Thursday, March 29, 2012

TOTAL AND COMPLETE REMISSION!!

I'll let you guess which one is Mr. Lymphoma
KIM UPDATE: We just got the PET scan and the verdict is in....TOTAL AND COMPLETE REMISSION!!  PRAISE THE LORD!! We still need to do two more rounds to make sure everything that is undetectable is destroyed but this is per the doctor, "the best thing we could have hoped for". Thank you all for your prayers and support. God has heard you and we are overwhelmed by His grace and mercies. God is good!
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(I wrote most of below by faith this morning...I just had a "feeling". Ya' know?) Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Cancer is a brutal, no holds barred, fist fight. Each round has it's unique ups and downs and its own ebb and flow. If I had to summarize our fight thus far:

Round One - Kim entered the fight in a weakened state. After enduring several "-oscopys" and a "pericardial window" - the first round proved this was not going to be a "walk in the park". Rituxan came out and knocked her hard to the ground (see severe infusion reaction HERE) - so hard at one point it led to one of the darkest nights of my life as I thought cancer (Mr. Lymphoma) had soundly beaten us in the opening round. Round 1 goes to Cancer.

Round Two - Kim came out ready for this round and Team Lymphoma didn't know what hit them. We had a new coach in our corner from U of Chicago and she came up with a more aggressive game plan and Kim executed to a tee. This time around Rituxan came in with a roar but left with a whimper. Round 2 goes to Kim.

Round Three - This round Kim took some big blows to the head and the body and she spent most of it on the canvas (see HERE). The spinal tap (Methatrexate injection) left her with splitting headaches that literally had her laid up and horizontal for one week straight. When she went to the corner for a "blood patch" it led to a 911 call and a trip to the ER. She almost passed out from the pain. Round 3 goes to Cancer.

Round Four - This latest round has demonstrated the number of hits to the body Kim has taken. It has left her in a weakened state and has begun to compromise some of her other adrenal functions. She hit the ground several times (fainting spells), but just when you think she's down and out we find out that she has delivered a HUGE KNOCKOUT BLOW TO CANCER! ("Down goes Frazier!!") The cancer has hit the canvas hard and is not breathing anymore. The referee has started the count and this fight has shifted momentum dramatically! Round 4 goes to Kim and Mr. Lymphoma is out COLD!!

So we have two more rounds to go. Round Five will be devoted to a few sucker punches to Cancer's face (while the ref isn't looking) and Round Six will be a few more kicks to the body while he's down as a warning to him and his friends to never come back. (PG-13...I know)

We are celebrating this complete remission - no doubt. It's exactly what we hoped for and we are so thankful for the results. But just for some levity, cancer is never considered cured until it's been in remission for five years. That means we have to deliver a knockout blow so severe it renders the cancer unconscious for a long, long time. So we won't really know if we've "won" for five years. But for now, we celebrate God's goodness and a huge, HUGE knockout blow. Thank you so much for joining with us, praying for us, and cheering us along in your ringside seats. Like I said after the end of a brutal Round One on January 14th:
"In the meantime I am giving Mr. Lymphoma a little warning: "Look out, brother! Because me, my God, and an army of prayer warriors are coming to KICK...YOUR...ASS!!!" (Rated R...I know...forgive me!)
As of March 29th - consider Mr. Lymphoma's ass kicked. Now we wait and pray and see if he gets up or if he stays down for a long, long time. Thank you all for joining us in this epic fight. We love you.  
For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you....this is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. -2 Chronicles 20:12, 15

In His Grace,

Peter & Kim

32 comments:

  1. Praise the LORD!!! So happy! Thank you for sharing so quickly! We'll be praying that lymphoma stays knocked out forever!

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  2. AMEN!!!!! Praise God from whom all blessing flow! All glory to God! God is good all the time and all the time He is good! Rejoicing with you in spirit from Children's!!!! Andrew is happy too! Give Kim a huge hug from us!

    Love,
    Joe

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  3. Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord!! Thank you Lord!!!

