The Struggle Has Ended

Greg Hewlett passed away on January 17th after nearly eight years of battling colon cancer. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted to know that he is with his Lord.

If you would like to leave your thoughts on Greg, please see this thread.

If you would like to make a charitable donation in Greg's honor, please see this thread.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Good news and a fever scare

Yesterday began with encouraging news and ended with a strange fever episode.

Tuesday, I flew down to Houston for a CT Scan and a few other tests. The surgeon said this upcoming surgery was contingent upon this being a good scan, showing nothing new and hopefully more shrinkage of the tumor. I spoke with a nurse at MD Anderson yesterday morning and she told me that the preliminary (she made me repeat the word verbally, "preliminary") result was that there was some shrinkage and everything looks good towards surgery. So it looks like we're still on course for the surgery next Friday. This was quite encouraging to me and Christine.

As I finished up at work and laid on the couch upon arriving home, I increasingly felt sick and extraorinarily fatigued. This accellerated to the point of causing concern. My temperature was rising steadily and was at 101.4 when I gave my oncologist a page. The normal protocol for chemo patients is to go straight to the ER if the temperature goes above 101. I really did not want to go again for yet another night at the hospital. Dr. Hoff called me and discussed the situation. It had been a few weeks since the last chemo dose. More importantly (and quite fortunately) I had blood work done on Tuesday, just two days earlier. It showed a normal white blood cell count, from which he was willing to wait this out a little longer before sending me to the E.R. The hope was that this was a virus of some sort. I made a call to my brother elders, who were at another monthly meeting I was missing, and asked for them to pray for the situation. I made an arrangement for a possible ride to the ER in the middle of the night, and then Christine helped me into bed. I curled into a fetal position, not knowing how this fit into all that was happening and how it might change the plans for the next week.

I don't know how long I thrashed there in that feverish existence between being asleep and and being awake, but it seemed to be endless. But after a while I must have fallen asleep, for I awoke at around 2am relieved it was so late. I took my temperature and the fever was gone. This morning, I felt much better, almost as if the evening before was just a bad dream. Maybe it was.

So passes yet another twist and turn in this odd battle. I'm not attempting to make sense of this episode - I don't really have the energy. I'm just going to let this one go.

5 comments:

Nils said...

We’ve been looking forward to this good news. I trust the Lord that the final word on the scan will also be good.

Henry Chu said...

Glad to hear that the fever is gone. Praise our Lord.
Be careful about flip flopping temperature. Flue virus is rampant in these days. Vitamin-C's and organges are a must.
May I side track you with two Bible questions. What do you think was on our Lord's mind in Luke 17:6 and Luke18:24-25?

Cody and Julie said...

Greg,
We'll be praying for you and your surgery from way out here in North Carolina. We thank the Lord that, in His providence, the right drugs and doctors are around to prepare you to be able to have the surgery. Give our love to Christine.
Cody and Julie

Carl said...

Thank You Lord

Martha Gessick said...

Dear Greg and Christine, please know I continue to pray for both of you. Greg, PTL for his faithfulness and encouragement to you. Thank you for providing us with your updates so our prayers can be very specific. I was reminded this morning of God's love, grace and mercy from 90.9 radio, KCBI's verse of day: Proverbs 2: 6-8, For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. He guards those who are faithful to him.