Gary once again started experiencing severe pain on the right side of his face/head. I called the hematology unit to ask if they should see him and they said yes. We went in shortly after lunch and met with one of the doctors on the team. He said that if it progressed to the point Gary could not stand it, they would once again admit him in the hospital, but it would be Gary's call. If the tingling and numbness on his face gets worse, then we would call as well. As of this writing, Gary is able to take the edge off the pain by adding Loritab to his present pain medicine routine and really does not want to go in the hospital. So please pray that he can manage it and be able to stay at home.
I asked the doctor to explain further what is going on with this new relapse, since the medicine they sent him home with says it is for brain tumors. He said the Temodar is the only drug that will get into the brain itself, even the chemo will not do that. This does not mean that there is a different development as far as a tumor in his brain, but that the main nerves that run along side his face are infected with the Lymphoma and the nerve that really lights up, goes into the brain.
This explained alot to me. I could not fathom why this new manifestation had not been taken care of with the chemo treatments as the other places in his body had. It just shows how very nasty Lymphoma is and very unpredictable it can be. Until Gary's main doctor returns later this week, the plan is still for him to take this Temodar for 5 days and then the Rituxan and steroid treatment once a week.
This new development has hit Gary hard. He really had his spirits up going into the process of the transplant, thinking that most of the cancer was gone and the transplant was just an extra insurance against it coming back. This fight will not be an easy one and will not be over any time soon. We really appreciate your prayers and I would ask that you especially pray for not only the pain tolerance, but also for Gary's emotional and mental state.
Sometimes sister, we just have to throw our hands up in surrender and be blunt and honest with ourselves and with our Heavenly Father. I wish you could be at our Bible Conference this week..it is SO GOOD. Don't let the words we use to minister to others be just words..Truth, Faith, Hope, etc. This is a battle that cannot be fought by Gary or by you...you will have to stand behind your Heavenly Father for this journey....can you imagine it any other way? Praying for you!!!!!
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