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April 16 Journal

 

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

 

1 Peter 5:10                  

 

I am just writing today because I am in need of prayer.    The GI Tract problems that brought me home from Maui and landed me in the hospital for five days continue to persist.   Biopsy results from the SCCA (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) conclude that I do have a Graft Versus Host (GVH) flare up in my GI Tract which was probably triggered by a viral infection.   The symptoms continue to be frequent and uncomfortable diarrhea.   Everything I eat just runs (literally) right through me.   I have been going into the clinic or the outpatient care facility at my local hospital every day for fluids and IV steroids.   The infusions are maintaining my fluids and blood chemistries, but they are not getting the GVH under control.   I have been battling this for 14 days now and it is frustrating and exhausting.   Doctors at the SCCA and my local doctor are working together to try and get the problem resolved, but current treatments are not working.  

 

I am asking for prayers to help me through this.   Pray that my doctors can find an effective treatment strategy to alleviate my symptoms soon.   I also need prayers to calm my fears.   GVH is a potentially serious issue and naturally I worry about keeping it under control.  

 

I do want to send a special thank you out to all of the doctors and nurses that have been helping me through this and treating me with incredible skill, kindness, and compassion. For example, I had a very special IV nurse named Carrie, who could sense my anxiety as she prepared to put in my IV.   Prior to starting she took my hand and prayed for me.   It ended up being the easiest and most painless IV I have ever received.  

 

 

 

Lastly, I wish everyone a wonderful Easter.   May this be a day where you are uplifted and filled with the awesome joy of knowing that Jesus Has Risen!   He has risen indeed!!!

 

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