Health Update

8/28/2010

Thank you for all who call to ask how we are doing. Below is a health update from this last week!

This last week was another exciting week in the Giovanelli home. Our school opened its doors to a record enrollment, my wife was getting three kids ready for the school year, and in the midst of it all - the cancer institute decided to have us come for my cancer check-up on Tuesday and Wednesday of the same week. It is always great to watch the Lord work as life sometimes seems to spin out of control.

On Tuesday, August 24th, we arrived at the National Cancer Institute (NIH) early. The day started off with the blood work, then it was off to the third floor for a more intense blood test that required me to lay down for a while. We then made our way to the Imaging Center and waitied patiently for the CT Scans of the chest, upper abdomen, lower abdomesn, kidneys, and pelvic areas. AFter a long day of testing we were able to get back to the hotel - take a quick nap, and then it was off to a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with some friends who drove up to meet us for the evening.

On Wednesday, we met with the Doctors where we were informed that there is one tumor that is growing very quickly. They are guestimating that its growth rate is 1cm every six months. It is currently at 2.2cm. The right kidney has four tumors, the largest being 2.7cm, and the smallest is at 1.2. The left kidney has five tumors - the lergest being 2.6 and the smallest being 1.2. The left kidney has the fast growing tumor that looks like it will reach 3cm within nine months.

Each time a tumor reaches 3cm they have to do surgery to prevent the cancer from possibly spreading. Our prayer is that the fast growing tumor will not grow as fast as it has been. If it does - it will mean another set of surgeries in the next nine months or so.

Thank you all for your prayers and kindness. We are doing GREAT as a family. Our spirit our high, and the Lord is blessing us in so many unimmaginable ways. Feel free to contact us if you have any special prayer requests that we can pray with you about.