Monday, July 14, 2014

News From Baguio July 13, 2014


Greetings to you all from the mountains of Central Luzon,  It sure has been nice to be home for the last few days.  It was great to be with all the saints at the Navy Base assembly this past Lord’s Day. We received such a warm welcome back with hugs all around.  However we cannot stay long.  We must make the trip back down to Manila on Tuesday (July 15th) for another doctor’s appointment for Joyce.

Since we arrived in Manila on June 27th we have made multiple trips to Cardinal Santos Hospital in Greenhills Metro Manila for doctor’s visits, tests, scans and ultra-sounds.  The blood work-up definitely confirmed the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism and the high calcium levels in her blood.  It also revealed a very low vitamin D level and the two are related.  The ultra-sound revealed that she has no kidney stones or disease, which often accompanies hyperparathyroidism so for that we are deeply thankful.  Her mammogram also revealed that she remains cancer free, which was a blessing as well.  The bone density test revealed that as a result of the parathyroid glands leaching calcium out of her bones, teeth and fingernails she now has sever osteoporosis, which will need to be dealt with at a later time.  She also had a nuclear scan of her parathyroid glands and that is what causes us to return to Manila on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening we will learn the result of the nuclear scan.  If there is a tumor or enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands surgery will be the only option, which also brings immediate relief to most of the symptoms.  If they are no tumors or enlargements then another course of treatment will begin, which will give relief as well but over a period of time.  We are praying that this is indeed one of the causes of Joyce’s daily headaches.  Others who have had this surgery have been relieved of the headaches associated with it and it is our prayer that this will be the case with Joyce.  The bone density scan did reveal a problem with her neck, which we were aware of, and it may also be a cause of some of her headaches.

So currently our central focus is on getting Joyce well again.  Please be praying with us.  We will try to keep you updated via this blog, or on Facebook.   It has been a long haul, but Joyce is staying strong.
 

Currently there is a typhoon swirling in the Pacific and coming right at us.  It should be making landfall somewhere in Central Luzon pray for us as we travel on Tuesday when, in all likelihood, the rains associated with what will intensify into a Cat 2 storm, will begin to be felt.  We may have to stay in Manila an extra day while it passes and the flooding recedes.