Trip, Return, and Recovery

The trip to Baltimore was a rough week for my body. The flight there and the first two days went so well that I was sure someone was praying very specifically for those things. So many of the World Relief staff back there mentioned that they were praying for me that I was very touched. Then, though it was an excellent conference, the long days, and the 3-hour time difference began to take it's toll. Eight o'clock breakfasts meant 5 a.m. for me. For the most part, as I began to tire, I was able to withdraw and rest or nap in my hotel room. So I was very thankful for those accomodations. But by Friday, on the 13 hour trip back home, I was functioning on the edge. In one of the layovers, I was barely hobbling on the walkways until the pain meds kicked in. But God was good. I know it was selfish, but I prayed that no one would sit in the middle seat in our row of three even though the plane was quite full, and was granted that request. That gave me a little more room to move and stretch. It took a light schedule for the next 5 days before I recovered.

• I just want to give thanks for the successful trip and return. It was an important conference for the future direction of World Relief and I believe it was good for me to be there. Thank you, all of you, who kept me in prayer during this time.
  
• Back in July I was given a treatment that lasts 4 months. I am now at the end of that period. On Monday the 23rd, I will be seeing the oncologist to learn what the changes in treatment will be . A month ago he suggested that we could try an experimental regimen before going to chemo. We ask for prayer that he would have wisdom from above in what he recommends.
  
• In July the treatment had brought down the PSA from the 180's to 17. A month ago, it had climbed to 83, a relatively high number. Please pray that the PSA number comes down, to single digits.

Thank you for you concerns and your prayers.

In His care,

-Cal-

Cal's trip to Baltimore

This week (11/9-11/13/09) I will be traveling to the East Coast to the World Relief HQ. I think we are all aware how stressful plane travel has become. Travel itself is a stressor-changing known for unfamiliar routines, staying in unfamiliar beds, eating unfamiliar foods, adapting to time changes and weather. But I feel that this is an important meeting to attend, so I am planning to be gone for the week.

I would appreciate your praying for my health during this trip. The plane ride both directions is an unknown factor. How will I adapt to the long, 9-hour ride, and cabin confinement. I would appreciate prayers that I not encounter sick passengers in my seating area. Also, I will need to be adapting to the 3-hour time change, trying to get healthy food for nourishment, and getting rest as I need it. I need prayer that I stay on my vitamin schedule, easily broken when the familiar meal or food routines are altered. And I have promised my wife to cut out of meetings, especially evening ones, as soon as the energy level has decreased. I should probably ask for prayer to keep this promise as I can easily get absorbed in the surrounding event and forget to listen to signals from my body.

Thank you so much for being willing to remember me in this way.

-Cal-

Status Quo

This past week was somewhat anti-climactic. Our consultation was largely with the naturepath, which was very needed. We asked her all the questions that we'd built up over the weeks. But the oncologist basically said the plan was to maintain the status quo. The four-month hormone shot from July was still time-releasing into my system. I was given a drip to strengthen my bones. They drew my blood. The PSA count was high at 83, only slightly lower than the 89 from two weeks ago. He would have liked to have had that number drop much more. But he didn't seem alarmed and just wants me to continue the pill I take daily.

By the end of the week I look back on returning aches and wonder if this is the right track. Annie reminded me that I have had aches from the drip in the past, plus they had given me an H1N1 shot to make sure I didn't contract that flu. And I have not been taking mid-day rests since I go in late to work. And, in review, I had dropped off the juicing of kale, which seemed to ameliorate the aches through most of the summer. But still, I have aches this week, in slightly greater measure than the week before, and this can cloud my outlook.

• I would appreciate prayers for a good night's rest, which has been more occasional than not.
• The nutritional part of the regimen has many steps. One evening I opened my pill box (it's the largest size) and found with horror that I had not taken any morning pills. Staying hydrated during the day has been a challenge because I often forget to keep taking liquids. After starting this blog I realized that I hadn't taken the kale that we had juiced up yesterday. I would appreciate prayer for discipline to follow all of the steps daily that have been recommended in this treatment.
• On Nov. 9 I am scheduled to fly to Baltimore for a conference. If I continue to feel poorly, Annie would like me to cancel. I would appreciate prayer over this decision.
• In the ministry of World Relief I see God doing amazing things - heavy refugee arrivals, 73 year-olds coming to Christ, a believer from Bhutan relating God's miracles in the refugee camps, healings, dozens of detainees choosing Christ weekly. I am tremendously encouraged. But I know I cannot be involved in all of these many areas. Please pray that I would be guided to the areas where I can most effectively be used.

Thank you so much for your concern and prayers.

-Cal-