Health Message from Noel
Thank you all for your intense prayers and support for Maria and I. The following is my current health status, as far as I am told and can figure out:
I had a successful TIPPS procedure done on Monday. They put me under around 7:30 AM and I remember waking up in my room around 6 PM! The good doctor put a catheter down my jugular vein and inserted a device similar to the Chinese handcuffs we used to play with as kids…expanding and contracting. They also somehow bypassed the clogged up liver (scarred tissue causing cirrhosis) to relieve the pressure that was the result of the blood trying to get through this clogged organ.
Most shocking however, was my liver doc saying that, although he could be wrong, that I only have a few months to live. In all of my dealings with running a Hep C Support Group and hearing many docs over the years speaking about Hep C, I have never heard of a patient being given a quick time-line like this.
Heh, heh,…I believe that God will have something to say about my life expectancy. So God’s will be done but it’s my intention and prayer that the doc is indeed wrong in his assessment. Either way, I’m at peace with what ever happens. Please continue to pray for Maria and I as we expect the best but prepare for the worst outcome.
They are giving me blood transfusions, to boost and stabilize my hemoglobin so that they can let me go home from the hospital…which I’m praying will be before the weekend.
The cancer has also reappeared. We have an appointment on Thursday with the radiologist that treated and knocked out the cancer before with a light and short course of radiation. The prayer there is to try and kill this tumor/s as they did in round one. The good news is that it is still localized…it’s not in any organs, or in the kidney which was wrong info that I received (or was misinterpreted by someone).
Other than that, I feel good…I’m walking around fine…my strength is returning and I feel pretty clear-headed. Thank you again for all of your prayers.
With love and blessings,
Noel
Email This Post
Topics: Cancer Stories, Health Update, Hepatitis C, Hospital Stories | 5 Comments »
Hepatitis C - The Deadly Virus
Very few people understand what Hepatitis C is or what kind of effect it can have on the body…so I thought I’d educate you about what I know and have experienced about this virus. Briefly, what’s important to know is that it is NOT contagious. The belief that it is contagious has led to a lot of unnecessary fear and outright and illegal discrimination.
This body has had the Hep C virus since the early 70’s. The only way it can be spread to another person is by blood to blood contact. The Hepatitis C virus attacks the cells in the liver, taking over a healthy liver cell with itself…turning the liver cell into scar tissue. It generally works it’s evil very slowly with most patients having the infection for years, sometimes decades before they even know that they have the virus. Many find out after getting a blood test for a life insurance policy application.
The treatments that have been developed consist of interferon injections along with a drug call riboviron…which helps the interferon to work. It is a difficult treatment to endure, producing flu-like symptoms. In the United States, the cure rate is about 50%. There are different versions or genotypes, around the world…some respond better to treatment than others.
I have tried the treatments…with no success. My liver now is completely shot…reaching cirrhosis and “end stage liver disease”. At this stage, a liver transplant is about all that can be done, however, livers are in short supply…and many patients die while waiting for one. I’m not able to qualify for a transplant, because I’m a cancer patient.
For more info see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C
And:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrhosis
Email This Post
Topics: Energy Medicine, Uncategorized | 10 Comments »
Noel’s Health Update - April 23rd
Maria and I returned to my oncologist for my latest CT Scan Results on April 23rd and he said…”That trip you made to Lourdes, France must have done some good. Either that or the radiation treatment you were on, worked, or maybe it was the combination of the two…but you are ‘Cancer Free’“.
We were blown away with gratitude towards God and thankfulness for all of the many, many people praying very hard for us. My doc said I can come back for a checkup in about four months.
Please continue to pray for me…the body’s Hepatitis C is taking a large toll on me right now…I’m asking God for another “spontaneous remission” type healing of this dangerous virus. I will keep you posted.
God has been so good to me. I’m so happy to share this news with all of you. Peace and blessings…
-Noel
Email This Post
Topics: Cancer Stories, Health Update, Hepatitis C | 6 Comments »
Compassion
I was pushing the 5 PM closing time as I approached the entrance to the City-County Building. There was no line for the metal detector so I slowly walked right up to the uniformed guard manning his post. It was a hot afternoon and I was dressed in my best “surgery recovery” uniform, a T-Shirt and a pair of sweats. “Empty your pockets and place your items in this basket”, he growls. I suspect that the heat of the day and the late hour was getting the best of him. I complied and started to walk through the magic arch when he barked, “What’s underneath your shirt?”.
Fast forward about two weeks from this late August afternoon and I would have a total of ten liters of fluid drawn from my abdomen over the course of two drainings…the fluid being my body’s response to the trauma of another invasive cancer surgery. For now, I was carrying this liquid around like an expectant mother carrying twins…three weeks past her due date.
As I lifted up my shirt to show him this fairly grotesque scene, I mumbled something about just having surgery. To my surprise, his countenance changed as if he just emerged from a refreshing dip in a swimming pool. He directed me through the metal detector and asked me where I was going. When I told him he suddenly became a friendly tour guide…giving me explicit instructions on what escalator to take…to what floor…what right and left turns I would need to make to get there. It was an amazing transformation…which got me to thinking.
How many times must I have treated people uncharitably…not knowing what was really going on with them personally? Who knows…this guard’s child might be at home, seriously ill. His wife may have just told him that she wants a separation…or his car broke down and he has no money to pay for the huge repair bill.
He too, may have been less than courteous to me, not knowing he was being grumpy to someone in a lot of pain, who was dealing with a life or death situation. The lesson here is all about compassion. Compassion towards all of our brothers and sisters.
As it was said a long time ago…”Never judge a man until you walk a mile in his moccasins” - Native American Proverb
Email This Post
Topics: Cancer Stories, Spiritual Healing | 3 Comments »
Noel’s Health Update - Good News!
Aloha! Maria and I just got back from an 8 day trip to Hawaii on Saturday (business and pleasure). Today we met with my oncologist as a follow up to find out the results of my latest CT Scan for results after the short course of radiation that I went through about two months ago.
The good doctor says they don’t see any spots of cancer anywhere! No new growths in the area where they operated six months ago (ribs, lung and plural lining). The two new tumor spots that they focused the radiation on, seemed to have turned into fluid..so it looks like the radiation worked. I’ll get another CT Scan in ten weeks to keep checking on it.
To say that I’m feeling grateful would be a huge understatement. Whenever I think about all of the people that are praying and supporting Maria and I through this, I become overwhelmed emotionally. Love and compassion are the most powerful forces in the universe. The great blessing of this health crisis of mine is that Maria and I have become the recipients of this love and compassion from hundreds of friends, family and casual acquaintances. I thank each and every one of you.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. I, in turn, will pray for all of you and your intentions. Thank you for sharing this good news with us. Blessings to all of you.
-Noel
Email This Post
Topics: Health Update | 16 Comments »