Icing on the cake!!!!!!!!!

Guess what?! I went for my last chemo treatment this past monday and as we met with my oncologist, he said I didn't need to have the shot the following day! That is amazing because I was anticipating a few days in the bed with intense bone pain as last time. But now, I won't have that.

Now, last night, though, it did hit me. My legs hurt so bad, esp. my knee caps again. weird huh. James suggested I take benadryl to knock me out so I would be able to sleep and not feel the pain. So I slept good and am still sore some this morning. But at least this time I know it won't last very long! I am also having pain under my right arm where they took out 12 lymph nodes. It doesn't keep me up at night but I need to do my exercises. I hope to play tennis again one day.

My next step is meeting with the doctor again in four weeks to discuss the next phase. He said it is just as important but a lot easier on me. I will need to take a pill everyday called Tamoxifen, for probably 5 years. This is an estrogen blocker. I know it will give me hot flashes, but I already have those! Which is kinda funny, because I have always been so cold. Now I'm cold/hot/cold/hot! ha!

I have been trying to gather my thoughts together to list what I have learned from this experience. I'm still working on it and will post it on a later post.

I am so grateful for all of you who follow this blog and what I post on facebook. The support my family has gotten during this time has really held us up. We have been through so much in such a short time, but we have the light at the end of the tunnel. I remember four months ago, crying to James saying, "I don't know how I'm going to do four more months of this!" And now I'm on this end. It feels good. I won' t lie to you though. I still have my moments of uncertainty. What I mean is, I think about re-occurrence and it can be paralyzing. I have to stop thinking about it and claim His healing. I am not to fear. I am to trust.

Or I'll get down about the fact that I feel like I'll be under the radar for the next 5, well, really 10 years, checking me all the time. But I guess that is good. They will check me every 3 months to begin with, then 6 months, and then eventually every year.

I am grateful that they are aggressive in checking me so much. I don't want to approach every appointment with anxiety though.

So I will keep you posted. I go back to the doctor on Sept. 27th.

My cousins have a place in the mountains and they have graciously given me and James a few days there together next week! So my parents are going to be with the kids. I hope it will be a relaxing time for all of us. Thank you so much Kelly, Brian, Laura, and Greg for this treat in the mountains! I love ya'll.

And much thanks to my parents and Alyssa and John and my friend Christine, who have so selflessly watched our kids. We couldn't have walked this journey without ya'll and it has definitely been a joint effort.

Holli

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!! wanted to share with ya'll what happened at my last doctor's appointment! Each week they draw my blood to check my white/red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and many other things. My numbers have been consistently low each week. They told me in the beginning that if one particular number was too low than I would not be able to get the chemo that week and would have to wait another week. I never wanted that to happen but it's really out of my control. I wanted to get this chemo over with.

However, this time it happened. He said I couldn't receive the chemo. I was so discouraged I started to cry. I've just been so counting on ending this Sept 27th and looking forward to each monday to get it done!

However he said I have two options: 1) skip today and start again next week or

2) get a huge dose of taxol today one that would cover my August ones
and then come back in two weeks, August 30th for my LAST CHEMO!!!! (this one would cover the Sept. treatments.) The catch is, the day after I have to go back to W-S for that yucky shot to instantly build up my bone marrow.

So I had to make a decision. I knew that I didn't want to wait but he told me the shot costs thousands of dollars. I had immediately said no to the shot, that it was too expensive. My sister went with me and encouraged me to call James and see what he thought.

In my last post I mentioned that our insurance company had dropped us because we weren't heading back overseas anymore. So it was a challenge to find insurance that would accept me. We got insurance for the rest of the family but again this new insurance rejected me due to the cancer. So with many prayers and James' long hours working on this, he found a plan that would give me insurance. It will start Sept 1st but we do no think that it will cover the pre-existing conditions of cancer. But at least I have health insurance!

One of the nurses mentioned to me about a fund called Charity Care through the hospital that we could apply for to help us cover these costs. We applied and they have agreed to cover 50% of the cost of our bills for three months! What a huge answer to prayer!

Anyway, I am so glad Alyssa encouraged me to call James at that moment. I called and he told me not to worry about the money but to ask the doctor what he thinks I should do. My doctor said he preferred that I stay on schedule with the chemo and have it that day.
So I did!

James told me I am def. home bound now, because of my immune system and have to be really careful. I am so thankful to God and I know how much He loves me. He is really doing this for us!

