GOD IS GOOD....ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!

(Havasu, April, 2007)

Well, between 9:30 and 10 this morning we jumped on the freeway bound for the metropolis we call L.A. Our first appointment was at Cedar Sinai at 11:30...we actually walked into the office at 11:45 because we drove around the parking garage about 6 times before we found a spot big enough for the Suburban. We went in to see Dr. Phuphanich (whom we've seen 2 other times since the diagnosis) and after his assistant did small tests on Jeff by asking him different questions about the year, month, etc...and to remember 3 words for longer than a few minutes (he remembered 2 out of 3!!!). She took our copies of Jeff's MRI's and left the room...after awhile the Dr. himself came in with photo copies of Jeff's tumor. He proceeded to tell us that he had just spoken with our Radiologist at Long Beach Memorial and believes that he (the radiologost) hasn't seen much of what's happening here...but...what looks like growth in the tumor is just what they call "pseudo-progression" which means even though it looks like the tumor has progressed (grown), it's actually just swelling from the treatments...which means...we are not worse off than we were...the tumor is being aggravated, in a sense, by the treatments and is swelling...so...we must keep on with the chemo we are doing (500mg for 5 days/month) and in 1 month we'll do another MRI to see where we are...he did not seem concerned at all...PRAISE GOD!!!! Then after a tasty subway sandwich, we moseyed on over to UCLA Medical Center (The Buccowich's Doctor) to get one more consultation (our appointment was at 3p and we actually got there early enough to fill out paperwork). Doctor Ngheimphu (a female) came in after her assistant did some of the same kind of tests on Jeff that they did a CS...and...she had looked at the MRI and completely agreed with Dr. Phuphanich...it seems to her that this is a case of "pseudo-progression" and she supports Dr. P's advice to keep doing what we are doing and get another MRI in a month. She said she knows Dr. Phuphanich and he is a very good Dr. She then proceeded to give us each one of her cards and said, well, now we (UCLA) are in the loop too...so...if anything comes up that you need further clarification on...just give me a call. We are so blessed to have 2 kind, knowledgeable doctors working on Jeff's case! Now, here's where God is soooooo good...On the way to LA Jeff and I prayed (I didn't close my eyes) that we would receive positive feedback and direction for the next step...He answered our prayer in a matter of hours...we definitely received positive feedback and the fact that 2, highly regarded, doctors agreed so completely directs us to follow their advice, at least for right now...we are thankful, relieved, hope filled, and blessed by the power of the living God!!!!!!

By the way, thank you to the anonymous giver of gas cards we received in the mail yesterday...you are a blessing!!!!!

Thank you all for your prayers...we are recipients of much blessing!
~Jayne~