Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Young William update

Greetings my dear family and friends,

Below is an email I got from my dear brother concerning his son Billy. In this email you will see God's power come shinning through for this family. Please take the time to read through it all.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I have to email you all that we finally have a diagnoses for our son Billy. As most of you know on April 28 late at night Billy felt a heart beat in his abdomen. When he pushed in on it he found a lump there. The next morning he woke up and told his mother that he had found a lump. Even though it was a Saturday she took Billy to his doctor and she sent us to the local hospital for a CT scan. As we waited for the results we were referred to another doctor which would look at Billy and do a biopsy. On May 4 a biopsy was performed and the tissue was sent to CA . We waited about a week and found out it was cancerous but not sure what type , but they thought Lymphoma. We were schedule to have Surgery in Ithaca on Monday May 7 to remove the tumor. We were trying to get into University Hospital In Syracuse to have them look at Billy. On Friday night our doctor in Ithaca informed us that the Syracuse doctors did not want Ithaca hospital to do the surgery. We had an appointment to see Dr. Souid in Syracuse on Monday May 7 instead. Billy was admitted for the next 3 days and many tests and one operation were performed to take a large piece of the tumor. The test results came back that is was Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer). My wife and I were devastated. Our 15 Son had the same cancer that had took the life of a good friend of ours when we were in High School. His name was John Brown and he died at the age of 16. His father was the pastor of Hill Side Alliance in Ithaca. My wife and I both recalled all the treatment and struggles that John had went through. We knew we had a long road ahead , but we knew that God had a plan and we would follow whatever we had in store for us ,we knew we would not be alone. Over the next week or so Billy had another surgery to install a port for chemotherapy and many more tests. He was poked and jabbed and through it all keep a great attitude. About May 16 they were going to start Chemo , but things got changed and we had another test to undergo to make a 100% sure it was Ewing Sarcoma. The test is called a FISH test and is a genetic test to see if the 11 and 22 chromosomes have changed. If they have, it proves 100 % that he has this type of cancer. Our Doctor was 99% it was Ewing Sarcoma,but he wanted to be a 100% sure. So we went home and waited another 5 days and came back to the Hospital on Wednesday the 23rd to start Chemotherapy again . We were admitted into the hospital about 10 that morning and they prep Billy's port to get ready for the treatment , but our doctor told them to wait as he was still waiting for the results of the fish test to comeback. He assured us it would be around noon time . Well we waited and waited and around 3 that afternoon I told my wife that I thought the test came back negative. At 5 our doctor came in and said that he was sorry it had taken him so long, but he was consulting with his team and the other doctors on what to do with Billy ,as the FISH test came back negative. We all rejoiced and I just gave God all the Glory as this was the best news I had heard in a month or so. Our Son's biopsies were sent out to 2 of the leading pathologists in the country to review. They received his sample on Friday but since it was Memorial Day Weekend we heard nothing. So we waited more, and our doctor told us to be patience. Over the last Month or so we have learned to be patience and wait on the Lord. So we did. Oh and through out this entire time we continued to prayed Psalms 91 over our Son every night.
Last night when we got home we had a call from Dr Souid (Billy's Doctor) with the test results. Billy does not have Ewing Sarcoma, nor does he have Muscle cancer, But our Son has a undifferentiated Tumor. Our doctor told us that out of all the cancers he could have, this cancer requires the least amount of treatment. He will have an operation next week to remove the tumor and they will test the tissues around the tumor to see if there are any abnormal cells. If so, they will use radiation on the area. If when they remove the tumor the area around it looks ok that will be it. He will be done and just have routine check ups. My wife and I have been on a roller coaster ride but we know all along that our God has been in control. We never lost hope and we know God still has a purpose for us. We want to help the other children up there in that hospital with cancer , which we will. We want to thank everyone of you for praying for us. I truly believe that our son had bone cancer ,but because of all your prayers and ours , our God heard us and changed his cancer. This is truly a miracle and I just want to Give our Lord and Savior all the Glory, because it is he that has made this possible. Please rejoice with us and thank our Lord for answering our prayers. I will give you all a update after our Son's surgery and the results we find out late next week. Again no words can express the out pouring of Love and Concern that each one of you have shown us.We thank each one of you. May the Lord Bless each and everyone of you and please share our miracle with others,let them know that we serve a awesome God.
In Christ
Bill Lower

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This is amazing and wonderful news. God truly performed a miracle in this family's life. Wow! I was blown away by the power of almighty God when I read this email. Thank you Jesus. This family stood on the Word of God, and His glory shinned through.

Peace to you all,
Tim

1 comment:

Doctor David said...

Wow. What a rollercoaster it sounds like your family has been on. Thank you for sharing this story. I am a pediatric oncologist at Johns Hopkins, and reading stories like this helps to remind me what families go through, even when they don't let us know. I always try to give families information as soon as I possibly can... thank you for the reminder of how awful the waiting can be. I wish your family the best of luck with everything!

David Loeb, MD, PhD
loebda@jhmi.edu
www.hopkinssarcoma.org