I did struggle some at the hospital. I guess I have felt so positive for so long that I then struggled with some fear or dread that this might not end so quickly. James and Alyssa both thought that maybe those thoughts came because I was so surrounded by it there in the waiting room. So I just have to again thank God for doing this for me and claim His healing forever and believe that it won't come back.

I mentioned before that it takes a few days for the shot to kick in and when it does it knocks you off your feet! I started to feel bad around wednesday and then the bone pain in my legs increased significantly thursday and friday. It makes your bones ache so badly. It really made my legs ache and feel as if my bones, especially my kneecaps, were broken. I stayed in bed til sat. and didn't really feel good til monday. But that was LAST week and this week God has made me feel so good, I've been able to exercise.

Ashley woke up tuesday morning with fever. So with my immune system being so vulnerable I was off to spend a few days with my parents in their house til she was not contagious. I hated not being able to hold her and I missed the boys' first few days of school but Ashley hasn't had fever since yesterday and I am going back home today. Can't wait to squeeze my family! I have had a very relaxing and fun time with my parents, swimming, fishing, watching movies.......They are amazing and I am so grateful for them.

My hair is already starting to grow back! Peach fuzz all over but def. new hair!
yay!!!! I have 11 hairs on my right eyebrow and about 15 left on the left! I bet I'm the only one that can actually count her eyebrowhairs!!!!! :) so I did! :) ha!

I cannot close this post without mentioning some of the best news ever and best answer to prayers!!!!!!!!!! James got a job, and just the job he wanted! He will be the Hospitalist at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He had an extensive application to send in, and two in-person interviews and they called and told him they will be sending him a contract!

We are so thrilled and grateful for all who prayed for him and those who sent in referrals as well.

My son Wes had just the right attitude and one that I think pleases the Lord and that He blessed. As we were praying for this job as James was in the interview, Wes said something like, "Well if Daddy didn't get the job, and God didn't want him to get it, then God will provide something else for Him." Wes wasn't worried. I can learn from his faith.

We have seen so many answers to prayers. God has richly blessed us and walked every step of the way and gone ahead of us. I am still amazed we found this when we did and that God didn't allow it to spread any further throughout my body. His is SO, SO, SO good to us.

The other day I was going into a store with Wes and a lady was walking behind us with her son. As we approached the door I stopped to try and pull a few hairs down from my bandana on the sides and tuck the back of my bandana in, in the back to cover the back of my head. Just a little self-conscious! :) This lady said to me, "I think you are beautiful," and kept on walking! I thanked her but was so very touched by that! She didn't have to say that, she was even on the phone with someone but paused and leaned over to me to tell me that. It meant so much to me when sometimes it is still hard to be almost bald. It made me want to find the next lady in chemo out there and tell her the same thing!

It is amazing the unconditional love of people. My kids are a perfect example. At home I sometimes don't wear a bandana and just walk around without it. Chad said to me the other day that he couldn't even hardly remember me with my long hair, he's so used to it being this way. And then he said, "you know, if you wanted to keep your head that way, it'd be just fine"! James said, "yea, you could pull it off!" WOW. I thought, "no way buddy, I can't wait for a full head of hair!" :) ha!

Every night my kids pray for me. Chad prays I won't lose any more hair and Wes prays that no one will notice that they are wigs, and they both pray that I am healed completely of this cancer! They are precious!

Even my niece, SaraLane, when coming to my house one day, told my sister, "I can't wait to get there and play with Aunt Holli's hair!" Wow, she forgot!

Well, I better close until next time. I'll keep you posted about next week and how the chemo is affecting me. But it's my LAST ONE EVER!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for praying for me. This week at my parents house I had the opportunity of going to my father's Bible study group on wed. morning. This group of gentlemen have prayed for my family each and every week. It was a privilege to meet them. Thank you again for standing in the gap!

love,

Holli

one more piece of news............

After this chemo is over we are getting a puppy! I have been wanting one for so long and have found her, she's now 5 weeks old. I'll post pics when we get her! Her name is "Cooper". :)

New Chemo............

THANK YOU so very much for all of you that have contributed to the gift bags for me each chemo time. I have been so blessed and overwhelmed as well at how loved I have felt! Thank you!!!!!!!!! Your generosity has spoken volumes to me. I hope to encourage someone else in my shoes like this one day.

I first want to apologize for not writing in so long. I have finished the former chemo that was making me so very sick. Two weeks ago, they started me on Taxol. I go every monday for three weeks then have the fourth week off. I am glad about having a week off to not travel to Winston-Salem but it does mean that I will finish Sept. 27th instead of the 6th. Oh well, it will be nice for the break in between weeks.

