Blood is Thicker than Water

Indeed that is a statement usually said when talking about the commitment of family. Well my family showed up last night!!!!!! I don't know what more to say! Our church and school had a blood drive for me yesterday (Tuesday) and from 2pm til 10pm there were people waiting in line. They had different stations set up to give blood, and plateletes, and something else. Our cafeteria looked like a triage. When we meet each other in the hallway now we just greet each other with "Hey Blood". I have never been so overwhelmed by love as I have been in this journey that I walk - no that we walk, because I am certainly not walking it alone. I love you, I love you, I love you and I so look forward to spending eternity with you all. As many of you know my entire family, all 9 of us, will be going on a cruise next week. Pray that I will not be a bump on the log but really able to enjoy everyone - especially my grand-kids! Upon my return we will begin radiation on my hip area for a couple weeks and then start a new type of chemo where I am on a three week regiment. I will have an infusion on the Monday of the first week and then for two weeks take a pill every day. Then I have a week off and start again. I believe that we have found that the greatest thing that is fighting the cancer is prayer!!!! Almost every day I find out about another group that is praying for me. Many have come to me and expressed how I am an inspiration to them, can I honestly tell you - you are an inspiration to me!!!! Thank-you so much for so much love!!!! Pastor Olsen

Out of the Hospital

Hello everyone, just got out of the hospital today and am so glad to be home. The last 10 days have been crazy from going to Houston then being home for less than a day and being put into the hospital. I am doing better, when they took my blood early this morning my counts had come up enough for me to come home. I just have to stay home this week and build up my system. So this will give me the opportunity to work from the house. Again I can not express my appreciation enough for all your prayers. Last week (Palm Sunday) I was so anxious not being able to be in church, but when I began to hear of the tremendous service and how great the "Living Lord's Supper" went I was so blessed. While in the hospital I was able to meet with an Orthopedic Surgeon who told me that he did not believe I needed any surgery at this time. That was a great report! The miracle is coming - I am just so excited to know of so many people who are standing with me for it. Thanks again!!! Pastor Olsen

A hospital report

As many of you already know Eric is in the hospital with pnemonia. His blood counts are at a very critical low level. He has received two units of blood so far. He will be in the hospital for several days. Pray for a quick recovery. His concern is his Easter sermon. I know that God is in control and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. We love you and thank you for your words encouragement. You all have been our strength when we are weak. Keep lifting him up. Love Sherry

Back From Houston

Well, we got back from Houston last night and truly there is no place like home. I am still recovering from Bronchitis and the Flu and have been blamed for giving half the known world what I had. My sister got it, Kristen got it, Sherry's dad got it, and Nancy, a friend of Sherry's got it. Well, I have made the decision that I'm not going to the doctor any more, they have nothing nice to say. After many tests, we met with our doctor on Wednesday to be informed that the chemo has had no affect on the cancer, and that the cancer has become more aggressive. She has discussed a new regimen of either a clinical trial study or a chemo pill along with an injection. After meeting with us she was going to call my local doctor to get a plan of action. She was amazed that I was not in pain in my hip as the bone where the femur comes into the hip has cracks and the cancer has disintegrated it. They actually made me walk to see if I could. She has recommended that we see our radiation onocologist to begin radiation and also an orthopedic surgeon to put ina pin or a rod. We are still processing all this. The one thing we know is that a miracle is not done until a miracle is needed - and that is right where we are. I am so proud of each of you and the prayers, love and support you have given. Our faith has not wavered, because God has not changed. Continue to pray the Word of God over us as we walk this journey together. I ask that you specially keep Sherry and my kids in prayer - their burden is great. I love you all!!!!! Pastor Eric Olsen

Tuesday our day off from tests

Today has been a better day for Eric. He has been able to do a few things. The testing yesterday took a hard toll on him. He was exhausted and sick by the end of the day. Praise the Lord that is behind us and tomorrow we get the results. The sad side to all of this is the family that came to spend time with us is now sick. So we are spreading the germs in Texas and plan to leave them here. I am now the Lysol queen. I am spraying everything and everyone with Lysol. I will kill those germs. We do miss you and look forward to seeing you soon. Love Sherry

Houston Report from the ER

Hey our friends. This has been an interesting trip so far. We were scheduled to start our appointments today but Eric got sick and we started this journey yesterday. Eric got a cold on Friday and by Saturday he was coughing really bad. I called the Doc in Miami and they sent some antibiotics. Well I thought I had caught it in time but that was not the case. Sunday morning at 5:00 am I realized we were in trouble. Eric was having trouble breathing because he was so congested. We went to MD Anderson ER. They at first felt that he had pneumonia or bronchitis. They ran a large amount of test and did a large amount of cultures. The amazing thing that I know was God touched him because his white blood cell count had not gone down any since his last blood draw on Thursday of this last week. That is a miracle. It usually drops everyday for ten days or more. Praise the Lord they said he has bronchitis. He was given super doses of antibiotics and breathing treatments before they let us leave the ER. Today we will get the culture results and we still have all the test to run this afternoon that were on the orginal schedule. Eric is some better this morning but he is really tired. I know that God is taking care of him. We miss all of our friends and family. This has been a great trip in one sense we have been able to see Kristen and Shaun. Seeing the kids is such a blessing and that helps to lift our spirits no matter what our circumstances are. We had a birthday celebration for Eric this weekend and he enjoyed it. God is good and I know that as we go today God will go with us and He is our source. We will not get test results from today until Wednesday. So I will try to let you know on Thursday what all the results are. We love you and thank you for loving us. Sherry

Bags packed again

Well, Sherry and I will leave Friday for Houston. We will spend the weekend with our family. Sherry and I stay at my sisters in Houston, and this weekend my daughter Kristen is driving down from Dallas with Sherry's parents, Johnny and Naomi. Also my son, Shaun, will fly in from Philadelphia so we are all looking forward to being together. This week has been a different week. I had the harsh Chemo (8 hours) on Monday, then regular Chemo (2 hours) on Tuesday and then today (Wednesday). I also had a M.R.I. yesterday on my bones to take to M.D. Anderson along with different shots for my blood levels, so my body doesn't know what is going on. During the night I have these big grasps for air that panics my wife. I tell her if she wouldn't put the pillow over my head it would probably help (just kidding). We are doing good, believing in God for every day. We have certainly come to understand that it's not the days in your life that matter as much as the life in your days. For that reason starting the Sunday after Easter we are going to start a series on living like you were dying. The focus is not on death, it's on life and maximizing every day that God gives us. God is awesome - I know that more now than ever. I promise to give another update as soon as we return from M.D. Anderson at the end of next week. We love all your comments, it means so much to Sherry and I. Pastor Eric Olsen