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!

Liver Bling

Metisha and Mark had a very long day but a successful one and her liver now has some bling! They were able to BEADazzle 50% of her liver with this first treatment which is great news. The doctor said they will treat the remaining 50% with a scond treatment in a few weeks and may need to do a third treatment for "clean up".

She still in the hospital tonight because she is having some abdomen pain and her stomach is upset but over all she is doing very well. They are hopeful they will be able to go home early tomorrow morning.

Praise God for such good results today and pray that Metisha will be back 100% tomorrow.

Happy New Year!