Not having spoke about it to each other, both Gary and I met this month's appointment with much anxiety. Two months ago, his white count went up instead of down. Then last month we saw the number fall slightly, at least moving once again in the right direction. Being a busy month for our company, Gary met the physical challenges of being a business owner and worked without skipping a beat through the Thanksgiving holiday. It took it's toll on him and he managed to log in more naps than usual, which we encouraged.
As I waited to meet Gary at his appointment, I sat on a bench just outside the Baptist Cancer Center and watched as an ambulance transported a small child, his concerned mother hovering safely beside the gurney; a husband helping his wife, with her walker and turban coiffed head to their car; a daughter helped her elderly father, one eye fully patched from a recent procedure, get in her car as she assisted him with his seat belt for what I assumed to be the drive home; a wigged woman came out of the automatic doors just behind me; and I looked to the west parking lot as my husband of 34 years locked his work truck and with a healthy stride, walked toward me with a reassuring smile, as if to say he was glad, once again, that I was accompanying him to these difficult appointments. At that moment, I realized I had so much to be thankful for... by all appearances, we were a lot better off than most.
Our appointment began with one good report after another. Gary's weight and vitals were excellent, including an excellent BP. Dr. Guthrie walked in with a smile and immediately stated Gary's red count was normal, his platelets were normal and his white count had come down from 14,800 to 12,000. (That's almost 3000 points from last month!) He proceeded to poke and prod Gary's upper-body lymph nodes and couldn't find anything enlarged. Here are his words as best as I can remember...
"I am very pleased with this months results. I looked at your blood with my eye under the microscope and I still see a few cancer cells in the smear, but not near as many as when you first came here. I want your blood to be stone-cold perfect before we take you off the Chlorambucil/Prednisone. Perfect for you will be around 9000 so it won't be too long. Can you handle this, Gary? (Gary shook his head emphatically 'yes.') This way, your remission will last a lot longer until you have to face this again. By the time you need treatment again, you will hopefully be 65 and have Medicare coverage, giving you an opportunity at new or other treatment options each time you face this. Who knows, we may try the Chlorambucil again since you're having such favorable results. Through the hundreds of patients I have treated, we've seen so many success stories. This cancer will always be with you, but it won't kill you. You'll probably die of other causes."
Gary and I looked at each other and busted out in laughter, knowing he was probably right. Gary is kindred to a cat with nine lives, only we've lost count as to how many he has left!
This was such good news. Dr. Guthrie wrote the chemotherapy prescriptions for the next four months but said he doubted we would need to fill them all. We shook hands and said goodbye until next months appointment in January.
As Gary and I stood together waiting for the elevator down to the main floor, my heart was overwhelmingly relieved by everything that just happened. We pray, you pray, ask God, believe God, cry, cry out to God, and sometimes even lose faith (even though you don't) while going through the cancer motions. I couldn't stop the tears of joy as my body leaked the built-up emotion inside of me. "Thank You Jesus" was all I could mutter through my tears. Those waiting for the same elevator completely understood.
Dr. Guthrie reiterated the Chlorambucil is still killing off the cancer cells present in Gary's blood so we continue to pray for:
- the chemotherapy to single out the cancerous cells ONLY, leaving healthy cells alone
- the drugs to go out and accomplish what they were intended to do and not return void
- Gary to have continued strength and stamina as he nears remission
- rest for the weary in well-dong
Merry
Christmas and thank you for standing with our family through this
difficult time. You are the greatest gift of all!Just like the tag in Rita Springer's song,
His mercy goes on and on and on and on and on and....
Chrissy Larson
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