Update #11

Hi, folks,

Finally there's something to put in the blog! Terrie left on Monday for the clinic, but I did not hear from her or Irene until yesterday.

At the Clinic

When Terrie arrived, she couldn't manage climbing the stairs to her room, so the clinic gave her a ground floor room. X-rays show that her right lung is now 3/4 full, and the doctors will remove the fluid today. Since the doctors don't know how quickly her lung is filling with fluid, they have recommended that she return home now, so that, if needed, she can be hospitalized here at home. 

When they heard that news, both Irene and Terrie shed a few tears, but they have adjusted and their outlook is *much* better. While Terrie and Irene feel that the lung is filling slowly, they are taking the doctors' advice and will be returning home tomorrow.

The Bright Spots

There are some bright spots, though:

One of the attending physicians said that her blood panel "does not look all that bad." While he did not elaborate, it's still encouraging.

The clinic's director spent some time with Terrie, looked her in the eye, and said, "You are a very sick girl", but then gave her hope by telling her that she (the director) believes that Terrie can recover her health, but that it will take "a very long time." She (the director) then told Terrie about another patient who not only survived, but is totally recovered. When this other patient came to the clinic, the cancer had gone to the bone, causing the bone to disintegrate so badly that the doctors installed a metal plate to hold the bone fragments in place. Determined to survive, the patient faithfully persevered and stuck to the clinic's program for five years. At the end of that five years there was no evidence that she'd had cancer, and the doctors removed the metal plate.

We now see that we must plan for the long haul, but there's great hope. After Terrie returns home I'll write again. God bless you all!

Under His mercy,

--Marty