Fwd: Where to begin

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rand Patterson <maandpap1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Subject: Where to begin
To: Beth Murphy <bethamurphy@gmail.com>

Dearest Loved Ones, After our last e:mail to you Rand and I spent a great deal of time seeking God's wisdom, direction and peace.  With things pretty much dead end at U of M we began seeking answers and possibilities.  And through God's amazing handiwork information was brought to our attention that we could not ignore.  We researched, prayed, talked to our pastor, had a family meeting with our family and just let God put the pieces together. This was by no means an easy decision, but until we gave it over completely to God to put the pieces together for us did things start to line up.  And as we began pursuing the options the Holy Spirit just took over and put things into such amazing order that we just had to obey his leading.  We have made the decision to go to Mexico for alternative methods of treating Rand's cancer. There is a world renowned doctor who we have spoken to a few times and we have also sent him all of Rand's records and probably by tomorrow after hearing from the doctor we will be packing things up, getting our lives in as much order as possible and could be in Mexico by Sunday.  It has been absolutely amazing how everything has fallen into place.  Someday we will share all the little details that the Holy Spirit just took care of supernaturally.  We have an amazing peace about this and our family is thrilled that we will be going.  We are trusting God again to make this all possible and just stepping out on faith and following His direction.  I know this is probably a difficult concept for many to understand but our hearts and minds have been opened to so much more that is available....and we feel God has blessed these doctor's with a gift that hasn't been allowed in the United States for many reasons that just don't seem right.  We just ask that you continue you prayers, and love for us and help us through the journey that lies ahead. We will be there for about 3 weeks which will be a heart breaker for us being away again from our family. Rand is actually feeling very well and will be able to travel easily.  Today Dr. Yannik called and just tried to offer more options such as chemo, and radiation.  He also said to us that being in the position we are now he doesn't blame us for going to Mexico.  That was a very interesting thing for us to hear.  So dear ones pray for us that we will get all the things done that need to be done and that we will stay in God's will. Love to all Rand and Joanie Please keep Ben's sister Wendy in your prayers, too.  She is not improving and she is also looking into coming down to Mexico.  Pray for divine wisdom as they have to make difficult choices also.

Fwd: God's divine wisdom needed!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rand Patterson <maandpap1@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Subject: God's divine wisdom needed!!
To: Beth Murphy <bethamurphy@gmail.com>

Today at clinic we were able to see the Pet Scan and there is indeed new lymphoma on the right side near the kidney with fingers. They can not do radiation or surgery on the Lyphoma. Our options are to cut back on the steroids and allow the Graft Versus Host disease to get worst and pray that it will go in and kill off the cancer. However, there is a real danger of the GVHD getting so bad that it could make Rand very very sick and that would not be good with his immune system as it is.   If that doesn't happen then there would have to be more chemotherapy and a stem cell boost from Cindy. Rand has made the choice not to do anymore chemo so that will not be an option and the doctor's agree.  So we are prayerfully seeking God's wisdom and divine guidance in seeking unconventional ways of taking care of Randy's cancer.  We believe we were led to come to U of M by God's leading and they did what they could do but at this point there has been no healing of the lymphoma. We are prayerfully seeking God's will in helping to find the right facility for him that would treat the underlying cause and then attack the cancer and then build up his immune system.  God has divinely placed information into our hands and we are prayerfully seeking wisdom on where to go. We believe that God has a plan for him and we are seeking anything that He brings our way.  We also have to prayerfully  seek God's wisdom on the costs of this new treatment and clinic This is a facility that is not covered by insurance. However the stay would only be three weeks instead of our 82 at U of M  We have been so blessed by all of you who have helped us finance our stay at U of M.  What would we have done without all of you gifts of love to us ...we are eternally grateful. And we so hoped the outcome would've been better.  We will not question why and will just believe with all our hearts that God's plan was fulfilled here at U of M.  We are just now asking for prayers for WISDOM beyond measure in making the choices God would have us to make. We love and cherish you all and just pray that your minds may be opened to whatever lies ahead.  All our Love, Rand and Joanie

Fwd:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rand Patterson <maandpap1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Subject:
To: Beth Murphy <bethamurphy@gmail.com>

Dearest Loved Ones,    This is a very difficult moment for us right now, but I just wanted you to hear from us that Dr. Yannik called today and said that the Pet Scan showed that there is Lymphoma on the right kidney again.  We are so confused, emotional and just not sure what we are going to do.  We still believe that God is healing Rand and this is just a blow to us that we weren't expecting or believing. We just had a clear ultra sound of the kidney last week and it was clear.  So this is all so overwhelming!!  We don't know what our options are at this point, but we right now are having a hard time envisioning going through anymore of what we have.  Right now we are seeking God's divine wisdom and basing our faith not on words, symptoms or what we hear, but on God's word and promises. We will be talking to the Dr.tomorrow regarding what steps can be taken.  Both Rand and I are wanting  at this point to pack things up and just come home and let God continue the healing that has been going on.  Stepping out on the faith we know is true and just letting and trusting in God to take care of this.  Please pray for divine wisdom from God in making a decision that is in His complete will.  We love you all and just feel your presence continually in our hearts.

