More Concerns for the Great Physician

I reluctantly created this website. I had apprehensions because so many of the blogs I’ve read end in sadness and death. Nonetheless, I chose to create the site as a way to bring us hope, to share our info, and to focus our lives on prayer.

With that, Brian and I are choosing to pray without ceasing, to believe that the Great Physician will intervene and lay His healing hands on Brian.

So the path report came, and it wasn’t as bad as my mind has let it become. Albeit, it wasn’t good news; there are multiple areas of concern for melanoma recurrence, many of which are in areas where melanoma was removed in February. The area around the left kidney is riddled with spots, and the concerning bulge on the right adrenal gland in May has grown, which shows itself to likely be melanoma. There is also concern in the pocket of fluid near the pancreas, although that hasn’t been discerned yet because it is masked by the massive fluid collection. This makes it hard to determine what we are dealing with in this area. Frankly, it wouldn’t surprise us at all because of the fact that this hasn’t healed from the surgery. Disheartening, yes…surprising, no.

Brian already had a CT scan planned for Wed. morning, plus appts. with both Dr. Miller and Dr. Anderson. I have spent hours upon hours researching our next step, and it will be a hard decision. Dr. Anderson and I have narrowed down a few options, and I guess at this point, it feels good to know there are still options.

Saturday brought some additional worries, as Brian is experiencing weakness on his right side, particularly in his leg. This makes for a real challenge in walking, as his left leg never is all that stable, and he’s still battling pain from the sprained left ankle. There are no real good explanations for this weakness, although I did choose to make some up. They are all real possibilities, and we pray that we can get some answers to this concern this week as well.

One cause…maybe from loss of muscle mass, as he has literally sat on the couch or been in bed since he sprained his ankle on May 23rd. This was a sudden change from the activity he was experiencing since he was teaching basically up until then. This wouldn’t explain why his bad leg is stronger than the good one.

Another possibility…could be a side effect from the stereotactic radiosurgery on his brain in January. It is odd that this would just now be showing up, although Dr. Anderson tells me it is not completely out of the ordinary. Plus, the area of Brian’s previous lesion was in an area of his brain that would affect the right side, and the neurosurgeon was surprised in Jan. that Brian hadn’t experienced any lost mobility on his right side.

Maybe…he might be affected by a slight change in medicine, although I admit, it is a stretch.

Last, and one I hate to even mention…these symptoms are obvious symptoms of another brain tumor and/or growth in the current one. I wish I could say this is only a remote possibility, but actually it is what makes the most sense. All the other possibilities are much less likely than this.

We can’t move forward until reevaluating the brain. I have notified his doctor of this concern, and they are working to get an MRI of the brain this week too. Most of the options that Dr. Anderson and I have discussed can go forward, regardless of the brain issue. It will just be a matter of whether there needs to be immediate treatment of the brain or not.

Again, we choose to be hopeful in a loving God, hopeful for a reasonable explanation for this that is minor in the big scheme.

It has been a difficult few days. Brian is holding up well. I am honored to share my life with him, and look forward to our future together. We pray that the Lord walks with us during this difficult time, and that there are many years ahead of us, together as a family.

It is not for us to know, but to trust the One who does.

Many blessings for an ordinary, wonderful week for us all,
Jenni