Some Changes Upcoming

Dear Reader,

Thank you for loving us!  I am so grateful for you!

Well, in one sense, DJ's story is the "same old same old": every day is different, there are not really any patterns (although I search for them), and "Living one day at a time" is the best way to live!

But, for the month of July, DJ's pain has been increased.  He underwent a PET scan on July 1, and we visited with our local oncologist Dr. Spillane on July 22. 

The PET scan indicates that the tumor(s?) on or near to DJ's rib(s?) remain unchanged in size - no bigger and no smaller.  I am happy that the cancer has not grown!  I am sad that it has not shrunk.  Perhaps the chemotherapy drug Stivarga did exactly what we expected it to do: it held the cancer at bay.

The report also indicated that there are numerous lesions on DJ's only lung that are growing in both size and in number.  The report does not specify what is the number of lesions, although it does report that they measure in size from 1mm to 10 mm (very teeny tiny).  The good news is that DJ has no symptoms associated with these lesions.  Dr. Spillane hardly gave a sideways glance at this part of the report - he really seemed unconcerned.

The report did not even mention a growth in DJ's mediastinum near to his esophagus.  I am believing that Jesus took it away!  Hooray! :-)  Dr. Spillane did not mention this area at all, and I neglected to ask him about it.

So the primary concern is DJ's growing pain.  Dr. Spillane suggested that his body is growing intolerant to the pain medications, such that DJ needs to increase the dosage in order to experience results.  Dr. Spillane encouraged DJ to do so.  That's all well and good for pain management, but not so fun for the increase of other side affects that come along for the ride: especially bowel misfunctions.  So DJ is attempting to ingest "enough" pain meds to manage his pain, but not so much that his belly and other parts of himself are terribly affected.  

Dr. Spillane referred DJ to a local pain management specialist, and I will be eager and hopeful for what is offered to him in that respect.

The second concern is that the cancer is not departing the premises.  Dr. Spillane suggested that the cancer in DJ's body is outsmarting the chemotherapy, and he instructed DJ to discontinue the use of Stivarga in favor of…something else.  He also instructed DJ to discontinue the monthly shot of Xgeva beginning that day.

At Dr. Spillane's recommendation, DJ has made contact again with Dr. Rosen at the UCLA, an oncologist with whom he consulted last November.  There is a pharmacy in Japan named Tai Ho who we are told is experiencing great success with a drug they are developing specific to metastatic colorectal cancer (DJ's primary cancer).  The drug was submitted to the FDA for approval in December of last year, and we have been hoping since then that it would come quickly available on the market for DJ to use.  That has not yet occurred; but Dr. Rosen has access to a clinical trial using the drug (whose name is only "TAS-102" for the time being).  There is a possibility that DJ may be eligibile for the trial.  He is scheduled to consult with Dr. Rosen on August 6 for consideration.  DJ seems encouraged by this opportunity.

In addition, Dr. Spillane referred DJ to our local radiation oncologist to consider radiation to the tumor(s?) on the rib(s?), but DJ prefers to wait until he consults with Dr. Rosen and perhaps begins TAS-102.

And that's the story for the time being.

Also, I am super happy to be working full-time at Paso Robles High School as the athletic clerk, and the children are super happy to be away from school for summer vacation.  Some of us are headed to Nebraska today to watch Brooke Bigelow and her softball team play in a national, "State Games of America" tournament.  This will be the last tournament of the softball season before Brookelow becomes a high-school freshman.

Alexandra Bigelow is trying to earn as much money as she can over the summer in order to fund a trip to New York with her drama family next spring.  She and I traveled to the Evergreen State earlier this month to visit with my family of origin, and we took our first college tour at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.  It is hard to believe that our firstborn child will be a high-school senior this coming school year.  Sheesh!  Time flies.  (Here are photos of Alexandra Bigelow with her cousin Haven Rae Wittstock, and with Grampa Scott McDonald, respectively):

Here is a photo of myself with my brother Drew's children, Raelee and Analee and Conlee McDonald, in Poulsbo, Washington: 

There also may be some changes upcoming with DJ's employment.  I trust that the LORD will lead us to where we should be.

The end, for now.  Thank you, again and some more, for loving us and supporting us and praying for us and encouraging us!  We are blessed beyond measure!

Summer Time Fun

Hello!  Happy July!  Thank you for loving us and coming to this site to know our news.  I am so grateful for and blessed by your concern and by your love!  

HollyB and DJ at Hume Lake

What shall I report about DJ's health and well-being?  The same thing I have been reporting for months: every day is different, and I admire DJ's courage and perseverance and diligence and his attitude of living-one-day-at-a-time, enjoying-one-moment-at-a-time.  Sometimes DJ's pain is greater, sometimes it is less; sometimes DJ's energy is lower, sometimes it is higher; sometimes his digestive system gives him greater trouble, sometimes it does not.  I don't even have a scale of measurement to understand myself or to be able to communicate to you quantifiably and specifically how DJ is feeling, I just have my eyeballs to watch him.  He continues to go to work in a light-duty status for the Paso Robles Police Department, he continues to act as an assistant coach on Brooke's softball team, he continues to coach volleyball during the week for the Paso Robles High School girls' volleyball team, and he continues to engage in activities of life and family. I love and appreciate him!  :-)

Does Alex have the DJ Bigelow "I don't want to be in a photograph" gene?  I tried to take a Selfie with her.

For the past couple weeks, DJ has increased the dosage of his chemotherapy/targeted drug Stivarga; and with that has come an increase in side-effects: he tires more easily, needs to rest and sleep more, and the soft tissues of his body give him trouble (he has little sores developing on his tongue, his hands and his feet).  I hope that all of the extra trouble he endures is worth it - that the drug is killing the cancer!  DJ is near to the end of this 21-day cycle of Stivarga, and will have 7 days off from the drug coming soon.

Go away, cancer, and never come back!  In Jesus' Name, amen!!

I was happy to spend time visiting with my brother Drew and my niece Annalee and our mother Catherine, who came from the Evergreen State in June!

Our family enjoyed a lovely day at Hume Lake visiting with the Brahmer family and the Huffmans and with the Saunders family!  (Caedmon is absent from these photos because when we go to Hume Lake and he is with Dylan, everything else fades into the background.  It's all about Dylan!)

The kids are on summer vacation and enjoy sleeping in and lazing around; I have been granted full-time work in my position at Paso Robles High School, which makes me extremely happy and grateful!  The Kreiger family paid us a visit; and the weekends keep us busy with softball - Brooke's team is doing amazingly well, and it is fun to watch and to be a part of our softball team family!

At last weekend's tournament in Clovis, we found ourselves with some extra time between games - so many of us slipped up to Wawona Falls at Yosemite.  It was so beautiful!  I enjoyed a short hike to a lovely waterfall with some of our group, and Caedmon and Brooke enjoyed the river.  (DJ and Alex had remained in Clovis).   
 

I am so grateful for God's provision for and God's blessings over us, and I am excited and hopeful to watch how the LORD will continue to grant us grace and mercy!  Thank you for your part in God's grace being given to us!

DJ also underwent a PET scan on July 1, and I will give you a report on that in the near future.  

I am choosing to believe by faith that God is healing DJ and that he will live a long life on this earth.  I am eager and patient and hopeful to see how that develops and will manifest.  And I am happy and grateful to bow my heart to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe in humble worship.  "Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our God our Maker; for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep of His hand" (Psalm 95:6-7).  

The end, for now - more to come!  Thank you for loving us!