Somebody's Been Praying

Body: There are key numbers that the medical team look for as they assess stem cell collection. The most important being the actual number of stem cells that are collected on a given day.

Monday, that key number was 18 and the number of stem cells collected was 1.6 million (I know, it was revised upward...I don't know how this works, I just report the facts).

Tuesday, the key number was 14 which was not very encouraging! I don't think the medical team was too excited either because they increased the amount of meds I receive by injection to stimulate the stem cell release into my blood stream. I actually was called a tortoise in stem cell production!! Can you believe it? They also were quick to say that the tortoise won the race! :)

Last night was a long night for a number of reasons and as we got started with the apheresis this morning, I just wanted to rest as much as I could. First, they told me that while my key number yesterday was down, the collection was still good...another 1.6 million stem cells. (That's a total of 3.2 million.) When the labs came back this morning there were a lot of "high fives" given. My key number was 66...I had suddenly become a hare! Based on their calculations, they were optomistic that today might be the last day required for collection.

Well, I just got the call from Yale and another 3.6 million stem cells are "in the bag" and "in liquid nitrogen." That is a total of 6.8 million stem cells. My doctor is satisfied with the amount collected and I'm finished with this portion of the journey.

Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. I head back to have the catheter removed.

On Monday I have a PET scan and meeting with the doctor which will be significant as this journey unfolds.

Spirit: Thanks for your faithful prayer support. The Lord continues to be most gracious and I am exceedingly blessed. One of those great blessings is a loving and prayerful church family. Hope does not disappoint...Praise His name!

Goooooo Stem Cells!!

Body: Many of you have been specifically praying for me this week as it is stem cell collection time...take two. As many know, the first attempt was abandoned because my body was just not producing and releasing enough stem cells to make the harvest worthwhile.

On Monday I had a procedure to add a central line catheter in my neck and started receiving special shots to boost the counts and "kick them out" into my blood stream. On Tuesday, we had a good day with 1.5 million stem cells collected (no wonder I was tired at the end of the day!). Today, a key indicator of stem cell presence was lower, so the harvest will, no doubt, be lower as well. To address this, I was given an extra couple of shots this evening which will hopefully mean a good "harvest" tomorrow.

Continue to pray that enough stem cells will be produced and released so the proper counts can be achieved. They are hoping that we'll have enough with Friday's procedure, but there is always Saturday and Sunday as well, if needed.

I do have a PET scan and a doctor's appointment on Monday which will be the next point at which plans for future treatment will be discussed...and I'll be sure to keep you posted. I'll also let you know how the "harvest" is going with some short entries tomorrow and Friday.

Spirit: "A Shield Around Me" Psalm 3:3
Having completed the Old Testament last week and with the church family at Calvary being encouraged to read through the Psalms, I was greatly blessed when I came upon Psalm 3:3, "But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head." The context is clearly set in vs 1-2 where an unidentified set of enemies are opposing and the naysayers, in chorus, are saying God will not help him.

That is a situation where God is always at His best!! And the Psalmist uses a wonderfully powerful image to describe this Ever-Present and All-Powerful Protector.

A shield is always focused in one direction and provides great protection from an advancing enemy. But God is more than that. He is a shield in front and back...on both sides...above...below...and, I would include, inside! He IS THE Protector! Enough said!

As a result, the Psalmist can lay down to rest fully and sleep peacefully (vs 5), no matter how many are lined up against him (see vs 6 - "tens of thousands").

How I need assurance of that protection today as I continue this cancer journey...as I battle an enemy within. There is a God in heaven who protects His own for His purposes. So I say with the Psalmist, "Arise O Lord. Deliver me, O my God." How grateful I am for His presence and encouragement through a timely word about His protection.

"Thank you, Lord. I can rest because You are on guard. You watch continually. I am blessed and safe in Your 24/7 care. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

Set Back, Reprieve, and a New Plan

Body:
Set Back -- As the nurse said to us today, "Your body is really tired from all the chemo." While my counts are climbing, the stem cell count isn't climbing as quickly as they would like. If they went ahead with stem cell collection, it would take a number of days...too many. That is disappointing, obviously, because we would like to see this process continue and come to completion as quickly as possible.

Reprieve -- So they told me that for the next several days (until July 26), I don't need to have any blood tests, extra medications, chemo or doctor's visits. In other words, I get a 10 day vacation! I must tell you, I'm not too unhappy about that. I will try not to overdo, but this is a great blessing and I'm looking forward to a more normal life with family and church for the next week and a half.

