Steve Austin

Steve was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) in Dec. 2010. He went through 4 months of chemotherapy and the 21 days of radiation therapy, finishing in June of 2011. He had a good response to treatment and had returned to work as an aircraft mechanic in Spokane, then began working in Hayden ID. We moved into our dream log home on over 10 acres this past summer.
    Just before Christmas 2011, he had a follow up PET scan that showed his cancer had recurred. Because it had recurred less than 6 months following treatment, they recommended a stem cell transplant (also known as a bone marrow transplant). Basically they give him chemo to put him into remission, then harvest his own stem cells, give him massive doses of chemo to kill all his own immune system and bone marrow, then re-infuse his own stem cells back into him and wait for it "to take". Or in Steves words "they're going to re-boot me". Using his own cells prevents the problem of possible rejection of a donors cells, and gives up to 70% chance of CURE.
    I (Denine) am currently on FMLA from my job as a home health nurse to be his caregiver while we are in Seattle for treatment. He is being treated at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) affiliated w/ the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Hospital.  We arrived here in late March after doing some preliminary chemo in Idaho. Hopefully will be heading home in mid June.
     Many thanks to all our family and friends for the many prayers said for us, and helping our kids so the place doesn't fall apart while we are gone.
     As we have gone through and continue to go through this process, the verse that has helped me the most and I keep reminding myself of is Phillipians 4:6-7 "Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus".

Update:  On June 21, Cliff Hall set up a donation fund in Steve's name at Wells Fargo Bank, for anyone who feels led to assist us financially during this rough time. He is also coordinating anything that may need to be done at our home until we return. Thank you all for supporting us, we are truly grateful.  Denine, Steve and the kids.