Christen received her Continuous Passive Motion machine yesterday and is doing very well using it. She remains pleasant, going with the flow of things (which are almost always uncertain). We are blessed to meet many wonderful care givers and staff here while also missing our UVA group. I won't even get into how much we miss being at home with our immediate family and all of you!!!!!!! However, we rest in knowing that this is God's plan for now.
We still do not have the complete results back yet. The preliminary results are that 1/3 of the tumor cells have died. (No word yet on the possible skip lesion.) This puts Christen into the poor response group which has a 60% event-free survival rate. Only one-fourth to one-third of osteosarcoma patients do get a good response as the cancer is very aggressive. We all would have wanted to have heard of much better results, but we know that our true hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth. His ways and plans are better than our own. He is working out His purposes for our good. We are all learning more about placing our joy in Him, and being more grateful for each blessing and gift He has given. Christen and I will be staying here in Philadelphia for her next chemo treatment which most likely will start tomorrow. This seemed to be the best choice with the least amount of upheaval, since we are still here. This is the really tough chemo which knocks her counts down to around 0. Pray that she'll be able to handle it well and that good healing will take place. Her surgery site looks beautiful---not to mention her smile :-).
Many thanks for your love and prayers.
Trusting in God's goodness,
Steve & Debbie
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11 comments:
Thank you for the update. We will cry out to the Lord for mercy and healing for Christen.
We are happy to hear that Christen's spirits are good, and that she has her CPM machine. We love all of you!
Christen and your family continue to be in our prayers. We love you.
The Clark family
oh wow. i'm so sorry. praying for you over there....
As much as we miss you...please stay there and give Christen the best care possible with the least upheaval. We are praying for you with huge hugs and germy kisses which we will try to keep to ourselves. ;0
anonymous was me....
Dear Steve and Debbie we love you all. We will not stop praying for you. God loves you all. Taking one day at a time is how God helps us, to stop and look at the little things God does for us. Your family is so loved and so many people are praying for all of you. Please tell Christen we love her and are praying for her. Take care of each other and stay close. Love Always, Uncle Tom and Sue
Being a numbers person myself, I can really identify with how important all these numbers, counts, and percentages can be at a time like this. However, I am quickly reminded that God does not need our number systems to accomplish His work. If that weren't the case, He couldn't have fed 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 small fish. Those numbers just don't add up.
God loves to surprise us just when we think things couldn't get any darker. That's part of the beauty of Christ's resurrection. Even death itself couldn't hold our Savior in the grave.
We are continuing to pray that God will heal Christen completely and give each of you everything you need to keep your focus on Him. As you said, He is the source of your true joy. Numbers are nothing more than a tool in His hands to lead us to pray and worship.
We love you all and miss your happy faces.
God bless,
Kathy : )
"You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast...He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen." Deut 10:20, 21
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor 4:16-18
Dear Debbie, Steve
Please stay strong for Christen. always thinking of you.
Love you all, sima
I remember asking Christopher's Dr. what was his prognosis at various stages. Prognosis helps you decide on treatment options but he reminded me that regardless of stats whatever happened to Chris was a 100%. His answer bothered me at first but then I realized it was true. My conclusion was to plan for what would "probably" happen but stay flexible and know that Our Father is 100% loving and faithful. You know all this but I'm just remembering those days and sad for you and continuing to pray. I'm glad you're at CHOP for this next round.
Patty
Steve, Debbie and Christen,
We love you all and are praying for you. I love what Patty Rice wrote - in Christ Christen's prognosis is 100%! It's 100% because that's His promise to those who love Him. Her life is eternal - no matter how long or short on this earth - the ultimate diagnosis is 100%!!! Praise God for his wonderful eternal hope for us!
"Therefore my brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor. 15:58
We love you!!!! And are praying for you!!!,
Ben and Michelle
Steve, Debbie, and Christen,
What a loving faithful family you are. What blessing to have the caring, quality care of skilled doctors, nurses, and therapists.
It is evident that God has given you strength and courage to proceed thus far; I remember a Young Adults study many years ago where we all focused on Joshua and his message of "Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) And He is with you in the midst of each day's joys and challenges, providing courage to do the next thing.
On "Jonah" days, I return to Isaiah 26:3 "He will keep in perfect peace the one who stays his mind on Him." There is no earthly peace when our children's welfare is concerned; however, God has not written the last chapter of this story yet. Our hope is always in Him, His goodness,a nd His mercy.
Oh, how we are praying for you, with affection and deep compassion.
The Pugh Family
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