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  4. Words can't describe how happy we are!!! Praise the Lord!! The day just got that much brighter!!! God bless you all!! Please tell Kim we love her dearly!!!

    Love,
    Joe, Carmen, Matthew, Alex and Daniel

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  5. WhooHoo! There are no words...God is so AWESOME!!! Been praying Psalm 138. I know everyone loves Psalm 139 and I do too, but Psalm 138 is my absolute favorite. Kim and I studied it together one summer when we went over the book of Ruth together. Take a look at it. Love it, love it, love it!
    Cheryl
    (the site only lets me publish as anonymous)

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  6. Sooooo excited and praising God!!

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  7. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me- bless His holy name!
    Soooooo thankful!
    I can't wait to go home and tell my kids about this huge answer to our prayers- they will be so excited too!
    With joy,
    Heather Beitzel

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  8. Praise the Lord! He is worthy to be praised regardless of what the outcome was, but we certainly REJOICE, REJOICE, REJOICE! Thrilled for you guys. To God be all glory!

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  9. Praising God with all of you and giving thanks to Him who hears us and answers our prayers! SO GRATEFUL to hear this wonderful news! Praise His name!!

    With love,
    Karen Doherty and family

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  10. So awesome! Micaela and i spent some time praying for you last night and I brought her up to speed on the upcoming scan. Her reaction when I told her the news pretty much sums it up. She jumped up in the air with both arms up and screamed, "I knew it!". :-)

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  11. This is AMAZING, I am so thrilled for the both you and your family. Definitely great news to perk up a down day at the office. We will keep praying for you out here on the West Coast!

    Erika

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  12. Crying happy tears! God bless!

    Amy Neumann

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  13. Kim! Such wonderful news!:) So happy for you and your family!:)

    Cathy Kim

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  14. Wonderful news Kim and Peter! What an incredible journey you have been on. May the Lord continue to bless your family.

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  15. Prasing God that He has won this battle for us. With Love

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  16. The girls squealed with joy when we were praising God tonight during bedtime prayers. :) Hallelujah!

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  17. DAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Rejoicing and praising God with you with tears of JOY JOY JOY JOY down in my heart and all the way to my toes!

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  18. SOLI DEO GLORIA!!

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  19. Tears of Joy!! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow...keep it up Kim! 5 more years!

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  20. We are so happy and elated! God is good! Just praises to Him who can do all things! Kim and Peter you have been a blessing to us through this difficult time. Thanks for sharing how God is working in your lives! Big huge hugs to you!!!

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  21. Praise the Lord! This is truly great news.

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  22. God is so good! Will continue to pray for strength and that God would keep His heavy, Almighty foot atop this serpent of yours so it stays deep in the ground for the next 5 years! YAY!

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  23. Praise God for that wonderful report!!!! May the next two rounds send cancer to the canvas for good.

    I agree with many others- you should write a book. You are very gifted in writing and have told Kim's story in a way that makes people laugh, cry, pray and most importantly point people to the only one who can heal!!!

    I will continue praying for Kim and your family.

    Blessings,

    Julie Vercouteren

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  24. totally rejoicing with you guys! what a gift! praise the Lord!

    love, stef caterer

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  25. Praise God! :) He is SO good! Is it weird to say that I'm not that surprised? Call it utterly naive, simply hopeful, or sheer faith...It just seemed right that this cancer could be overcome...
    John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Love you guys...Kim, let us know about your next craving...even if it's freezer-burned ice cream mochi! ;)

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  26. Praise God! He answers prayer. So happy for you guys!

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  27. What tremendous and joyful news! Praising God for His mercy and goodness!

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  28. So thankful and happy. Crying with joy and relief. Is there anything too difficult for Him?

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  29. Praising the Lord with you here in St. Louis! We will continue to keep you in our prayers. Mike and Linda Farley

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  30. Wow! Praise the Lord for an arduous 2012 yet a very rewarding and humbling time for you all. We are totally ecstatic to hear such AWESOME news! Hope you, Kim and the family are getting some rest and enjoying a period free from the anxieties that plagued you for the past several months. God is so great! Love, the Ko-sters.

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