Even Still I Will Worship

The test results of my skin biopsies are back! There is good news and there is so-so news. Let’s start with the good news:

The good news

We are officially a go to resume the stem cell transplant! I’ll be admitted tomorrow (Friday, May 1st) at 8:00 AM to start six straight days of chemotherapy. Then on May 7th and 8th, my collected stem cells will be engrafted back into my body. Apparently, my stem cell collection went really well, so well that they actually have to split the engraftment over two days instead of the typical one. The stem cells themselves do not cause reactions, but the preservative they are stored in can. Because of that, they need to infuse everything more slowly so it does not cause harm on my kidneys. To help with that, they will be pumping me full of fluids to flush the preservative out of my system as quickly as possible.

The so-so news

The results of my skin biopsies did ultimately come back as Lymphoma. However, it is a distant cousin of the lymphoma that I already have and completely different. Why this is not bad news is because it is a less aggressive, slow moving, not dangerous type of skin lymphoma that can be treated simply with topical creams and not heavy chemo treatments. They said that the chemotherapy that I will be receiving from the stem cell transplant should completely eliminate it, but even if it were to present itself again, I could be simply prescribed an ointment that should clear it up. It’s a bit unnerving to know I have two forms of Lymphoma, but this one is as low risk as lymphoma goes. Because of this, my doctors have determined it is completely safe to proceed with the transplant as planned.

Your prayers work!

As I sit here reflecting on this past week, I keep going back to the moment I heard that my lymphoma might be coming back and that my transplant had to be put on hold. I knew right away I wanted to share this with my prayer warriors and ask for prayers here on my blog. I truly believe in the power of prayer. I believe God can do miracles, and I trusted that my situation would be covered no matter the outcome. And your prayers were answered. While the test results still show cancer in some form, it did not delay my stem cell transplant any further or require additional treatment. I am so thankful for a God who hears us, listens to our requests, and meets us in our time of need. There is one thing I know for sure. He has been with me every step of this process. I have never felt alone, abandoned, or afraid.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Thank you to every single person who prayed for me. It means more than I can put into words! I love you all!