Update

Not Out of the Woods

Well, we’ve been home for a couple of days now, and some things are better while others are worse.  Overall, her pain is down during the day (2-3) but it’s up at night (5).  She’s taking every prescribed opioid at regular min time intervals, and still her legs and back hurt.  She also started her chemo and that has been going now for a couple of days.  That’s the good.

The bad thing is that the day we arrived home, her stomach began to expand by significant amounts.  In one day, we estimate that her waistline increased by 5-6 inches.  If you just met her and didn’t know any better, you would swear she’s currently pregnant and in her third trimester.  It really does look exactly like a pregnant belly.  Unfortunately, we’re pretty sure it’s her liver which has expanded well outside of her rib cage area and which is pushing her organs around and compressing her stomach (tiny appetite).  We know that as of the day she was discharged, her liver was already extremely diffuse.  We’re not certain why that expansion continued at home, and we’re not 100% sure it’s the liver doing the continued expanding, but that just makes sense.  So, we’re going to try to see her Dr here in Dayton to take a look it tomorrow.  If it’s the liver, hopefully it’s stable and then we can just let the chemo do its thing and ideally put things back to normal.  That’s pretty much the way it happened last May.  While not as extreme, her liver had grown and had become misshapen when this happened last May.  She recovered nicely last time, and I see no reason that can’t happen again.  On the plus side, we’ve been measuring her waistline every morning and evening to track the growth, and today we found that it has actually decreased by 1 inch over the past 24 hours.

Also, we’ve been planning an important trip for the past month or so, and with everything happening, it may not be possible for us to travel.  This trip is something that Lori has felt drawn to do, and it would be disappointing if we can’t make it happen.  This isn’t a vacation, but it involves a plane ride of a long distance, and in her current condition, that could be risky.  Also, being away from home for 5 days poses plenty of risk in and of itself.  This trip is important enough though that we will likely travel if she can maintain her current state of health through Tuesday.  This is one where we need wisdom to make the right call.

Thanks everyone for all of the support.  We aren’t communicating well on phones, but we appreciate the texts and notes of encouragement.

12 Comments

  1. Thank you for the update Mark. Showering your family with prayer tonight, once again. So much love coming your way ?

  2. Thank you for this update ️precious friends. Praying for healing, complete healing…. And wisdom and rest. You are loved beyond words….

  3. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him.”
    James 1:5

    Dear Father in Heaven,
    We come before you because Jesus has made it possible. We humbly ask in Jesus’ name that you would give Mark and Lori an extraordinary amount of wisdom. Send your Holy Spirit to give them wise counsel. Close doors that should be closed and open doors that should be opened.
    And knowing that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever…knowing that He is full of compassion…knowing that He loves Lori with an everlasting love…we ask for Lori to be radically and miraculously healed. We ask this knowing that the same person who has praised You during this storm will shout her healing from the mountaintop.
    Lord, hear our prayers.
    We ask in the name that is above all names, Jesus. Amen.

  4. Laurie & Chris V.

    January 17, 2016 at 10:52 PM

    Thank you for the update Mark. We are praying for you all. For wisdom and healing.

  5. John & I will pray now.

  6. Thank you so much for the update. I got to know Lori while living in Carolina Lakes. I pray for your family . You guys are awesome , the strength and love you show is absolutely amazing. You have thought me so much ♡

  7. Sending you so much love and a prayer for renewal and strength for your upcoming journey. ❤️

  8. Praying. Dear Jesus, hear our prayers. Love you Lori.

  9. Teresa VanHoose

    January 18, 2016 at 6:37 AM

    Requested prayer for all of you again at church yesterday. Love to both of you.

  10. Prayers for God’s wisdom and healing.

  11. Praying for you, dear, sweet, Lori. And of course for Mark and the kids. Please, please let me know if we can help.

  12. This sounds exhausting, both emotionally and physically. I was in pain for 4 days and couldn’t deal. Thanks for the update.

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