Sami Lahoud

It is so nice to be home.  I just love it.  Its funny though (and I am actually enjoying it – and sometimes taking advantage of it) how Love treats me with ultra sensitivity.  Be careful walking Khalo … be careful sitting down Dad … be careful holding that cup Habibi … let me help you carry that plate … I keep reminding them that I am not an invalid and that I am still alive and kicking – this reminds me of my mom’s blind kids (aka students). Every time we used to get together with them they used to share with us how sighted people used to treat them as invalids since they were blind … yet they resented it, since blind kids can outperform sighted kids at almost any activity (and yes they can.  I have seen it – at least my mom’s kids can).

Today was my blood test day.  My blood counts across the board started dropping, which is the postmortem effect of the Chemo.  The doctor said that my numbers still look good, however, she expects them to keep dropping for the next two weeks.  This is the remission period after the Chemo, although I am in full remission.  So why did I get it you might ask? They just want to make sure in my case that if they missed any “unseen/undetected” cancer cells, they get them.  We are praying that the Transplant team will be ready at the end of the month so I will not have to under go another Chemo mumbo jumbo boondoggle. 🙂  I tell you that during this remission period my immunity will be at its lowest (again) and I will have to keep my distance from anyone/thing that is breathing (except for an exception unknown to the doctor … a small delicate flower called Jacqueline)  – – Still the best part is that our loving Lord has brought me/us through it before and He will bring me/us through it again.  PTL   Philippians 1:6

As a side note, I was thinking yesterday night how boring life would have been if all was just plain normal.  Passing through and then just fading away.  So boring. What an incredible journey of faith the Lord has given me, my family and you … I am sure He has a blessed custom plan from this journey for every single person that has been part of it … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to strengthen and give you (or use you to touch someone else) hope – – –  Jeremiah 29:11

I am back home after surviving three days of Chemo.  My main symptoms are nausea and lack of energy, however, being home is much better than staying at the hospital.  The cafeteria food does not jive well with me.  I was told that I can stay home as long as I do not have fever.   If I get it, I have to be brought to the ER asap.  So far my blood counts are holding in the acceptable range.  We’re praying things will remain stable until the Transplant date.  (btw, the transplant entails 5 days of Chemo … so I will definitely need your prayers for that upcoming furnace).

When I arrived to the hospital it was a strange feeling.  A deja vu.  I dreaded it for the first few hours, thinking, not again … but the Lord comforted me and your prayers sustained me.   I got through it safe and sound. On a lighter side, when the nurse walked in … “IT” was whistling the reunited song :

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it

I looked … and it was Alaris … I have to be honest with you, I was not a happy camper.  She was thinking the Love Story … I was thinking Fatal Attraction.  She was all over me until the last-minute.  I was so glad when we were disconnected, although she whispered in my Catheter, see you soon on Transplant Avenue love … (I did not appreciate that thought at all).

Thank you for your prayers.  They are sustaining me. The Lord has heard them ! 
 We serve a faithful God.  He will strengthen and protect us through it all ! PTL
2 Thessalonians 3:3

One of the many encouraging emails and notes I received is this one, yesterday, from Jordan. 
” 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.  4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust.   Psalms 40

Habibi Sami,
God’s people were so encouraged this Sunday evening by our amazing God …  They prayed for a match and we are sure that the Lord will provide… I was praying for you today and I asked the Lord to complete His work in you … Then I heard the Lord deep inside of me saying:  “complete” … complete what…??!!    He said: It is all completed…!!! Then I had nothing to say but to thank the Lord for His amazing work… Habibi, the LORD completed His work in you and I am confident that HE already found the match for you … When you go to the hospital tomorrow, walk like you own the place … Your Heavenly father has every detail in His control.   “

I walked into the Hospital this morning and was told that my blood count is extremely solid.  Additionally, the advanced Bone Marrow results, that they were waiting for, showed that there was no residual cancer whatsoever, thus making me in complete full remission.  Accordingly, they cancelled the “special” Chemo that was scheduled for today and reverted to a milder one.  However, while I was talking with the Leukemia doctor, he said “by the way, congratulations, the  Transplant team has located a 10/10 donor for you”.  That took us by surprise.  I had to pause and ask for clarification “yes, the doctor said, you will hear more about it when you meet with the Transplant team.  They found a perfect match that soon”.   Again, the Lord left us speechless.   We then met with the Transplant team and they explained that they had identified a “perfect” match and the person responded and already sent his blood for final confirmation (to make sure it’s fully clean, etc.).  They were all encouraged and amazed.  They also wanted to overemphasize my state.  They wanted to make sure I knew how blessed I was to be in a 100% remission from the first Chemo treatment and to immediately locate a perfect match in due time.  I was told that it typically takes months for a complete remission followed by months of Chemo until/if a match is located … … … I was speechless … Jacqueline started crying …  Issam praising … PTL ! 

