UPDATE:
Dear brothers and sisters, according to my oncologist, the tumors are basically gone. It seems that the experimental drug has taken effect on my rare form of T-cell lymphoma. I praise the Lord God of Israel for His goodness. I give special thanks to all of you prayer warriors whose faithfulness to prayer has shaken Heaven with petitions on my behalf!
My family is greatly relieved. I will continue on the treatment as planned for a few more months. Still, I must survive until January 1, 2010 to have the insurance coverage to pay for a stem-cell transplant. That’s the good. The bad is that it is unlikely that a match will be found. My immune system has unusual features that make a match anywhere in the world unlikely. I have no siblings, and only two children to test for compatibility. Since my children have only 50% DNA from my side, it will be a miracle if either is compatible.
However, it was certainly uplifting to hear some good news after nearly running out of options due to the damage done by the chemo and the basic non-existence of my immune system. I must praise God also for keeping me healthy even without immunity. Since beginning chemo in August '08, I have been spared any and all infections. Not even a common cold! I am washing my hands a lot more in recent times though…
Again, I praise God for having great mercy upon a soul who is deserving of very little.