Well, I just got home after a 9-hour day at the hospital. My brother had his post-CAT scan appointment at 8am, and he was so weak that they decided to admit him. The scans showed that the lymph nodes have shrunk a little bit, but not enough. They also showed an inordinate amount of fluid in the lungs and stomach, so they want to investigate and fix that. But the main reason for hospitalizing him is to try and bolster his strength so he can withstand another chemo and the stem-cell transplant. The doctors all think he's far too weak to risk it right now, so they're going to do everything they can to boost him up in preparation for the transplant.

I had a lot of input and say in the decision - I guess my exhaustion and concern was evident, because there was no hesitation when I suggested that they admit him for a few days...and I strongly suspect that I was part of the equation. They know it will be a much-needed break for me, as well as a much-needed rest/booster time for my brother.

The system moves very fast when you're finally right into the thick of it...I couldn't believe how fast a bed became available for him - even the team was flabbergasted - when they left to make the arrangements, they gave little hope of getting a bed today - so I said a fervent little prayer - 20 minutes later they came back, amazed, saying they'd have a free bed before 11am!!! Praise God! He might not be healing my brother's cancer as quickly as I'd like, but He's sure filling our lives with angels and proof that He's with us every step of this journey.

Anyway, that's the latest. The news was rather sad today, because for the first time in six months, the doctor admitted that my brother may not survive this. That was brutal, but I think that both Gary and I have already faced that possibility, but will resolutely keep going until there's nowhere else to go.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Please don't stop. This ain't over, yet, nothing is impossible for God. If it's His will that my brother live, there ain't nothing that can stand in His way. And if there's some higher purpose involved in allowing my brother to not make it through this, then we all need courage and faith to make it through as far as we can, as best as we can.