Still at Valley Care

Though Carol is still in the hospital, she is very hopeful that she will be returning home tomorrow. Both her white cell count and her platelet count are rising and she has not had any sign of fever today. Carol is very grateful for the good care she is receiving at Valley Care.

Mark and Carol appreciate your continued prayers.

At Valley Care

Please keep Carol in your prayers. Today, Friday, Carol has had a fever and chills, so this evening she was admitted to Valley Care Medical Center. Both her white cell count and her platelet count are very low. She has received one unit of platelets and is already looking and feeling better.

Erika (her daughter-in-law) is staying with her for the night so she is in good hands.

Pray specifically that:
white cell count and platelet count improve quickly
fever goes down
comfortable and able to sleep (Erika too)
able to come home tomorrow

Thank you for your faithful prayers.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" Psalm 103:2-3.

Home and Giving Thanks

Carol came home from her third stay at Stanford on Saturday evening. As expected,Carol is quite exhausted her first few days at home but boy is she glad to be home!

Today Carol woke up extremely weak and so the doctor wanted her blood count checked. After having it tested it was determined that she needed a blood transfusion. She has spent the afternoon at Valley Care Medical Center getting two units of blood and a unit of platelets. She is feeling much better now and is scheduled to be released this evening around 8:00.

If you would like to drop by for a short visit over the Thanksgiving weekend, please call the house first and Mark will let you know if Carol is up for it.

Mark and Carol are giving thanks for each of you this Thanksgiving holiday.

Sharon

Day 3 and Holding Strong

Carol is doing magnificently, all things considered. Her body is handling the drugs well and so she will be able to have the entire course of treatment this round. Dr. Reddy and all the staff have been very attentive, checking in on Carol often. They have worked diligently to stay ahead of Carol's side effects, which have been minimal thus far.

Please continue to pray for:
Minimal side effects
Good sleep
Comfort and peace in the long periods of boredom
Drugs working to kill the cancer

As she is cared for by many, so too, Carol continues to minister to many. She has had several opportunities to share with the staff and to pray with them. Isn't God good to orchestrate these divine appointments?

Cathy and Mary continue to stay by Carol's side 24/7. This morning Cathy left for the VBC Belize outreach and so Mary will cover the rest of the week. At this time, Carol is scheduled to be discharged Saturday, early evening.

Sharon

Back at the Ranch!

Tuesday check-in at Stanford...Carol on the phone as usual!

The day started out with a call from Stanford at 7:30 this morning letting Carol know that a bed was open and waiting for her! Carol and Cathy took off in the car about 9:00 am and headed over to Palo Alto...the sun was shining and Carol's energy and enthusiasm was catching!

Booking into Stanford this time was a snap...straight to the floor (F ground it is called here) and then straight to the room, into the gown and into bed!

Next was a few hours of waiting while meds were being ordered and Dr. Reddy's team was being oriented to Carol's routine. As always, the care of the nursing team has been fantastic...Sandy was the day shift nurse and now Aracely and Vicki are on for the night. Dr. Reddy has stopped by to see Carol twice today...once around noon and now again at 8:40 pm! Dr. Reddy keeps long hours! Laura, the oncology nurse practitioner that has been with Carol at each hospitalization will be looking in on Carol tomorrow. Please be praying for each of these lovely people who are overseeing Carol's care on a daily basis...not only for wisdom in their care for her, but also pray that they would be ministered to by Carol and by those who are hanging out with her this week.

Carol was excited to find that Lou from Auburn will be her roommate this week. During Carol's last stay at Stanford Lou checked in on the last day of Carol's stay so they are already acquainted! It is great to have another believer as a roommate...Carol, Cathy and Lou had a sweet time of prayer together as Lou and Carol both start on this week's road together. Lou has had great news...her cancer is in remission and this is her final treatment for the time being anyway. Lou was also very excited to hear Carol's good news that the chemo treatment is working!

The first day of IL2 and chemo therapy is difficult...the nurses are constantly probing, hanging IV bags, checking vitals, etc...busy is the keyword! Carol hit a wall around 5:30 pm and all enthusiasm for this process promptly ceased...but only for a couple of hours! After a short nap she was up for the challenge again. She is now resting peacefully...oh whoops spoke to soon...Vicki and Aracely just walked in with the "cow" to take vitals and give more meds! Cracks us up that the nurses have named the computers "cows." ...too funny, stands for computers on wheels!

