Therapy 1 - Hawaiian Style

Okay, the chemo seems to be working and we are all praising the Lord. Unfortunately, even when pancreatic cancer responds to chemo, it eventually becomes resistant to the treatment and stops working. Then the cancer begins to advance again. So while we wait for the genomic treatments, we are attempting some "alternative" therapies. Dad is drinking "Reliv" shakes (Dad's niece Denise and her husband sent), which are helping his energy immensely. He just started taking something Jeff and Leah Cox sent that has all kinds of good stuff and seems to be helping his stomach. The juicing has been rough going because we didn't know what we were doing, but Leah gave us some helpful hints and we will persevere. Kristin and Bo have called for Wednesdays to be a day of fasting and prayer for anyone who would like to partner with us in that. Some are fasting food and various other things. God has me fasting my computer since I seem to be addicted to that. If I pray as much time as I spend on my computer, I'll become like Sandy Ginn, Suzanne and Gram (a high calling indeed). We are also using some more "creative" approaches developed on purpose or by default by various family members. I will be reviewing these in the next couple of posts. The first treatment began long before we knew there was cancer, but proved very therapeutic nonetheless. We call it a "Maui state of mind".

Nutritional Therapy: Plantation House, Lahaina Yacht Club

More Nutritional Therapy: Bubba Gump's (Always First Night Tradition)

Relaxation Therapy: Sunset - The Nightly Ritual

Hangin Loose Therapy: Sunset w/Tim, Sam's Hawaiian Baptism

Flower Power Therapy: Okay, This is Just an Excuse to Use This Picture of Robert

Contemplation Therapy: Where Else Can You Get Dad to Sit Still?

Eileen Therapy: Nothing More Healing Than Time w/His Favorite Girl

More Therapies to Come. Stay Tuned.

Update - Praise God

Okay, here is the latest scoop on Dad's treatment and progress. First and foremost, keep up the praying. The scriptures posted earlier today are our arsenal. Please keep it up because God is answering and Dad's pain has gone away!!! Last week, about midway through he realized that, although his stomach was a bit upset, the rib cage pain (the only real symptom he had of the cancer), had gone. The tiredness, most likely a by-product of the Talabostat because it lowers his blood pressure, persisted throughout the week. When he got his blood work done, his hemocrit and red blood counts were up (the Talabostat is working) - this is good. The transport mechanism is working well. His platelets and white blood counts are down, but still within normal ranges. This is what they expected to happen, so no surprises. He had a CT of his pelvis done last week before he could start the the treatment, and they were able to get the abdomen also. So we had an updated look at the tumor (it had been 3 1/2 weeks since his first CT diagnosed the cancer, so we had no idea how fast the tumor was growing). The pancreatic tumor grew approximately 1 cm. from 7-7.5 cm on the first scan to 8.3 cm on this scan. The liver tumor grew about .5 cm from 3.5-4 cm on the first scan to 4.3 on this scan. While no growth was preferable, this was encouraging as pancreatic cancer can advance a lot more quickly than this. And that's before we ever started any treatment. We got the results of the CA 19-9, which tests the amount of cancer antigen in the blood. The higher the numbers are not good. His CA 19-9 (taken the first week he was diagnosed) was 37,479. While this number is quite high, we all knew his condition when we started this journey was grave. We will have another blood test taken at the mid-point of the chemo (3 more weeks) and this should give us some indication of how he's responding to the treatment. Tomorrow, I'll post updtaes on all the additional therapies we are utilizing to enhance the care he's receiving at Mary Crowley. All this has been checked with his wonderful doctor, Dr. Nemunaitis. We have received his blessing for all that we are trying. Continue leaving posts as Dad gets these directly to his email each day and they are such an encouragement. Most make him cry, but don't tell him I said that. (He doesn't always read the blogs, just the comments.)

Tom Hardeman

Tom Hardeman

Matthew 18:18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

III John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, WHO HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.


Dad, I stand with you today claiming these promises from God's word...believe it and receive! Tommy

One last thought, I love Hebrews 11, I'd encourage you to read it...but I'll put Hebrews 12:1-3 here.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race MARKED OUT FOR US. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.