Dear Friends and Family,
We would like to share with you a very personal and urgent prayer request. As many of you know, Kristi's mother (Karen De Leon), was diagnosed with widespread bone cancer 1 1/2 yrs. ago. After some surgery and beginning treatment and consistent follow-up checks, it looked like the cancer was 'under control' and not spreading or growing within the bones. A recent CT scan revealed three spots on her liver which indicate that the cancer has spread. Of course, we are all shocked by the news. This, of course, means that Karen will not be able to travel to Argentina to be with us for the birth of our baby since she will begin treatment soon.
First of all, our prayer is for complete healing. We are praying that follow-up biopsies and checks would reveal "a mistake" (as put by our Olivia). If God does not to choose to remove the cancer, we pray that he would provide the BEST treatment possible.
If any of you know Karen, you will know that she is a very joyful - full of life - type of person. She loves to laugh and encourage others. She is also a very sensitive person. She enjoys writing about her journeys in rather humorous ways (see below) and sees this also as a ministry. PLEASE read her update (if you haven't already) so that you can pray specifically as she has requested below. Thank you! Below is the update sent by Karen and Richard to their prayer-warriors.
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DeLeon’s Health
Up-date #1...........April 23, 2013
“Liver-Hairballs”
Can you believe
we’re starting all over with our first up-date as we take a new “twist-n-turn”
in this on-going cancer adventure. Our
last two up-dates from Feb 15th & March 3rd were filled with all the news about how God
has been blessing us through my body’s response to the hormone shots for the
breast cancer which metastasized into the bones. By the way, those shots have
actually “thickened” the bones’ density which is a HUGE
PLUS.
As of Nov. 2011, (18 months ago) when we returned to Tyler to be under
the care of Dr.Vukelja again, there were no internal organs
involved…which was a HUGE PRAISE.
Well, it appears, after having a CAT scan about 10 days ago, that sneaky
cat left three hairballs in my liver!! Now, if you’ve never experienced
hairballs in your liver, then you have no idea how challenging it can be.
Seriously, the “tumor marker” which had gone from 113 in Nov. of 2011 down to
an 11 in Dec. of 2012….had gradually began increasing to 34…then spiked to 143
a couple of weeks ago. That’s why regular blood work monitoring is sooooo
important for the on-going treatments in cancer patients.
So there are
three small lesions in the liver…most likely were there from the beginning, but
too small to detect. So now, they are definitely detectable…but we’re not in
the “doom-n-gloom” mode, ready to prepare my funeral arrangements yet!! Nor do
we intend to start either of the two above activities. However, my pending trip
to Argentina to be with Kristi (our daughter) for the birth of their baby
due in May will definitely have to be postponed. They are adjusting nicely to
their new field of service. We thank God for that.
Now for the
technical part of this up-date: Treatment
will consist of a new round of chemo-type drugs. Taxol (one of the most
promising of all the breast cancer drugs) and Avastin (new to the market
as a “target specific” drug).
There is a new research trial going on which Dr. V is trying to get me
into as a “guinea pig”…to see how fast they can get rid of “hairballs” in the
liver! There are now “target specific”
drugs which allow the cancer-killers to get directly to the tumors/lesions and
kill-on-site without so much damage of surrounding “innocent by-stander”
cells! The Avastin also
strengthens the walls of the arteries among other benefits. It will be a weekly IV infusion…3 weeks of
treatments, 1 week of rest!! Chasing hairballs must be more exhausting than I
ever thought possible. [Our Siamese cat never demonstrated exhaustion
after a round of coughing up his hairballs, but since I won’t be coughing them
up, maybe the exhaustion comes in the internal battle!!] We’ll have to
see what other side-effects will pop up on my horizon!! Who knows, Richard & I may have another
chance to play the part of Mr. & Mrs. Kojak (baldies with Tootsie Roll
Pops) in the chemo-lounge for those receiving their chemo-cocktails!! Thirteen
years ago, that was a very blessed ministry when we went through the initial
breast cancer journey.
Prior to entering
this “blind-sided” research trial, I’ll undergo some further testing to see if
I’m even a candidate for such an onslaught!!
So the heart, brain, and kidney’s
need to be in good shape to withstand the strength & frequency of
the chemicals involved and the duration of the treatment. The duration all
depends on how the lesions in the liver respond to these chemical attacks.
We’ll know more by this next Wed. when I go in for the brain scan (to see if
I’m truly a “bird-brain” or “lame-brain” or a “no-brain”). And to see if the echo-cardiograph will prove
that my heart has no leaks, blips or skips under pressure!! What sort of pressure, I can only imagine…as
in a “pressure cooker” perhaps?? We’ll
keep you posted as to the results of all of this confusion as we learn more.
We continue to
trust God to have our best interest in HIS Heart for us, for our children and
for any ministry we may still be allowed to continue during our time on this
earth. Just yesterday, as I waited for
my EKG, I had a chance to visit with a dear lady who was waiting with her
husband to see his cancer doctor. She too was a patient of Dr. V’s and after
sharing with her about how breast cancer can spread to the bones, lungs or
liver, she immediately made appts to have bone scans, CT scans, etc. as she
realized, that like me, she only thought (if cancer did return), it would come
back in the breast tissue. So we prayed together and then went our separate
ways.
Richard’s prison
ministry Y-wing group of 168 gathered yesterday (Monday) to pray for me as they
continually do. They are great prayer warriors, joining our war against this
cancer. And I thank God for each of them. Richard continues to be my constant
companion throughout all of these new “detours” in our retirement journey! He
is a constant blessing in my life; my spiritual leader; and daily caretaker!!
He even lets me drive the car & carry the checkbook (although it’s empty!!)
ha ha
If it happens
that I’m not a candidate for this research group, there are other alternatives
which we have not explored as of yet. We will of course, but only if my body is
rejected as a possible candidate for this trial-run.
Again, we covet
your prayers for us……..
….for God to use us for HIS honor & glory, as witnesses
& encouragers for those who may cross our paths during this new branch of
the journey
…for our non-Christian family members who question God’s
love as they see what is happening in my health situation…they lack the Peace
& Presence of our Lord….
…to have wisdom in the decisions necessary to wage war
against this new invasion.
…for Dr. V and my cancer team to have wisdom &
discernment during this treatment
…for God to use us as channels of blessings for those around
us
…for others to come to know the Lord through our testimonies
…for our precious children & grandchildren to have
portions of HIS PEACE & PRESENCE beyond what they have ever had before
We thank God upon every remembrance of each of you who walk
this journey with us, in spirit, in flesh, in prayer and in HOPE, as we HOPE in
Christ. I must say, the book by Randy Alcorn entitled “HEAVEN’ has really taken
away any fear of or sting of “death”. But make no mistake, as I am here to tell
you…..
……. I AM NOT DYING OF CANCER….BUT
BECAUSE OF CANCER, I AM LIVING MORE INTENSELY THAN EVER BEFORE.
Forever Under HIS Mercies,
Karen & Richard DeLeón