I am checking to MDA this evening for a three day mild Chemo treatment.  That is the protocol to follow until the transplant team is ready – within 30 days. 
It is amazing what the Lord has shown all of us/you in this journey …  It is obvious that He was encouraging us to rethink our faith … 

On a separate note, everyone in my immediate family was thinking … How can we repay the LORD for all his goodness to us? (Psalm 116:12) followed by a thought of deep gratitude towards the anonymous person who took the time to register and become a Bone Marrow donor … they all decided to become Bone Marrow donors to be a blessing to someone.  I was told that after one year I can request to meet that person, which I will.  I was also informed that there was a huge need for donors and that the process is very simple.  You just call 1-800-marrow2.  What a hero you could be.  What a blessing.  What a witness.  What a joy you can bring to a desperate sole or a family … what a priceless gift you can give, that will not cost you a dime. 

Think about it. 

I thank you for your faithful prayers.  The Lord has heard them … and I am counting on them until this journey is over.  Thank you.

As I mentioned yesterday, there were NO cancer cells at all in my blood.  PTL!!!!.  That was a surprise to all.  And this morning, as I was going to my Doctor’s appointment to review the results of my Bone Marrow test, the Physician Assistant saw me in the hallway and with a huge smile said ” Mr. Lahoud, you are not going to believe this … your Bone Marrow test is 100% negative”.  I paused for a second and was speechless, then thanked her for the good news, while praising the Lord.  Once I got into my assigned room, the nurse walked in with a huge smile and gave me a hard copy of the report, while explaining that the acceptable bad count was from 0-5 yet mine was ZERO !!!. As you can imagine by that time I was totally speechless, emotional, thankful … until the  doctor walked in and reiterated the great news.  He then explained that the best approach to seal these great results is to have a Bone Marrow transplant “if” an available match is identified.  He said that by Monday they should know and will probably give me a mild Chemo with a “special MDA medication” until a Bone Marrow match is located.  He then gave me a clean report and told me to enjoy the rest of the week (with no medication) and to reconnect on Monday for the rest of the story … PTL!!!   (Our prayer at this stage is that a Bone Marrow Match will be located asap).

I cannot thank you enough for your faithful prayers and all the solid confidence you have shown me, along the way, that He has already answered them!  PTL!!!!
1 John 5:14-15

< Update 8/22/2011: 7:35PM –  A long day at MDA.  Started at 9AM and ended by 6PM.  My blood tests reflected great numbers accross the board, however the best news was that they were NO cancer cells at all in my blood.  PTL!!!!.  Still, the final verdict will depend on the Bone Marrow test that was done at 2PM today.  The doctor made it clear that this test will determine my state.  The results of this test will be ready tomorrow.  I have an appointment with my Doctor at 10:45AM to review the results.  We are praying that the Bone Marrow test will be negative.  Will keep you posted.  We are confident that our Lord is in full control. >

I am writing this blog while sitting on a lazy boy chair at home, praising the Lord, after invading the fridge and eating everything in sight.
You see, as of yesterday, all of my counts were great except for my Neutrophil Absolute Count, which was 0.26.  The doctors said that once my Neutrophil Count reaches 0.5, then I will be able to go home.  They predicted that within a few days that might happen.  Well, well, well … this morning my Neutrophil Count jumped to 0.72 sending me home that same day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PTL

When I was disconnected from Alaris (my IV machine) , it was an emotional moment since we were “together” for almost a month.  Everywhere I went, it went.  It took me a while to adjust … the ability to move freely threw me off-balance.  I kept on looking for Alaris, however, before too long I was back on track and loved the fact that I could freely move without any limitation.

