Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

This email is being written on the computer of our new friends Vince and Linda Ferrigno (since the computers at RMH are still broken). We are grateful to God for bringing these two special people into our lives to encourage and help us in so many ways.

Concerning Buntheep's progress, the radiation oncologist has decided to stop the radiation therapy earlier than planned, so yesterday was the last treatment. He said that there have been cases of blindness reported when a total radiation of more than 5,000 cgy was delivered too near the patient's eyes. Therefore, he has stopped just short of that amount. We are so thankful that Dr. Deshmukh has consistently made conservative decisions throughout Buntheep's therapy. Although Buntheep's one good eye (the left one) continues to "wax and wane" each day, it has so far kept returning to normal vision afterwards. Praise God for His protection!

Tomorrow, we have a follow-up appointment with the ophtalmologist, Dr. Duss, to check the eyes, and another one with Dr. Aldana on Friday. There is still no definitive word about how to obtain the drug Calcitonin.

A follow-up MRI is being scheduled two weeks from now to check on the status of the tumor. Remember that the first MRI after 8 days of radiation treatment showed that the tumor had decreased in size by about 25% and had returned to three separate masses shrinking back toward the walls of the cavity, thereby leaving space in the middle. The second MRI after 8 additional days showed no apparent change, although this was still positive in that the tumor did not grow any larger. Please pray that God will greatly encourage us through the results from the third MRI, as we continue to wait on Him for yet another miracle.

In His Hands,
Gioia and Buntheep

← Previous                         Next →