I was told Taxol would not make me as nauseated and they were right! The first week I had it, my dad took me and that wed. for the first time since all this began I woke up and felt no nausea. I actually felt like myself again. I was even able to go the the pool with my kids and slide down the slide with them. We had a really god time together.

The precaution with this drug is when they are actually administering it. They said some have an allergic reaction to it, hard to breath, rash, etc. I was a little nervous but did just fine. They give me benadryl each just in case and this knocks me out.

Another side effect is that I could have tingling/numbing in my hands and feet. In some cases, the damage can be permanent. The nurse told me that I could have troubling dropping things and buttoning things up. So far this has not been the case. James bought me some cold mitts and boots I wear while they are administering the i.v. to prevent it. It is freezing lying there with these things on my hands and feet but I am grateful they seem to be working.

The doctor also had to give me something for hot flashes. It has been real hard to get a good nights sleep when I wake up super hot and then need a blanket again and then throw it off again.......etc. :)

So I have been encouraged that I don't feel so sick with this new chemo. I do have leg and joint pain and it's uncomfortable but also a side affect. I'm not sure why but I have been dealing with a lot of nausea yesterday and today.

Next week I go July 6th, on Tuesday. I have ten more treatments. My oncologist told me twice last time that this is the best drug against breast cancer. Said I am doing what I need to be doing to fight this.

I have lost some weight, I don't mind this part :), but it's still is a struggle to get my water in each day and eat when I don't feel like eating/drinking. I'm trying!

I am so very grateful for everyone that has been asking about me and praying for me. Emotionally I am doing better, I'm enjoying time with my family this summer. Occasionally I have fear but not as paralyzing as before.

Thank you for lifting me up. We need it. Please pray for James as well as he has been diligently seeking a job.

We found out our insurance company will not renew it because we are no longer overseas. So our challenge now is to find an insurance that will cover pre-existing conditions!

thanks for walking this road with us.........

love,

holli

Thomas O’Connor High, Sr. (August 18, 1919 - May 25, 2010)

Woodruff, SC – Reverend Dr. Thomas O’Connor High, Sr., husband of the late Katharine Younts High, died May 25, 2010 at Skylyn Place Health Center.

Born in Duncan, SC on August 18, 1919, he was a son of the late Andrew Furman and Temperance Fowler High. Dr. High was an Army Veteran of World War II serving in Italy, the Pacific Theatre and North Africa where he taught French Army Officers the mechanics of Radar 264. Dr. High was a graduate of Wofford College, Vanderbilt University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned his Masters and Doctor of Theology and the University of North Carolina where he earned his Masters of Library Science. He taught English for several years in high schools and colleges. Dr. High and his wife Katharine served as missionaries/teachers for 35 years at the Nigerian Baptist Theology Seminary, Ogbomoso and Baptist Pastor’s School, Kaduna, Nigeria, under the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. High pastored churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina. He was a member of Green Pond Baptist Church of Woodruff.

Dr. High is survived by a daughter, Katharine High Dunson of Woodruff, SC and five sons, Thomas O. High, Jr. of New Delhi, India, Stephen A. High of Honea Path, SC, David M. High of Woodruff, SC, John T. High of Nairobi, Kenya and James R. High of Belmont, NC. He was blessed with eight grandchildren.

The lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the International Mission Board, Atten: Development Dept., P. O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767 or Homeless Children International, P.O. Box 416, Reidville, SC 29375-0416.

Hello!

Well, tomorrow I go in for my third chemo treatment. I am so not looking forward to it. The last time, my nausea seemed to linger on into the next week. So although the first time I felt sicker it lasted only a week. This time it took me til about wed. afternoon, a week later, to feel okay. I get chemo on monday and the shot on tuesday. I think the shot is just as bad. It is supposed to massively produce white blood cells and so it makes your bones just ache.

I have two more treatments with these two types of chemo. They are every other week. Then mid June I begin my final chemo drug will be every monday. They said it shouldn't be as bad (let's hope) and I am so glad I won't need that shot the following day! My last day of chemo is Sept. 6th.

We meet with the oncologist tomorrow morning so I am gonna see if there is anything else he can recommend for nausea. I don't believe the meds. he has me on now are doing anything. They implied I shouldn't be feeling this bad for that long. I hate more than anything to be nauseated. Phenergan, a med. for nausea, isn't making me sleepy anymore. And I have always been super sensitive to that! I am not even able to take naps during the day.

