Nearing Phase Two
I am grateful for the many people who are very caring and loving in their ongoing concern for me as I progress on my Multiple Myeloma journey. Your encouragement and prayers are foundational to my advancement as I undergo immunomonoclonal targeted therapy. It is true that I have not posted for quite some time. About six weeks ago I began to lose energy. My drug routine is the strongest one (known as the “quad” for the combination of four powerful drugs) used in treatment at this time. I have spent much time in bed or on the couch or recliner. I can sleep twelve hours through the night, get up and do a few activities and then lay on the couch and fall asleep for several hours and then sit and read and sleep some more. Early in the week the drug routine will enliven my mind but not my body. Some nights I simply cannot sleep, but my body is worn out—then, the drugs will cause my mind to almost shut down and my tired body takes over and I sleep for days. That is my weekly routine, not really changing from week to week. I did not want to report the same routine over and over again on this blog regarding my cancer journey. I thought I would be able to get out more but in reality, I have been more quarantined than ever, especially since the heat and sun do not coexist well with the drugs. I think up all kinds of activities to undertake, but my body says, “No!” I look good and feel good, except for the extreme fatigue. I have two weeks of treatment remaining and then my doctor and I will decide next steps. Everything depends on my “numbers.” Next week I will be undergoing extensive labs that will pinpoint my final numbers in detail as they dig deeply into calcium, renal, anemia and bone issues that Multiple Myeloma affects. My mid-treatment tests showed that all these numbers were heading in the right direction; God be praised!
Kathy has been an absolutely wonderful caregiver—more than I deserve! I never thought I would be so helpless and that she would need to step up to the degree to which she has. I’m still really good at seeing issues that need addressing—like every wall paint issue or items needing replacement in order to keep everything up to my undiminished exacting standards. My forward visioning gifts remain undiminished as well. I come up with all kinds of ideas for future improvements. Hence, I’ve found new friends in online ordering—buying gifts for Kathy, hiring folks to do household improvements, buying replacements for household improvements. Kathy has not cut me off, yet! She says when I am cooped up this long, I have this need to do something productive—probably true.
This brings me to the kitchen water line clog. Kathy rarely to never uses the garbage disposal, preferring to bury the food waste in the ground for environmental purposes and soil enrichment. She scolds me when I use it. So—the other day—she weakened her resolve and used it for asparagus! Yes, ASPARAGUS! Maybe celery is the only food item worse in terms of the ‘never’ put down a garbage disposal list. Of course the kitchen drain clogged. Nothing we had would budge it. I had no energy so a plumber it would be, until I thought, “What would our adult son or daughter do at their homes?… YouTube it, of course.” I did and it looked like a simple fix of disconnecting the drain pipes under the sink and removing the clog. A simple five minute fix. Kathy was gung-ho. And yes, it was as simple as that. Easy peasy! A five minute fix! I was so proud of her! Another present will be arriving in the mail. She says she doesn’t need presents; she is a caregiver out of love and expects nothing in return. I know that is true; however, this is one way I can say I notice with deep appreciation.
I use my iPods for music, especially on infusion days at the Conroe HCA Hospital Cancer Center. I listen to a variety of music and my phone music app catalogues my music and makes a list. I often fall asleep and wake to interesting music that my phone music app thinks I will like based on the music I have selected in the past. For instance, I have a long play list of Tejano music because I like Freddy Fender. As I perused my growing play list, I came upon a Bach song I had never heard before on the classics list. It is called “Come Sweet Death.” (I’m not thinking death is imminent for me because of the Multiple Myeloma, however, I also believe one should be ready at anytime for God’s homeward call.) “Come Sweet Death” is truly beautiful and I am surprised that I had never heard it before until my music app randomly picked it for me. The arrangement to which I listened is called “Bach Again.” It adds another verse at the end that is a repeat of Bach’s last verse, but sung in discordant notes that resolve in harmony at the very end. The words are “Come, sweet death; come, soothing rest; come and lead me homeward.” As I contemplated the added verse, I realized that it was completely true. Life is full of disharmony and the discordant notes sometimes play loudly. However, through Christ, the discordant notes of life are turned to complete harmony as we move toward heaven. For me, every day is a better day, regardless of the circumstances, because every day brings me closer to my/our eternity with Jesus. This YouTube link to “Come Sweet Death—Bach Again” is beautifully done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK1UO4AggUQ&list=RDMK1UO4AggUQ&start_radio=1
“Therefore, since, we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5: 1,3-5”
“For I am convinced that neither life nor death…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 37,38”
Praise Report: Other than fatigue, no other side effects to treatment. Kathy’s unfailing caregiver love.
