Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31
Weary pretty much sums up how I feel right now. I'm getting blood and platelets tomorrow, though, which will help. I made it three weeks without a transfusion. Not too bad...I'll certainly take it.
I'll be starting chemo again on Monday. Round six as far as I'm concerned. We'll be using Decitabine. It's somewhat experimental in that it's not commonly used for AML patients, but it has been recommended to us by several doctors, including Ohio State. (Ohio is currently using it with their patients, and also within at least one clinical trial that I know of.) It is supposed to be a "gentler" chemo as far as side effects go. My counts will be low, but they already are. That's the nature of AML. We are still working with my transplant team at Barnes to see about getting a stem cell booster after chemo. There is some risk of a GVHD flare, but at this point in my life all of the options hold considerable risk.
The chemo will be administered outpatient -- one hour a day for five days. I can stay out of the hospital as long as I'm healthy, so my prayer is of course for good health. I would also like to continue taking the Mannatech throughout this course, so minimal side effects such as nausea and changes in taste would also be helpful. We may ease up a bit on the diet restrictions I've been following. Weight loss is an issue for me. I just reached the 100 pound mark a few weeks ago.
The best thing about getting treatment is probably having access to the university's high speed internet, so I'm sure I'll keep everyone posted throughout this next week. We live far enough outside of Columbia to be forced to use dial-up as our home connection.
Thank you, once again, for your prayers.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
About Me
- Brandon Wilhoite
- Amy was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia subtype M4 on July 2, 2006. For your convenience, Brandon & Gary can be contacted via email through amysblog@mac.com.
Timeline
- August 2007 - Clofarabine & Cytarabine with possible second transplant
- August 2007 - Intrathecal Methotrexate
- June - July 2007 - FLAG w/ mylotarg
- April 2007 - AML M4 MLL-ELL Diagnosis
- March - June 2007: Experimental DLIs
- March - June 2007: Decitabine 5/28
- November 2006 - Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant (brother)
- September 2006 - Salvage Regimen - MEC
- July 2006 - Reinduction - Cytarabine & Daunarubicin 5/2
- July 2006 - Induction - Cytarabine & Daunarubicin 7/3
- July 2, 2006 - AML M4 Diagnosis
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 'I believed, and so I spoke,' we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:5-18
38 comments:
Love you, friend. Just got your message - will call tomorrow night, k?
Lord, You have not forsaken them that seek You... Ps. 9:10
I will keep you in my prayers. My son had outpatient chemo, and it seems so much easier on the family. I will continue to pray for your strength in the Lord.
I know we are 'strangers', but I have been following you for quite some time now. I'm always checking your blog for updates. Always amazed by you. And continuing to pray for you.
Lacey - AL
I will be praying for you tonight.
Amy,
I am glad everything was approved for you to start the Decatabine.
We are still praying for the Lord's healing and for a miracle.
"He makes all things beautiful in His time."
We will also be praying for minimal side-effects from the chemo.
Thank you for keeping us all updated.
Love,
Gina
PRAYER COMING FROM INDIANA PENNSYLVANIA
GOD BLESS YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH !
I have followed your blog from the beginning via my daughter's prayer line. I admire you. I hope you be cured and you can. Positive attitude tends to create more miracles. Though not common I did see my biopsy proved cancer patients cured with right "thinking" even they refused treatments( I put on chart " non compliant "). I definitely do not encourage you to give up any treatments and hopes.
I believe that you are already on some kind of SSRI or alike. If not, please have your doctors considering to start it now even you are not depressed. It makes treatments much easier and "fun". It takes couple of weeks to work but worth trying. Care about you.
Wish the best
Dr. VL in PA
You are ever in our prayers and in our hearts…
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers, Amy. You're an inspiration!
Deidre, NC
Praying for your health, minimal side effects, weight maintenance, and much grace to be poured out on you!
Amy,
I don't "know" you but I'm praying. You're story and your faith has inspired and humbled me. Praying....
Sandy
Amy,
I came across you blog months ago via Nora S's blog. My family has been praying for you everyday. Our hearts have hoped with you and cried with you.
Your faith in the face of trials and death is amazing, and points to the gracious God you love. It reflects his glory so well.
Praying for you again this evening as you begin another journey with this treatment.
Ashley
Amy...we will continue to keep you in our prayers. May the Lord sustain you and continue to hold you in the palm of His hand.
