堅持信靠的Brian's Blog

Dear prayer warriors,

I want to share with you what I answer Jennifer earlier about the updates now.

Jennifer ask,"Did you take Brian to visit UCLA or City of Hope? How is Brian? Hope he is stable. Will continue praying. GOD BLESS. "

My reply:
Brian is in CHLA And didn't go to anywhere for his counts are still the lowest.
Good news is his white cells start to produce a little bit today.

I just talked to Dr. Gaynon for an hour and half in his own office at 5pm. Thanks God. It's Friday. He was so super nice and answered all of my questions with no hassle.

I visited City of Hope by myself yesterday by myself. There were 3 people I met. A tour guide , an navigator, and a nurse . They helped me to get more idea about this hospital and view their inpatient BMT room and facility. It helps me to make decision with Dr. Gaynon today. Actually few days ago,Brian said he didn't mind to get any other opinion for his treatment. But he preferred to do it here in CHLA.
After my meeting with Dr.Gaynon this afternoon. We made the decision to not pursuing any other opinion to make things too complicated.

Now we'll aim to prepare his 2nd transplant here. It probably starts at last week of this month.
Please pray for the successful for all the preparation and transplant.

During the meeting, Dr. Gaynon praises Vivian for many times. We do need to spend time and praise and appreciate her more from now on. She is the most contributor in our family. Pray for me to love her and understand her as much as I can.

Brian is doing good and looks good too. Thanks God. That's His radiance on him to support his joy.
I feel so relax and confident now after things were clear out and the decision were made.
We know what and how to focus on and pray for.

God is good. He is in control as always. I believe, never change.
Thanks for your caring and love.

God bless,

 Anita

Dear Prayer warriors.

Brian's 2 rounds of chemo therapy was done. Today is after chemo day25. His blood counts are still lowest since chemo day12.
They checked his blood iron and found out his iron level was too high because too many blood transfusion.

Last night, they checked with MRI to make sure there is no iron staying in any organ. If no, it will easier to deal , otherwise it will have difficulty for next transplant. Please pray for no iron stay in any of his3 organs when they read the MRI report.

It takes 1 to 2 weeks to get the result
Also, he got fever at 4am. this morning (39.3c) after they do the MRI last night.
They drew the blood to see what caused the fever.
Pray for no fever and they know how to treat the infection somewhere.

Next step. The goal now is waiting for his counts to recover. They predict it will come up in this week.
If up to ANC 500, they will let us go home rest for a week and then go to next transplant. This time they will draw Vivian's stem cells for transplant. They hope Vivian's stem cell have more immune cells to kill leukemia cell ( if there are any left over show up).
We need your constantly prayer for this very critical procedure.

Our primary oncologist Dr. Gaynon also arrange 2nd opinion at City of hope to see what kind of transplant they will suggest.
Please pray for us to make the best and right choice that is from God.
Thank you very much.

Our nurse Angela has worked with us for 3 days.    Daddy said she looks like Brian's cousin ( Wan-Ju jie jie).   She does looks like her at her age of 27.   She makes us miss our family in Taiwan.    Thanks for the technology we can facetime, skype, or use facebook and line to see each other so quick once we want to.

Dr. Gaynon said today is chemo day 18.   Brian's counts will stay this low for another 2 to 3 weeks.    After his count recover,  we will check his bone marrow again.    He can go home and then go to transplant.

So, we 4 are all in CHLA to spend the family time together during the weekend.

Vivian has started her school this Monday.   Please keep praying for her.   She will be the stem cell donor for Brian's 2nd transplant.

Also, the most important thing is ......  Please pray for more joy in Brian's heart.   

God is in control.   Pray for our peace heart for all the treatment He plans.

We have more questions for Dr. Kapoor (BMT doctor) after last Friday afternoon's meeting.  She will answer more of our questions on next Monday afternoon.   Please pray for the wisdom to ask key questions and pray for BMT team doctors to have the wisdom from God to use best treatment for Brian.

God bless us all,

 Mark & Anita

Today is our primary Dr. Gaynon's term for a week. 

I saw them from home with skype.   Ray came in and talking about what is real Hawaiian shirt.  " I like your shirt, Dr. Gaynon, no matter it's real or not.   It looks good on you.", I said.