Prayer Needs: Clear thinking as I meet with my doctors for next steps.
Good Report
It took awhile for my doctor’s words — “You are a textbook case of a perfect response to treatment”—to sink into my brain, and then my hematologist/oncologist started spewing out the numbers: “in normal range,” he repeated three times, and “dropped from .7 to .1” for my problematic M protein. Praise be to God!
All this after only two three-week cycles of treatment! Pretty much unheard of, folks—truly amazing. I know I have literally thousands of people praying for me, and I am grateful for that miraculous power and for God’s abiding presence.
There are no promises; however, it is possible I could go into remission after two more cycles of treatment. Today, remissions last from 2-10 years. My doctor reminded me that my drug protocol is new and there is no data yet. However, for me it is working wondrously. He is optimistic.
Now what? Continue my treatments and keep those labs current. In eight weeks I will have some big decisions to make about long term maintenance and life style adjustments needed. It is simply, “wow, oh, wow!”
Kathy said she knew I was doing better. She could see it. However, neither of us were expecting this blessed news. Thank you for your love and support.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 (Amen to this truth.)
Praise Report: The decreasing numbers
Prayer Requests: Treatment continues to drive numbers down. That I exercise the fruit of the Spirit in patience as I await whatever future God has in store for me.
A Pattern Emerges
Sunday evening, May 14, 2023
Kathy proudly informed me that since she has been driving, the average miles per gallon has gone up over three miles. I was too weak after therapy to respond—talk about hitting a man while he is down! She is such a fine woman—successful in any and every endeavor! I did indeed marry up!
A pattern has emerged now that I have had one full round of treatments (of four) and am now in Round 2. I go in early on Monday mornings to the Cancer Center at Conroe HCA. They clean up my implanted port and immediately start intravenous drugs. I receive oral drugs soon after. Something in one of the drugs causes me to get sleepy—like immediately—and I will sleep at least 3 hours. A nice couple, the husband of which is one week behind me in multiple myeloma treatments, entered the clinic this past Monday. I remember waving and thinking I would inquire as to how he was doing; however, I did not get that far. When I awoke, they were gone.
Early in the week I am hyper. I take many oral drugs at home and they get me going—super energetic. I have great trouble sleeping, unfortunately. That is a new experience for me as I have always slept easily and well. About midweek, the high is gone and I am exhausted. For at least two days I can hardly get out of bed. Then I have about two days of normal. Then, during the weekend, fatigue sets in again. I always have labs on Friday, and this last Friday my blood decided to clot in the tubes and we had to do it all over again. I do try to walk and do some activity when fatigued—sometimes forced! Monday starts the pattern all over again.
Who knew that prunes tasted so good—not kidding, I really like them stewed with cream. I drink hot prune juice at night. The immunomonoclonal targeted therapy I am taking causes rather severe constipation, thus prunes are my new best friends.
Well, there you have it—my typical week in a nutshell. Kathy has informed me that we must leave 20 minutes earlier tomorrow for the Cancer Center, since she will be driving even slower in an attempt to raise the mpg. Oh, joy! The following Bible verse speaks to me in my current situation:
“But if we have food and clothing with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:8”
Praise Reports: My body continues to accept the harsh drugs I am receiving. Prunes taste good to me. Side effects of treatments are still minimal in my estimation.