So physically, that's where I am. Also losing my hair. ugh. I am used to the idea more now and am handling that better. Thank you James, for telling me I'm pretty when I don't feel it at all. I love you.

Emotionally, how am I? Better. I have had some good friends take me to the movies to get out of the house so that was a lot of fun. Went on a double date friday night. So when I am feeling up to it, it is good to get out of the house. Otherwise when the boys are at school, James is not there, and Ashley is taking a nap, I admit many days it has been a challenge for me not to be really down. Or sometimes it seems to not even feel anything at all. It's really hard to feel upbeat when I have felt so bad physically.

The kids are doing great. The boys are really enjoying school and making great grades. They have been so sweet to me and pray for me each night. I have had so much fun at home with Ashley. She has the best personality, keeps us all laughing.

James is doing well. He's very positive which is so encouraging to me and also very busy with the kids. He's working a few days at the health department and enjoys it. Please pray for wisdom for him as we decide what path to take as far as employment.

Thank you so much for all who have prayed for us. I have never felt so loved before. Each treatment I get to open a bag of presents that my sister put together. I want to thank everyone for buying such special things and sending them to her for me. I feel so unworthy of it all, I really do.

Please pray that I will feel better these next few treatments.

Please pray that I will have joy.

Please pray for our family, that this will be a time for all of us to love Jesus as never before and trust Him.

thank you

holli

Things are going well

Thanks to everyone for all of their thoughts, prayer and well-wishes.

Holli continues to do well. She had a pretty rough week after her first chemotherapy treatment but felt much better the next week. She had her second treatment yesterday and so far has only had some nausea. Her blood counts looked good. She had a chest x-ray done to evaluate a cough and it looked normal as well. She also continues to get a white cell stimulator shot the day after chemotherapy to keep her from becoming too immune suppressed.

She will continue chemotherapy treatments every other week for two more cycles, then weekly for a total of 16 cycles. Her oncologist told her that she is probably through the worst of the side effects and that her medications will continue to control her symptoms. She will continue to be immune suppressed and will need to avoid crowed public places or sick individuals.

Please continue to pray for Holli that the chemotherapy will eradicate any potential cancer cells that escaped into her body before the surgery and that she will have limited side effects from the treatments.

James

Holli's sister Alyssa is putting together a packet of encouragement for each of her 16 chemotherapy treatment cycles. If you have something to contribute please contact her by email at: Alyssa.Lancaster@uscm.org.

Thanks.

James

Chemo Protocol

This week Holli met with Dr. Ackman, the oncologist at WFU. Her cancer is considered stage 2A due to the two nodes being positive. She had one more drain pulled so one left to go!

She will have her port-a-cath placed April 27th and will start chemotherapy that day. Her chemo will be every other week for 4 doses and then weekly for 12 more doses.

Some good news

Holli had her followup with the reconstruction and oncology surgeon yesterday.

Her drains were not able to be removed because they continue to drain a good bit of fluid. There is no evidence of infection and her surgical sites look good. Overall her pain has been much better controlled for the past few days which is an answer to prayer.

Her pathology and molecular studies were also encouraging. The tumor was actually a lot smaller than predicted by exam or mammography. It was only 0.6 cm diameter of the total 1.9 cm mass. The other appears to be benign reactive tissue around the tumor. Her report did confirm that two nodes of the twelve sampled were positive for cancer.

The best news is that her cancer is estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive and Her-2/neu receptor negative. According to the surgeon, this receptor profile is the most favorable in regards to chemotherapy as it increases the kinds of chemotherapy that can be used as well as the effectiveness in chemotherapy eradicating any remaining cancer cells that may have spread through body.

Once her drains are out (expected in 1-2 weeks), she will have a port-a-cath placed at the end of the month. She was told that based on her case she should expect chemotherapy treatments every other week for 4 to 6 months with two drugs IV as well as oral Tamoxifen for up to 5 years. She has not met with the medical oncologist yet to review all of this but will do so in the next week or two. He will determine which medications and dosing regime will work best based on her cancer type and stage.

Please continue to pray for her full and complete healing. Thank you so much to all who have been an encouragement to her through this. You are greatly appreciated and loved!

James

Update on Holli

Holli had her first follow-up this past Thursday. She was able to get two of the four drains removed and her surgical sites look good. Although her pain is better, she continues to experience a good bit of pain as she heals.

