Unusual Reactions

There are times in life when all the normals are thrown out the window. When I last wrote Will had just began his Panzem treatment. It was an oral liquid, chalky but bearable. Will began taking the medication on Wednesday the 7th. We returned from Duke the following day thinking this would be an easy medication to handle. Will felt great until Saturday night when some queasiness began. He was in bed for the first time ever when I got home from work at 8pm! I thought it was strange but figured it would be OK the next day. He opted out of church which never happens and began to vomit mid morning on Sunday. All day Sunday and Monday he couldn't even keep water down. We called the doctors on call at Duke and MD Salacz here. The consensus was to stop the Panzem (oral chemo from Duke) for 24 hours and see how that helped.

Will was in the hospital Monday and Wednesday (of last week) receiving fluids for dehydration and every anti-nausea medication they thought might work. We tried 8 different kinds of anti nausea medications. Nothing seemed to help and being off the Panzem didn't completely stop the nausea so it was restarted. Will tried to muddle through his 4 doses a day but never felt like he was getting back to normal.

My good friend Betsie came in town. Friday was the first time Will felt like getting out of the house. We went down-town to take a look at the Dead Sea Scrolls and Will threw up for the last time an hour after his Panzem dose. He said the medication just didn't make him feel right. Life's not that fun when you are throwing up all the time and if you never feel right it is hard to enjoy yourself so we are officially off the Panzem study from Duke.

The nausea and vomiting was an unusual reaction to the Panzem but surely was Providential. Will's last MRI on the 22cnd of this Month showed there was new growth. This means the Panzem was rather ineffective at controlling the tumor even though Will only took it for a short time. With the guidance of doctors and some more prayers we have decided to return to receiving the IV Avastin medication every 2 weeks from St. Luke's. The doctors placed this in combination with a new medication which Will is taking by mouth every day for 21 days then 7 days off called Etoposide. They have had some success with these 2 medications when taken together. We are just praying now that this will stop the growth! Insurance still does not want to cover these treatments so we are praying for favor in that area. We are still going through appeals and writing letters. Another issue in the medical world that makes it just a little harder to deal with the real issues at hand!

The doctors always test Will's kidney function prior to the Avastin treatments since it is known to be hard on your kidneys. For the 9 treatments he had earlier there were never any problems, but now after the Panzem treatments Will's tests showed some mild kidney failure. No kidney failure is mild but this was barely in Stage 2 which meant Will could still receive the Avastin. Having been off the IV Avastin for the past 6weeks we still don't know if this is an unusual reaction to the Panzem or something further. In any regard we will be watching it closely and covet your prayers! All normals really have to be thrown out when you are dealing with individuals!

SOOO for the non-medical which is the most fun - Will's sisters just came in with their 8 combined kids and my friend Betsie. I have enclosed those photos above. You can tell we are quite a crowd wherever the Reno's travel! We are still looking to buy a home and are having inspections done on the new prospect tomorrow. Will, Lynn, and I just bought tickets to travel to see Gail (my little sister graduate) from high school in June. We just pray for wisdom in every step. Will's oldest brother is in town from Colorado with his 2 kids and we have been throwing the baseball and playing games together. Will manned the golf cart this morning for their game. PLUS my parents and Gail are coming to visit us for 2 weeks in April. We are excited! It is just still sweet to be together. Will is back to eating normally and we are thankful. Will and I are glad to have each other and still so glad to have the prayers of those around us! Thank you again for walking through this time with us.