Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Shrinking, Benign, and Dead Tumors

We got the results from yesterday's CT Scan--basically, good news with some caveats. Before I tell you the specifics, let me say that when we were back at Park Plaza Hospital, awaiting Maura's surgery in April, I found myself in the chapel, unable to even form the words of a prayer. I was too overwhelmed. Lydia said, "That's okay, Mom, Just find a word. Or maybe a few, and whatever they are, just offer them up as a prayer." So I did. I could only come up with the words shrinking, benign, and dead tumors.  I just kept saying them over and over because I didn't have the energy or the brainpower to form any coherent prayer. I figured God could make sense of it all.  I wrote them down in the prayer book as I left the chapel.  
So, this is how things stand as of now:
Shrinking: 
The tumors are responding well to the chemo.  As an example, the largest tumor, measuring in at 8.8 cm in the CT scan just prior to chemo, is now at 4.5 cm.
Benign:
The supposed large tumor behind her ovary isn't a tumor.
Dead Tumors: 
By the time Maura started chemo, she had way more than the seven tumors that showed up on the PET scan in May.  She had tumors" too numerous to count." Lots of little buggers.  They are dying off. Some of the biggies have lots of necrotic tissue on the inside, so they are "mostly dead" like Wesley in The Princess Bride. Some of the tinies are just all dead.  The fluid that was around her liver is gone, which is good, but I can't remember why.

Lots of progress, yet still lots of tumor.   Dr. B. says that it is still a long, hard, uphill road to follow, but that these first round results are "spectacular". 
Maura is ready for round 2 of chemo that starts in the morning. When we compare her condition this past week with that of the week prior to Round 1 of chemo, we are amazed and thankful.  The week before Round 1 of chemo she was throwing  up three or four times per day and she was in pain.  This week, before Round 2,  she has had almost no nausea and very little pain. Thank you so much for your prayers and concern. Please keep praying.  

13 comments:

Allison Rihn said...

that is the most beautiful thing i've heard all day! prayers really do work! :)

Lydia DeSouza said...

Maura = The Bald and the Beautiful. Just sayin. I'm dancing here because I'm so happy. Seriously. NOTHING can steal this joy at 1 am in the morning...well...having to wake up tomorrow (correction today) at 6 am to go to a million push ups is slightly heinous...but NO, not even the pushups!!! WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MIRACLE...

and_she_sang said...

crying as I read this - I'm so thankful and ever praising the Most High. Thank you, dear Lord, for blessing Maura and her family. Thank you, Lord, for answering prayers. Thank you, Lord, for being amazing, all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. Our God loves bigger than anyone could ever comprehend, and his love for Maura clearly knows no bounds. Praise God for Maura.

Nikki Belshe, MT-BC said...

God is good all the time!!! I'm so happy right now! I will continue to pray for your family.

Erika said...

I can wait to tell our family here in Ribeirão Preto the good news. Everyone is praying for Maura and all of you!God bless you all! we love you!!

Lauren said...

i am so excited to hear this fabulous news!!! it has made my day to hear how well Maura is doing.

Janet Muzal said...

Erin, what you say makes me think of Psalm 6: "The Lord has heard the sound of my crying. The Lord has heard my plea for mercy. The Lord accepts my prayer." Yea,God! Hurray, Maura! "We will boast in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7) And on we pray...

Carolyn said...

Glad to hear Maura's progress, Erin. Keep on fighting!

jucineia said...

Erin, the only words in my mind are THANKYOU LORD, i am drawning in tears, God is great, he is so oshom!I love you all...soooo much!

Jim Coffey said...

Hey Toby,
My name is Iñigo Montoya,
I killed your brothers,
prepare to DIE.

---
Sorry, I just couldn't resist a Princess Bwide quote.

----
Isn't prayer wonderful !!!

p.s. Matt buzzed his hair, have you seen it yet?

The Aguilar's Blog said...

Erin,
I am so glad to read about this progress! I will keep sending positive vibes your way!

Macarena

sweetmama said...

Wow! This is GREAT news! I'm so happy to hear that things are moving so well, and look forward to more and more good news.

Love,
Marcy

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Hi! I'm a friend of your friend Judy. I've been praying for Maura ever since Judy told us about her and I've been reading your blog to keep up on what to pray about. I am so happy to read this post!!! Thank You Lord!!! I'm continuing to pray!!!

blessings, zudagay