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!