February 7, 2023

We knew when we came to Mayo that there would be a day that would be a defining one. It looks like today is it.

We didn’t get the news we had hoped for today, but it was not surprising news. We met for about an hour with the Dr. Nelson Leung who is on the Multiple Myeloma team at Mayo. Though we haven’t had the bone marrow biopsy yet to confirm it, the folks at Mayo are proceeding believing that I do.

I asked Dr. Leung what could it be if it wasn’t MM? He said, “we have no clue.”

Some extensive blood work is scheduled for Wednesday morning and the bone marrow biopsy for Friday afternoon. He asked me if I wanted sedation or no sedation for the biopsy. You don’t need to ask what I chose.

The results that would conclusively determine that it is MM won’t be available for a week or maybe two.

Dr. Leung wants the prostate cancer treated first so all of the focus can be on the treatment for MM.

Our hope is to return home by Saturday afternoon and be in church this Sunday. I am to return to Mayo for two days, February 20-21, to be set up for radiation treatments. Then we would return home for about 10 days before the those treatments.

I would have five radiation treatments that are scheduled to begin on March 6th and be every other day for 10 days. Near the close of those (around March 16th) I would receive one dose of hormone therapy that is intended to remove as much testosterone as possible for about six months.

The plan would then be to begin treatment about the end of March or the first part of April for the MM. At some point Dr. Leung believes I will be facing a stem cell transplant. When/if that happens we would be staying in Rochester for about a month.

Obviously, many changes lie ahead for every aspect of my life--church, business, family, and the things that I enjoy. For all of those we ask for your prayers for wisdom and direction.

I did learn somethings today that might bring some wisdom to your life:

1.) Ice cream has a healing agent to it. It seems to always make me feel better when I need a lift.
2.) In the middle of trials, it never ceases to amaze me at the timing of God.
3.) Prayer does change things, often not the circumstances, but changes us in the circumstances.
4.)When one of your kids says, “Dad, I know you are a fighter” brings you a resolve to be what she believes you to be.

Much love,
Chuck