The oncologist's call this morning began, "Mr. Stevens, I have good news about your scan." The chest has is looking better and better. The liver tumor is still active, but has not increased in size and is significantly "less intense". I guess that means that it is simmering instead of boiling. What do we do now? One more cycle of the current chemotherapy drug -- just three more weeks, beginning September 14. "Studies show," says Dr. Drakes, "that there is no improvement beyond four cycles. But if the disease does return in the future, his body will respond well to additional treatments with Docytere."

Thanks be to God!!!!

Keep praying! Give thanks!!!!!

Three full days of on-the-go has worn Ray down. He has dragged through Sunday complainingi that he is extremely tired and "cannot unwind". We attribute the tension to waiting for these very important results -- it will be such a let-down if the tumor in the liver is not smaller, or if there are more metabolically active spots.

I worry, but do not say so to him, that Dr. Drakes says patients generally know if they are getting better, reporting reduced pain, less nausea, and generalized "feeling good". This last week has brought increased pain and mild nausea -- at least enough to complain about, but not enough that he is back to carrying his hospital tub around everywhere he goes.

Give thanks for God's mercy and love. Keep praying!!!!!

Ray finished his treatment yesterday in record time -- the 9th of the 9 treatments in this series. We go this afternoon to Modesto, with his scan scheduled early tomorrow morning. He is nervous, since he has been disappointed that prior treatments have been less than completely successful. Our definition of "completely successful"? Cancer obliterated.

We ask your prayers that we may accept gracefully whatever the result of this scan, and that Ray's heart be filled with peace as he awaits the scan results. Also give thanks for all the gifts we have already been given.

Ray gained another 6 pounds last week. Initially the doctor was concerned that he was retaining fluids, a not-good response which can lead to ugly things like congestive heart failure. But after a general check and the fact that Ray spent most of last week munching on sweets (contributed by grown up foster kid and temporary household member Jeff, who has a major sweet tooth and brought LOTS of munchies homes this week), biscuits-and-gravy, and other fattening stuff -- it was concluded that the 6 lbs are "too much Ray" and not a critical medical condition. Beyond that, his blood levels were reasonable and he recieved dose 8/9 of chemotherapy.

Since then, he's responded as one would expect with a body full of poison. He was tired and felt mildly nauseous on Friday. Yesterday he claims he felt terrible, but forced himself out of bed because he wanted to spend some time with Jeff, sorting tools in the basement. He promised not more than 30 minutes. Four hours later ......... well, he wore himself out! Today his is still very tired, but strong enough to climb the stairs to his computer.

We have an appointment for his next scan -- the 26th, so it can be read and the results reported before the doctor goes on another week's vacation September 1. Pray that there is at least no new cancer growth.

Keep praying! Give thanks!!

Happy Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law, Ian and Meda, of Ka'a'awa, Hawaii!

Although he was up very early yesterday morning, Ray managed dinner with friends in Jamestown last evening -- making for a very long day. Today he is napping -- but says that he is certain his blood levels are climbing because he is feeling stronger. In the very next breath he says his is amazed that he gets tired so quickly. Go figure.

We continue to move forward one day at a time, giving thanks for each good day we have together.

Keep praying! Give thanks!!!

Ray is on a cleaning bug. First he attacked the desk area around his computer. Then he actually claimed the bedroom he has been occupying for over a year -- first because he couldn't climb the stairs to our shared bedroom, and later because there he doesn't have to share the TV selections! Oh yes, he sleeps in fitz and startz and doesn't want to disburb me ........ Now he has filled it with his favorite things that and says he is setting a mood that will help him eliminate the cancer altogether. Now he is back upstairs attackinig more of the accumulated clutter than I don't have time to dispose of. We have set a new clean out rule: If I am anot willing to pay to have it moved, it GOES! Did I report that Brianna and the girls from Manteca finished their tournament in 3rd place? Not too shabby, I must say. But why didn't they show the GIRLS cames on national TV the way they are playing the BOYS games in preparation for the Little League World Series? Give thanks! Keep praying!!!