New Plan -- Starting Friday, July 23, my ladies will start giving me two Neupogen shots daily which mobilize stem cells. On Monday, July 26, I go in for blood work and the placement of a catheter in my neck through which the stem cell collection will occur. That afternoon I'll have a shot of Plerixafor which expedites the process even more. Stem cell collection will take place beginning Tuesday morning and could take up to four days.

Following the stem cell collection, I'm scheduled for another PET scan on Monday, August 2, and an appointment with my doctor for evaluation on progress being made. I may then possibly have another regimen of chemo as an inpatient at Yale beginning Wednesday and being discharged Saturday or Sunday.

Spirit: So that's the new plan for the next couple of weeks. It is nice to have a game plan and I ask you to be praying that the plans which unfolded today will be blessed and used by the Lord for good. I continue to be grateful for His goodness and confident in Him because Hope Does Not Disappoint.

I just want to say "Thank you" from my heart for so many kind and encouraging notes, calls, emails, Facebook posts, offers of help, meals, and especially assurances of prayer. God is using you to keep us strong in the struggle. At our most vulnerable times, your prayers are lifting us up and moving us forward. God is so very good!!

The Next Opportunity

Body: It has been quite some time since my last blog entry and there's a reason....this last treatment was a tough one. I've been laying low for a week with assorted side effects, etc. Right now the key issue is blood levels. They have been low and getting lower since Tuesday. Friday, I received platelets and I will be going back tomorrow morning for another blood test to see how things are progressing.

What is next on the agenda is stem cell collection which, believe it or not, could begin on Monday morning! If blood levels are right, I will be hooked up to a machine which draws my blood out, filters out stem cells, and returns the blood...all in one smooth motion. I can only imagine the cost of that machine...and this treatment. (Thankfully, I only have to imagine...the church has provided us with great insurance coverage!) It could take one to four days of stem cell collection to have "enough" (whatever that correct amount is). These will be frozen and kept for a later date when the chemo is completed and they are ready to "plant" these "seeds" back in my bone marrow for "sprouting."

So, the key prayer request I would share is for blood levels to build back up to normal and that the stem cell collection would go smoothly this week. Pray too for opportunities to represent Jesus well. Thanks to so many who have expressed the fact that they are praying for us regularly. Your support has been a key part of our encouragement and strength during these challenging days.

Spirit: "Even Now" Joel 2:12
God's character traits of holiness and righteousness are clearly seen in Scripture in some remarkable places - - the precision of the Tabernacle and sacrificial system; the detail of the priests' approach to God; His judgments; etc.

But His character traits of love, grace and mercy are equally clear and revealed in special ways, even in the Old Testament. Joel 2:12 is one of those places and it takes the form of two words, "Even now..." From Joel 1:1 -- 2:11, God is ready to judge severely. Notice Joel 2:11, "The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?" The Day of the Lord is a dreadful day of judgment. But it all changes from Joel 2:12 -- 3:21 for Israel. If Israel repents, God will forgive and spare them. And it all begins with those two words of transition, "even now."

"Even now" means it's not too late.
"Even now" says there is a future in spite of the failures of the past.
"Even now" says don't give up no matter how bad the past has been.
"Even now" offers hope to repentant souls.

Am I ever glad for "even now!" I have needed it this week as emotions bounce, as plans change, as physical strength wanes. My reactions have not always been "pastoral" and I've needed "even now." Probably some of you need those words today, too. He is so good! We are so blessed!

"Lord, I rejoice that You are a God who says, "Even now..." a lot!! Because I need it a lot! Praise Your Name!"

Continuing the Journey

Greetings blog followers! This is Krista McIntyre, guest writer and Pastor Dave’s oldest daughter. I feel honored to be writing here today, and though I’m not new to the “blog world,” I was hesitant to take on this responsibility because I didn’t think that there was anything that I could share that would match the deep entries that my Dad has written. But I get to bring a different perspective this week; mostly as an observer. This is sometimes the hardest place to be -- it’s frustrating, infuriating, and somewhat depressing.

A little background: I was more than an observer, I was the “caregiver” this week. My Mom had the privilege of accompanying the youth group to the EFCA National Conference in Columbus, Ohio for the week. This was a difficult decision for her, but it was a great opportunity for Elise and me to spend some quality time with Dad.