I have to mention that the highlight of my day so far was when I hugged my loved ones.  It was priceless !  I later had the opportunity to pause and reflect over the past few weeks, and realize how the Lord protected me in this harsh furnace.  I currently feel great and have nothing but praise and thanksgiving in my heart.  I was also very blessed to be surrounded by true and tested prayer warriors, from all over the world, who have tasted and realized that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).  I cannot thank you enough for your faithful prayers.

Please keep in mind that my second and decisive Bone Marrow test has been scheduled for Monday the 22nd at 2PM.  Please pray for a negative result.  Also please pray for Jacqueline as she is traveling to Dubai tomorrow to handle all unfinished business (terminate contracts, close accounts, etc.).  Thank you.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Psalm 150:6

Well, things keep moving in the right direction. PTL !

Today’s report reflected that my Platelets Volume Jumped from 152 to 219.  So far I am told that within a few days, if everything stays on the right track, I will be able to go home and come back later for my follow-up tests … < Halt! please allow me to reflect on that thought> … I was told that within a few days I might be able to actually leave isolation, العزلة, l’isolement, aislamiento …. and go home, hug my wife, my kids, my mom, my sisters, my brother-in-law, my nephews, nieces, friends, move freely without Alaris following me around, open the fridge when I want to, grab whatever I want, talk to people face to face (of course with medical masks) … I mean WOW !  All the things that I have (and you have) taken for granted for years, have all of a sudden become priceless to me. MD Anderson is filled with people who dream they could spend a minute in the shoes of a healthy human body… just one minute, to drink what they long to drink or eat what they long to eat or just hug who they long to hug …. yet, when was the last time we paused and thanked the Lord for these simple yet priceless blessings?  yes we can have a bad hair day, yes we can always find something to feed our self-pity … however, when was the last time we paused and said … I can drink and eat freely, with no pain, PTL … I have a healthy body, with no catheters hanging out of it, PTL  … I believe the minute self-pity or frustration sticks on us, for any reason, we need to visit the closest cancer center and just walk the hallways … see the faces, feel the pain … and I am sure that we will quickly pause and realize how much we have taken for granted … and PTL .

Thank you for your continued faithful prayers for speedy recovery!
Ephesians 1:3

PLATELETS
My platelets jumped to 153, without any donations, putting me in the normal zone.  🙂
All other numbers are following suit.  Everything is moving in the right direction. PTL !!!

PRELIMINARY BONE MARROW TEST RESULTS
As you can imagine, we had to play the waiting game today.  Finally, around 3:30PM, the results were delivered by the doctor as follows “Your first preliminary bone marrow results are EXTREMELY encouraging and consistent with strong remission. We are VERY happy.  (PTL) However, next week is when the DECISIVE bone marrow test will be conducted. That test will reveal where things really stand.”

Accordingly,
– Next week is the decisive bone marrow test (Monday the 22 or Tuesday the 23 – will keep you posted) so please pray for a negative result.
– Additionally, we found out today that within the next 5-7 days they will know if we have a match with any of the 8 bone marrow donors identified. Please pray that at least one will be a good match.

Well, with such good news, what can we do but Praise the Lord and say that we are confident in this, that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6).

Thank you for your continued faithful prayers for speedy recovery!

PLATELETS UPDATE
In less than a day we had all of August lined up with single donor volunteers.  PTL.  You left us speechless.  Thank you.
My Platelets count was stuck between 6 and a max of 8 for weeks (normal range 140-440/ acceptable in my case 40). However, once I got my first single donor dose, it jumped to 11.  Then, after my second single dose, it jumped to 27 … that is when the doctors said hold off on all donations.  They believed that my Bone Marrow is healthy again based on these jumps and wanted it to produce its own vs get used to donations.  So we cancelled the donations that were scheduled for the next few days to see how the Bone Marrow will function on its own.  The next morning the number jumped to 50.  Everyone was astonished … and this morning, still without any donations, it jumped to 93.  PTL.  Accordingly, we thank you all for quickly answering the call and volunteering to give me platelets ( I cannot thank you enough), however, mine have been raised from the dead 🙂 and are now alive and praising!  PTL.

< ALL SCHEDULED DONORS PLEASE CANCEL YOUR APPOINTMENTS SINCE WE NO LONGER NEED PLATELETS >

BONE MARROW TEST
My test is scheduled for 2PM today.  Will keep you posted.
<2:35PM Update :  BMT went really well.  No issues. No pain.  Results should be ready in the morning.  Praying for a negative. >

Again, I cannot thank you enough for your faithful prayers and support !

