Health, Healing and Hope

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength...
Those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40 verses 29 & 31

Heartened by Geoff's health: two months since his awful liver capsule pain, two months with no cancer-related crisis, two months on the new targeted drug therapy, two months between CT scans and two months of improving physical and mental ability, we entered the cancer centre full of optimism.

Sometimes everything simply 'seems to go just right'!

Barely had we chosen a chair in the empty waiting room, when the nurse called Geoff in for his obs and efficiently pronounced them all perfect! At which moment the oncologist peered around the corner looking for his patient, so we gladly by-passed the usual long second stint in the socially-distanced, interaction-minimised holding zone.

Settled in the consulting room, an unusually brief inital interview puzzled me. However, the reason became obvious when the oncologist excitedly showed us comparative images of Geoff's liver. He kept flicking through the recent scan sections, as if he could hardly believe his eyes - so many of the sinister dark patches on the liver in November could not be found! Overall the CT scans assure us that the Lorlatinib is effectively reversing the cancer in the soft tissues (liver, lungs and pancreas) and may even be healing the bones!

Already dubbed 'miracle man' due to defying all early predicitons, the specialist team have been further amazed by how well Geoff's body is responding on this 'nasty' drug. Based on experience, this treatment usually continues to limit the cancer for at least 6-12 months. The oncologist acknowledges that prayers are being answered and hopes for an outcome that changes the statistics.

We are rejoicing in God's goodness and thankful for the ongoing prayers of so many brothers and sisters in Christ.

Meanwhile, Geoff has been compiling a list of adventures to enjoy together.

We snuck two in before the oncology check-up - challenging climbing and rising rapids.

The latter being an epic 3-day  river journey that deserves its own blog post.