March 20, 2010 Update

(This is late due to a tardy updater - namely, me...Blessings, Camille)

Ok........an update is overdue, once again! Lots going on and this is always a busy time of the year, especially with these nice days......makes one want to get outside and forget the inside chores and such.






Evan will go to Kadlec in Richland on Monday for an IV Chemo. I am thankful for the great staff that we have met there. Children's Hospital's extension to Richland has been a wonderful thing for us, so that we don't have to travel to Seattle quite so often.

Several people have asked me the chemo routine that Evan is on, so I will try to put it down here, in a nutshell, so to speak. Each 42 day cycle (6 weeks) is counted as a "Round". Below will be an example of a "Round" of chemo. Days 0-4 are oral chemo treatments 6 hrs apart around the clock........example - 6am....12pm....6pm....12am

Day 0 - 1st oral chemo at 6pm
Day 1 - Oral chemo at 12am.....6am....12noon....6pm

Day 2 - Oral chemo at 12am.....6am....12noon....6pm
Day 3 - Oral chemo at 12am.....6am....12noon....6pm
Anti-nausea meds taken 1 hour before each chemo dose 4x this day
Day 4 - Oral chemo at 12am
Anti-nausea meds taken 1 hour before this chemo, also.
Day 14 - IV chemo at Kadlec Hospital in Richland
Day 28 - IV chemo at Kadlec Hospital in Richland

We are currently in the 2nd Round of his chemo treatments, being on Day 14 as of Monday, the 22nd.

Evan has recently been accepted as a "Wishing Star Kid" through the Wishing Star Foundation. It is a small, local organization that does great things for families and children with serious and terminal illnesses. One week ago we had two volunteers come out and meet some of our family. They were really nice. You can learn more about this organization at www.wishingstar.org



God continues to provide us with grace, strength and His peace in all that we have done, are doing and, by faith, going to do! He has taken care of us in so many amazing ways and we are so thankful for His faithfulness, even in times of our unfaithfulness. Amongst the many blessings, God has provided us with many wonderful family members and friends, both old and new! Thank you so much for your encouragement, love, prayers, support and donations!!
We feel your prayers and love! May God continue to be glorified in and through our home in all that we do and say!



Blessings,

David, Trena
AND family

March 5, 2010 Update

God is still on the throne no matter what happens!! Evan had his MRI yesterday at Children's Hospital in Seattle. The results weren't exactly what we were looking for, but it doesn't change anything in our trust in God! If anything, it even draws us closer to our Lord to trust Him in a still deeper way.

The MRI results stated that there was about 1-2mm growth in Evan's tumor. His oncologist told us that this was not real alarming to him, at this point, but it is definitely going to be something to watch when he has his next MRI in 3 months. He said that is there is continued growth then we will have to look at doing something different; meaning a change in doing a different, more aggressive chemo and/or radiation.

God's peace surrounds us in a magnificent way that words could never express! We are so thankful for the many prayers on Evan's behalf, and not to mention, our behalf! Thank you so much!

We will start Evan's oral Chemo tonight. His next IV treatments are already set up in Richland, Kadlec Hospital, for the middle and end of this month.....2 weeks apart.

Our continued prayer is that God would be mightily glorified in all that we do, say and think in our home and through our lives!

Blessings,

David and Trena

Jan/Feb Update 2010

Evan had his 1st IV Chemotherapy in Richland this last Monday, the 15th. It went well and he is scheduled to do all future IV Chemo treatments at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, rather than Seattle. We have appointments set up in Seattle on March 5 for an MRI and blood work. We will then pick up Evan's oral chemo meds for the 2nd round of chemo. The oral meds is the worst part of each 6 week round for Evan. He gets really sick and last time he spent those 3 plus days vomiting and sleeping excessively.

His Chemo routine is based on a 6 week schedule with Days 1 - 2 - 3 and part of 4th day being given oral chemo every 6 hrs round the clock. Day 14 is the IV Chemo and it is administered at Kadlec after routine blood work is drawn. Day 28 is the last IV Chemo at Kadlec Hospital after routine blood work. The end of this round is on Day 42 and then another round starts with Day 1....etc....At the beginning of each round we make an overnight trip to Seattle to see his oncologist, do blood work and pick up his oral chemo meds for the next round. Every other time we will be scheduled for an MRI. The plan is to do this for one year.

