Journal entry by Patricia Stitcher —
Beloved family, friends and prayer partners,
Though it has been a while since I had events with which to update my life course, there has been a day-by-day journey of trust and faith in God's loving plans. Since January I have been receiving a week of oral chemotherapy each month and riding the peaks and valleys of secondary effects until the next cycle. I am very grateful that my tolerance to these medications has been acceptable and that my every 2-month brain MRI scans have not yet shown a clear recurrence of my cancer. Thank you, Abba, for your immense mercy.
Much of these past 4 months, after my radiation treatment, has been in my recovery and being at Patty's side as she too has confronted severe health issues. We believe that God's love has allowed me to be present with her and to help in the many ways she has needed. Her many health issues are not yet resolved but we see a path forward with time and great grace needed.
I (Rick) will have 2 to 8 more monthly cycles of chemotherapy before I exhaust the current approved treatments. In parallel, I have pursued a personalized cancer vaccine which is being developed in Germany under a compassionate use protocol. This oncology group has identified a number of mutations in my brain cancer which can be used as targets for my own immune system to attack. There are no predictions of success in this approach, and it requires self-funding, which we are fortunately to be able to cover. It will be another 3-4 months before the vaccine is available to receive. Patty and I will need to fly to Germany nearly monthly to receive this vaccine until it is exhausted, or my cancer recurs.
We are so grateful to be back near our extended family and many friends who have so intentionally encouraged use and lavished love. Thank you from all our hearts. And you our friends throughout the US and the world, your unrelenting love and faith have supported us in both stable days and days of despair. We would so delight in seeing each of you again, but, in light of my disease and treatment this is unlikely to occur. Please do not stop believing with us that regardless of God's path is for us, His hands lead and are bringing us into His glorious presence.
We love you,
Rick and Patty
Though it has been a while since I had events with which to update my life course, there has been a day-by-day journey of trust and faith in God's loving plans. Since January I have been receiving a week of oral chemotherapy each month and riding the peaks and valleys of secondary effects until the next cycle. I am very grateful that my tolerance to these medications has been acceptable and that my every 2-month brain MRI scans have not yet shown a clear recurrence of my cancer. Thank you, Abba, for your immense mercy.
Much of these past 4 months, after my radiation treatment, has been in my recovery and being at Patty's side as she too has confronted severe health issues. We believe that God's love has allowed me to be present with her and to help in the many ways she has needed. Her many health issues are not yet resolved but we see a path forward with time and great grace needed.
I (Rick) will have 2 to 8 more monthly cycles of chemotherapy before I exhaust the current approved treatments. In parallel, I have pursued a personalized cancer vaccine which is being developed in Germany under a compassionate use protocol. This oncology group has identified a number of mutations in my brain cancer which can be used as targets for my own immune system to attack. There are no predictions of success in this approach, and it requires self-funding, which we are fortunately to be able to cover. It will be another 3-4 months before the vaccine is available to receive. Patty and I will need to fly to Germany nearly monthly to receive this vaccine until it is exhausted, or my cancer recurs.
We are so grateful to be back near our extended family and many friends who have so intentionally encouraged use and lavished love. Thank you from all our hearts. And you our friends throughout the US and the world, your unrelenting love and faith have supported us in both stable days and days of despair. We would so delight in seeing each of you again, but, in light of my disease and treatment this is unlikely to occur. Please do not stop believing with us that regardless of God's path is for us, His hands lead and are bringing us into His glorious presence.
We love you,
Rick and Patty
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