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Thanks again so much to all of you who have prayed for Dennis. I wanted to update you, and share with you the email he sent out last night with some specific prayer requests:

It has been about a week since I completed my last round of chemo and today my blood counts show that my system is responding to the treatment. My counts took a pretty abrupt dip and I am approaching the point where my immune system will again be inadequate to fight infection. For the next 2 weeks plus I would really appreciate your prayers again for me in particular, but also for the rest of the family, that we would remain healthy and free of colds & flu.

Again this time around my greatest risk is going to be infection that would come from common skin bacteria which are routinely dealt with by the body's immune system but which can infect the slightest scratch or cut and then take off unchecked when the immune system is wiped out. That is what happened to me when I was hospitalized for the first round of treatment. I expect the total loss of immunity to happen within the next couple of days based on how things went the last time. The doctor does have me on a broad spectrum antibiotic again until my system is restored to help with potential infection but I know it is ultimately God who does both the protecting and the healing.

You can also be praying I would be able to avoid transfusions this time around. While I am grateful that transfusion is an option when needed, every time it is done there are risks involved that I would just as soon avoid.

I am really looking forward to the end of the month when I trust I can say that chemotherapy treatment and all it's side effects are behind me for good.

Blessings,
Dennis