Post Gustav / Pre Ike

Hello Family and Friends,

Thanks for checking-in here at Trudy's Blog. Once again we are grateful for the outpouring of prayers, especially during these days of significantly LOW counts.

Today's labs confirm that the counts remain suppressed to borderline energy and infection levels. Thankfully, Trudy is feeling well enough to keep up with the demands of teaching. However, it is taking daily Neupogen injections right now to maintain the infection fighting WBC's at an adequate level. Her energy giving RBC's are just enough to allow for the physical demands of teaching. Her platelets are quite low and is the cause of some easy bruising. Dr. Koller informed us that this low period could take several weeks to resolve.

Please add Dr. Koller to your prayers. We have not mentioned on this blog before, but Dr. Koller is a cancer patient himself. He has Kidney cancer and is presently being actively treated for a tumor that has metasticized on one of his lungs. He keeps up with Trudy by email but is not able to see clinic patients for the next couple of months. We are so thankful that God placed us with Dr. Koller for Trudy's journey.

Speaking of that also prompts me to seek your prayers on behalf of my brother, Jack. You may click on the link to the right "Jack's Journey" for updates. His Kidney cancer treatments have taken their inevitable toll and there are lot's of up's and down's that accompany his journey. Right now the tumor behind his eye remains bothersome and we are praying that it will respond and shrink now that he has undergone the radiation treatments.

Hurricane Ike will enter the Gulf waters soon and we pray that God will protect any and all who may find themselves in its path. Hurricane Gustav did considerable damage across Louisiana and many people are still working hard in recovery. Thankfully, our home was spared any damage and after six days, our electricty was restored.

Again, thanks for hearing these prayer needs...and thanks a million for praying that Trudy will see an increase in her counts in the next lab or two, that she will not get sick...and that the Leukemia will stay away.

Blessings,
Trudy and Roberto