Brian's platelet was low <5K for a week and here are some skin bruises on Brian's skin.   Dr. Fryer said it's ok to wait for his own count to recovery except there are real bleeding nose or somewhere else.

But Brian felt his right eye has something like a circle block his vision after they gave him 2 bags of blood yesterday.

Until Dr. Gaynon came today, he gave him platelet right away.   And he changed the lab schedule to every other day in stead of 3 or 4 days.      "I want his platelet to stay above 20K.   Every doctor has different philosophy in many area.    The skin bruises is OK.   What I worry is Hemo like brain or behind eye's bleed.   I'll in charge for this week and I will tell them to do this way afterward.", said Dr. Gaynon.

Thanks God.   We've been asked this for a whole week.   Brian always looks good and feels good  in spirit too.   No wonder some doctors are very bold to do many decisions.     We must keep praying for our doctors too.   Platelet is a very big deal to him. 

Today is chemo day 9th.   Brian's 2nd part of chemo was done this afternoon.    Now his counts will drop to lowest and recover in few weeks.    He will stay here in CHLA until the count recovery.

The meeting with BMT Dr. Kapoor for Brian's 2nd transplant this afternoon is good.

She explained the Stem cell donation procedures to Vivian and also told Brian their treatment plan.

Thanks God for sending an angel interpreter for us in this meeting.   Theresa, she came from Taiwan, she was my senior schoolmate in my middle school and high school in Chia-Yi, Taiwan.    The most important thing is........    She used to be VOH congregation and know our senior Pastor Kwan very well.    She came not only translate for us and also pray for us while she was waiting for the meeting outside of Brian's room.     Actually, Kathy(our BMT case manager) told me it's another Catonese lady Jane will come to translate for us.    But it turned to be Theresa, my senior schoolmate.      I strongly knew she is an angel Our Divine appointment.   Her presence made me feel God's hand is here to protect, adjust, and understand He is in control.     We got another prayer warrior too.

We know God is in control although we still have lot of question to ask for the treatment.

Dr. Kapoor said, "the plan should be like this now.  We will come for more details in few weeks".

雖然我們對下一個移植計劃仍有諸多疑問, 但我看見神的手在其中如何 "調兵遣將" 來 讓我們安心地知道. 祂掌管一切. 祂調來幫我們翻譯的竟是和我如此有地緣和校緣的國中又是高中的學姊, 又是 我們教會的 前輩. 更令我感動的是祂派來一位大能的代禱勇士.

Please pray for our meeting with BMT doctor this afternoon at 2pm. to 4pm.

Brian, Vivian both need to stay firm in the Lord. For I have read the consent form last night, it involves many procedures than the first time.
Pray for Vivian with courage and peace in mind to know " God is in control".
Please pray for 4 of us to know what is the best interest for Brian.

God bless us all.

Mark & Anita

August 14, 2012
Well, I'm 18 now. Now I'll have to read the entire terms and conditions before I sign a paper, instead of my mom handing me a piece of paper and telling me to sign, and be responsible for paying for my education, and stuff like that. Ehhh.
One thing I have noticed, though: I have not been able to stop smiling ever since the morning that I turned 18. It's like God has given me his Spirit of joy as my birthday present. This has never happened to me before in the past, and I hope that this joy will endure throughout my chemo, recovery, and beyond.
Only five of my elementary/middle school friends and my neighbor came on my birthday, yet it was still the happiest birthday I've ever had. Which goes to show that, you don't need many friends to be happy, just a few close friends who really know and care about you.

      Brian

Thanks for all of your spending time and blessings on Sunday Brian's 18th Birthday.
He is happy since then.
He feels the holy spirit fills him with Joy.   

He smiles all the time and not being irritated anymore.  We went to CHLA yesterday afternoon for his PICC line dressing change.   He kept the joy face all the time.
All the doctors and nurses are so happy for him too.

Please pray the Joy of Holy Spirit stay with Brian permanently.  

Let it accompany him to go through all the treatment in the future.   Also pray for the peace in all of us too.
Tomorrow we will go to hospital for 2nd part of chemo.   It will start at 9pm.    Please keep praying for the best.
Thank you. 

God bless you,

Dear prayer warriors,