And now over a year later and so much has happened.  The rest of my 2011-2012 school year was better than I could have hoped for health wise.  No unplanned trips to Cleveland and I taught my first full year after 2 years interrupted by my stem cell transplant in December, 2009 and the spinal meningitis in the Spring of 2011.  My summer of 2012 was a bad one.  Very[ low blood counts led to weekly transfusions and cancelled vacations.  They couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with me.  I had my spleen removed in late July but the counts did not go up.  Finally, it was determined that my stubborn lymphoma was back and in my marrow and blood system.  More Chemo started turning things around and my doctor recommended we try another bone marrow transplant but one using someone else’s cells and not my own like the first one.  Doctor Dean soberly explained to Kim and I the high risk of such a procedure.  The risk isn’t in the process itself which actually takes place as an outpatient, but after the process as my body will naturally try to reject the donor’s cells.  The key to the process is allowing a “good” amount of rejection that actually helps my body hopefully reprogram itself to kill off cancer cells while keeping the rejection at a point where it’s not life threatening.  Doctor Dean, while aware of the risks, also shared his firm belief that without this process, traditional means of chemo could not continue to hold my cancer in check.  The decision was not hard as from the beginning Kim and I have told our doctors that I want to be as aggressive as possible in fighting the cancer and don’t want to leave anything on the table.  We decided to go ahead with the transplant.   

The first step was finding a suitable donor.  My sister was tested but didn’t prove to be suitable so a search was made of the international databank of marrow donors.  Kim and I are actually part of this database as we were tested as part of a church drive years ago for someone in the community receiving a transplant.  Shortly after my search was initiated, which is done with my information anonymous, I received a notice from the donor bank that I was a possible match for someone looking for a match.  I realized right away that I was actually being matched to myself and called the databank number to let them know.  My search turned up a really close match of a 42 year old European man who has graciously agreed to be a donor.  I don’t know who he is and don’t know whether I will ever know on this earth but am so grateful that he agreed.  With a donor in place, we began the road to the transplant.  More treatments followed to get my cancer as much in check as possible, scans were made, the insurance company was consulted and all this has resulted in a green light to proceed.  We were able to get into the Hope Lodge where we stayed before during my last transplant (Kim and I together in the prep phase and then Kim here by herself when I was in the hospital for a month).  The Hope Lodge is a blessing.  A cozy room to ourselves and shared kitchen and laundry facilities and all of it donated.  Kim and I moved up here on New Year’s Day and the next day I began more chemo.  On Monday the 7^th I start full body radiation and on Wednesday the 9^th the transplant is scheduled. 

With all of that in mind, Kim and I covet your prayers and again want you to PLEASE spend the vast majority of your time for us, if not all of the time, praying that God would help us see the truth of this trial.  That it is a blessing from Him and that we are to rejoice about the opportunity that God has graciously given us to grow in His grace.  Seeing this as a blessing and focusing on the wonderful truths of his Sovereignty and eternity with God (amongst many other things) does not come naturally to any of us which is why Kim and I believe that this is where prayers should be centered.  I won’t repeat a lot of what I’ve already written in this blog about that subject but do ask that you go back and read it if you desire.  

Pray as well for a study I’ve started on the book of James (appropriately!).  I contacted our pastors with my desire to begin teaching Sunday School again and requested a list of what has been taught and preached on during the last few years.  James has not been touched recently and that is what we decided would be a good one to focus on so I’ve begin using my time up here in preparation.  We’ll leave you with the following verses that I’ve been focusing on the past 2 or 3 days in James.

 

James 1:2-8 

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

wow. I can't believe it's been over a year since I added anything to our blog. I guess that's good news medically! I taught full time last year until the end of March when I had a serious reaction to a lumbar puncture that I had. What followed was a couple of life flights to Cleveland, only one of which I remember, and hospitalizations in Lima and Cleveland. I lost alot of my mobility as a result and gained some physical issues that have become a permanent part of our lives. Mobility wise I slowly regained my strength and am now walking about like I was before last March. I went back to work in mid May and finished out the school year working half days. Our summer was a good one as we were blessed with vacation trips to Myrtle Beach and a western excursion that took us to the Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone. We were able to share some great pictures of that trip on my Facebook page. Went back to work in late August and have been teaching full time since. I wish I could say that spiritually our lives have shown steady growth but that nagging problem called personal sin keeps getting in the way! Our paths are more like a rollar coaster but we are reminded daily of God's goodness to us and still covet your prayers in that area - that Kim and I would continue to grow in Christ and glorify Him in our circumstances. If you are saved, we wish the same for you and if you're not, we pray that you will bend your knee to a Holy God who sent His Son to pay the price of our sin through His sacrifice on the cross. Praise God that His children are forgiven! We were blessed today with a wonderful testimony to the Good News by my brother Dan Bruns as we remembered the life of his mother Connie who went to be with her Lord last Friday the 23rd. Thanks Dan for sharing the gospel today. Your commitment to Christ was not in doubt today nor was the assurance that you have, because of what Christ did, that your dear mom is with her Savior in heaven.

treatments

Had the 3rd of my lumbar punctures/treatments today and it went well. Set a record and got out of there a little after 11 a.m. - only 2 hours and 15 minutes after they scheduled me to arrive!!! They scheduled me to arrive at 8:45 with the procedure scheduled for 9:30. Two weeks ago I arrived and checked in initially at 8:30 and didn't get out of there until 12:30. The big delay usually (and last time) comes in the mixing of the chemo agent they inject in my spinal fluid. They can't begin mixing until it's confirmed that I've arrived and sometimes it takes a while. Today we arrived at 8:15 or so and after checking in initially, I went on back to the actual radiology surgery desk - though I hadn't been called back yet - and let them know I had arrived so that they could call pharmacy and tell them to mix up the agent. Seemed to work like a charm as they called me back around 9:00, took me back at 9:30 and the procedure was done by 10:00. The manatory hour wait laying down afterwards and we were out of there at 11:00. It's nice when days like this work out like they did today. Also enjoyed the time with my son Sasha who was off work and went with - driving most of the way home.