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you all know that Rand's bone marrow went real well.   He had a intern do the procedure with a physician assisting....a bit uncomfortable at times, but Rand was sedated and didn't feel anything.  But, after watching 5 of these I'll have to say this one was the most uncomfortable to watch.  But, all is well!!  They will not get the results regarding if there are Lymphoma cellls for two days. (Believing there are not) . And it will take about a week to do the DNA testing on the marrow to see how much of Cindy's stem cells are in his bone marrow.  (Believing for 100%).  So  we have some waiting time to go through which we have a real peace about. That peace is certainly a gift from God. Rand got a bit of a scolding regarding his weight.  He has to work harder on that otherwise they won't let him go home.....it's just as important as his blood counts.  So I believe the point was taken with some seriousness this time. His heart test came back perfect, his blood clots are remaining inactive, so many things are going well.  We just need to pray for the bone marrow test's to be clear of cancer, and full of Cindy's cells, and also that his appetite will increase and blood counts will keep climbing up to normal.  His Pet Scan is scheduled for Wednesday and we are praying with our heart that all is clear according to God's promises.  Please pray the God's divine plan will be manifested through all of this. 

Have a wonderful wonderful weekened,

Love Rand and Joanie

Fwd: Praise God Day!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rand Patterson <maandpap1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Subject: Praise God Day!!
To: Beth Murphy <bethamurphy@gmail.com>

Hi all, Please give God a shout of praise today!!  Rand had labs today and his platelets are making their own, his white count is coming up, hemoglobin is hanging in there, his magnesium is perfect, his creatine is as low as it has ever been and he GAINED two pounds!!!!  Pretty good stuff don't ya think.   He also had an echo-cardiogram of his heart and everything looks perfect there.  He also had an ultrasound of his blood clots and all is well there. too.  So thanks be to God for all the great stuff today.  Tomorrow is a ultrasound of his kidney and liver, and Friday is a bone marrow biopsy . If Rand's platelets continue to go up Dr. Yannik said he would take the "port" our of his arm after the bone marrow biopsy.  That will be wonderful to have that removed.    We are believing and praying that the kidney and liver are perfect and that the bone marrow will contain 100% of Cindy's bone marrow.  We just can't give God enough of our thankfulness and praise for all the goodness that He has given us.  We are just so blessed to have all of you praying and believing right along with us and claiming the promises God has given us.  Dr. Yannik is so pleased and we want to make sure that he sees God's work and glory through this whole journey through the wilderness that we have been on.  We want them all to know that God is the Greatest Physician of them all!! Blessings, Rand and Joanie

Hi all!

This week Monday Rand had an appt. for labs, clinic and infusion. His platelets are still very very low and we are waiting for Cindy's to kick in.  The older the donor, the longer that will take but we are believing that will take place real soon.  So he had a transfusion of platelets, magnesium, and potassium.  His biggest challenge right now is nausea.  I checked out all the drugs that he was taking and 7 out of the 14 drugs all cause severe to mild nausea.  So, now we know why he is having trouble eating.  Yesterday, Dr. Yannik put him on Marrinol which is a synthetic marijuana.....oh my goodness!!!  He became instantly high, couldn't walk, nauseated and giggling....now that is a  pathetic situation don't you think.  So we are trying a few others to make the nausea more manageable so he can start eating and gaining back the 30 pounds he has lost.  So if you want a specific prayer request that would be a great one!! 

Today he did some laps around the pool and just enjoyed the moist heat in the pool area.  I'm going to try and take him our for a ride just to get out and enjoy the sunshine. That will do him some good for sure.  His autoimmune system is still very compromised so we are staying completely away from people and places.  That is a real challenge for us as you can imagine.  God is helping us to take each day at a time and is helping us to manage not seeing our precious family and friends. We miss them so!!!

We have another appt. this Thursday and we are believing for counts to start coming up on their own and coming more into balance.  We are still so blessed not to be in the hospital with infections and complications...thank you Jesus.  March 12th will be a big day for Rand because he will have a Pet Scan and many other scans to go along with that one, so that will be a day we will covet with prayer for sure. Philippians 2:13 says, "God's will, healing, is working in you."  For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. We believe with all our hearts that health and healing is God's perfect pleasure for Rand. 

Thanks dear ones and enjoy the beautiful days of sunshine that God has given us. 

Love,

Rand and Joanie