Ok, I know it's been a while, so I'll try and update you since them.
Mon, 1/11, the dr took my dad off chemo. The side effects were effecting him too much. They took some blood, and sent him home to start purging his system of all the chemo that is left in the body.
Wed, 1/13, my dad started going in for hydrations (basically IV's for 90 minutes every day). This was to help flush out the chemo in his body, as well as get some nutrients into him because he still wasn't able to eat or drink much. This helped considerably! He continued being hydrated at least through yesteday (1/22), and maybe even this weekend. That Friday (1/15), I talked to my mom, and he was feeling a bit better. By Sun (1/17), he was eating food, and even felt well enough to take the dogs for a walk.. that's a very good sign!
Well, I talked with my parents last night, and after reporting to the doctor on Friday (1/22), it appears that dad is going back on chemo on Monday. The dr. thinks that he may have had a virus or infection that he was already fighting when he started the chemo before, because all his blood work came back fine (he is producing that enzyme that they thought he might not be). So they are going to try again, with the same chemo treatment as before. He is half way through his radiation treatments, so in about 3 more weeks hopefully the dr. will do another cat scan and see what has happened to the cancer since we started this whole thing before the first of the year.
The good thing is that now both my parents understand the chemo a little bit better, and they know what to expect, and will be immediately calling if they feel the side effects are more severe than should be. My dad's feet were really swollen last time, so much so that he found it hard to walk. They will not let it get that bad again. In addition, the dr. has prescribed some medication to help a little bit with all the side effects that my dad is supposed to stay on even while he is taking the chemo (I just wonder how many chemicals the body can take?!?!).
The Lord is definitely giving us a lesson in patience, as we all were hoping the 7 weeks of chemo and radiation would go by quickly and without major problems.
For those of you that are commiting this in prayer with us, please pray:
1. That my dad will not react as negatively to this round of chemo.
2. That the chemo and radiation will do it's job.
3. That in 3 or 4 weeks we will have another cat scan to see how all this is affecting the cancer.
4. That my y brothers and I and our families will have the means to see my parents over this upcoming spring break.
5. That God's glory will be revealed in this whole situation. We know He has a reason for this trial, and he will be glorified through it!
Thanks to all of you who have shown love and support to my family through your comments are prayers. We really appreciate it!
