Family & friends,
September 11 th is a day of rememberance for our nation. It is also a day of gratitude for our family. After 6 cycles of chemo, Ginny’s cancer specialist at Cedar Sinai has said she is very likely in “remission”. Those were important words to hear! Her blood markers are now in the normal or even below normal range at this point. She is a good candidate for a stem cell transplant. She needs some time to recover from chemo and regain back some of her strength before proceeding. Tentative dates for the transplant are either October 4 or the 11th. The process will take approximately 30 days to complete once it has begun, including 2 1/2 weeks of hospitalization. It has its risks and side affects but is much more of a standard proceedure at the hospital than it used to be. The doctor was quite pleased and hopeful.
We are also pleased that a request for a kyphoplasty (spinal infusion) from our insurance company was approved. With this approval the doctor urged her to get an epidual steroid injection to cut back some of her constant pain and a kyphoplasty as soon as possible before she begins her stem cell transplant. These dates are yet to be determined but the sooner the better. Ginny’s pain is now manifested particularily in her legs and knees.
Thanks for sharing your lives with us. We continue to request your prayers as we pursue further these important steps to her recovery.
We have found great hope and comfort in God’s Word. These words especially keep us praying and hoping: “Remember the word to your servant, upon which You have cause me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:35-37)
Grateful and hopeful in Christ
Don & Ginny
Dear Friends and Family,
We are pleased to announce that Ginny has been approved by her insurance company to have the spinal procedure she needed. This request has been pending for months. It finally came thanks to the Saddleback Valley School District. We are deeply appreciative of their consideration and positive decision. A decision on when to implement this procedure however has yet to be made.
Next Monday, September 10th Ginny will have completed her six cycle chemo treatment. Wow! What a journey! With that completed she will consult Tuesday, September 11 with the specialist at Cedar Sinai Hospital. He will evaluate her and her blood tests to see if she is a good candidate for a stem-cell transplant. We are hopeful she will be able to enter this program and press on to remission. The next day on Wednesday, September 13 she will also consult with another specialist about her need for a cortisone spinal shot to help ease her pain. All three doctors appointments are important steps to Ginny’s health.
A medical update will be written next week when we have more information. Until then we thank you for all your support during this long ordeal. We also would appreciate your prayers.
Hopeful,
Don & Ginny
Dear Family & Friends,
We have long waited for September to arrive. It means Ginny has completed five chemo cycles and has only one more to endure. On September 10th we have a landmark appointment with the specialist at Cedars Sinai. He will evaluate her progress and take tests to determine if she is a good candidate for a stem cell transplant. If so, he may give her a few weeks off for good behavior and then begin the grueling process of the stemcell process. In some ways we can’t wait to get this going. In another way there is a lot of uncertainty about blood harvesting, isolation, harsh chemo, hair loss, nausia….and things not yet considered. We are definitely, however, hopeful and looking forward.
Ginny has had the most incredible care from doctors and her care-givers. They each in their own way give her daily encouragment and hope. She looks forward every day to spend time with her friends who come to love and care for her. They have a love for each other that is hard to explain. They read to her, pray with her, laugh, shop and eat together. They have become true sisters in Christ.
We were also pleased to have Ginny’s sister Marilyn and her brother n law Rollie Meyers stay with us recently for a few days. Ginny also had many of her teacher friends come and spend a morning with her. They ate and had a ball. How meaningful this was to her. All of these people in Ginny’s life contribute to her treasured memories from the past as well as making memories each time they are together.
Today Ginny needs to rest. Her pain has increased and spread to her legs and knees. This is likely a result of the spine issues she has been facing. We are still waiting for a response back to her 2nd appeal to the Insurance Company for a spinal proceedure that hopefully will relieve this pain.
Thanks to so many at the church who continually provide meals. They are a like manna(for me) because all I have to do is pick up the meals. Thanks also to those who shower Ginny with love. It means so much to both of us. We feel very unworthy yet blessed to be the object of so much love.
Pray with us as we face the future. I’ll try to give an update after we see the specialist on September 10th.
“Let my cry come before you, O Lord, give me (us) understanding according to your word. Let my plea come before you, deliver me according to your word. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your truth. Let your hand be ready to help me….Let my soul live and praise you….” (Psalm 119:169,170-171, 173,175)
Persevering by faith
Don & Ginny Smith
