a lot of side effects that make her sick.

Still Waiting, Need Action

Tisha still hasn’t heard back from the liver bead treatment on whether or not they recommend another round of beads (her last treatment was in January). Apparently they’re experiencing some communication constipation and there is a long list of people who would like to give them verbal enema to get things moving again! And unfortunately her latest blood work showed her cancer markers have increased. Metisha’s main oncologist is frustrated with the bead facility also and said he will be calling them multiple times a day next week to get answers. Metisha is also going to try to get an appointment so she can meet with the doctors face to face.


Metisha is discouraged today. Every time she gets comfortable and forgets she is sick, she gets reminded that she still has cancer. I told her most people would be very angry after facing this for so long with no end in sight and couldn’t have the great attitude she has. Her response, “Yeah well I’m a little crazy and I’ve decided you have to be crazy to deal with this.” Well her crazy is inspirational to me!

Metisha doesn’t know what the next step is. Her doctor wants to get in touch with the bead place and then go from there. She will most likely have new scans very soon. But we do know they one step we can always take is prayer. We are praying for a miracle. We are praying for all cancer to be gone and for Metisha to be 100% healthy. We are praying for QUICK answers and MOVEMENT in the next weeks. We are praying for wisdom for the doctors and Metisha.

Waiting, waiting, and More Waiting

Tisha had a liver MRI done SEVERAL weeks ago and has been waiting on the oncologist at the liver bead facility to review the scans. For weeks she has been going back and forth with the doctor’s nurse and has heard “he will call you tomorrow” or “he will call you today” only to receive no phone call. Frustration is not a strong enough word at this point! So today Metisha called the nurse back and demanded to see the doctor today and the nurse agreed and told her to come in anytime and she would work her in. So she finally got to speak to the doctor today! He said the scan was hard to compare to previous scans before the two liver bead treatments but that the blood flow to the tumors has been reduced and it appears some of the tumors are smaller but there are not significant reductions. So he doesn’t think the beads have been affective enough to warrant a third treatment but he wants to consult with the liver bead surgeon (the one who inserts the beads) before making a final recommendation.

So we are happy and concerned at the same time. The fact that the blood flow has been slowed to the tumors is good because they are not being feed and there has not been any increase in tumors which means Tisha has not lost ground. But of course we are always praying for a treatment to totally remove the cancer. But no cancer growth is ALWAYS good news and we are thankful!

Metisha told the doctor if a third treatment is not an option that she wants to know quickly so she can revisit options at MD Anderson which would likely be trials. The liver bead oncologist said before she pursues that option he has a nationally known breast cancer oncologist in Dallas that he would like for her to see. He said this is the doctor he would take his wife to if she were diagnosed with breast cancer. We are always excited to get a name of another doctor who can look at her with a fresh perspective and Metisha will definitely pursue this option if a third bead treatment is not recommended.

So at this point we are praying for a fast decision and communication from the doctors as to whether a third bead treatment is recommended. But mostly we are praying that God will direct Metisha to the best treatment.

And for a bit of happiness, here is a picture of Metisha with the newest Welsh Warrior, her niece Emmory Tisha. She’s promised this little girl a long list of fun adventures they will go on together and so we pray that God will heal Metisha to give her and Emmory the time to complete every adventure on the list!

Still Waiting and Awkward Movie Moments

Metisha still hasn’t gotten her MRI results back from the liver bead facility. They are really good doctors, but their communication is a bit slow so we aren’t surprised it’s taking a while. But Metisha is not stressed about the wait since the PET scan showed improvements in her liver. Her family on the other hand doesn’t exactly share in her patience :) Once they do call with her results they should also be able to tell her if they want to do a 3rd round of beads.


WARNING: POSSIBLE MOVIE SPOILER AHEAD. STOP READING IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE LAST SONG. If you are still reading, I assume no responsibility in spoiling the moving for you. So Metisha has been passing some of her time by going to the movies, in particular with a friend from school. The last movie they watched together included a heart wrenching plot where someone dies from cancer. As you can imagine, this created a bit of awkward movie experience for her friend. Of course Metisha was unfazed and apologized for making her friend uncomfortable. This week they decided to go see The Last Song. This time Tisha had done her homework and knew that once again, the tearful plot included a death from cancer. So she warned her friend and they decided to go anyway. I think her friend did much better this time, but when they were leaving the theater Metisha noticed everyone was crying and wiping away tears (the theater was full of women) expect for her. Metisha was laughing and I feel confident not quietly! And she was still laughing when she called to tell me the story. I’m constantly glad that no matter the situation, she finds constant humor in life!

On some level, yes, she is a bit sick and twisted. BUT this really speaks to how her perspective on life and death has been transformed. While everyone else was crying because someone died to soon of cancer, Metisha focused on how awesome it was that the character was able to tell everyone his goodbyes and appreciate the world before his death. I can definitely see this translating into the real world. There are times when those of around Metisha only focus on her beating cancer because we don’t want to lose her. And while Metisha wants to beat this too, she definitely has an amazing ability to be thankful for everyday, live in the now without worry of the future, and to enjoy every moment. What a great attitude that this worrisome sister needs to absorb!

Checking on the Beads

Tisha is having a MRI of her liver tomorrow morning to check on the progress of the liver beads. We are thankful she can have the scan done on the weekend so she doesn’t have to miss any school. The results of the scan will help the bead doctors decide if she needs a third round of beads. Pray that the MRI shows the beads have been effective against the cancer and there is significant improvement in her liver. We are believing the beadazzled liver will become a cancer-free liver!

The Right Direction!

