vibrant life

exhaling now...

"Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together."
Psalm 34:3

Meghan's oncologist contacted us to let us know that the bone scan showed no evidence of disease in Meghan's bones.  We are so very relieved and grateful for this news!  Please continue to pray that the cancer removed from her lung was completely isolated and that the next chest CT in 2 months will be clear!  Over the last two years we got used to saying that Meghan was in remission and we hope to be able to go back to using that terminology again soon!  It will be a temptation to worry over the next few months after this recent setback so please pray that we can set aside our anxious feelings and completely trust God with the perfect plans He has for Meghan's future.  Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and prayers - God has blessed us richly!

 

waiting for scan results...

Just wanted to give a little update for those checking...  Meghan had her full body bone scan Friday night.  We are still waiting for the results.  The weekend was a little rough for her.  She has not been sleeping well and is overly exhausted.  She is still very sore and uncomfortable.  I had hoped that she would be able to go back to school today, but she is just not ready yet.  She is feeling apprehensive about getting caught up on her schoolwork so specific prayers for that worry would be appreciated! 

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22

volleyball awards celebration...

  I am very happy to report that Meghan made it to her volleyball awards celebration / ice cream social tonight!  She slept all day and popped a couple vicodin beforehand so she actually did really well.  We are so proud of her and how well she played this season.  She worked really hard to overcome the limitations that her arm poses for her.  She even learned to spike and serve overhand with her left arm (she is naturally right-handed but has the allograft/bone transplant in her right arm).  She received an award tonight for "most improved player."  Way to go Meghan!!

On the schedule for tomorrow:  more rest and full body bone scan.... KEEP PRAYING!!

there's (really, truly) no place like home...

We were able to bring Meghan home late this afternoon.  It always feels so good to have everybody back under one roof.  We had a nice family dinner (Lauren, Eric and Addison were able to join us as well) and now everybody is settling down and getting ready for bed.  Meghan is doing well - still in a fair amount of pain with soreness and the itchy rash.  She had to leave the dinner table tonight because we were laughing at Addison and it hurt for her to laugh. :)  She won't be at school for the rest of the week but is still hoping to maybe make an appearance at her end-of-season volleyball award ceremony and icecream party tomorrow night.  We'll just have to wait and see how she is doing by then.  I know it means a lot to her so I hope that she can manage a short outing.  Please keep praying for a clear bone scan Friday!   

day 5...

The chest tube and epidural came out this afternoon - yeah!!!  Unfortunately the pain is a little worse now that they are switching her over to oral pain meds so please pray that they can find a good mix that manages the pain well.  The bad rash that developed on her back is still an issue as well.  Her nurses, oncologist, the anethesiology team, the surgery team, and a dermatologist have all looked at it and seem to have differing opinions.  They have her on IV benadryl to help with the horrible itching and two different topical steroid creams to help bring down the blistering and inflammation.  It seems to be improving slightly so hopefully it will keep moving in that direction.  More than anything, Meghan just wants to be able to go home so pray that there will be no more issues or complications!  They are keeping her overnight again, but we are really hoping perhaps tomorrow we'll get the ok to go home.  Her full body bone scan has been scheduled for Friday night.  We are fervently praying that the scan will come back clear, but resting in God's sovereign plan.

pathology results...

We have the pathology results back.... and yes, the spot removed was osteosarcoma.  The next step will be the full body bone scan which will be scheduled for sometime in the coming week.  They want to make sure nothing else is showing up.  If that scan comes back clean then we will follow a "wait and see" approach.  She will have CT scans of her chest every 2 months for awhile to watch for any other spots.  Dr. Mitchell, Meghan's oncologist, was very hopeful and positive that this looks to be a very isolated incident.  The pathologist referred to the tumor as looking "bland" meaning that it did not look like it was actively growing or dividing.  Meghan was relieved to not have to consider chemo right now and it makes the discomfort, pain, and inconvenience she is experiencing right now because of the surgery seem worthwhile in that it removed the cancer.  We are thankful that they caught this early and have hopefully prevented it from growing or spreading.  Please pray for a clear bone scan and for this to indeed be an isolated incident.  Pray for us to rest completely in God's sovereign plan and to "not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:3-4

 

day 4 recovery...

God didn't promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow,
nor sun without rain.
But He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears,
and light for the way.

Meghan is still inpatient and still has the chest tube and epidural :(  The xray this morning still showed a small pocket of air collecting.  They have taken the chest tube off of suction and will x-ray again tomorrow morning to see it the air has increased or resolved itself.  We are really hoping that the chest tube can come out tomorrow.  Once that is out they can take out the epidural and switch her to oral pain meds which will allow her to go home.  Another complication that has developed is a terrible rash on her back which is extremely itchy and has also starting blistering and oozing a bit.  The doctors are still trying to figure out what is causing that and how best to treat it.  With these "setbacks" it is hard to Meghan not to feel discouraged so please pray specifically for her spirits.  We are also still waiting for the pathology report....  waiting is hard, but we continue to completely trust God with the results!  I will post again as soon as we know.  Thank you again for all your prayers!