radiation at last

after many stupid hoops that medicaid and travis county has set before me, i am able to begin radiation treatment. it will be daily for 4 - 6 weeks, and apparently will only feel like a bad sunburn, but may also cause a short term loss of use of my right arm. i guess thats why God made my left one so incredibly strong as well.

it has been quite a battle dealing with the beuracracy, it is hard to believe that i would have had no problems in receiving help if i had just been a bum and never tried to achieve anything in life, but because i still own a home (hopefully not for long) i don't qualify for any kind of assistance. i am sure regretting having carried health insurance for 12 years and then cancelling it in frustration one month before my diagnosis. that probably was not a wise choice ...

here is a copy of a message naomi (12 year old daughter) sent to her friends.

"my dad has cancer. we are going through some ruff patches likemoving to texas in a trailor, not knowing anyone or anthingthats gunna happen. its one of the scariest things knowing that my dad, the holder of this family, could die. i never expected something like this to happen. but we are a strong family and we can pull through. he is the most important thing in my life right now and im not gunna lose him. not here, not now."

life is a highway and i apparently want to ride it all night long

the Lehr family has moved!. here's the nice big old home ... ...

and the nice cozy new home!

There is nothing more intimate then moving six people, a dog, cat, 2 rats and a tarantula from the 2,100 square foot home on 1/4 acre into a 200 square foot home in a trailer park (complete with rusty weight lifting set in the neighbors site).

i have also learned some details that are new to us. my particular variety of cancer and its metastasis into my lymph system is considered a stage 4 cancer (out of 4 possible stages, 4 being the most serious). standard western medical treatment for all stage 4 cancer patients includes systemic treatment in addition to treatments specific to the area that the tumors presented themselves. my variety of cancer is extremely rare (probably 5 cases a year in which an MPNST metastasized into the lymph) and chemotherapy is the only established systemic treatment for MPNST. Sadly, Chemo has only shown a 15% success rate in reducing MPNST tumors, so we are pursuing the alternative treatment route. my diet has already completely changed (no coffee, beer, tobacco, red meat, processed food etc.) to primarily raw vegetables and nuts soaked in water for a day, as well as juicing (yech! beet juice must be some kind of dirty punishment for some unknown sin). I have lost 30 lbs (i wish i cared more about that!).

i am supposed to begin radiation treatment ASAP at this point, but that has been delayed due to coverage hassles. i just finished a major step in the right direction today, so hopefully i'll be able to start my daily dose of radiation to my right shoulder and armpit soon (if you know me well you know i am not kidding when i say i am kind of looking forward to that experience).

All things considered, i feel extremely fortunate to be living in this experience. I do believe that I am being processed and refined for a great purpose, and even larger than that, my family is being pressed down and shaken together in order that they may have a greater capacity to love and serve God and the people around them.

sorry updates have been few and far between, i hope to be able to provide more details more often for those who are interested.

a ginormous thank you to those who have made contributions to my family, we have been able to cover the living expenses for this month because of your generosity and i am honored, humbled and grateful to you for that.

love and gratitude

isaac