July Immunotherapy

Mom, Dad, and I were all just talking about how long it feels like it's been since Mom last had an infusion! Shockingly, it’s actually only one week later than she normally would have had it, but it feels like a long time since her last one. I guess the stem cell retrieval process felt like it took a long time, but in reality it was only two days! 

Mom has been recovering well from the retrieval. She was a little tired for a bit afterwards, and she had to be careful with her neck where they had inserted the retrieval catheter, but thankfully that has healed very well! The wound and bruising are actually almost completely gone.


Today Mom had her immunotherapy infusion. Dad went with her to this appointment again, which was great! At this point, I think his favourite part of these appointments is getting a new book to read from the little book-sharing library in the hospital waiting room! That was a 10/10 addition to the waiting room. 


The infusion went well and was (thankfully) uneventful. They give Mom Tylenol and Benadryl before her infusion to help avoid any reactions but this makes her pretty tired, so she had a good sleep when she got home. 


Earlier this month, Mom had an iron infusion, and it helped her so much! Some of the lightheadedness she was feeling was actually due to low iron. We are very thankful that the iron infusion helped so much with this!


Thank you for all your continued prayers as we’ve journeyed through this past month. Right now the plan is to continue with the monthly Immunotherapy treatments and that someday (IF it’s even needed - to quote Dr. A) Mom will have her stem cell transplant. For now, it’s time to continue with the regular schedule. 


Prayer Requests:

  1. Praise God that the stem cell retrieval was a success.

  2. That Mom gets to celebrate her 60th birthday next week! 



“God sovereignly rules over our greatest adversities and heartaches, and pledges to be with us while we endure them. The Lord says to us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2). 

In Psalm 16:8 David says, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” To set the Lord before me is to recognize His presence and His constant help.

Psalm 13 begins, “How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” It ends, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me” (Verses 5-6). David travels a vast distance in a mere three verses. Like him, we can feel the pain of Psalm 13’s first four verses, while affirming the truths of its last two.” -Excerpt from The Book If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn



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