I'm so impressed with your faith and strength and resolve to keep going. You are an inspiration to so many of us out here in the blog world. Thank you for inspiring me to live each day to the fullest and not dwell on the little things. You have and will continue to be in my daily prayers. May God bless you and keep you in his loving arms this next week.
xox Big hugs,
Briana
Amy, Brandon, and Family;
You continue to be on our minds and hearts in thought and prayer. Good to hear of the plan to proceed with. May the Lord continue to be your life, strength, hope, comfort, and give you wisdom each day.
Love To You All,
Don and Lilan
PRAYERS GOING UP FROM NORTHWEST ARKANSAS!!
I'm pryaing for you all. I hope this round of chemo is as "easy" as possible and you can stay out of hospital.
I have asked for prayer in our Sunday School class for the past 8 months
for a young 27 year old mother, Amy Wilhoite, who was diagnosed with
AML. This is a very agressive form of leukemia. Amy and her husband
had their first child, a little boy, December 27, 2005 and he was 6
months old when Amy was diagnosed. She has undergone 2 rounds of
chemotherapy and had a bone marrow transplant from her brother in
November. At her 60 day bone marrow biopsy in January, it appeared she
may be in remission. Everyone was very thankful and full of hope for
Amy. However, after she went for her 90 day bone marrow biopsy in
February, she has just found out that she has 2 possibly 3 months to
live. Amy is such a warrior for Christ and a blessing and inspiration
to all. I can
promise you that you will be blessed and encouraged by her faith and
strength.
We have an email prayer chain through our church. I got this today and I wept. Then I came to your blog and wept again for a different reason. You, my lady, are taking what the enemy meant for harm and glorifying God by your actions and attitude. God Bless you and you are, and will continue to be, prayed for. For the Glory of the Lamb...
Amy,I agree with the post right above this!
I am praying for you each day!
Kim
Keeping you in our thoughts and our prayers.
You continue to be in our prayers within our family and our church!! Your testimony that I have shared in church has touched the hearts of our people. I am asked at the beginning of each service if there is any news about you and your treatment. We thank God that you have been approved for this latest chemo treatment with the Decatabine. We'll be praying for the side effects to be minimal and that your weight stay up. May God continue to help you and bless you!!
Your little guy is just beautiful:) I've never seen such blue eyes!
I've been checking in and praying for you since I found your blog. I will continue to pray for your health throughout the chemo.
Still praying for you in Ohio. I will pray good health and "easy" chemo. Thank you for being such an inspiration with your Godly and humble attitude. :)
So nice to get an update. I have been thinking of you and continue to pray.
"The best thing about getting treatment is probably having access to the university's high speed internet...."
Spoken like a true blogging junkie! We appreciate the updates and I know there are a TON of people praying for you!
Prayers from South Florida!!!
Thanks for the update! God has really laid you on my heart a lot lately. I pray His blessings and strength, both mentally and physically, for you and your family today!
PRAYERS FOR YOU, AMY, GOING UP FROM ST. LOUIS, MO RIGHT NOW!!
AMANDA
You continue to amaze me, dear friend whom I have never met! And I continue to lift you up to the arms of our loving Father who has been so faithful to you! I also will continue to pray for Brandon and Gary, other family members and friends who are close to you and may need a touch of God's love and hope.
Did I mention that you continue to amaze me? Hugs and blessings to you, Amy.
Our family continues to pray for you, Amy. Thank you for the updates.
Amy,
You continue to be in my thoughts, I have to agree with the Dr. who commented on staying postive and using whatever means necessary to stay postive...something to think about, if you haven't already...
I also love the prayer chain comment, she really said it best.
You are an inspiration, and I hope you're able to understand that and that it contributes to your positive mindset,
Praying for you in Canada!!!!
Amy,
I am not giving up hope yet... I don't understand...I too want you to raise Gary...I will only pray and pray...I will hold my family closer..and not get impatient..My words are small in your situation and I want you to spend your time with the loves of your life not reading words from me. I love you and have been blessed to have known you, even if only by computer.
April Martin
April Martin
Amy- I am praying for you dear sister.
Amy and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless you all.
A fellow Christian in Suwanee, GA
Dearest Amy,
I have been thinking and praying for you daily. Stay strong Amy, I will be thinking of you on Monday.
I am praying for total healing! Someone said to me once about another person I was praying for..."she is a miraculous testimony unfolding." I feel this way about you, and I am praying that the testimony will be of God's amazing, healing power! You have a beautiful family, thanks for sharing them with us!
What a beautiful picture. Amy, I think you look wonderful. We are so hopeful for your new plan of action. We pray for you along with our prayers for Livi. Love in Him (becase He is what bonds us together, not just this disease!!)
Gigi (Livi's grandma)
You two make a cute baby.
(oh, and you guys look good too.)
*grin*
Love ya.
Post a Comment