Side Effects & Hospital Stays

The last couple weeks have been marked by many ups and downs. After the second infusion, Clay has been dealing with side effect after side effect. Some were short lived and others are more ongoing. Most were relatively tolerable or able to be managed. However, last week he began having stomach issues that made it difficult to eat and nothing he tried over the course of the week helped. On Saturday morning, he began having intense abdominal pain. We ended up going to the ER around 5:45 that morning. They were able to quickly get the pain under control and start him on antibiotics that has kept the pain at bay since then. 

In the last few days, Clay has been undergoing test after test. We have heard multiple theories as to what is causing all of these problems only for each test to come back clear and blood work looking great. I have put off writing a blog update because I want to have clear information to communicate, but as of right now, it seems like there aren't any major issues in his organs, but that this is a side effect from his immunotherapy. They are running a couple more tests today to continue to try to get a better understanding of what is going on. His third infusion is supposed to be Thursday, but we are unsure if that will be the best decision at this time. 

However, there has been some good news! The CT scan showed that his tumor has shrunk by over 2.5cm in each direction since our last scan on July17th! This was such an encouragement to us as we have not had much good news (medically) since May. 

Once again, in the midst of another unexpected trial, we have been met with the Lord providing abundantly through the Church. Friends tag-teamed taking care of the kiddos before Clay's parents got here- answering the phone before the sun was up and being there to pray for us before we left and be a source of comfort when the kids woke up. People have brought meals to the house and to the hospital, sent texts, brought overnight bags, washed our clothes and dishes, teamed up to make sure the kids could go to a pool party, and so much more. As I was leaving to come back to the hospital Sunday I checked the mail and we received a package from our church in NLR that was a scrapbook full of encouraging notes and verses. Only the Lord could orchestrate such perfect timing, and it brought me to tears. 

We are not forsaken. The Lord is near and drawing us ever-nearer as we face this. 

Prayer Requests:

• Clarity to know what is making Clay sick and that it would be resolved quickly
• Wisdom for what to do moving forward with treatment
• That we will be able to go home soon
• Clay can start eating again and gaining strength back 
• Our hearts would not be discouraged
• That we will continue to see this rate of shrinkage of his tumor and that it wouldn't spread anywhere else 

Ready, break!