Today (monday) my dad is on day six of treatment and he has one day left of the first round.He gets a break for a few days and then on day 14 they will do another bone marrow test to see if there are any blast cells. His blood test shows no blast cells but the bone marrow test (on day 14) will be more definitive. He his very sick though with flu-like symptoms and chills...which is not really uncommon because, as I'm sure you all know, the chemotherapy treatment kills everything...the bad along with the good.I am corresponding with my uncle Buddy...my dad isn't really interested in anything right now (although he does enjoy buddy playing worship music for him) because he is so sick. So, don't be offended that you don't get any emails back for a while. I know that he has seen many of your encouraging emails, cards, etc already...and he will see all of them as he is feeling better.My dad just needs your prayers that he will be strong and not give up, and that they can get his infection (s) under control.
Thank you once again...from the bottom of my heart.
Maisha (and the Lauer family)

Our family in North Carolina saying "We love you" to Uncle Kit :-)

Elle, Aiden, and Avery McLaughlin

please pray

Hello All,
My dad has a fever of 101 at this point. They just started giving him antibiotics...please pray that his fever will go down. Like we've said before, he has no white blood cells to fight off infection. and, it is my understanding that they cannot give him those cells in a transfusion b/c it would encourage the cancer cells.He is feeling very uncomfortable. we really, really appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and support.
much love, Maisha

Update from Kit

My cancer cells just keep dropping…I am on day 4 and down to less than 2% blast/cancer cells in my blood now and on day 14 we take another bone marrow test. If the kill ratio holds then my good cells should come back and I can go to Pasedena, City of Hope for the bone marrow transplant…assuming we find a match…we need a lot of prayer…I thank God with each breath HE gives me that I have such a faithful and loving Body of believers to pray for and encourage me!!!!

Love you much,
kit

Saturday's update from Buddy & Kit

My brother Kit wants to thank everyone for their continued love and support. He loves the responses on the blog and all the cards and letters. He is sorry that he cannot be seen personally, but he has no immune system to defend against sickness. The Lord gave Kit a psalm last night to encourage him. Psalm 91:15 says, "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." Kit feels incredible confidence in the blessings from God. He wants us to continue to keep him in our prayers, and to continue to hide God’s word in our hearts so that, at the right time, we will be comforted. My brother is encouraged and strengthened by your love, support, and prayers.

Buddy

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I am experiencing the peace of God through HIS words. I want all of us to be diligent in our prayer times and our times of worship. Fill your hearts and minds with HIM in your quiet time as you start your day, before you move into the world, so that you can overcome the things of the world by the strength of Jesus.

Kit

Two updates from Maisha

1) Hello everyone,

My dad had a pretty bad night last night due to feeling sick and nauseous from the chemotherapy. They are giving him meds to help with that now and it is working...he is feeling better. But, he did not get much sleep and, because of the fact that his white blood cells are so low, this is a concern...he is more susceptible to getting sick, and we really do not want him to get any infections, etc. So please pray that he will have a better night tonight and that he will get some rest. He will not be able to take any of your calls at this time, but cards or emails are good :) . Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes.

Luv,
Maisha

2) Thank you soooo much for your prayers...the chemotherapy treatment is working. The "blast" cells are down from 80% to 5%. If they stay at this level for 14 days and we find a bone marrow match for him, my dad will be sent to California to the City of Hope to have the transplant done.Thanks again for all of your prayers!

:) Maisha

Thursday Update

The Lauer Family, Easter 2008

It was a rough night last night. Apparently, they implanted a single port instead of a double port so I had to go back into surgery today to get the right port. Someone read it wrong. I didn't sleep much and could feel discouragement coming on. So I just had Shelly pray for me all night, as well as all of you praying for me. I felt the discouragement lift today.

I had a talk with the oncologist today. He says that they have a high success rate with this type of thing and because I am physically in good shape, he's confident I can get through this. They're going to try and keep me quarantined which will help.

Pray for Shelly. She developed a cough yesterday, and until that's taken care of, she cannot be around me. She is such a comfort to me. Please pray for her healing.

I think of a hedge, like the hedge that protects us from the enemy's darts. But this time, a fiery dart poked through that hedge and was allowed to touch me. But I feel that through this, the LORD is causing me to refocus my life so that, in the years that I have remaining, I will have more compassion and a clearer vision of what I need to do. That is what I'm getting from the LORD through my reading and praying, and people talking to me, and hearing HIS voice.

Thank you all for praying. I will try and update you as often as I can, but it will get more difficult in the next few weeks. We have to kill all the bad cells, but it also kills all the good cells. So it will get harder before it gets better.

Pray for the doctors and nurses to stay on top of every future detail as they treat me. Pray for Shelly's health.

Love,

Kit

Day one of chemo

I am so thankful for all your love and support of me and my family. I literally feel everyone’s prayers. I am doing good…day one of chemo…feeling ok…

Here's how you can pray for me:

1. The chemo kills all the bad guys.
2. The Lord is merciful to me in the second and third week of treatment. Traditionally the worst nausea, vomiting, runs, cold sores, hair loss (no big deal there). Take them away and/or give me strength to endure!
3. The chemo sends the “blast” cells into remission; where they stop producing…I need less than 5% blast cells by end of week 2-3.
4. My family remains healthy so I can see them, especially Shelly for the long term, because she will be with me most.
5. Pray God protects me from catching anything.
6. Pray my mind will be fixed on the LORD and my eyes, heart focused on Him. I would hear his voice, and that my thoughts would be HIS thoughts.
7. Pray that God supply our needs during this time.
   

Shelly and I are so very thankful for every prayer, every kind word, every card, every gift. My heart is overwhelmed with the response and love of the Body of Christ. Like my spiritual children into whom I have sown the love and knowledge of God for all these years, you rise up now and bless me and oh how I feel your blessing. You sustain me through the love of Jesus Christ that flows so abundantly through your hearts!

Fighting the good fight,
Kit