Her pathology report showed that only two nodes of all of those taken had cancer. Her tumor was a bit smaller than thought and there were clear margins around the excised tumor. This is an answer to prayer. She will not need radiation therapy.

We follow up next Wednesday with the oncology surgeon who should have a full report on tumor hormone receptor type which will determine what type and for how long she needs chemotherapy. Please continue to lift her up in prayer during this time.

James

pretty painful............

I'll be honest and admit that this is the most painful experience I've ever had physically. My surgery went well thursday, they did find one positive node out of the three he checked right then and took out 15-20 more nodes and sent them to pathology that we'll find out about in a week or so.

Hopefully they are negative as well, but regardless they are OUT of my body! If they are negative then I probably won't need radiation. I will still need chemotherapy. We are waiting for the results to determine what stage and type of cancer it is to better know the treatment plan.

The first twenty four hours in the hospital were just awful. I couldn't get my pain under control. Everytime the nurse asked me what my pain level was on a scale of 1-10, my answer always seemed to be 9-10 consistently. So they let me stay one more night. I couldn't even move my left arm at all on thursday, not until sometime on friday. This isn't even the arm they took the nodes from. I can move it just fine now, but my thumb is still numb.

I have only been able to take very short breaths, any deeper ones and it hurts too bad. But this is improving. Thursday, pretty much without break, it felt as if an elephant was sitting on my chest, or that my chest was on fire, or that all of my ribs were broken.

This too has gotten better, I think the elephant has now wandered off :). Now it just feels like the other when I try to get out of bed and move around. But like right now James has me propped up with pillows in a lazy boy and I'm pretty comfortable, IF I sit still. :) I don't mention this for sympathy, but rather so that maybe you'd know to pray specifically how to pray for pain control.

My dad came to the hospital on friday and my mom stayed and helped with my kids and I am so thankful. She's taken great care of them as always.

They have been a big help at home as well. My dad sat with me and fed me a meal the other day. My sister came to my house and that was very encouraging too. My dear friend Carrie came to the hospital from Charleston all day friday and saturday morning helped me in and out of bed and with whatever I needed and I am so grateful for her friendship! love you girl! I was told many people came to sit with my family in the waiting room, thank so much..........

well, we press on. I have to remember that this too is temporary and it shall pass.....I'm grateful we apparently caught this early. thank you for praying for us.

Please pray for strength for James to juggle all he needs to these days.........

holli

Jean Hamilton gave me this verse right before surgery. James and I wrote it on our hands before going into surgery.

psalm 147:5.

Holli is feeling much better today and will be headed home in the morning. Thanks for all of the prayer!

Holli's surgery went well. She did have one node positive for cancer of those sampled. We are unsure of what her treatment course but thats for another day! Thank you for your prayers for her during this time.

Holli's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, at 1220 pm. Please pray as Holli requested on her previous blog. Thanks.

James

well.........Can you believe all this! I was so convinced that this was benign. I can hardly grasp it myself! Who would have thought that it would come to this and so suddenly. But I can already see God answering prayer and I do not feel alone.

I did test negative for the breast cancer gene! This means there is no indication that anything could have been passed onto my kids. This also means that I don't have a higher risk for ovarian cancer. One less surgery!

A lumpectomy was never really an option I believe. This cancer wasn't the kind only contained in a duct as we had hoped, but it's invasive as well, broken through the cell wall. But there is no evidence that it has spread throughout the rest of my body. The chest x-ray and blood work to check my liver, lungs, bone and blood were CLEAR! :) Thank you God! But we won't know the stage or type of cancer it is until they examine it after surgery.

Now in surgery they take some of the lymph nodes out under my arm and send them right away to pathology. They check for cancer and then give the waiting surgeon the results on the phone. If it's negative then they can do breast reconstructive surgery right then! The plastic surgeon team are waiting in the room as well. Oh I hope this happens, one less surgery. If it's positive for cancer, then they finish up the masectomy and I'll need radiation without the implants, and then have another surgery at a later date for that.

The thing that was the biggest blow to me was when they told me I'd have chemo. I lost it. With cancer in the lymph nodes, you def. need chemo. If not, they still "offer" it to you. But considering my age (39) and the size of the tumor I would need chemo just to make sure. They say if the tumor is 1 c.m. you need chemo. Mine measured (in malawi) 1.9 c.m. Now there is a chance that the tumor is actually smaller/larger than what the malawian scans read. But they won't know for certain til it's out and they can measure it.

