Update

I’ve hesitated to write this post because I wanted to have the correct information before I posted. I spoke with my Mom about it and she encouraged me to post this because when we need prayer we have to reach out to others and let them know.

I got a call from my Doc’s assistant last week. The last test PCR test (detects the presence of Leukemia) was sent to a different lab. Experts recommend that it be sent to the same lab so that the testing protocol is the same and the results can be measured against previous tests. This test came back testing positive for Leukemia. You may remember that the previous test showed zero signs of Leukemia. This latest test showed levels that were actually higher than the original test sent to the original lab. Of course this was quite a shock considering just three months ago there were no signs of Leukemia. I had blood drawn this morning and it will be about two weeks before the results come back. I’m no expert on testing but it seems to me that if it shows the presence of Leukemia then it is there. So, we don’t know quite what to make of it. I don’t feel any different and I haven’t noticed anything out of the normal. Which isn’t uncommon with this disease. Ultimately, it doesn’t change the fact that I work to make the most of each day. It isn’t easy to do that even when we’re in the best of health but I believe we owe it to ourselves to at least try. So, I would appreciate prayer for better news from the retest, peace and good health.

Love to all,

Chip

well, hello to you too

If you haven’t noticed spring has sprung here in WV. I haven’t taken the time to publish any news posts lately. Notice I said, “publish”. The drafts that I have written have been about being aware of our impact on the environment, rising gas prices, ineffective government, religous intolerance and my angst in waiting for spring. Why haven’t I published them? Well, first I’m not an authority on envirnomental consciousness, my own ecnomic situation is not dramatically effected by gas prices, I am not doing anything on a grand enough scale to have an immediate impact on our local or state government, I’m not a religous scholar and most importantly, I cannot predict the weather and therefore, have waited in angst for spring. See why I haven’t been writing? LOL! Who wants to read my rantings? Poor Kate has to listen to them as it is.   

Anyway, things have been really good lately. Just last week my brother Rex, his awesome wife Sharon and Bernie the Cat visited on their drive from St. Louis to Rhode Island. We had an absolutely grand time. They’re both so much fun and it was especially nice to entertain. Kate and I are becoming quite skilled in the kitchen and really enjoy cooking for others. We’re actually volunteering at the YWCA shelter on April 19th where we will be cooking and serving people. That’s another subject I’ll write about more later.

Went to see Dr. Frame yesterday and the blood work is holding steady. There were virtually no changes in my blood work since my last tests in January. The liver function tests will be back this week and the tests looking for Leukemia cells won’t be back for another two weeks. I am feeling good about it all and believe that our prayers are being answered.

Kate and I are leaving Wednesday for a long weekend in Wilmington, NC visiting friends. We’re looking forward to sunshine, surf and great food. See our pics from Kure Beach last summer. That’s where we’re going, again. I’ll report the test results as they come in.

God Bless,

Chip