The Latest

I wanted to write a quick update before people started to think I jumped off a bridge or something (hmmmmmm......).
The past few weeks have been hell, but we've also managed to continue with things as normally as possible. We've cried, prayed, laughed. I've yelled, bargained and pleaded with God. I even had a shouting match to end all shouting matches with Him one night when I went by myself to pick up a pizza. We've been getting back to church, and I think we've really found the one that fits us well. It feels as though we have so many more questions than answers, but I guess that's part of being human.
Here is the e-mail I just sent to our family and friends, which sums up what the past few weeks have brought:

Hello, all. I'm sorry for the impersonal method of giving our updates over e-mail, but there are so many of you we want to reach and it's impossible to do it all individually.
As most of you know, Mike has been recovering well from January's bone-marrow transplant. Since the summer, his blood work has showed some slightly elevated liver function tests. The doctors were confident this was due to a common, mild reaction to the new stem cells (called graft-versus-host disease). Last month, they did a liver biopsy to confirm their suspicions of GVH disease, but were shocked (as were we) to find that the biopsy actually showed lymphoma cells. It was a terrible mental blow to us, as we were told this was such a remote possibility.
Since then, we've been dealing with the news and Mike has been undergoing the usual slew of further tests which follow a recurrence. The PET/CT scan showed possible activity in the spleen, but everything else looked fine. A bone-marrow biopsy did confirm involvement in the marrow as well (another surprise, since cancer has never been found in the marrow before).
As always, the good news is that Mike feels and looks well. Without that biopsy we'd never know anything was wrong.
After consulting with the doctors, we have agreed that a reduced-intensity chemo regimen, which will be done one day a week as an outpatient, is the best way to proceed. He will also take chemo pills at home. This will not have the intensity of previous treatments, but should hold things at bay and hopefully put the cancer into remission. They will do a couple rounds of treatment, then re-test things in a couple months and we'll decide how to proceed from there.
Since the first diagnosis in 2003, the doctors have always felt that chemo alone would probably not be the "cure," which is why he went through with two bone-marrow transplants. So, while the medical options are getting more narrow, we want to assure everyone that he has NOT been sent home without any hope. He has always responded well to chemo, and we are confident he will again. We will continue to do our complimentary therapies, and rely on the power of prayer.
Once again, all we ask is for everyone's prayers -- prayers of healing, of course, but also prayers for peace of mind, for making the right medical decisions, etc. Please do not underestimate the power of prayers. We know God works miracles every day, and we continue to ask for one as well. You can even add Mike to any prayer lists you belong to.
We believe the Lord will work through this and use this for something good, and we implore our friends and family to believe with us. We will continue to pray and praise Him, and invite you to join us, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Love,
Lauren