Round 7 Underway

Loved Ones,

Ray's chemo is underway. All of Ray's numbers are holding steady. Our prayers about his body's ability to restore itself and heal enough to receive treatments on time have been answered week after week. Since the initial week where Ray's platelets were low, they have held steady. The same for his white and red blood cells and hemoglobin. This is wonderful. We are so glad to be able to continue the chemo on time!

Ray's liver numbers are also holding steady. Though it is not the dramatic improvement from our early rounds, stable is ok. In terms of his bilirubin count, you can't get more normal than normal!

Ray's doctor says that she expects to hear from pathology tomorrow about Ray's cell type. If his cells are of the diffuse type, we will proceed with genetic testing to determine if a hereditary gene mutation caused the cancer. If his cells are not of the diffuse type, we will proceed with rejoicing!! So we are eagerly anticipating her news.

As always, with the chemo going through Ray's body we are ever prayerful for God's power to augment his treatments -- ridding his body of cancer.

We are so grateful for your prayers. We know they are being answered as we simply could not have enough strength for this journey of our own might.

As we wait for answers on this hereditary question and as we anticipate the news of Ray's progress after his next round, these verses comfort us:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

"We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray