Chemo Round Two

Yesterday Louie and Marianne headed back to St. Agnes for round 2 of Louie's chemo.  They saw the Oncologist first and had some blood drawn.  Louie's white blood cell count was good and the Oncologist was again very encouraged and gave them a good report. 

Louie and Marianne were blessed during Louie's first chemo treatment by a nurse named Jessica who took the time to really explain everything and make Louie feel comfortable.  They were pleasantly surprised when they saw Jessica open the waiting room door yesterday and call Louie's name, God is good and continues to show his favor!  Praise God for people like Jessica who use their job to bless others everyday.

Louie has experienced minimal side effects from the Chemo thus far which is a huge answer to prayers!  Louie doesn't have to receive his Chemo at the cancer center again until June 4th which is great news as well.  The way that Louie's chemo will work is he will have it going through the port in his chest 24 hours a day until May 28th and then he will have a week to rest. Please continue to pray that Louie would have little to no side effects and feel well through this time. 

Marianne and Louie want all of you to know how overwhelmed with gratefulness they feel for the body of Christ.  God continues to use the right people at the right time to bless and encourage them through conversations, texts, phone calls and more.  They received words of encouragement, healing and life (along with some awesome food) from James and Myrna Horn as well as from Steve and Sarah Guidry, thank you all for being God's hands and feet!   They cannot stop thanking God for all He has done, Marianne and Louie will never be the same.  Our God is faithful!

A very special thank you to all of Louie and Marianne's friends and family, church body and new friends they have made along the way!  Thank you for supporting them, encouraging them and for your time and prayers.  They love you all!  Keep on praying!

Chemo Round One

Yesterday Louie and Marianne met with the Oncologist again and got some more information and insight.  It was a long hard day but Louie was able to get some peace after speaking to Uncle John in Ohio.  Praise God for placing people in our lives at just the right time, He is faithful!

The Oncologist says that Louie's blood pressure was the lowest it has been and his heart muscle is in wonderful condition!  We are still waiting to hear back on the mutation tests but the PET scan revealed that the cancer has not metastasized anywhere, another answer to prayers!

Louie's diagnosis is a high grade Carcinoma of the right Parotid.  It is a moderately advanced cancer so he will be undergoing aggressive Chemo and Radiation to make sure there is no recurrence or microscopic cancer left in his body.  Please pray that the treatment will be extremely effective and that Louie will  feel good as he continues going through the treatments.

Today was Louie's first Chemo treatment and he did very well.  It has been a bit rough the last couple of days but Louie knows that God is in the driver's seat and he is sitting comfortably in the passenger seat.  Louie will have a total of three Chemo treatments, each one lasting twenty one days.  Most of it will be done at home through an infusion system and he will have one week during each phase to rest which is wonderful.  After Chemo he will have 6 to 8 weeks of radiation and then after another period of rest he will have another PET scan. 

This is sure to be a long and hard road for both Louie and Marianne so let's continue to lift them up daily.  Louie is glad to be done with his first treatment and is feeling better now that he knows more of what to expect.  Louie is a fighter and continues to choose to trust in God and choose to be joyful even in such a difficult time.  God is bigger than cancer and cares deeply for His children.  He promises to care for us and walk with us and we are thankful for that promise!

Thank you again for your love and support, it is truly appreciated!

Oncology Appointment

Yesterday morning Louie and Marianne went to see the Oncologist and were able to get some more answers.  The doctor was extremely thorough spending almost an hour with them explaining Louie's diagnosis and the next steps he needs to take.  

To put it as simply as possible, Louie has been diagnosed with head and neck cancer (Parotid gland high grade carcinoma that has metastasized to a lymph node in his neck).  There is more to it than that, but it is a lot of information, God will take care of all the details!  

The next step for Louie is for him to undergo a week of testing and treatments.  This will include a chest x-ray, PET scan, dental treatments, blood tests and an outpatient surgery to install a dual port (a device that will allow for quick and easy access to a vein for administering medication).  All of this will be done this week and will help with staging the cancer.  The doctor is also ordering additional testing to check for 1 or 2 types of tumor mutations which will determine if Louie would benefit from additional medication. Louie will begin with between 4-12 weeks chemo starting the week of May 13th followed by 6 weeks of radiation and then another PET scan.  Please join us in praying for for Louie and Marianne through these continued trials praying specifically that the treatment would be extremely effective.  

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Now for some of the good news!!!  The Oncologist was very pleased that the Lipoma on Louie's back is unchanged and his chest x-ray from 2006 is also unchanged with no evidence of metastasis.  He has no facial palsy and his blood pressure was great.  The Oncologist told Louie and Marianne that he has a personal interest in Louie so we know he is going to get the best treatment possible by someone who cares about him!  The most amazing thing about all of this is Louie has absolutely no symptoms which would indicate the cancer has spread!    Louie is proclaiming that God has the last word!  Let's continue to praise God and thank Him for all He has already done and what He will continue to do in and through Louie.  As always your love and support means the world to Louie and Marianne, to God be the glory!  

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Until next time!  

-Sara