Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope...

Dad was admitted to LGH yesterday in order to keep him immobile and to further evaluate what was happening in his hip and femur on the right side.  We soon learned from the orthopedic surgeon that a rod needed to be inserted into the femur to stabalize it and keep it from shattering.  We were told that this required urgency as the results of shattering would be devastating.  So, bloodwork was done, more x-rays ordered and a blood transfusion was started as Dad's hemoglobin was low.  He was very, very sleepy all day. 

Lura stayed overnight with him.  Mom came to stay over at our house so that we could get back early in the morning.  At 11:45 last night, the medical team called to say that they were clearing him for surgery and that we needed to be back at LGH by 10am.  Brennan, Doug, Melissa, Mom & I all headed back to Lancaster at 9am this morning. 

On the drive here, Lura called to say that Dr. Reddy (Dad's oncologist) had been in and said that the x-rays revealed some tumors in the left femur.  It is his feeling that, even though a biopsy hasn't been done so a definitive diagnosis is not possible yet, that Dad has Multiple Myeloma (cancer of the plasma in the bone marrow) and that, once confirmed, aggressive chemo & radiation will be necessary.  He is worried that doing the leg surgery today would make Dad even weaker and that he'll need all of his strength.  Talking with him once we got here, he made clear that the insertion of the rod into Dad's right femur is absolutely necessary but that he feels we should take today to think, rest and decide when we want that to happen.  Because Dad is weak, the Dr. wants us to wait so that he can talk with the orthopedist and discuss timing...rehabilitation, starting treatments, etc...  There is alot up in the air right now.  I think that we'll all feel better once they biopsy the large tumor in Dad's hip tomorrow and are clear on exactly what it is and how to treat it. 

Dad's neurosurgeon will be in tomorrow to talk with us a little bit about what is going on with his brain tumor/lesion.  Today's priority is finding out what's going on in his bones.

Sad news?  yes, indeed.  Scary stuff?  you bet.  Do we have hope?  absloutely.  God has been very good to us and His mercies are new every morning.

Lamentations 3

19I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

20I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

21Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

25The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

26it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

27It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is young.

28Let him sit alone in silence,

for the Lord has laid it on him.

29Let him bury his face in the dust—

there may yet be hope.

30Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,

and let him be filled with disgrace.

31For men are not cast off

by the Lord forever.

32Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

33For he does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.