Before our update, just a quick thank you for everyone who has offered help with the meals, the yard work, the car issues, the cleaning...these past few weeks have been incredibly difficult and the support of our community has been such a blessing and burden-breaker. Thank you. 😇 💙

Today, we believe we serve a miracle-working God. Today we ask for your prayers that God would do miraculous things in Bill.

Over the last 18 days of this hospital stay, Bill has struggled with severe nausea, pain, and breathing difficulties. There is additional build up of cancerous fluid in his lungs and abdomen which have led to further complications. He has dealt with vomiting, undiagnosed fevers, low oxygen levels and extreme fatigue/weakness. He has been prodded, poked, examined, and tested constantly. 

His pain is better controlled with the PCA pain pump, but his nausea, fluid build-up and fevers are still a concern. He is at high risk for additional and significant complications.

After a clarifying and difficult conversation with Dr. Gupta this morning, we learned the immunotherapy treatment Bill started on Wednesday is pretty much the last viable cancer-fighting option for Bill at UMFairview. He is currently taking four oral pills daily and receiving a weekly infusion. The statistics state that about 2/3 of patients see some effect from this treatment, with one third of patients seeing a decrease in the cancer. We have been told that if there is progress, we should see it very quickly- within a week or two. Please pray that Bill is part of that one third that sees a significant decrease in the cancer and that he sees it quickly.  🙏

During the conversation, we also discussed the dreaded "H" word (hospice). We are choosing to believe for the best and prepare for the worst. Please pray that we will be able to gracefully have honest, difficult conversations and make wise decisions regarding Bill's care and comfort.  🙏

We are also in the midst of connecting with the Mayo Clinic to see if they have any viable options for Bill's complex situation. Please pray his documents would be seen by just the right doctors, and they would have creative and successful alternatives for his condition. 🙏

Bill is tired and weary. Being in the hospital this long has been difficult. Please pray he feels well enough and/or we find ways to manage his symptoms at home. The hospital, despite the excellent nursing staff, is not a comforting place for Bill right now. He needs to be home in his bed, with his new puppy, and surrounding by the love he deserves. 

Please continue to pray for a miraculous healing for Bill as we take courage and strength from Paul's words in Ephesians 3:  

¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ✝ ❤️