Chemotherapy drugs start this Wednesday

Hi All,

We have been meaning to write another update about all of the ways we have been blessed recently and all of the generosity that has been poured out by our community, along with some totals of the donations we have received and where it puts us in paying for her treatments... but it has been a busy couple of weeks and I'm still adding and organizing. I can say that we are feeling confident in being able to cover treatment needs through the end of 2012. God has continued to provide -- financially, through our church peeps bringing us awesome meals for dinner, and with LOTS of love and encouragement.

Chelsa will begin chemotherapy drugs this week Wednesay, 9/12/12, including Velcade (Bortezomib -- a proteasome inhibitor) and Dexamethasone (Decadron -- an  anti-inflammatory steroid) under the care of Dr. Kaplan at Swedish Medical. We are a little worried about this, but after ensuring that Chelsa's doctors at Health & Wellness are on-board with the decision, that it will pair well with her immunotherapy vaccine and treatments, and that the doctors are in communication with one another... we are feeling confident that it is the right thing to do and are the correct steps toward beating the Multiple Myeloma.  We would appreciate your prayers, specifically that the drugs work in concert with the immunotherapy vaccine to kill the cancerous cells and boast her body's immune system to create healthy cells. Please pray against the risks and side affects -- we are told that possibilities include infection or peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that could mean numbness, pain, or muscle problems). We are also told that this is a standard treatment that has proven to be very effective and that not everyone experiences side effects. Our doctors both feel confident that Chelsa's youth, amazing spirit, and the track record she has been establishing for bouncing back from sickness puts her the top of class for cancer battling.

The long and short is that we don't know quite what to expect from starting these drugs, but she completed the second immunotherapy vaccine last week and is feeling strong and ready for the next step. God has been faithful to provide thus far and we are confident that he will see us through.

Thank you for your love, care, and prayers!

~Matt (& Chelsa -- she has promised to write an update for you all but wants to wait until after Wednesday)

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7