Hi All:

As we embark on another week of some uncertainty in our journey, I have a lot to be thankful for. By the grace of God, I have been able to work pretty much full time at Georgetown Medical Center, including while my partner had a couple weeks of vacation.  My Hemoglobin has risen above 10 for the first time since the April 11 surgery and, with the healing of the fistula, I can eat almost anything. Not much at a time, but the positive thing for someone who loves to eat, I get to savor food all day long, as can only handle 3 swallows of liquid followed by 3 bites of food at a time. At home, the temptation to do more can get away from me, especially if some family members are there and I get distracted with conversation. At work, it is much easier to play by the rules, as I get a swallow or two and a bite between every other patient or so if things work out. So, I have been able to do without my Lactated Ringers rehydration during the day, though I still do my TPN at night as cannot get enough calories in during the day. Thus I am very thankful to sit up and take nourishment, not bad for a donkey.

We left Grand Rapids early this morning and are thankful that we had the best trip to Pittsburgh thus far (of our 7 trips) with no back ups at the multiple construction sites, great weather to travel and we got our luggage into the apartment. Ten minutes later at most it started to storm, pelting rain and rather significant hail, so another great thank you to the Lord for allowing us to get here safe and sound (and dry). Tomorrow morning at 8 am, we will go for round #2 of the injection of the vaccine into my left groin (we alternate sides). The rest of the week is the questionable issue, as I will have daily injections/infusions of Interferon and then another chemotherapy dose added on Friday, something being used in Europe but still experimental in the USA. Hopefully will learn more about it this week.

The political situation still has not been resolved in Haiti, unfortunately, and the interim president (whose term expired several months ago but he does not seem eager to step down) does not seem any more willing to resolve the impasse with the government hospitals being on strike for more humane conditions for their patients and themselves, so Dr. William still is unable to continue the residency he started early this year. Please pray that this will be settled soon and that he can continue his “official surgical training” again.  He does come to the hospital and help out when he can, like last week, with Dr. Fred Brown and Duane working under somewhat less than ideal conditions. I think Duane figured they had maybe 5 hours of government electricity all week and our main generator died, so hard to keep the hospital functioning. I am thankful that at least this happened when Duane was there to handle things (not sure he would agree with all the grief he had to go through).  He has a new generator up and running and is working on getting the old one repaired, always an interesting situation under the conditions in Haiti.

Will keep you up to date as we learn more about the rest of the week and the effects the new round of chemotherapy has to bring us.

In His Service,

Bill and Karen