Colson Update 11/7/05

Dear friends, family, and prayer warriors,

My most recent chemo treatment was about two and a half weeks ago, and turned out to be our shortest hospital stay yet. For the first time, my liver functions were high but had fallen to an acceptable level just in time for my treatment to begin. It was really nice to be able to stick to the schedule this time! I was admitted to the hospital at 6:00pm Wednesday and by noon Thursday we were in the car headed back to Lynchburg, even with an increase in my dosages of chemo that made this treatment almost as potent as the first one, and this will be my last treatment with this strength. Within a week, I began to experience some of the neuropathy that the doctors had warned me could happen with the prolonged exposure to one of my chemo drugs called vincristine. The tingling in my fingers that I had been experiencing on a tolerable level became a numbness that made it difficult to type or to even control a pen. As soon as I told my doctor about it, they knew immediately that it was the vincristine, and the protocol at that point is to take me off of the drug. It took me off guard when they told this to me, but it was quite a relief that I would no longer have to travel to Charlottesville every Wednesday for vincristine, and my nurse also said that most people don’t even make it to the 10-week mark with this drug, so getting that far into the regimen is pretty good. For the most part, this numbness has subsided, but it may take a while for it to completely go away. One drug down, two to go!

As hard as it is for us to believe, it has nearly been three weeks since my last treatment, and my next is scheduled for this Wednesday. Before I go in on Wednesday, I will also be going to see the Radiation Oncologist who will take a CT scan for the purpose of setting me up to begin radiation on Thursday. I will be going up to Charlottesville for radiation treatments every day for the next five to six weeks along with my regularly scheduled chemo treatments. If all stays according to schedule, my last radiation treatment will be on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. Just as with the chemo, we have been told about the potential side effects, but just as with the chemo, we are praying that any side effects will not be nearly as severe as they might be. I know that we have been very blessed that my side effects from the chemo have been fairly limited, and a big reason for that is because there are so many prayers going up on our behalf. Thank you so much for this, and we covet your prayers as we head into the unknown territory of the radiation. (Although I say it is unknown to us, I know that it is not unknown to Jesus, who has promised never to leave or forsake us and will bring us through.) We will find out on Wednesday what time my daily radiation appointments will be, and this will determine much of how often I will be able to work between now and Christmas. Cynthia and I are so very thankful that I work with people that have been so understanding, supportive, and flexible with my treatments and health, as well as being great friends and prayer partners. As for Cynthia’s job, her administrators and fellow teachers have also been supportive and flexible enough to allow her to take some extra time off in the coming weeks to come with me to the radiation treatments.

I cannot thank you all enough for your continued prayers for us, especially for your prayers for Cynthia. Every day I become more and more convinced that she is the strongest and toughest person I know. As both radiation and the holidays are quickly approaching, we are also continuing to pray that God would bring a house – the right house – to us here in the next few weeks. With my radiation schedule keeping us here throughout the holidays, it would be really great to have a house with some more space so that family could stay with us when they come to visit. We are also hoping for a place with a nice sized yard and room for us to have our dorm full of college students over (we are dorm parents for some students at Liberty. Go dorm 4!)

This past time in the hospital, I only had a few minutes to talk to Tim, my nurse who was asking questions about the Lord. But I did get to meet two nurses who work on my hall who are believers, and they have been praying for Tim and talking to him as well. Please continue to pray for Tim and that I might have a chance to see him this Wednesday.

Thanks again for all your prayers on our behalf. We never cease to be amazed by how much God loves us and shows us that He has our very best in mind and He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) His plan for us is the best there is. We will keep you all posted on how things are going.

Sincerely,

Joey Colson