So James really feels like the malaria I had was so bad that it actually suppressed my immune system so much that it brought this lump to the "surface". Otherwise I might still be there with breast cancer and not know it. So I am so very thankful I had malaria!!!

I'm not sure of the time of my surgery next thursday yet. I'm glad that they are acting fast on our behalf.

here are some of my personal prayer requests:

1-that this cancer would be contained in the breast and not in the lymph nodes or anywhere else. Please have people pray this for us!

2-that I would have a positive morale. learn of more success stories!

3-for James. That he would have the strength he needs to be there for all of us! I'm thankful he's not working right now.

4-for our children, Chad, Wes, and Ashley. that they would not be scared. and still feel secure as their life as they knew it changed so abruptly. I do wish that they could've finished the year out in school. But then I remember that God knows what's best for them and that He pulled them out, not us, so He'll take care of them. He loves them.

5-that I would understand the power of prayer. to be honest I don't think I've ever "gotten it".

6-chemo would not make me too sick or tired.

7-that I would be diligent to study what I need to study and change my diet dramatically. It's overwhelming all the literature out there I assume. I have been told numerous times that cancer feeds on sugar so I have cut out processed sugar. I have never been able to do it before now, but when this happens, my perspective changes when I know I CAN"T have it!

8-my son Wes. He has had eczema all of his life. Finally in Malawi it all cleared up and his skin was so smooth and clear! We live in the woods here and I read somewhere that Charlotte is one of the worst in the nation for pollens. Please pray that his eczema doesn't come back!

thank you so much for reading this and praying for me and my family.

love

holli

Update on Holli's doctor appointment:

Well I went to my appointment in Winston Salem yesterday, wednesday, and was completely shocked! In fact, I still feel in shock. They had to repeat my mammogram and then they did three needle aspirations into the mass or lump in the right breast. These cells came back cancerous. I never thought this would be the case. I guess I had totally talked myself into believing all was benign and I would be on the flight back to Malawi next monday. Needless to say, our plans have changed. I wasn't able to reach James with skype on the wi-fi system in the hospital so we went across the street and connected with him on the computer at Panera Bread. It was a hard call to make. Fortunately, I took my father's advice and had a friend go with me to the appoinment. Christine went with me. She's my very FUN friend who always makes me laugh and she's a nurse on top of that. So I was extremely glad she was with me with they told me the news. Christine, I am forever grateful and indebted to you girl!
My parents also came to Winston with Ashley to "show her off" to some friends while we were at the appointment. Then we all met at Panera Bread.
SO....................what does this all mean? My head is spinning. But James and the boys are, as I type this, packing up our things in Malawi and actually got a flight out friday morning. They will arrive in Charlotte early saturday morning.
I have several doctor's appointments friday. They will discuss with me my options for treatment, lumpectomy versus masectomy. This whole thing makes my stomach turn.
Then I'll meet with a geneticist as well as a plactic surgeon. I will also have a chest x-ray and bloodwork done to see if there has been any intial spreading. PLEASE PLEASE pray that it has not spread.
I will try to keep ya'll informed on our blog here when I know more.

If I could ask you to pray for the following:
-that the cancer has not spread
-safe flight for James and the boys
-wisdom on my part as I listen to these doctors on friday
-that I would have no fear and really learn the power of prayer, I have a lot to learn.
-transition for the boys. They loved life in Malawi and made some really good friends.
We are all leaving some good friends behind, it's VERY hard. We also have to leave our new puppy behind. I cried when I realized that.
-decisions about school for the boys.

One amazing thing is that just a few days ago, I was dealing with our house here and was told that our renter accepted a new job out of town and would be leaving in two weeks! We had noone to rent our house...............until now! God opened up our house for us to move right back in.
thank you so much,
holli

Prayer Request

3 weeks ago Holli found a breast mass. She consulted a general surgeon who suspected a cyst but recommended further screening if it persisted after a couple of weeks. We traveled to Blantyre this week where a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound revealed a solid mass requiring biopsy.

Holli will return to the US on Tuesday March 2nd. Her appointment at Wake Forest/Baptist Hospital will be on Friday March 5th. Ashley will accompany her to the US and I will drop work back to mornings only to be with Chad and Wes after school.

Please pray for safety as she and Ashley travel. Please pray for a benign biopsy result.