We reported to Yale-New Haven Hospital on Tuesday, June 29. We rode on the elevator past the familiar floors of the Smilow Cancer Center where I had spent time in the past and I began to get nervous. What was I thinking that I could possibly care for Dad in the ways he needed!? We got to his room and he was immediately given instructions about the floor, his room, and he was given an overview for what was going to happen while he was there. My head began to spin with different medications’ names that I didn’t understand and the sinking feeling in my stomach began to feel stronger. Dad looked calm; ready to take on the world, which is one of the many reasons I respect and love him so much. He never seems thrown by the craziness of life because he is so firmly set in Christ. The medicine took a while to be ordered, but we finally began the chemo at 4:00. This chemo ended at 10:00 PM and by 11:00 PM he started his 24-hour dose of chemo #2. Elise (who joined me everyday after work) and I left at around 10:00. He seemed apprehensive about the side effects, but at that point, he still was feeling fine and he had been very encouraged because he met with his small group in his hospital room.

Wednesday morning I came in around 8:45 with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee (as requested) and Dad looked great! He was sitting up, he was cheerful, and was feeling fine. He had already eaten his breakfast and was working on emails for church. I was surprised. I had expected to see my Dad in horrible shape, and it was such an encouragement to my heart to see him alert. During the day people came to visit and Dad used any opportunity he was given to share the gospel with the nurses and physicians caring for him. He was quickly becoming one of the favorite patients on the 11th floor, and I can’t say I was surprised. When Elise and I left at 9:30 Dad was still feeling well and it was almost time to switch the treatments.

Thursday morning I walked in and saw an immediate change. Although it was almost 9:00 Dad was still dozing and he actually looked sick. My stomach sank and a feeling of panic took over as I asked how he was feeling. I already knew the answer before he spoke. He wasn’t feeling well; this was the beginning of his long summer. My stomach continued to churn as I asked what I could do, and for the first time in three days, he said there was nothing I could do. I felt helpless and as nurses came to check on him I felt even more so. I went down to a garden on the 7th floor and as I sat on a rock in the beautiful July sunshine, I cried. I didn’t just cry a few tears, I sobbed uncontrollably as mascara dripped down my cheeks. I cried because there was nothing I could do, because I was angry, and because I felt so useless. This was my Daddy and I wanted to make him feel better and I couldn’t. I wanted God to fix it. I realized I was angry and frustrated because God hadn’t answered my prayers. All of Calvary Church was praying for my Dad and this is how God answered our prayers?? I recollected myself and let him sleep until the final treatment ended at 2:00 and we went home at 3:00. He slept for the rest of the afternoon, and after eating some toast and fruit he went to sleep.

Friday and today (Saturday) looked similar to Thursday afternoon, lots of sleeping and not a lot of eating because Dad doesn’t have the energy or the appetite. I don’t know if we see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I’m straining my eyes waiting for it, and I’m sure Dad is too.

Rereading some of my Dad’s posts, he always encourages his readers with what he is learning through this place in life, and even though this post is WAY longer than any of Dad’s, I want to make sure I add in this piece of what God is teaching me.

Earlier I said I’m an observer. I don’t feel the pain, but I see it. I’m starting to see, among other things, that God has placed my father in each of our lives to show us a Godly example of how to handle struggles.

Sometimes I am admittedly selfish and I don’t know why God is using these circumstances in his life. He’s the man who wiped my tears when I scraped my knee, he’s the man who bought me my first Bible, he’s the man who led me to Christ, the man who has listened intently to every story I’ve ever told, and he’s the man who’s been excited for each success I’ve ever had and has comforted me after each failure. He was the man that carried furniture to my dorm room and the man who prayed with me over the phone the day I started my job. He’ll eventually be the man who walks me down the aisle to my husband, and the man who will hold my children and guide them as he has guided me.

I’ve had time to think and process what is happening. He’s humble, generous, and loving. He’s focused on the right things in life and is always striving to allow his life to be an example and a witness to those around him. My Dad is an amazing man.

God has allowed him to go through this suffering to encourage and to challenge you and me. No matter what we are struggling with, God can use it to further His kingdom…if we allow Him to. I admit that this is something I struggle with. I struggle with feeling angry about my Dad’s cancer, but since his diagnosis God has taught me to trust and be thankful for how He is using my Dad in my life and in the lives of others. When I focus on that, I see that God has given me great witnessing opportunities with my co-workers and has allowed me to encourage some of my college friends and even some of you at Calvary Church.

As an observer of my Dad, I am learning that I can encourage others no matter what is happening in my life. It’s a daily choice, but when I do, I’m blessed.

Thanks for letting me share with you. Thanks for being a part of my Dad’s life. Thanks for taking care of him and using your gifts to encourage him. As a family we can never begin to express it enough.