Well, I just had my cancer-versary on December 26, 2021. The year 2022 will be my fourth year of chemotherapy. I’m very thankful that God in His mercy has allowed me to outlive my doctors’ expectations.
We continue to be amazed and grateful that my treatments are still working. The reduced, more tolerable dosage seems to be having less of an effect on my CEA levels but it is still moving in the right direction (down). I had a CT scan a few weeks ago which confirms this.
I finally received the results of my definitely-not-free genetic test. It took so long because my blood samples got stuck in US customs and were no longer usable. The chances of the test providing any useful information was slim (think needle-in-a-haystack) but data is always a good thing. The test did indicate my cancer has a gene that will open the door to more treatments in the future. I won’t pretend I understand much about it but it sounds like the test was not a complete waste of money.
Since my current (first) treatment regimen is still working we won’t be taking any action on alternative treatments right now but it is VERY nice to have options.
Speaking of my current treatment, it has been quite bearable. I have even been looking forward (a bit) to my chemo weekends when I get to eat hotdogs! (When you’re on chemo you eat whatever you can keep down. Right now hotdogs work for me.) My bowels are mostly under control, and my nausea hasn’t been an issue for a long time now. My rash is bugging me a bit, especially on my face, but I have a new powerful steroid ointment to try.
I have done 10 treatments since September and will have 8 more before another break. I’ll probably take the summer off.
Living with cancer is not fun but it is living.
![The Clark's Christmas 2021](https://cdn.prayfortheclarks.com/2022/02/17002612/IMG_0373-1024x768.jpeg)
Poppy will be walking any day now. She is a fast crawler and has siblings who enjoy carrying her around the house too. She turns 1 on February 26.
The kids are doing a homeschool unit on Australia and Oceania, which has involved trying many interesting recipes. For my part, I am currently reading the Narnia series to Harry and Daisy in chronological order. We are on the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Harry has been obsessively listening to Adventures in Odyssey, doing about an album a day. He and Daisy even built the town of Odyssey and a few of the characters out of Lego. As a huge AIO fan myself, I couldn’t be happier to see them enjoying my beloved series so much.
Magnolia has been creating many works of art and writing many books (pieces of paper which she asks Leanne to “stample” together). Daisy, when she is not entertaining us with her nativity puppet show starring Mickey Mouse, is asking delightfully literal questions. Probably one of my favourite jobs as a parent is answering their questions.
Please continue to pray that God will heal me, if it’s His will. I hope and pray that He will continue working through my doctors to keep me alive.
The last time the nurse came to our house to unhook my chemo bottle, she looked at our kids and said, “You guys are so lucky!” Maybe that’s a strange thing to say to a cancer patient, but when I look back on the past three years I have to say, God really has been good to us.
I have been following your posts and praying for you for a long time now and have rarely commented because I don’t really know your family although I may have seen the wife and kids at some homeschool events years ago but we never knew each other.
I am just so sorry that you’re going through this. It must be so hard and you have been so strong and courageous in the face of some of life’s harshest dealings. I’m thankful for having been able to read your story and I have been inspired and humbled and moved and encouraged.
I don’t feel like anything I say will be that good but I also don’t want to say nothing.
Those who believe in Jesus’ saving work paying for our sins have heaven and eternity with God to look forward to after this life of trial and trouble. It feels like some get dealt a heavier burden and I feel for what all your family has been experiencing these years of facing life threatening illness and physical suffering and watching your kids watch your suffering, but in my view you have set an absolutely beautiful example and have been the kind of role model we all wish we were for our kids of faith and holding on to Jesus and what matters.
May God continue to keep you and your entire family in His loving hands and hold you up when your strength is gone, and be the Father for your children if they lose their earthly one. God will not forsake or abandon your family and they will be safe in His care even if He takes you home earlier than most.
After all this time praying for you and reading your posts, I wish I could meet you and your family even just once.
John, we are certain this news comes as another blow to you. But our God is strong and still does miracles. We will not stop praying for you and your family.
May you sense His strong direction in the steps ahead.
John, I have been praying for you for five years, every day and I will continue to do so. Keep strong y friend and know that you are loved.
Know that the prayers of many are surrounding you and your beautiful family. May you each feel His perfect peace as you wait for the next step. Believing for a miracle…..