Hi blogger buddies and happy Halloween!. This is Chance, Bonnie and Ricky's dog, in her banana costume. Now for a short update as to what is going on with my disease and the clinical trial that I'll be starting soon. As I posted last week, there has been some growth. The tumor in the upper left lung grew slightly but that's not the worry. I am developing ascites in the pelvic, gut area. This is consistent with progressive metastatic cancer. The fluid is filled with cancer cells and causing some inflammation in the lining of the small intestines. The clinical trial I will be on will hopefully stop the progression. It has worked for some and other not, so please keep me in your prayers as that it works for me. I should be able to start the week of the 9th. I've already had an EKG and blood work that came back "awesome" as the coordinator said. The drugs are a combo of 3 kinds that work together to stop the blood flow to the cells. Hopefully I won't have too bad of side effects. I know they have lots of drugs to help with the nausea and aches and I shouldn't lose my hair. My life at this point is very uncertain but God remains my rock and my salvation. He knows when I was born and only He knows when I will leave this home. This is like being in labor. As I've been going through this cancer, my body has been changing...as does one who is pregnant. Then as time goes on the labor starts and it gets harder. In the end there is a birth, only this time the birth is my rebirth into Heaven. Someday I will be reborn into Heaven but as I said, only He knows the day and time. Until that day comes, I will continue to enjoy each day and praise God for it. He has gotten me this far with the disease and if He chooses I will be fighting it for many years to come. Thank you for your prayers. I know He listens to us all even when we don't know it. Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us". Infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires thoughts or hopes.

Hi Blogger Buddies, It's been two months since I last blogged and I've been busy with some traveling. The pics are of my friend Linda and me in Hawaii. We had a great time house sitting in Kona, going on hikes, snorkeling and visiting the black sand beaches with the turtles, and of course the volcano. Then the other pics are of the Oregon at "Inn at Otter Bay" which is only 3 hours south of Portland right on the coast. The sunsets were so clear and vibrant! A great time with beautiful weather. I know, that is amazing! We were blessed to watched whales, seal, otters, birds and beautiful sunsets from our balcony. Gods creations right in view! Once I got home to rest I went in for my routine CT. The results came back showing a slight growth in the small tumor in the left upper lung and inflammation with fluid build up in the area around the site of the original tumor except on the outside of the rectum instead of the interior. Doc believes it's from disease progression and recommends I get into a clinical trial that is offered at UCSF. So in the next week I'll be going to UCSF for lots of blood work and test to see if I qualify. If so, then I'll be starting asap. I'll be taking two new drugs with the Avastin that I was already on. The hope is that the drugs will either slow down the progression or stop the growth all together for a time. So please put me in your prayers that I do qualify and that the drugs work and get me to NED. There are so many ups and downs when fighting a chronic disease such as cancer but knowing that people are other there supporting me in thoughts and prayers makes the journey so much easier to handle. On the morning of my Ct follow up, I was walking through the park with my sister, and up in the sky was a big beautiful rainbow. Rainbows reminds me that God is there for me and loves me. That really helped me to get through the appointment. Then on the way home from the appointment there was another rainbow. I had this forbearing feeling, like a heavy weight or dark cloud over me but once I saw the rainbow again I knew He was watching over me. This verse helps me to understand how God wants to help us. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. God has taken the burden of my disease and is carrying it for me. He does that to everyone who asks.
Again, thank you all for your continued love and support to me and to my family. God bless you and I'll blog soon!!!