Good Morning Friends and Family.
Thanks everyone for what you have done just in the past 24 hours. I can tell this prayer chain is MILES long and Godspeed high. It is so awesome to see how things are coming together in a completely unexpected way. I am continually amazed by the outpouring of support, love and prayer from everyone-even from those I haven’t talked to in years. You all give us strength and courage to push on knowing we have such a strong support system standing strong with us against this disease.
Yesterday Kevin received his PET scan. A quick description of this test is they put dye into your body-throughout the first hour the dye travels through your blood stream and when put in the PET scanner for just under an hour, the dye highlights any living cancer cells in the body. While the scan went well, we do not yet know the results. You can pray that the results will show that the cancer is strictly contained to the mass in Kevin’s esophagus. This would be such a blessing…
Today at noon, Kevin and I will travel to Hershey Medical Center for him to get an endo-ultrasound. This is done by sedation, and they insert a tube that will take pictures of Kevin’s internal organs in the chest and abdomen. This will help show whether any cancer is living outside of the tumor. Kevin’s last endoscopy was very painful post-treatment. Thanks to the power of IV drugs, he was given some relief, but it took almost 4 days for him to be able to eat anything more than liquids/pudding due to the inflammation it caused. Pray that Kevin will have minimal/no pain afterwards and that he can build up tolerance to eat more substantial foods.
We are very thankful for ensure/boost plus drinks which are PACKED full of vitamins, minerals and calories which will help Kevin to keep on as much weight as possible. Some of the negative side effects of this type of cancer is malnutrition because the patients cannot eat. Kevin has been experiencing this and has so far lost 20 pounds in under a month. While he was looking for a way to slim his belly, I don’t think this is the way he planned (laugh-it’s ok and good for the soul!).
One of our biggest challenges, besides the obvious, has been the financial difficulty this has presented. Although Kevin’s job has an excellent Health Insurance plan, in which the only cost we will pay for is a large deductible for the inpatient surgery, his work does not have the option of short term disability. Due to this fact, we are living off of just my income. Kevin’s work is currently shopping around at other insurance plans-we pray that if they do decide to change, that we will still continue to get excellent coverage.
Some have mentioned about looking into medical disability through the government. We had considered this option, however, with Kevin being a permanent resident from Canada, we had to sign many waiver forms when he came to live in the states. One of the forms is that both of us would not be able to take any government subsidy (welfare, medical disability, food stamps, etc) for the next 10 years. Without signing this waiver, Kevin would not have been allowed in the country. So, that rules out any option of us getting any government assistance.
We are blessed to both work for good employers who have agreed to keep our jobs while we deal with this. It has been such a blessing to have that support and not have to worry about losing our jobs in the midst of dealing with this. My work has been very supportive letting me take off for as many appointments as necessary. My family has been a great help getting him to appts that I do not need to be present for as Kevin cannot drive at this time. Thank you.
Many of you keep asking how you can help. Here is a list of things that YOU can personally do to help us throughout the next months:
1) PRAY
2) Buy/SELL! BBQ $8 and/or 50/50 Raffle Tickets $1 (BBQ held August 23 10-2 103 Marticville Road-50/50 Raffle will be drawn on a different date) OUR GOAL IS 1000 BBQ SOLD! If you cannot make it or just want to make a donation, make the checks payable to Brenda Boitson. We are working on changing banks, and want to set up a separate account that all the donations will go into to only use on housing/transportation and medical costs.
3) Purchase the Saturn-2004 Saturn ION 3 52k miles manual $8500 OBO with Warranty until Nov. 2009. May consider someone making payments/driving it if we can write up a contract stating you will make all payments. Needs current SI.
4) NO FLOWERS-It’s more work for me, and I kill plants!-If you want to send encouragement, leave comments here, on Kevin’s facebook page, email him ([email protected]) or send a card: 365 College Avenue Lancaster, Pa 17603
5) Help with the BBQ-Depending how many tickets are sold, we may need additional help on the day of the BBQ handing meals out, putting together meals, directing traffic, etc.
6) Kevin is QUICKLY getting bored of TV. He’s played through most of his games-anyone with an XBox 360 that has games Kevin might like, give us a ring, or leave a comment. He may like it and want to borrow it to play. He also likes to read-I’m not good at figuring out what he likes, but if you’re a guy, you probably know, so let us know what you have that he can borrow!
7) If you want a tax deductible donation, donate to the American Cancer Society. They are a great organization who needs money to continue cancer research to find a cure so that those who are/are going to get cancer can get the best treatment possible.
8) Donate blood. Although at this time, we don’t know if Kevin will need blood donation for his surgery, blood donation in the county is down. Others who are entering into risky surgery will need that blood to keep them alive.
Just a note. I know people want to visit, but right now Kevin does not have much strength/energy to entertain. We also need to keep his immune system as good as possible, and the fewer visits, the less germs enter his environment. Thanks for your understanding on this matter.
Again-thanks to everyone for what you’ve done thus far. It has been an amazing outpouring of support. We never knew we had so many friends-you are all amazing and God has blessed us to have people like you in our lives.
Just thought I’d share my online devotional for today. How fitting…
“Come Be with Me”
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
MY daughter was born when the children of my friends were more into dating and cars than building blocks and dollhouses. Consequently, from day one, we could afford to fill her bedroom with clever, colorful toys. But surprisingly, she generally prefers my company to all those marvelous toys. She will remain by my side as I clean house, weed the garden, type, or perform any other routine task that grownups do. I frequently send her to her room to put together a puzzle, read a book, or build something, but she responds: “Come be with me.”
The joy we may find in possessions never lasts. Our tastes change; technology becomes outdated, and splendid new objects become worn with use. Only our relationship with God endures and can satisfy all our needs. We never need to pray, “Come; be with me.” God is always with us; the Holy Spirit is always ready to empower us, and Christ has already paid the price for our salvation.
Darilyn Dypold Allen (Tennessee, U.S.A.)