We are getting copies of Evan's blood work results each time and quite truthfully, it is distressing to see his blood counts decrease and also his weight dropping little by little. The dr. and nurses don't seem to be too overly concerned with these stats, but they do concern me.

I would be putting up a front if I said, "All is well.....Evan and we are doing great." Peace of heart and mind have been a struggle, so I ask that you continue to remember us in your thoughts and prayers. God's got a plan - it's just that right now I don't understand it and/or may even be in denial that this might be the path we are to walk down. I do know that my heart aches like it probably never has before. Words cannot describe the waves of emotion as our son is being given such powerful chemicals/meds knowing that our hands are tied. It's a helpless feeling of not knowing how to comfort your child and feeling guilty for allowing this to happen.

But I have to remember God has a plan and sees the bigger picture. So hard to do, but a walk/journey that takes a lot of faith. Ultimately, we know we serve an AWESOME God that does love and care for us. I do know that, although sometimes my emotions tell me differently. (Maybe kind of like a child that gets into trouble and may not feel like his parents love him or maybe like a child that wants to do one thing and the parent tells him, "No, we are going to do this.")

So.....it's not about us but about bringing Glory to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Sometimes (actually, a lot of times) we get so wrapped up in our lives here on earth that we forget this life here on earth is just a layover, and that our final destination is HEAVEN. I need to remind myself of this more often.

Despite all the chemo, Evan continues his natural vitamins and herbs. Thank you for your continued support in prayers, donations, friendship, love and encouragement. May God glorify Himself in and through our lives and home!

Blessings,

David and Trena

January 18, 2010

Spoke with Trena last night...here is the latest on Evan in a nutshell:

He is in the comfort of his own home! Mom has to administer 4 different chemotherapy medications to him orally every 6 hours. This regimen began on Saturday night, and will continue until Wednesday morning. So far, he is tolerating the medications well.

Tentatively, they will go back to Seattle on February 1 for his first IV chemotherapy treatment. On February 15, he will have another round of IV chemotherapy, prayerfully at the Children's Hospital in Tri-Cities.

That is the news for now. I will keep you updated as I can. Trena is currently without computer.

Please continue to keep the family in your prayers.

Prayers for Evan

Evan is having the port placed today for his future chemo treatments. Please keep him in your prayers.

January 8, 2010

Dearest Family and Friends~

Just thought I would give a brief update concerning Evan. We went over to Seattle for an appointment with Evan's oncologist today. The prognosis is that we will be starting chemo on Evan next week. David and I plan to go over on Wednesday afternoon as Evan has an out-patient surgery to put in a port for the chemo. Then on Friday afternoon, the plan is to have labs drawn, see his oncologist and then have his first chemo treatment. After Evan is stable, we will plan to head back home. These chemo treatments will take a period of 1 year. I don't have the complete schedule, but that will all be made known and written down next week when we get started.

Seattle Children's hospital is starting a pediatric cancer treatment wing at Kadlec Hospital in Richland. AND, Evan's oncologist is the one that is going to be supervising this new addition to Kadlec Hospital. So, when Evan needs to go in for his IV chemo, we will be able to go to Richland, rather than Seattle! But, his oncologist still wants us to return to Seattle Children's Hospital for his MRI's and the special eye test that he will have to have every 3 months. We are thankful that a majority of Evan's chemo treatments can be in Richland, rather than having to drive over to Seattle.

Evan's medical insurance will cover all the medical expenses, but will not cover the "outside" expenses, so to speak. He will continue his herbs and nutritional supplements from his natureopath, also.

As you can see, lots going on and we continue to trust God, even though we don't understand or even know why..............we are not called to understand or even know why, just to walk close to God and completely trust Him with everything that we have and everyone that we know and love.................This is something that one can talk about, but where the "rubber meets the road" is when something or someone is threatened or even taken away from you and you have to ask yourself, "Am I living what I am preaching?" We pray that our lives are doing just that.

With all that said, we still don't hesitate to ask you for your continued prayers and support.
We appreciate your thoughts, prayers, encouragement and support. We thank God for the network of people that he has placed in our lives! God's richest blessings to you all!

Blessings,

David and Trena

January 6, 2010

Please pray for David, Trena, and Evan as they travel to Seattle today for another appointment with the oncologist, which will be on Thursday. Pray for safe travels, and that all would go according to God's awesome plan.

Thanks much!