James

Mphonde Medical Outreach

Children lining up outside Calvary Chapel Malawi

church plant building, Mphonde

Mphonde is a small village about an hour drive outside Lilongwe. It was chosen as medical outreach site as Calvary Chapel Malawi has a church plant established there. It is also one of the sites selected by Water Missions International and the Foster Friess Foundation for its water purification and safe sewage initiative and community development. It is a village of about 1000 and along with 10 other surrounding villages comprises an isolated community. Children have to walk for several kilometers, including crossing a small river, to get to school. There is no access to medical services, clean water, electricity or even village market.

Timothy, a youth worker with Calvary Chapel, Malawi helped with organization and triage of patients.

Clinic was set up inside the church building. Patients lined up outside and then rotated through the building. Tom, a pastor with Calvary Chapel, Malawi shared scripture and the Gospel with patients while they waited.

Many of these villagers had never been to any sort of clinic and didn't quite know what to expect.

We held a general clinic. We treated infectious diseases included diagnosing new cases of HIV and TB. These patients were referred to the nearest government office for CD4 testing and ARV/TB treatment. We cleaned and bandaged wounds, treated hypertension, dewormed and treated Schistosomiasis. We treated close to 300 patients and have plans for monthly followup starting this February.

A team of 4 American nurses accompanied us on the trip. They preserved all day despite sapping heat, over-crowding and seemingly unlimited number of patients. I think our next clinic will be outside under a tree!

Toward the end the clinic I went out around the village. These girls were coming up from the small river. They were a bit scared at first. I don't know what was in the small plastic bottle.

At the bottom of the hill is small river. It was way down as it was the end of dry season. Many of our patients had acquired schistosomiasis from this water. It was also their source of drinking water. The oxen for this ox cart had broken free leaving the owners trying to free it from the stones in the river bed. I helped them pull it out and walked back to clinic while the owners reattached the oxen. About 30 minutes later a mother frantically ran up to the clinic carrying her 3 year old girl. The ox cart wheel had run over her right thigh and broke her right femur. As we were close to leaving we loaded mom and child into our car and brought them back to ABC. Because the xray demonstrated a compound fracture and surgery was not available, she had to be placed in a traction cast for 6 weeks at the central hospital. The moral of the lesson is leave the ox cart in the river!

Ruth's Shawl Medical Outreach

Ruth's Shawl is a widow and orphan community organized by Calvary Chapel, Malawi, located on the outskirts of Lilongwe. The community is composed of 19 widows and about 70 orphans. Information about Ruth's Shawl can be found online at: www.ruthsshawl.org.

Patients were already lining up when we arrived. Our clinic was held in a widow's house. We held a general medicine clinic.

I noticed this little girl on the way into the clinic. She has a huge hemangioma on her neck and face. As long as it does not compromise her ability to breath and eat it should eventually regress and go away late childhood. If it progresses will need to have a tracheostomy and feeding tube placed. The workers at Ruth's Shawl are monitoring her progress.

A nurse is bandaging a sprained knee of one of the widows.

One of the orphans waiting while his grandmother was treated.

This girl had a open wound on her toe.

The orphans enjoyed looking at themselves in the chrome of our car.

Kids were taught choruses and played games outside while we worked inside.

Some of the orphans posed for a group picture with one of the nurses before we left.

This was my favorite medical outreach clinics so far. We plan on going back every month to follow up on chronic diseases and screen for malnutrition. Many of the women and children meet criteria for malnutrition and will benefit from a high calorie and protein supplement made from peanuts and soybeans.

A look around ABC Community Clinic

This blog is a description of the ABC Community Clinic and Inpatient Ward. Most days start about 745 with devotions and prayer. Then I round on inpatients at the ward. After that outpatient clinic starts at 830 and goes until 1230pm, then restarts at 2pm until 430 pm. I then do afternoon rounds at the ward and then call it a day! As I am the only full time doctor at ABC currently, things can get really busy.

the inpatient ward

The inpatient ward has capacity for about 18 but generally we have about 4 patients at a time. Admissions primarily have malaria or other infectious disease requiring IV hydration and antibiotics. We have also admitted premature babies for phototherapy and failure to thrive. Many admissions also have complications from HIV.

the new ambulance

ABC Community Clinic was donated the funds for the new ambulance by a patients family as a way of saying "thank you" to Dr. John Jones for his care of their sick mother while he served here last year. The stretcher just fits in the back!

Danford

Part of what I enjoy about working at ABC is the Malawian nationals that I work with. Danford, pictured above, started out at as a house helper at ABC as a teenager. One of the ABC missionary staff realized his potential and sent him to school. He completed his education and is now on the clinical officers (equivalent of US physician assistant) at the clinic. He oversees the HIV/AIDS work done at the clinic including collection of CD4 counts and followup as well as keeping up with National Aids Commission guidelines on HIV management. He is a true joy to work with and has a heart for the people of Malawi.

