Of course, while he is there he has found opportunities to share the gospel. Two sweet friends came up with this great illustration. One thought that Dad's description of his treatments reminded her of Paul preaching the Gospel in chains, and the other drew it so nicely:
 |
| Thank you Gayle and Sylvia! |
-My dad received his last infusion of Rituxan last week. So far it hasn't helped, but we are told it can continue to work for up to 4 weeks past the time of the last infusion, so there is still a little hope that we will his hemoglobin start to climb.
-He is still needing blood transfusions about every 7-10 days.
-His ANCA (the marker for Churg-Strauss related vasculitis) is still as high as it was when he was diagnosed over 2 months ago. This leaves him at high risk of organ failure.
-He has now been diagnosed with pre-diabetes from the high doses of steroids he has been taking. He is slowly cutting down on the steroids. Please pray that his blood sugar returns to normal as the steroid levels decrease.
A few people have asked about a bone marrow transplant. That is not an option right now because of the vasculitis and because the red blood cells that are being produced by his bone marrow aren't surviving to maturity. Unless the Churg-Strauss Syndrome is brought into remission so that his body stops attacking the baby red blood cells, a bone marrow transplant won't help.
His rheumatologist has been checking with doctors all over the world, including those at Mayo, and there are no documented cases of Churg-Strauss causing these bone marrow issues. So at this point there is nothing to go on. No protocol to follow, nothing that has been known to work in cases like his. There are no cases like his.
The good news is that is heart, lungs, and kidneys are functioning better, and for that we are very thankful.
So for now he will continue will regular blood tests and transfusions.
Philippians 4:6Thank you, friends, for your continued prayer for my dad.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Love and prayers for your dear Dad & Mom and the rest of the family! Pastor Bob, faithful servant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marianne!
DeleteThanks for the update, Jessica. Still praying for your dad and your whole family.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the detailed update. I (and several friends whom i've alerted who also benefited from his works) continue to think of your dad and pray for him.
ReplyDeleteLike so many others who've commented on the other posts, reading Bob's CIC articles, and listening to his sermons and CIC audios, did so very much toward my being able to finally form a correct theology and helping me to understand God more correctly, that i'm not sure it can ever really be quantified - and i'm certain i could never say 'thank you' enough.
- m.
Jessica, thank you for the update on your dad. We will continue to pray for him and your mom. Bob has strengthened our faith by his passsion for the gospel and proclomation of the Word. His ministry touches many lives! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteSherry
Thank you so much for keeping us updated . I really appreciate your Dad's writings.Have a notebook just for them. There really is no way to really express the importance of them.Just Thank You,again,,Sarah
ReplyDelete