I have a 4th treatment schedule for the 30th along with an appointment with my doctor. The plan then is to move these to monthly trips/treatments.

Cleveland visit 8-17

Hello dear friends,
I'd just like to give an update as to what's going on in our lives. We went to Cleveland Clinic yesterday for a treatment and to meet with Rob's oncologist. He thinks Rob should continue to receive chemotherapy - at least 2-3 more sessions every two weeks and monthly thereafter. And radiation is being scheduled for the spot on Rob's spine. We really didn't receive any new information except for the ongoing chemo. But we do feel that we are getting some of the best medical treatment available and we really like and trust our doctor so we think we're doing all that we can. The chemo and/or steroids are really helping Rob's symptoms too. He feels better than he has all summer and that's good because he goes back to work tomorrow (teaching math at Apollo). I go back (lunch lady-Lima City Schools) on Friday and although we've enjoyed our summer of rest it will be good to be on a schedule. We genuinely appreciate all the prayers, thoughts and kind words from our family and friends. We were reminded in church on Sunday that all good gifts come from God above and we see Him providing gifts to us through all your encouragement.

necessary update

Well, looks like it’s time to update the blog again for a few reasons. One, I’ve had some changes in my health that I need to share and two, and unfortunately, that ugly, ignored, glossed over sin called gossip has once again begin to rear its ugly head and information is being shared about me without my knowledge and consequently I have no idea whether is true or not.

Bluntly, medically, it appears as if my lymphoma has returned somewhere in my central nervous system. We’ve been back up to the Cleveland Clinic for some tests and conversations with my doctor. The basis of the diagnosis is mostly symptomatic – I started feeling some weakness on the right side of my body, difficulty swallowing, etc. Tests of the spinal fluid have not been real conclusive but my doctor does believe that something is there because of the symptoms. An MRI of my spine taken in Lima does show evidence of an abnormal growth on the side of my spinal chord. My doctor in Cleveland did begin treatment in my spinal fluid when we were there on Tuesday, August 3 and we’re looking at hopefully continuing those treatments and perhaps adding some radiation to deal with the abnormal growth. My doctor has put me on a regimen including steroids which have made a huge difference in the symtpoms I’ve been experiencing. My swallowing is almost back to normal and my voice, which a week ago was weak and scratchy, is much better.

That aside, Kim and I continue to covet your prayers be directed PRIMARILY in the area of my spiritual life. Although obviously if I had the choice to be healthy or not I would choose to be so but to be honest, my greatest struggle (and Kim adds her greatest grief) lies in the area of simply being obedient day to day. Pray that God would help me to be a godly father, husband, church member, friend, worker and patient throughout this and/or any other trial our Gracious God has lovingly placed in the lives of my wonderful wife and I. Speaking for Kim, I know that her desires are the same. I ask you to reread – or read for the first time perhaps – some of the older posts in this blog to get a sense of what Kim and I are trying real hard to remind ourselves of what is true regarding our physical health and the relative lack of importance of it in God’s eyes. As always, we deeply appreciate, and are many times humbled by, the love and care of so many of our brothers in sisters in Christ who God has graciously put in our lives.

Rob and Kim

Wack to bork!

Couldn't resist that Diane Chambers reference from Cheers. I've got the okay to get back to the classroom and plan on being there tomorrow the 25th and Friday the 26th to observe with the intention of begining to teach next Monday, March 1. As usual, Apollo is bending over backwards to help. The wonderful sub who has had my classes all year will be with me in the classroom next week to help and as a standby should I find the need to rest or go home for any reason. Again, I can't begin to convey my appreciation to Apollo for their genorisity and care.

Kim and I have enjoyed worshipping at our church this past month and hope to expand that to attending Sunday School soon as well as our mid week group that meets every other Wednesday. Our church has also been, and continues to be, an incredible blessing to us and we look forward to getting more and more involved.

sheepish monthly update

I'm definitely getting worse and worse at updating this blog. My sincere apologies. I appreciate so much though that despite my failings, the incredible ministry from you to us through prayer and other means continues. We appreciate that so much.

Had our one month checkup at Cleveland Clinic last Tuesday the 26th. The bloodwork levels all look good and Dr. Smith removed the dietary/social restrictions I was on for the first month so we celebrated by going to the Beer Barrel on Friday and were blessed so much by returning to our wonderful church family for worship on Sunday. Again, Kim and I cannot begin to express our gratefulness to our church. It was wonderful seeing everyone again.

Dr. Smith "strongly" recommended I take another 4 weeks before returning to work so I'm now aiming for a March return to the classroom and will use this month of February to continue to regain strength and easing back into public/social situations. I set up 3/weekly physical therapy today so that will also be part of this month of transition.

We love you all and continue to covet your prayers for God's work in our lives.

Rob