Olita

Olita, a nurse at the nurse's desk in the inpatient ward. Olita used to be an operating room nurse at the central hospital. She has been key in renovating our OR for upcoming surgery. Unfortunately nurses here seem to have as much paperwork as nurses in the US.

A little boy with malaria getting an "drip" with IV Quinine. He was better (conscious, eating) the next morning and went home. I am amazed at how children with malaria recover so quickly with malaria if given the medications quickly. Unfortunately we have about several children each month who don't make it because of delay of seeking treatment .

Loveness and Judith

Loveness (r) and Judith (l) are two other nurses. They are waiting for patients at the nurse triage desk. Patients get a blood pressure and weight and are triaged to the lab for malaria screening if they are febrile even before I see them.

Rashid

Rashid is another of the clinical officers that I work with. As you can see he has a contagious smile. He is also exceptionally smart and amazing at putting IVs into dehydrated little babies. I have learned so much from the clinical officers. Patients want to come see me because I am western trained and have an MD behind my name, but the ABC clinical officers are extremely knowledgable, excellent clinicians and have a lot more experience with tropical diseases than I do. I dont think I would be able to practice here without them.

James

James is the senior lab technician. Here he is looking at slide for malaria parasites. Our lab can screen for most infectious diseases, run complete cell counts and serum chemistries as well liver function, cholesterol, check for tumor markers as well as urinalysis and stool studies.

This is one of two pharmacies at the clinic. Its well stocked with a representative of most class of drug. I brought a good number of medicines with us from the US just to find them in the clinic pharmacy as well.

my exam room

Patients wait in an adjacent waiting room until its their turn. Unlike the US where clinicians rotate between patient room, here patients move from room to room and the clinician stays in one room. So after I see a patient I will send them to a different location for a procedure, lab or xray.

my office

Its full of supplies and medicines that have been donated from visiting medical teams. Medicines and supplies that have been donated cannot be allocated a charge or fee so I have kept them separate from the clinic's supply. We are in the process of setting up community health (village) outreach clinics in three rural sites in cooperation with other mission and developmental NGOs here in Malawi. These supplies will be used for those clinic and evangelism outreach projects.

Okay, here's a picture of a mosqito who is.......................................

NOT

my friend!!!

Last week I, Holli, got malaria! And let me tell you it was not fun! Right now in Malawi it is the rainy season so the risk for Malaria is pretty high. James sees many cases of it daily at the clinic. We are on preventative medicines but I got lazy and hadn't been taking mine! It was a hard lesson to learn! I started feeling some joint pain in my fingers and then had a slight fever of 100, that's all, last wednesday.

By that night it was on! I woke up so nauseas I couldn't sleep and my whole body started to ache, and get the chills. By thursday morning I went to the clinic and was tested positive. Thursday and friday I was really sick with fever reaching 103.5 at times. I don't remember my fever letting up at all on friday. It makes your whole body just hurt. My legs throbbed, my back. It took me until about the following tuesday to feel somewhat like myself again.

I am all better now, praise the Lord! Some of you knew about this and prayed me through it, so I am so grateful! We were unable to get this on the blog here at the time, James was a little busy being a single parent and juggling work as well! We have some really great neighbors that took Ashley everyday for us though. I am so blessed to have you, Connie and Amy, in my life! thank you!!!!

I would ask you to pray for us here that none of us will get this dreaded illness. It can be really bad, but God was certainly gracious to me. Please pray esp. for our children, that they would be protected. We sleep every night with a mosquito net around our beds and try to stay inside at dusk. It's tricky getting Ashley to take her medicine. Thre are pills they take everyday and we have to hide hers in oatmeal or yogurt, the pill tastes so bad!

You can believe I am back on my preventative meds now! :)

thank you for praying specifically for this!

holli

Wes' 8th birthday party

Wes celebrated his 8th birthday on January 11th. He's opened up several packs of gum and that's why the HUGE smile!

Here is the light saber cake.

So we had 10 boys, outside (yes!), running around with light sabers and guns.


Wes wore his goggles part of the time. gotta love him!
We had a friend donate bales of hay for the boys to use.

I thought the funniest was James walking around with Chad's bike helmet on as a joke and none of the boys even said anything!

They wore themselves out!
Grandmama and Papa, these pictures are for you!