Philippians 4:7

< Update – 8/15/2011: Just found out this Monday morning that my Bone Marrow test was not scheduled for today, however, will be scheduled for Tomorrow – Tuesday the 16.>
IF THE CLOUDS ARE FULL OF WATER, THEY WILL POOR RAIN UPON THE EARTH – Ecclesiastes 11:3
” It is true that for a while clouds hide the sun, but it is not extinguished and it will soon shine again.  Meanwhile those clouds are filled with rain, and the darker they are, the more likely they are to bring plentiful showers.  How can we have rain without clouds? … Before long the clouds will be emptied and “every” tender plant will be happier due to the showers. Our God may drench us with grief, but will refresh us with His mercy … Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and thereby making the hills on every side REJOICE ”  Charles H. Spurgeon 

THE CLOUDS ARE STARTING TO EMPTY
I had rashes under my arms, chest and all over my left arm … all gone. I started feeling “real” hunger now, and started eating everything in sight. I thirst, and able to drink all I want. PTL. My energy is up. PTL.  My fever is gone. PTL.  I feel like dancing with my Jacqueline but … can only dance with “Alaris“, my IV machine – (reminds me of  Wilson the volleyball that became Tom Hank’s best friend in Cast Away – Now I understand).  My lungs are clear. PTL.  I breath freely. PTL.  I have no body pains and all of my vital counts have started moving in the right direction. PTL.  The Lord is answering our prayers (I cannot thank you enough).

I am very well aware that the road ahead is still challenging, however, I am also very well aware that our living God is in full control and He can pave any road according to His Will.  He also knows my weight limit and will not overload me.  (1 Corinthians 10:13).  So I cannot but rejoice and submit it all to Him and make the most out of such a rare cloudy opportunity where I can grow and experience God in a way not possible during our normal shiny daily routines.

SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank you for your faithful prayers for speedy recovery.
The next two weeks are very critical
– Monday August 15 – first bone marrow test, since I had my Chemo, to be used as a base line. Please pray for a negative result.
– Monday August 22 – decisive bone marrow test.  Please pray for a negative result.
– Eight possible bone marrow transplant donors have been identified. Please pray that at least one will be a good match.

Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you

Platelets Update
Praise the Lord we have enough donors for the remainder of August, which is enough for now. If a donor has a last-minute conflict, please contact Jacqueline asap.  Thank you all.  I just had my first single donor dose.  It was good, I felt much better … seriously, it was different ( I had plenty of the mixed and I could tell the difference – at this stage I am experienced enough to even guess the year and gender of the donor).  So I had to contact, no one else but,  Dr. Raad,  since I wanted to know if it was a placebo effect.  Dr. Raad replied to my email with a very Dr. like answer  ” no no it is not placebo at all.  It is Prayermycin the most effective platelet enhancer ( … still I did feel better).

Specific Prayer Requests
I was informed that on Monday August 15 I will have my first bone marrow test, since I had my Chemo, to be used as a base line. Please pray for a negative result.  I will then have another bone marrow test (for the verdict) on Monday August 22. Please pray for a negative result too. I have full faith that our Lord is in full control.

I was also informed that they identified 8 possible bone marrow transplant donors.  Please pray that once they conduct their blood tests at least one will be a good match.

Thank you
I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done to date.  The prayers of the believers have been priceless.  I felt them every step of the way.  I still count on them every day.  I need them.  The Lord heard our prayers and thus, I had peace and joy in the midst of this valley of shadow of death.

Our Houston community has supported us beyond belief. They showered us with their love, support and faithful prayers. As I mentioned in my first blog, it was all so perfectly orchestrated to our maximum comfort level.  So how can I complain? The way “everything”,  from A-Z,  fell into its perfect place made it so obvious that our Lord was in FULL CONTROL.  So I am left with nothing but Philippians 4:4 in mind “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” – Amen

I also want to thank our beloved in other US cities, Jordan, Lebanon, Canada, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Ireland, Holland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UK, China,  and France who have poured their hearts in prayer, who have, and still are, carrying me to the Lord every single day. Your personal emails, blog entries and faithful prayers keep me not even smelling like fire, while in this furnace (Daniel 3:27).

Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you