Prayer Requests: A peaceful week of drugs, drugs and more drugs. To be content with our Lord’s provision.
Not Curable
My doctor wanted me to affirm that I understood the outcome of Multiple Myeloma. While not curable, its progress can be slowed. I will have big decisions to make regarding treatment in July, and he did not want me making them based on inaccurate understanding. I appreciate that.
We all have big decisions to make in life, and we all face adversities of every kind. I am not isolated from that. I find both strength and peace because my faith is grounded and sure on the Rock of Ages— built on a solid foundation with Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. The following verses from Hebrews 4:14-16 have kept my attention over the years: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” To that, I give a hearty “Amen!”
This past week has been usual in that I had treatments and labs. It was unusual in that I visited the Transplant Center at Methodist down in the Medical Center-Houston. All was well. I was impressed with the time the specialist spent with me. I am well armed to make future decisions.
I was fatigued more than usual this past week and had several days when I was touch sensitive. I could be touched, but it set off inner vibrations that were odd feeling, to say the least. I felt every jolt and move, even the dividers on the highway as we drove to and from the Conroe Cancer Center.
Tomorrow, Monday, starts Round 2 of my immunomonoclonal targeted therapy. It is one day at a time.
Praise Report: Affirmation from the specialist (second opinion doctor) that my treatment is spot on. Finished Round 1 without major complications. I have at least three more to go.
Prayer Request: Steadfastness as treatments, doctors, etc. gobble up my days—I am not good at sitting still or waiting. Withdrawal from people is torturous for me. It is my current reality.
What’s for Dinner? This Could Be my Last Meal…Think Hard About It!
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Vote now—Did I get: A. Nutritional gruel—(spoken in my best terrified little Davy Copperfield voice, “Please, Kathy, may I have some more?”) B. Lobster (my intended goal) C. Nothing (“You’ll eat what is put in front of you and if that isn’t good enough, you’ll go to bed hungry!”)
I am not really responsible for what I write this evening, since I have been running a temperature since this morning. It is right on the line. My notes say if I run a temperature higher I need to call the cancer center duty nurse who is 24/7. I’ve been drinking ice water to keep it below the line. Had I had lobster, I’m sure the temperature would have gone away. You know I’m right.
Most of this week it seemed as if my head was not connected to my body. The doctor team added immune suppressing drugs to my regimen. I have been washed out. I’m still feeling good considering all the drugs that are being pumped into my body.
So there is good news to share! I have been having labs during my treatment and in my visit with my primary oncologist/hematologist Friday, I was informed that although too early to assess the full effects of the treatments (that takes about six weeks and I begin week three Monday) my numbers all went in the right direction, indicating that my treatments are taking hold. Furthermore, my insurance company called and I now have an online/telephone nurse who will guide me. This is amazing. She went over all my benefits, will help with scheduling, will take care of all financial records, reimbursements, etc. I also have received pre-approval for a bone marrow transplant should my doctor team and I decide this is in my best interest. The head of the downtown Methodist Medical Center Transplant Center is my specialist and we meet this next week. My insurance-provided out of state nurse gushed over the fact that I have this doctor and can have a transplant in this Center. “At the top of all our national lists,” she asserted. So I wondered, “How did I get this doctor?” My oncologist/hematologist answered that when he told me he had been mentored by this specialist. He said, “If I were having this procedure done, this is the doctor I would have. I wouldn’t want less for you.” Heart- rending.
I have been highly blessed!—Immediate treatment, grand doctors and nurses, no glitches on insurance, my body able to take the massive drugs I am receiving, numbers heading in the right direction and a wife who is more than loving and helpful. Who can complain—even if I didn’t get the lobster—at least I am not going to bed hungry.
Praise Report: Labs indicating that the treatments are working. Pre-approval for a bone marrow transplant.
Prayer Request: Strength as the immure-suppressing drugs do their work. Week Three of infusion drugs and shots (the stomach shot burns and leaves a big welp and bruise). Lobster night at the Graumann’s.