Signing off for now...Carol says, "To God be the glory everybody!"

Tending the Roses

Carol tending to her roses

Cathy for Carol

Above is the picture Sharon mentioned in yesterday's blog entry. Luca and Sharon jumped in to help Carol prune the roses and they finished the job in about a half an hour!

On Sunday evening (Nov 16) about 6:00 pm there will be a time of worship, prayer and communion taking place at the Porters' home...you are all welcome! ....standard rules apply...wash up and only attend if you are healthy!

Carol's blood counts are low at the moment (platelets are at 67)...please pray for those numbers to improve. Please continue to pray for Carol’s strength and stamina. Due to the low blood counts, Carol won’t go back to Stanford until Tuesday morning. She will be there again for five days. Continue to pray that the chemo does it work, and that the side effects will not be debilitating.

Dancing & Leaping & Praising God

"No new cancer sites and there is less intensity in some of the existing sites." These are the encouraging, fantastic words Carol received from Dr. Reddy over the phone this afternoon. Thank you Lord Jesus for your kindness.

When we stopped in on Carol, she was in the front yard pruning her roses with a big smile on her face. "This means we go full steam ahead next week at Stanford," she steadfastly stated.

With the psalmist she has declared and will continue to declare to the Lord, "I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more" (Psalm 71:14).

Join Carol in praising God more and more, in both the good times and the hard times.

Sharon for Carol

He is My Peace

Today has been a good day. A long day and I am tired (I did not get my afternoon nap), but a good day.

At around 10:30 this morning, I became anxious. My thoughts got away from me and I started dwelling on the "what ifs" of my situation. Isn't it amazing how quickly our thoughts can run out of control? God, in His kindness, reminded me of the truth of Isaiah 26:3 -"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you." As I started thinking on this verse, I renewed my trust in the Lord and my anxiousness was soon completely replaced by His calm, steadfast peace. I heard the tender voice of God tell me "I am your Peace and I know exactly what I am doing." Oh how I praise God for His loving care. Are you anxious about something? I encourage you to dwell on this verse and to place your trust in God.

At 3:00 the PET scan began and I am grateful to report that this one was easier than the previous two. The technicians were kind and helpful, giving me markers such as "It is okay to move your arms" and "Now it is okay to move your legs." I will enjoy a short visit with Bridget M. this evening and then off to bed. Please pray that my energy level will continue to increase.

On Monday we will see Dr. Reddy and get the results of the scan. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Sharon for Carol

Carol's Team Update!

On Wednesday, 11/12, at 3:00, Carol will be undergoing her third PET Scan. Carol is so appreciative of your prayers. Please pray specifically for strength for Carol to endure the test and for favorable results.

Just a note to update you on Carol's Team! You are amazing! So many of you are serving the Porters in so many creative ways. Thank you for providing a steady stream of wonderful, nutritious meals, for doing yardwork, dishes, laundry, ironing, and shopping. Thank you for your visits - sharing with Carol, reading to Carol, praying with Carol. The Porters are feeling loved and cared for in every way. You are a testimony of the Lord's faithful, abundant provision.

Go Team Carol!

Sharon

Visitors are Welcome!

Luca (from Hungary) visiting with Carol today

Cathy for Carol

Carol is home from the hospital...as most of you know, she did come home last Friday and is doing wonderfully well! She is very fatigued, but has none of the neurological side affects that she had in the previous round of treatment. Praise God! Short visits are welcome and encouraged! Please be sure to wash up as you enter the house and only visit if you are healthy and haven't been in close contact with a person who has a cold or the flu because Carol's immune system is compromised at this time...thank you.

Carol will have her next PET scan Wednesday, November 12, at 3:00 pm. Most likely she will have the results after the weekend, but we will let you know as soon as the results are in...please pray for positive results.

Specific prayer requests from Carol are perseverance, solid sleep at night, good use of the small amount of energy she does have and for her appetite to return (thankfully her nausea is under control...but food just isn't appealing.)

More coming from Carol in the next few days! Love to you all from Mark and Carol!