Stem Cell Transplant on the Calendar

Just arrived home from a meeting with my oncologist. I finally have the information regarding the date that I start my second stem cell transplantation. The date is, of all days, Valentine’s Day. As some of you know I will be part of a clinical trial. I will be the first person with this particular regimen of drugs and chemo. Not only did Avis and I spend time with my oncologist but also with the bone marrow coordinator and the clinical trial coordinator. I will begin with a powerful drug five days before my hospital stay and was warned that there could be many side effects during this time.

Last week I was talking with our Nashville friend Judy Nelon, whose church background is with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). I was telling her of this clinical trial and my hope that I would be in remission for at least two years. The doctors tell me that multiple myeloma is not curable but treatable. Judy took me aback with “Doesn’t your Church of God believe in healing?!” Well, I said “Yes.”

I got to thinking, why I am so afraid? Do I have enough faith that I can be healed? That is something that I struggle with and wonder why I can’t just believe that God is going to heal me. Is that part of the plan? There are so many praying for me and they seem to have the faith that I lack. This is certainly a scary time in my life, but maybe as February 14 draws closer I can feel the calm assurance I need to begin this new chapter in my life.

Tests for Transplant

Yesterday (12-29-10) I was given several tests to see if my body was well enough for a stem cell transplant. Everything checked out okay and the plan is to begin the procedure sometime during the week of January 10, 2011. The fifteen days in the hospital might put me in remission for at least two years.

The transplant coordinator gave me some bad news that the longer I have multiple myeloma, the harder it is to control. On the bright side, there is more research with the hopes of finding a cure.

I am thankful for all the prayers on my behalf.

Fourth Anniversary

December 7, 2010

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the day when my doctor leaned over his desk and said these seven words: “David, it looks like you have cancer.” Believe me that will start one contemplating one’s mortality. At least, in my case I had to rethink what was really important in my life.

Last year I thought of the expression, “When life throws you a curve ball...” I added, “You need a big mitt.” My big mitt included my wife, Avis, and the rest of my family. It doesn’t stop there: my Sunday school class, my quest group, the hundreds of encouraging notes I’ve received from David Coolidge’s e-mail ministry, friends from college, and at least twelve Baptist churches in Alabama have prayed for me. That’s important.

Soon after the news of my cancer, I started thinking about God’s word. I grew up in the church but had never read through the whole Bible. I began reading at Psalms and read straight through to Revelation. Reading from Genesis to Job was difficult, but I managed to read at least a chapter a night until I was finished, nine months later. Recently I was given a copy of Eugene Peterson’s The Message. I find myself wanting to read more than just one chapter a night as I had planned.

Last week, I received the best news from my oncologist. The markers that demonstrate the activity of myeloma have dropped from six thousand to five hundred. This indicates that I will qualify for my second stem cell transplantation in January. It also means that it is unnecessary for any chemo or any further mantenence at this time.