[Zacs Mom]

Thank you!! Thank you all for so very much!!!

Sorry the updates have been so few and so far between .... mostly that is because I've been in a great deal of discomfort lately and getting onto the computer is not something I do with ease any longer. I was hospitalized again this past week for another blood transfusion and CT SCAN - and also to have a medi-port that was implanted a couple of months ago removed ... not because it was no longer needed but because it had shifted and was causing a great deal of pain. That area is still really sore now because of the new incisions rather than unstoppable and unintended movement of a chest implant.

The cancer appears to be of a very aggressive nature and is growing thicker in the upper lung nod area. We've hesitated a bit on starting the chemotherapy treatments because chemotherapy can be so devastating on a body's blood works....my oncologist has been worried that since my blood work ups are currently so bad the chemotherapy might actually kill me rather than help me, so he has wanted to delay them until we could get my blood counts up closer to what they would be id they were normal. I actually had my first 3 hour chemotherapy treatment yesterday and am scheduled for another 3 hour session next Friday
~ as I understand it, based upon extensive comparative studies of these two relevant blood work ups we will then try to decide where we go from there.

I felt pretty crappie last evening, too. As I mentioned above, I've been experiencing a great deal of pain lately and, on top of that, I seem to have have lost my appetite completely (probably because I've been suffering from an ongoing case of nausea and vomiting when food is offered (and, no, for the record, I've never had an eating disorder) Whenever I do manage to eat and keep it down, I then suffer from intense intestinal cramping and major diarrhea which seems to continue to cause my weight to drop at a worrisome rate. This morning I seem to be experiencing some sort of what well may be an allergic reaction to the drugs given in the Chemotherapy because I itch all over! From my neck to my waist, from my wrists to my shoulders and from my ankles to butt in the back. (such itching is listed in the Chemotherapy information as an Uncommon side effects of Chemotherapy.

I cannot begin to tell you, FRiends, how helpful it is to know that there are special people out there who are remembering me (and my family) in their prayers. It means the world to us and helps us always to remember to focus our prayers on much larger issues than simply our own current issues.

[8mmMauser]

Our Sunday prayers continue and especially for your own health today.

8mm

[Grampa Dave]

We love you lady and your courage is an example for all of us.

Hang in there and keep us posted when you feel like it.

Time for some good news for you!

[Fawnn]

Thank you for the update.

You remain in my prayers....

[potlatch]

I'm SO glad to hear from you ZM!! You are in our hearts and our prayers every day. I think of you often and of all that you are going through. Carol

[bitt]

pinging everyone I can think of, so that they can "see" you.

[pookie18]

My prayers are with you, as always, Zacs Mom!

[DrewsDad]

Great to hear from you ZM!!!

You are still in our prayers. We will pray for strength, energy, and the peace that comes from knowing that God is still in control.

[bitt]

we actually DO think of you every day; every time I see a great PS, I wish you could enjoy it at that minute with a ping...

We have worried and prayed and we will continue...you are special to us, you are ours.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[onyx]

Courageous and sweet you. You remain in my thoughts and prayers daily.

Thanks so much for the update. You are missed here.

[Pegita]

Unto you, O Lord, we return with thanksgiving that we can gather around ZacsMom ... that we can lay hands upon her in the Name of Jesus and pray that Your healing would pour forth upon her ... that You would draw her out of this situation and bring her back to the fullness of health. Enrich her blood, Merciful Father, that the levels would return to normal ... settle her stomach that she might again take and enjoy nourishment ... give to her ease of breathing and a calmness of spirit that she might know the Comfort of Your Presence. Prosper the chemicals in her therapy that her tumor would disappear ... strengthen her for the next round that the treatment would be well tolerated ... stabilize her weight and the intestinal distress, that she might have an encouraging sense of feeling better.

We look to You, O Lord, for You are the Great Physician. As once Zac's Mom was knit in the womb, knit her again in health, Merciful Father, to the Honor and Glory of Your Name. Watch over her and her loved ones, for each shares her pain and her fears ... surround them with Your Very Presence, that they might know that Your hand is upon her illness and her treatment. Grant wisdom to her medical team, that their course of treatment would be under Your control and that they would be used of You as instruments of Your healing. Thank You, O God, that not the smallest detail escapes Your notice or control, for You are Creator and Sustainer, both now and for evermore.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we bring praise and petition, Amen ...

-------

ZM ... Do what you can, dear heart, to refresh your system daily with mega amounts of acidophilus, found in live-culture yogurt or herbal supplements. You need these friendly guys to help in the battle against the bad guys.
Continuing in prayer ...

Pegita

[Shaun_MD]

May God bless and keep you in his healing embrace. Remember that you are in our hearts and prayers and there is much love for you here. Also remember that God can and DOES work miracles every day. There is NOTHING that He cannot do. I know from personal experience how wonderful, how incomprehensible and merciful that our Lord is. If he can save someone as backsliding and sinful as me then truly there is nothing to hold Him back :)

[Matchett-PI]

So glad to hear you're hanging tough. Sending prayers for your strength and healing.

[StarCMC]

Prayers continue for you and your family, ZM.

[StarCMC]

Prayers continue for you and your family, ZM.

[StarCMC]

Prayers continue for you and your family, ZM.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

In my prayers, dear lady, every day.

FRiends, beause of all the responses for Zacs Mom, and not much need of updating, and my still being under the weather...(sore throat moving into laryngitis, amongst the other problems,) we'll keep this as the prayer thread today. Please do not hesitate to post something that we should pray for, or ping me.

[DollyCali]

Oh I have been wondering how things were going for you. Thank you so much for the update..and although NOT the best news, it does seem there is a dedicated group of medical people working with you on this.

PLEASE do check out the macrobiotic diet. I have a good friend who had been given only 2 months to live with aggressive lung cancer. She is a nurse & decided to go on the healing macro diet. Remarkable miracle. That was 15 years ago. She is now active at an Akron hospital & works with Oncology docs/patients there. She speaks at many cancer groups. The macro diet she participated in was out of Mass. Dr. Kushi is the practioner from Japan. It might seem to outsiders like voodoo.. but it surely is not & worth investigating.

Docs with first hand exposure to this are made into believers..

Prayers continue for you FReeper FRiend..........

Knitting a condundrum... would you put me on the prayer PING list? I knew there was a prayer thread but never did investigate/find it before. thank you!

[fatima]

We will pray for you on the air tom.So sorry Zacs Mom that you are going through this.You sound like a very brave women(((Hugs)))Fatima

[syriacus]

Thank you for the update. Prayers continuing from Long Island!!!