If the Cancer Doesn’t Get Me, My Wife’s Driving Will
April 23, 2023
Week One of my cancer treatment journey is over. This space is usually reserved for Kathy and my wonderful trips to fantastic places around the world. We have been blessed to take these journeys. We are now on a journey of another kind, but a journey none the less.
I am rarely driving now. I am not 100% and until I adjust to my new circumstances, I will not drive. That means Kathy is my chauffeur. This is trying to say the least! Her methodical maneuvers and slow approach cause me to take very deep breaths. This is good because my oxygen levels are dropping and deep breaths are recommended. However, I cannot keep from voicing my opinions, which affect her 0%. This is maddening. I dream now of traffic patterns and one slow car messing everything up—trucks honking loudly and road rage drivers weaving sharply in front of us. Some months ago, when I was driving, I sped up to pass a car and said out loud, “Reached my goal!” Kathy asked, “What goal?” and I responded, “…to get in front of that car…When I drive I always have goals. Don’t you have driving goals?” Kathy shrugged. I took that for a “no.” You see our current driving problem—right?
Speaking of goals—I’m not sure what they should be right now. To take my immunomonoclonal targeted therapy and to live as productive a life as possible, of course. To trust God and thank Jesus for my salvation, without question. I’m settling on simpler goals than I am used to setting—speaking a kind word to Conroe HCA Cancer Center employees and staff. To listen to the fears and hurts of fellow patients and be supportive and kind. To not complain about anything (poor driving skills are an exception) and receive with gratefulness. To count on the Holy Spirit to overcome my fears. To revel in the love poured out generously by family and friends. I reset these goals daily.
My first week had one hiccup—my oxygen levels dropped and I broke out in itchy hives. They stopped infusions and shot me full of Benadryl and an hour later I was back on treatments. On Wednesday, at home, I hit the wall, so to speak, and was so weak I could barely walk. I stayed down for the day, and on Thursday I had perked back up. Friday my week ended with labs. They will be sent to my doctor team and will begin to reveal how the treatments are affecting the defective plasma cells in my bone marrow.
Praise Report: Your prayers for my body to accept the treatments were wonderful as that is exactly what happened Week One.
Prayer Request: That the treatments accomplish the slowing of the spread of my Multiple Myeloma.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Airport Run
December 8, 2022
On our last day, our flight home was not until nearly midnight, Israeli time, so we had the day to make stops on the way to the airport. It was an awesome day. We visited two cave areas. The Dove Caves were caves carved underground in limestone that housed thousands of doves. Little dove houses were carved into caves where the temperature was conducive as a dove habitat. The area was on a major road into Jerusalem where pilgrims to the Temple would stop to buy their dove offerings for worship purposes. It is highly possible that Mary and Joseph stopped here when Jesus was twelve, and they were on the way to the Temple with Jesus.
The Bell Caves were hollowed out from above to excavate the limestone for building purposes. The process caused the caves to be shaped like a bell in the interior. They were connected to each other and were a beautiful sight with their unique shape and coloration.
From the caves, we proceeded to the Khirbet Quiyafa National Park, famed because it was the site of the battle between young David (who would become King) and the Philistine giant called Goliath, ending with David’s sling shot victory. The park overlooks the Ela Valley where the opposing armies of Israel and Philistine gathered. Just amazing.
Jaffa, ancient Joppa, is a seaside port and old city not far from Tel Aviv. Here, Old Testament Jonah tried to escape from God, being swallowed by a large fish when he was thrown overboard into the Mediterranean Sea. It was here that Jesus healed Tabitha (Dorcas), a revered woman of extraordinary good works. It was also here that Peter, in the still present home of Simon the Tanner, saw a heavenly vision of unclean animals and heard God say he was to eat. Peter realized that God was telling him to open the church to Gentiles, who were considered unclean, thus setting the church on a missionary path into the world. Today, the old city has been preserved and is quite trendy with artist shops along its narrow cobbled streets and sailing vessels filling its long pedestrianized harbor area. One particularly unusual artist piece was above us as we walked along one area. Hundreds of white plastic lawn chairs were stacked together and snaked over and around buildings. Fun!