The girls from Manteca finished 3rd in their tournament, which makes them 3rd in the entire Western United States -- California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Arizona. I keep thinking that Wyoming, Nevada and Hawaii ought to be in that group, but they were not represented in the Arizona tournament. Congratulations, Manteca All City!!

We arrived at the doctor's today fully anticipating that Ray's blood levels had not responded to last week's medication and he could well be plopped in the hospitcal for another extended visit. BUT .... this week Ray began applying some alternative healing techniques. He's doing some serious meditation in addition to traditional prayer. He's learaning about the curing power of hydration therapy. And he's begun using an electrical device that sends low voltage electricity through the body at prescribed intervals over 1.5 hours at least once daily. It's good to do while he is watching television. The doctor had to check the test results at least three times this morning, clearly not expecting what he saw. Ray's levels have nearly DOUBLED in the last week. This is E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T news!!!!! So the chemotherapy went as scheduled, and there are only two sessions left. Meanwhile, we continue with all of the above.

Thanks be to God! Give more thanks! Keep praying!!!

Our excitement this week has had nothing to do with cancer -- although we are concerned about Ray's blood levels and pray that they are perking up as they are supposed to (although past experience tells us that his levels climb far more slowly that most ....). This week we are focusing on Jr. Girls Little League Softball! Our granddaughters in Manteca, led by their athletic father, have played softball and soccer since they were eligible for league play. This year 13-year-old Brianna played through the regular and all star seasons and earned a spot on the All City team in her age group. They played ball in Seattle in July, and this week are in Tuscon, Arizona where the Manteca All City team is representing Northern California in the Western Regional Tournament that will select the team to represent the Western US in ---- the Little Leage Girls Softball World Series! Manteca is currently #3 in the tournament. They play #2 and unbeaten Alaska this afternoon. If they win today, they will play #1 Oregon -- and they are the ONLY team in the tournament to score any points against Oregon! If only the girls' tournaments were televised like the boys' tournaments are ....

Meanwhile, Ray says he can tell that his levels are down. He is not feeling BAD, just a little slower than he would like to be. We're off to breakfast this morning with friends, and he has a lunch date tomorrow with the father of the Nouillan twins. Thursday we trek back to Sonora to find out if last week's medications did any good and where we go from here.

Give thanks!! KEEP PRAYING!!!!!

Ray felt good enough on Friday to spend the afternoon in town -- i.e. Groveland. We picked up hot dogs for lunch, then took them to Mountain Sage Nursery where he carves when he is well. Settled at one of the shaded garden tables, ate our lunch, and whiled away the afternoon visiting with friends. We stayed so long that by the time we had done our handful of errands -- pharmacy, post office, market -- it was 6:00 before we got home again!

We pray the shots will help his blood levels climb, for this was the same problem that caused him 3 weeks in hospital in December, 2004. He does NOT want to repeat that experience again. At least he can eat now, which he could not do in 2004. Meanwhile, he has to be VERY careful not to catch anything from anyone.

Give thanks! Keep praying!!!!!

Ray's blood levels were too low for chemotherapy today. For those of you who understand such numbers, his white cell count -- the infection fighters -- was a 2300; his red cell count -- the oxygen carriers -- was at 31.5. So he was given a dose of Nuprigen to build white blood cells and a shot of Aranesp (like the old Procrit) to build red blood cells and sent home for a week.

While in Sonora, the car overheated. A call to the Saturn Survice Manager in Modesto brought the recommendation to replace the radiator cap. Even after a wait of more than an hour, the engine temperature never read less than mid-way between hot and cold. I was NOT going to bring the car up "The Hill" to Groveland on a midsummer afternoon under those circumstances, so the car came home on the back of a AAA tow truck. Thank goodness for Plus Membership and the 100 miles of covered towing -- absolutely essential for us country dwellers. Tomorrow another call to the Saturn Service Manager will determine the next step ...........