The Clip-Date

Today we received the final results from the LP; there is no sign of any cancer/leukemia!  Praise Jesus!  They are now more comfortable moving forward with CLIPPERS as his diagnosis. After a rough transition last week, Andy is now feeling fairly stable on his current steroids dose (20mg daily).  There hasn't yet been any increase in symptoms, so we are hopeful. As we look forward to beginning another month, and yes, we are taking life in small chunks these days, we have a couple of specific areas that you could keep in prayer. Naturally, we continue to pray that he will do well at his current med level.  According to the neurologists and based on what limited information there is about this disease, he's at a steroid level now where he could start to see a recurrence of symptoms.  Let's just see if we can avoid that, shall we? We would also ask for prayer that we would have wisdom as we research next treatment options.  Andy will see the UCSD team in early ...

I know that I've been sharing a lot lately, but it feels like we have a number of plates spinning and it helps me to write, to put things into words.  Thank you, dear friends, for your patience.  Happily, this one is all good news! First and foremost, today's LP was a success!  The doctor (a new one, not Kathy Bates) had clearly read Andy's chart and was well prepared.  He took extra steps to make Andy comfortable, and he collected more fluid than was necessary so that if they want to throw in any additional lab testing, they will have extra fluid and they won't have to call Andy back.  After his experience last time, this doctor was such an answer to prayer! We also received the latest MRI results: His c-spine doesn't show ANY lesions or areas of active inflammation. His t-spine has some remaining lesions but no new ones, and no active inflammation. His brain does have one remaining lesion, but it is smaller than it was on the last scan and the others "appear ...

We have a full week ahead so I wanted to share our calendar highlights... This coming Tuesday, 04/13/21, Andy will be having a repeat set of MRI scans on his brain, cervical spine, and thoracic spine.  They want to compare them to his scans from November and December and see if the steroids are doing their job and making a difference.  We are praying for fewer ( or no)  lesions.  He's at radiology so often now that I really do think that they should give him a punch card.  You know, "pay for nine scans, get one free."  It would be a nice gesture on their part.   On Thursday, 04/15/21, he'll be going in for another attempt at the lumbar puncture.  Obviously, we'd like him to avoid the nightmare that he endured last time.  Oh!  That's at radiology, too, so he'd get a punch on his card for this test as well! Next Sunday, 04/18/21, he is scheduled to taper down the steroids again.  We'll be in communication with his neurologists af...