We had a farewell dinner in Joffa and headed off to the airport. We flew overnight and arrived home in the dark earlier in the day than we departed (flying against 8 time zones) only to go to bed at the time we normally would have been “up and at ’em” in Israel. We treasure the memories we made in the Holy Land!
Spiritually Enriching
December 7, 2022
Our hotel in Jerusalem has been wonderful, with excellent food and lots of buffet choices. For breakfast, shawarma was a favorite of many. It has pickled vegetables in a tahini/hummus/tomato sauce covered with cracked eggs and baked in an oven.
Later, we descended into the rock which housed the Jebusite irrigation canal. Many of our group walked, or inched and squeezed, through it. Others in the group descended further down to Hezekiah’s water-filled tunnel which he engineered to bring water into the city and cleverly disguised to hide it from enemies, all hand-chiseled out of dense stone. All of us ended up at the same place, the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the man born blind.
After breakfast we visited the old Jerusalem in the morning, known as the City of David. It had been a stronghold of the ancient Jebusites, but David sent some troops to secretly find their way through an underground irrigation canal that he theorized would lead into the the heart of the city. He was right! Later, Jerusalem (City of Peace) extended outward beyond the walls into the city it is today. David’s palace has been discovered and excavations are continuing. It felt surreal to walk through the palace, not large, but an important part of the Old Testament history (think David and Bathsheba).
A highlight of the day, if not the trip, was having communion at the Garden Tomb, the second contested site (the Temple Mount being the other and the one most scholars believe to be the correct one) of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. It was a very meaningful moment in time.
The day ended at the Machane Yehuda Food Market. It was huge and colorful with spices and food vendors making foods we do not really have available in the States, but very tasty. We got to sample many along the way. I so wanted to eat a piece of poppy seed rolled loaf. However, one had to buy the entire loaf, not just a piece, and I knew I would eat the whole thing if I bought it, so I refrained. It was back to the hotel and a night of sweet dreams.
Bethlehem
December 6, 2022
After breakfast, we took the very short ride to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We first visited an artisan woodwork factory run by a Christian family. The Christian community is under duress in the Palestinian-controlled area. We watched artisans taking blocks of olive wood and turning them into beautiful objects, often religious in nature. We were able to visit the traditionally-accepted place of Jesus’s birth, a cave. One can crawl on hands and knees to touch the accepted place of the birth. Only a short distance away are the shepherds’ fields where the temple shepherds were watching their flocks at night when the army of angels appeared to them announcing the Savior’s birth. Up the hill is a church with phenomenal acoustics. Our rendition of “Angels We Have Heard on High” sounded beautiful.
From Bethlehem, we returned to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus went to pray with His disciples. Over 2,000 year old olive trees witnessed Jesus’s visit. We had one section of the garden to ourselves where we spent time in personal reflection and prayer. This was a powerful time, and our view of Jerusalem across the valley was glorious. We walked all the way down to Jerusalem on the Palm Sunday Road immediately outside the gates of the Mount of Olives, the same road on which Jesus rode a donkey to the applause of the people of Jerusalem. After the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the Mount of Olives. Here He was betrayed by Judas, handed over to the soldiers, and the Passion Story began to unfold ending in the Crucifixion of Jesus. We visited the stunning Church of All Nations at Gethsemane filled with intricate mosaics.
Our day concluded at the Western Wailing Wall, which is a remnant of the Great Temple that at one time stood there. People approach the wall to pray and to stuff small pieces of paper with written prayer requests into the crevices of the wall. It was a long day and a very rewarding day. Evening meal, shower and sleep!
