Update/Prayer requests

**This is actually a post I made on Facebook last week, we have now been to both of these appointments and I will update soon for those:)**

Whoa.. I don't know where to begin.. we met Dr. Kotsanis this past Wednesday, and there is so much information that we received. For now, I will just try to hit the most important things that are happening right now..and maybe fill in the blanks as we go w/details and such. First thing, I suppose.. Derek had blood draws and some lab work that we could here, in Sherman yesterday. We go back to Dr. Kotsanis this Tuesday for more labs, blood draws, etc. One of the draws that day, will be sent to a lab in Germany. The lab there will harvest cancer cells from the blood, grow them in about 40 different petri dishes, then inject each with different chemo agents, as well as, the top alternative treatments in order to find which treatment is most effective agains Derek's particular cancer. (I will have better detailed information concerning this after Tuesday.) I had a question concerning this..I wasn't so sure that I wanted cancer cells to be found in Derek's blood. However, this test is extrememly EXPENSIVE and is NOT covered by insurance.. WE REALLY WANT TO FIND A TREATMENT THAT IS EFFECTIVE! So.. please be in prayer that they are able to find those "markers" or whatever, so that they can find an effective treatment. We were told that this test takes anywhere from two to three and a half weeks, in the meantime, Dr. Kotsanis told us that we will not just be sitting here, waiting.. we would begin a treatment plan. On Tuesday, we will also be meeting with an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, Dr. Meyers at UT Southwestern. He is supposed to be one of the best of the best. His area of expertise is the parotid gland (this is the gland, which the tumor in Derek's neck is growing). Dr. Kotsanis did say that at this time, it is his belief that the tumor is benign. He felt 90% sure.. we will go with that. I will update more about this, as we find out information, but at this time..that is all we have.

With all that being said, here are our specific prayer requests at this time:

1. That the tumor in Derek's neck is benign.

2. That they are able to find those "markers" or cells needed to grow Derek's tumor in petri dishes.

3. That once they harvest those and grow them..that the tumor does respond to a treatment.

**successful testing***

4. My kids. Everyone is really anxious around here and we are leaving them a lot with family and friends, and will be for a while. It's tough. I know a lot of kids have been through much worse, but it's still tough.

5. Finances, we will be going back and forth to Grapevine for a while, and whatever insurance doesn't cover comes out of pocket.. it gets expensive, but I know that God provides.

6. Wisdom for the doctors.



God bless,

Misty