Metisha got her scan results back today. It was not a cancer free scan BUT there were no new spots and her liver looks like it has improved! We are absolutely praising God for positive progress!

The PET scan showed that half of her liver looks to be improved and the other half looks stable. These results give us a lot of hope that the chemo beads are working and there could be more improvement because it’s only been 5 weeks since her last treatment. The center that does the bead treatments will likely schedule an MRI in the next few weeks to get a better picture of how the beads have worked against the cancer.

The scan also showed a spot in her back in the rib cage area. This spot showed up on the last at which time they felt like it was not cancer but was likely a bone fracture because it doesn’t show as “hot”. On this scan the spot is still there but it has improved also! They still think it is likely a fracture that is healing and not cancer but even if it is a cancer spot it is improving also.

We absolutely were praying for a cancer free scan, but this scan shows IMPROVEMENT and that means the current treatment is moving Metisha towards cancer free which is the direction we want to move!

Thank you so much for your prayers and know they are working to heal Metisha and to help keep her family sane through these times of waiting!

Friday Photo Shoot

Metisha is schedule for a full layout photo shoot on Friday, also known as a PET scan. A PET scan covers her entire body and shows any cancer as “hot spots”. If there are hot spots they do a follow-up MRI to get a more detailed picture of the area.

I’ll be honest, we dread scans and this scan has us rattled. It is so easy to become consumed with fear, dread of bad news, and the wait between the scan and getting the results seems endless and cruel. We pray for peace and for time to go quickly but scans often get the better of us. The well known versus Jeremiah 29:11 tell us “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.” Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,” declares the Lord. When I think about these two versus I feel conflicted. I know Metisha is in God’s hands and he has promised her a hope and a future but I’m fearful of his ways because they may not be what I think is the best way. But instead of focusing on the conflict and the unknowns of the future, we should focus what God has done in Metisha’s cancer journey. He has given her a season of no active cancer. He has given her good health to continue to live the life she wants with cancer. He has surrounded us with family, friends and community that constantly support us with prayer and love. And as he reminded me just a few months back, he is always here loving her.

So I guess that was a lecture to myself more than anything, but we do ask that you pray with us over the next week. Pray for peace and faith in God’s healing. Pray that the wait for results will go by fast. Pray that the results will show God’s blessing and healing and no cancer will be visible, not even in her liver. Pray for the miracle we all believe will happen in Metisha’s life.

On the fun side of life, Metisha is continuing to live it to the fullest. Much to the despair and objection of her dear mother, Metisha has taken up a new interest in motorcycles and has decided to become a biker chick! Mark has had a bike for years and enjoys riding so they are looking forward to spring and hitting the highway together. Now if those record snows will stop in the DFW area …

Prayers Work!

Metisha is continuing to do great after round two of liver beads! Last time she got very sick and was down for almost a week. This time she is feeling great, has had little pain or sickness and has been able to rest! Thank you so much for all of your prayers because they are working!

Last time they knocked her completely out for the procedure. I think it was because the she kept chatting with the anesthesiologist. He kept telling her she would get sleepy, she kept talking, he would tell her to relax, she would crack a joke, and the cycle continued until he finally knocked her out to shut her up. After the procedure she felt sick to her stomach from the meds. I guess this time she talked less because they left her awake and she had no sickness after the procedure was over!

So now we wait while the beads go on attack. After several weeks they will do another scan to see how the liver has changed and to decide if she needs a third treatment.

We are praying that God preforms a Vegas sized beadazzled miracle and the next scans show a cancer free liver! We continue to believe he can and will heal her and Metisha will grow to be an old, spunky woman with the perkiest ta ta's in her senior citizens group!

Doing Great!

Metisha had her second round of bling added to her liver at 2:30 pm today. The surgery lasted about two hours and went very well! She had to lay flat for 5 hours after surgery to prevent any bleeding which caused some uncomfortable logistics but she is doing much, much better than last time. She is doing so well they are letting her go home tonight instead of staying in the hospital until morning! Keep praying for Metisha and that she will continue to do well and heal quickly!

Beadazzle Treatment #2

Metisha is scheduled for her next beadazzle session this Thursday, January 21st. It will be the same process as last time: a long day of tests, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, then the procedure and then an overnight hospital stay for pain management and observation. Fortunately they are able to check into their hospital room first thing so they can wait in a private room instead of waiting rooms. A private room to wait in is definitely a huge blessing! But they do get bored sitting most of the day so Metisha is accepting suggestions of activities to help pass the time in the hospital. A few submitted suggestions have included grading other teachers’ papers, surfing the hallways in a “borrowed” hospital cart and seeing how many times she can fit “meow” into a single conversation with a nurse.

The last treatment hit Metisha very hard and set her back for about a week. The chemo beads made her liver VERY angry and she was very tired and in a lot of pain for several days. I believe the pain was the cancer trying to revolt but we know it lost and the beads won! A normal person would have complained about the pain or the treatment or the unfairness of having cancer. Not Metisha. She complained that she was being a wimp for letting the treatment set her back and decided she must have contracted a case of panseyitis also! Her attitude never ceases to amaze and inspire me (and remind me that I am a true wimp)!

In addition to the chemo beads her doctors put her back on the oral chemo meds but at a lower dosage. So far her feet are more tinder but she hasn’t developed blisters. Please pray diligently that the lower dosage will fight the cancer but will not cause the blistering on her feet.

So keep praying as treatment number two approaches. We are praying that:

• The beadazzled liver will lead to a cancer free liver
• Metisha will be protected from the harsh side affects she experienced after the first treatment
• Her recovery will be fast
• The oral chemo pills do not cause any blistering on her feet

Keep praying and come back Thursday evening to get the latest news on round two!