Remember what they say about assumptions...well, the assumptions that the team of doctors here at Northwestern were making about the bone marrow biopsy results have surprised them once again! This is Adam, Mary's son, and I have been with her since last night anxiously awaiting the team of doctors' visit so they could tell us that they would be moving forward with her treatment plan.
The team came in this morning about 8:00 and told us that they would probably start moving forward with a treatment option that would include a low-dose chemo and a new drug called Nexavar (Sorafenib), and they asked me if I had been able to talk with the pharmacy in regards to getting the Nexavar shipped to us. I then spent some time getting that lined up, and started doing some research about the drug and what we could expect. That is when the assumptions started to turn into frustration, because one of the doctors came back in about a half hour ago to tell us some surprising news.
The doctors have been aware for quite some time that Mom has a condition called FLT-3, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD135, and they were under the impression that when the results of the bone marrow biopsy came back, that they would find the FLT-3 present in her cells once again. Well, they are completely shocked and somewhat baffled that they did not find the FLT-3 present, which completely changes the treatment plan that they had set up for her to possibly start today. They are going to send another sample to test in order to see if the results might have been inaccurate.
What they do know based on the bone marrow results, is that her Leukemia (AML) is officially back in her system, and that is what has caused her blood levels to be completely out of the ordinary. Knowing that, they will need to start a chemo regiment, but because of the surprise of the FLT-3 not being present, they are still unsure as to what type of chemo she will be starting. As you can tell, I'm trying my best to explain what the doctors have told us, but this is all very difficult for us to understand or comprehend, and that is to be expected when the doctors themselves were completely shocked by the results. One thing that I am confident about, is that this team of doctors will do whatever it takes to find the answers, and we feel confident in Dr. Jessica and her team that they will put Mom on the correct treatment plan in order to rid her body of this cancer and get her into remission again. Dr. Jessica has been on the phone with many other physicians around the country, and is looking at the data of some clinical trials to find out the next best steps to take. She is the perfect fit for Mom, and we have no doubt that she will do everything possible to help Mom OVERCOME again!!!
Mom was initially upset by the news, because the treatment plan was set up and she thought her stay in the hospital would be shorter than what she experienced a few years ago. Please pray for peace within her to know that we truly don't have any of those answers yet, and the length of stay has yet to be determined. I am doing my best to let her know that only God truly knows the plan, and that no matter what, we have to rid her body of the Leukemia no matter how long that takes. Just like before, Mom is strong, and she told me she is ready for the battle...and the doctors also told me this morning that her organs and body overall is very strong and can take anything that they decide to treat her with! As they say in the movie Braveheart..."Are you ready for a war!!!" Pray for Mom to be ready, no matter what the treatment plan, and no matter what other "surprises" are thrown her way! I will try and send another update later today if we know more, but they told us it would probably be another day or so before they could give us more direction.
Thank you all for your prayers! And our whole family also wanted to say a special thanks to all of our family and friends who have made meals, dropped of gas cards, come up to stay with her or see her, and supported all of us and my Mom in so many different ways...you are amazing and your love does not go unnoticed....we love you back! Just pray...then pray a little more,
Adam Provance
Alright, this is good news. :) Mary, I'm not sure how this will be taken, but I've been studying James over the past several weeks, and a couple of verses that hit me right in the heart are James 1:2-4 (from the Message translation) "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." Adam's right, God knows His plan, no matter how long it takes. A wise son you've raised! :) Keep fighting, because we're still praying!! Love you all!
ReplyDeleteDana,
DeleteI read Mom your post and she said that it is the perfect verse! She wanted me to tell you thank you for sending that to her! "Not deficient in any way"...that's what we know Christ can do in her life!
Hi Provances,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know that all of us Sheedy's are lifting you up in prayer. We are also very confident in your doctors up there and know that they will do EVERYTHING to get you well. When we were going through the time with my Dad I got out my older Steven Curtis Chapman music and it was very comforting to me, so just wanted to pass it on. We are with you in spirit. If you guys need anything don't hesitate to let me know.
Love,
Laurie
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