The Adventures of Bubble Boy (day 3-4)

Just laying here today. Last two days of treatment haven't gone too bad. I am getting enough medication to keep the nausea and sickness away. I can definitely feel the fatigue coming on though. Sort of just piles up day by day. I am currently getting two types of chemo twice a day. This is the third day with the 6th treatment tonight. Two more tomorrow and then another larger dose chemo that's completely new again on sunday. Then the transplant. I can't believe the response so far from everyone concerned. Certainly gives me hope to do something for everyone when this is done. Sorry I don't have much to say, very tired, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. A little something i wrote yesterday

patience is a virtue which i learned then threw away
there’s calmness and composure which left the first frantic phone call i got
diligence and endurance which lasted til my strength finally left me
forbearance is what i was born with but even it won’t keep me moving forever
heart and perseverance is what people say of me
but even they can’t get inside this head
resignation is the road i am now headed on and serenity is what i seek
tolerance is another i have come to know fully
yielding is what i have left.
But to yield is to stop for me. At least it would seem to be too much.
yield can be succumbing, suffering, handing over to defeat
but it can also be admitting, relinquishing, or submitting what little i have left
i control nothing

I know not where to look for wisdom
Job 28:23-28
23 God understands the way to it 
       and he alone knows where it dwells,
 24 for he views the ends of the earth 
       and sees everything under the heavens.
 25 When he established the force of the wind 
       and measured out the waters,
 26 when he made a decree for the rain 
       and a path for the thunderstorm,
 27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; 
       he confirmed it and tested it.
 28 And he said to man, 
       'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, 
       and to shun evil is understanding.

covenenants aren’t meant to be broken but mine feels crushed
gladly i would sacrifice and walk through the blood
seems like i have but still ahead more

The Adventures of Bubble Boy (day 1-2)

It's my second day locked away. Really my first full day with last night being my first night in. Had my first dose of chemo yesterday. I will be receiving chemo everyday for the first 6 days and then get my stem cells transplanted on the night of the 6 or 7th day. (for those with a weak stomach you may not want to read all of this, i will continue again after the next parenthesis) Yesterday's was supposed to be some of the worst. It was definitely not any fun. Made my head feel like i was having a power drill put through my temples, all while smelling it happen, and sucking on an aluminum can. Fortunately they gave me enough stuff not to puke, and to cover the pain they just kept shooting me up with morphine. Morphine is very interesting. It certainly works but it makes me feel very slow. I could think but could not say what was on the tip of my tongue. It doesn't last long though so by the time the chemo was done the drugs were gone. (You can start reading again) Second day I have had one dose already. This is another lower dose chemo which i get again this afternoon and on and off for the next five days. Not bad so far, i am sure it will all start to pile up and make me sleepy but for now I am somewhat coherent. The plan for now for those who haven't heard; i will have this transplant followed by radiation. Then we will look for a donor to do another stem cell transplant but with those stem cells and not my own, which is a stronger transplant but a riskier operation. Then we will probably follow that up by going to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston or another specialty cancer clinic to look at some diet and other new cutting edge treatments for cases like mine which have shown tough to beat. I wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone who is praying and offering help to us. There is to many to list so I am sorry i can't say thanks to everyone individually. I did want to say thanks to a couple people and inform people of some amazing things going on. My friends nathan and andrew have been heading up getting a trust setup for me to help with the medical bills and the cost of going to some of these specialty centers which are quite costly. They have set up a trust at Wells Fargo called "the stephen shirley medical fund" you will need to know Rosemary Shirley is the account holder if you wish to give. This is amazing. I can't ever say enough thank you's or even make up for the concern and giving people have poured out. It's amazes me the outpouring of even complete strangers to give and pray for someone hundreds and even thousands of miles away. I don't know how i will ever repay any of you. I only hope that when i do go into remission I can hopefully go onto something big enough and worthwhile enough with my life to confirm the faith everyone has put in God and my life. Thank you a million times over, I will continue to update when i am feeling awake and not too disconnected to write. See ya