Lillian Wootton "Jesus Loves Me!"

First and foremost, the cancer is CURABLE.  That is, of course, the most important fact that we are clinging to.

Second, the type of cancer is T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.  This is a slower growing non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.  Because it is slower growing, it is also slower to shrink, and therefore a harder fight.  We will not know what stage it is until we receive the results of further testing. 

We are waiting on the results of the bone marrow biopsy, which will tell us whether it has moved into the bone marrow.  If it has, then it would be classified as a stage IV leukemia.  We are praying that it has not. 

Lillian will be getting a spinal tap tomorrow at the same time as her first chemo.  One of her chemo medicines tomorrow will be delivered into the spine, so it requires her to be put under, and it makes sense to do both the spinal tap and the chemo at the same time.  This test will determine whether the lymphoma has moved into the brain.  We are praying, again, that it has not. 

If it has moved into the bone marrow or the brain, it is still considered curable.  However, it is then a longer fight and with more risk. 

This has likely been growing for 2 months, and we brought her in just in time.  If we had brought her in immediately with the first symptoms, a few days prior it wouldn’t have changed anything.  If we had waited any more days, though, it would have been a different story due to the swelling. 

The steroids she is on have thankfully reduced the swelling, so she is no longer purple.  She is also drinking willingly again, which is huge.  She is only allowed clear liquids, but she at least wants those liquids now.

Last night was day 1 of chemo treatment, which is an aggressive regimen consisting of 4 different chemo medicines.  One of those medicines is given once via the spine.  The others will be given for a month.  There are too many potential side effects to list here and numerous things we must diligently monitor.  Unexpected and sudden trips to the hospital are, ironically, somewhat expected. 

She will be at risk of breaking bones, need blood transfusions, and require physical therapy to maintain muscle tone.  She will be on many other medications other than the chemo, including some that are shots, some that are liquid, and some administered in the hospital via IV. 

This first month of treatment will be used to determine if the cancer responds to this treatment and begins to reverse.  If she starts going into remission, then we can expect that she will continue treatments for 2 ½ to 3 years.  The next few phases should be more intense, but then over time, the treatment should get easier and less aggressive with fewer complications. 

If the cancer has spread to the brain or the bone marrow, then this same course will be used initially, but different things will follow. 

If you wish to read more about T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, please visit https://www.lymphomainfo.net/articles/non-hodgkins/what-is-t-cell-lymphoblastic-lymphoma

Thank you to everybody praying for us and for Lillian. 

Stephen, Tricia, Timothy, Daniel, Lillian and Nanny

Cards can be sent to:

7777 N. Wickham Rd.,
Suite 12 #247
Melbourne, FL  32940

Deuteronomy 28:4 " the fruit of your womb will be blessed"

Jeremiah 32:27  "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?"

Jeremiah 1:11-12 reminds us that God watches over His Word to make sure it is fulfilled.  

Psalms 30:1-3 TPT" Lord, I will exalt you and lift you high, for you have lifted me up on high! Over all my boasting, gloating enemies, you made me to triumph.  O Lord, my healing God, I cried out for a miracle and you healed me! You brought me back from the brink of death, from the depths below. Now here I am, alive and well, fully restored!"