Road Trip to Amazing
December 4 and 5, 2022
We boarded our bus to travel to Magdala, the home of the Biblical Mary Magdalene, the first person to see Jesus after the resurrection. A thriving community on a major trade route, Magdala was home to a beautiful synagogue, now being excavated. Here was discovered the oldest engraving of a menorah ever found. The engraving is like a post card from the past in that it shows the pillars of the Temple in Jerusalem before it was destroyed in the first century.
It is the only image of those pillars that has ever been found.
From Magdala we drove to Dan, a journey that few tourists take. It was the home of the tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of the Jewish people. However, Dan’s history goes back much farther, possibly to the year 7,500 B.C. Lot, the nephew of Abraham, had been kidnapped; Abraham pursued the captors all the way to Dan. We saw Abraham’s Gate, the ancient city’s mud brick entry. Recently uncovered, it is the oldest such gate in existence, since most mud brick disintegrates over time due to water. The gate dates to approximately 2,000 B.C. When King Solomon, who built Jerusalem’s Temple, died, Israel divided into two separate nations. The two southern tribes became Judea, and the ten northern tribes became Israel. Israel’s new King Jeroboam decided to build new Temples for his nation, and he chose Dan for one of them. The problem was that the new Temple in Dan combined false worship with truth, and even had a golden calf. We saw where the golden calf would have been placed. Archeological conservers were hard at work the day we visited, yet we were privileged to see the 1,300 B.C. gate of the city. The city never recovered from the idolatry of King Jeroboam and eventually the ten tribes were carted off into slavery, basically disappearing from history.
Our journey then took us to the pagan city of Caesarea Philippi, a city that Jesus and His disciples visited in the far north of Israel. The worship of the god Pan is on display here, and our words pandaemonium and panic are derived from this worship centered on debauchery and even human sacrifice. We saw the sacrifice cave and the false god’s niches carved into the rock walls. Jesus took His disciples here because he wanted to make it clear that worshiping Him was distinctly different from the secular and twisted worship on display in Caesarea.
We finished the day by visiting the “Alamo” of Israel, the “Roaring Lion” memorial to the first Jews killed in battle who lived in the area that would later become Israel. We ended our day in our comfortable Jerusalem hotel for a wonderful meal and good night’s sleep.
Early morning breakfast–let’s stop there–breakfasts here in Israel are very good and very different! Tuna fish, pickled herring, creamed hyssop, salads, eggs baked in spicy meat sauce, tabula and at least 25 other food choices on a buffet beacon every morning. We loaded the bus and headed off to Beit Shean, a marvelously preserved Decapolis (ten major) city–mentioned in the Bible numerous times– in the Jezreel Valley. Columned streets with decorative tile side walks lead to the preserved theatre. The baths here are very interesting and served as a center of entertainment; spa treatments were a part of daily life. We learned that the large public toilets that had continuous running water under the seats were also a place of entertainment.
We traveled on to Gideon Springs, a place where a powerful bubbling spring served as the place where God winnowed 35,000 Hebrew soldiers down to 300. Those who lapped water at the springs with their tongue like a dog were the soldiers selected to fight the Midianites under the leadership of Gideon. The Hebrews won a major victory as they attacked at night and routed the confused Midianite army. The area is a beautiful garden where the colorful bougainvillea and the unusual bulbous silk floss tree call for attention.
The day concluded around the Dead Sea. Qumran was a community of the Essenes, a reclusive Jewish sect who spent their energy focused on copying the Bible and writing religious philosophy. A young boy throwing rocks into caves discovered the scrolls in clay pots carefully preserved. The discovery was an international sensation. The scrolls do much to verify the wording accuracy of the Old Testament of the Bible since the Qumran scrolls of Scripture were copied over centuries independently of the Jewish scribes’ scrolls, yet comparisons show amazing agreement of the text.
Several of our friends floated on the Dead Sea and reported that they automatically floated. The Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on planet earth, and it also has the highest salt content of any body of water. Mud baths are also popular. Our ride from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem was smooth, although we arrived well after dark at our hotel. It was a wonderful day!
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