Keep The Faith

(So far) this week's chemo has been a walk in the park!  #thankful

I was fitted for a full torso brace today to give my beleaguered spine some assistance.  I am telling you right now, you haven't lived until you have worn a brace like this on a summer day. 😫 #thankful Getting ready for another chemo day tomorrow.  Pray for effective treatment and few side effects. #thankful

Progress It has now been more than a week since discharge from the U Hospital.  You might recall that prior to that I was home for a week from the Misericordia Hospital and then went backwards and had to be readmitted. Not this time!  We are doing well and are determined to do this as an outpatient.  Thanks to all of you for your support. Prayers Thank God that we can be at home!  Also please pray that the chemotherapy is doing a number on the cancer cells.

I am home now enjoying the AC at our place however, spent Saturday and Sunday morning with Mom and Dad along with Theo and Mason.  As much as I believe in medicine I believe more in our Creator’s healing.  It was awesome to go and see Dad tell all of his “teacher jokes”, walk to the park, encourage the kids to be more and more daring on their scooters at the skate park, and fix a unicycle together for Lukas. God is good all the time!  We pray for continued healing at home. —Heather

Progress : It has been so good to be at home these last few days. Healing at home is so much better than healing in the hospital. Prayer : Give thanks for the healing and increased mobility that is happening. Today is a chemotherapy day so please pray that the medications that the doctors have chosen will in fact do the work of getting this cancer out of my body and that they will also further alleviate some of the pain that remains in my back and spine. - Brian

Had 1 ambulance air lift, was cared for in 2 cities by numerous health care professionals, had 2 chemo treatments, stayed in 3 hospitals, had 4 ground ambulance rides, pleased to have had 4 vertebrae repaired, lost 4cm in height, shed 25 pounds, spent 33 days in hospital, received multiple visits and well wishes from friends, colleagues and family,  swallowed oh so many pills, and now I am finally home. Hopefully we can navigate the next leg of  the journey as an out-patient. Your prayers... priceless. - Brian

Dad was able to sneak home in the afternoon on a day pass today to enjoy the sun, outdoors, and home. He will spend the night in the hospital again tonight with the potential of being discharged tomorrow. - Josh

Progress : I had some doubts about how much putting cement in some vertebrae could make a difference.  It has been less than 24 hours since the procedure was done and I can already say that it has made a difference. My sleep last night was really quite good in spite of the fact that when we returnd from the procedure I swallowed a whole bunch of chemo pills and had a couple of injections. Today I already have been out of bed and doing some of the necessary things for me to do. Prayer Give thanks! We are hoping and praying for things to continue in that direction so that we can dream about being discharged sometime early next week.  Mobility and pain control that we can manage at home will be the key. - Brian

Brian is back from surgery and the Doctor was pleased. Four vertebrae were repaired. Over the next few days we will see how things improve. Thanks for all your prayers. -Kathy

Brian went down to OR at 2:30 today and then an emergency came in so he was bumped. He now has now to wait until tomorrow for the vertebroplasty. Please pray that tomorrow will be a better day where transfers go without pain and the procedure will happen and be a success. - Kathy

Good morning. Dr.VanDyke came in this morning to explore with Brian his willingness to move forward with vertebroplasty. This is a procedure where they give localized anesthesia and then work on the compromised vertebra. They will insert "cement" into the vertebrae to strengthen them with the hope that the result will relieve pain and reduce spasms. It will require Brian to lie on his stomach which he hasn't been able to do for six weeks. Please pray that this procedure will be successful as it will be attempted later today (update - delayed to tomorrow). -- Kathy

Dad continues to be in considerable amounts of pain and is unable to be out of his bed.  Laying on his left side is one of his only comfortable positions at this time.  The team of doctors was expanded today to include an Acute Pain Service at the UofA Hospital and we are hopeful that a new approach to pain management will bring some relief. Please pray that in the coming days there is enough relief from pain to allow him to be out of bed again.  Pray also that the chemotherapy continues to attack cancer cells on our journey to remission. — Heather and Erin

Erin and I are visiting with Mom and Dad for the evening.  We continue to be blessed by the prayers of our community. Pain control is the ongoing focus of treatment right now for Dad.  There has been input from the Pain and Symptom management team from the Cross Cancer Institute and many doctors at the UofA.  We continue to wait for adequate pain control to help make the days pass a little faster and be a little more bearable for Dad. On Thursday Dad received his first doses of the second two chemotherapy medications.  While these have gone well Dad is definitely tired and feeling a little run down after those treatments. We are thankful for this evening of laughter between the naps and time together but we continue to covet prayers for comfort, mental strength for long days and wisdom for those caring for us in prayer and hospital. — Heather

Many thanks for all the care, prayers,cards and visits we have received since returning to Edmonton.  Your willingness to walk beside us in this year long journey of healing for Brian gives us courage for what each day brings. Brian was readmitted to hospital on Tuesday. Thursday (Today) he had his first chemotherapy treatment at the University of Alberta hospital. Updated 9:30pm -Kathy

Welcome to the website. It will be a central location to update everyone of all that is happening with Brian's treatment, etc. After a rough night last night, Brian took an ambulance to the hospital and was re-admitted to the hospital today on account of pain in his back. Plans are for him to stay there for a short time while they adjust the types of medications currently being used for pain management. The hope is to strike a good balance between the urgent short-term need (keep pain at bay) and the important long-term need (treat cancer in the spine). Ongoing prayers are appreciated. - Josh Doornenbal