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.