In this section of the web site, we shared information that we had on Lynette's medical condition and other developments relative to her activities and treatment.
June 3rd, 2005:
Nathan, Lynette and the children are currently enjoying some down time in a cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Nathan will be leaving for Albania on June 9th to lead a team to Kosovo that will provide summer camps for over 800 children. On Tuesday, June 7th, Lynette will undergo another CAT scan to determine the cancer's progress in her body. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER ON THIS DAY!
June 17 , 2005:
The results of Lynette's June 7th bone scan were not good. They showed that the cancer has spread to two additional bone areas in Lynette's body: the ribs and the pelvis. Although the affected area in the ribs is relatively small, the affected area in the pelvis is larger and has already begun giving Lynette some pain. The more positive news is that the area in her spine has not grown and has actually seemed to have shrunken.
Lynette now faces some difficult decisions regarding her treatment going forward. She and the children are visiting Father Luke and Faith Veronis in Boston this week while Nathan is in Kosovo working on his annual youth camp program. Please pray for them as they try to decide how to deal with this latest information.
July 5, 2005:
Nathan has returned from Albania and is back together with Lynette and the children at the home of Lynette's parents. He called today to give us an update on Lynette's condition. Lynette is having a very difficult time now. She is extremely tired and is experiencing a lot of pain throughout her body. Her current pain relief medications are not working and she will meet with the doctors to discuss something stronger. She is resisting further medical intervention as the doctors are offering no hope for a cure. Also, since the pain is now in many places, a local treatment, such as radiation, seems to offer little benefit.
We have asked for your prayers and the response has been very powerful. Please continue with your prayers, and please know that now is a good time for reaching out to Lynette personally through cards, letters, and emails. All her contact information is in the Contact Us page of the web site.
July 19 , 2005:
Nathan called Albania this evening and gave us the following update: Lynette went to the Mayo Clinic again last Friday and the doctors prescribed something called Zomeda (sp?) to address the pain she has been feeling. After taking it for the last several days, this medication has significantly reduced Lynette's bone pain. The doctors also discovered that Lynette was anemic and gave her 2 units of red blood cells. Again, this treatment has had a very positive effect and Lynette is feeling much better and less tired.
Lynette is still experiencing back pain, but it is tolerable. She sends her thanks to everyone who has supported her with prays and with personal contact through cards, letters, emails and phone calls.
August 1, 2005 (this update was written by Nathan Hoppe):
Since the time of her bone scan on June 7th, Lynette's pain levels had been rising steadily to the point of her needing to be on pain medication 24 hours a day. Her energy level had dropped and she was very short of breath. On July 14th and 15th, she was given an infusion of Zomeda, a bone strengthener, and two units of blood to bring her hemoglobin count up. These have helped greatly with reducing pain and increasing energy. On July 25th, her pain returned, but it hasn't been as intense as it was before the bone infusion, and she uses pain medication as needed.
We met with Lynette's oncologist on July 29th at which time chemotherapy was recommended because of clear signs of the rapid spread of disease in the bones. Unfortunately, the side affects of chemotherapy are significant and the chances of it significantly helping Lynette are quite low. Therefore, at this point, we are not planning to proceed with chemotherapy. Lynette will be receiving monthly injections of Zomeda to help with symptoms and arimadex to help raise red blood cell counts.
Lynette's mom also met with an oncologist on July 29th, and learned that the cancer in her liver was very advanced. The doctor could offer no treatment that would give any hope of even limited success. The tumor is inoperable, and radiation and chemotherapy would make her sick rather than offer any help.
August 18, 2005:
Last week, Lynette was experiencing quite a bit of neck pain and frequent headaches. Because of these symptoms, Lynette's doctors feared that the cancer may have spread to her brain. They ordered an MRI for Lynette. The test was administered on Friday, August 12th. Mercifully, no evidence of cancer was found in her brain, but there was indication that the cancer had spread significantly in her neck. As a result, the doctors have recommended a course of radiation treatment focused on the cancer in Lynette's neck. Lynette and Nathan will be consulting with their doctors and praying for guidance in choosing the best treatment at this point.
August 24 , 2005:
Nathan called this morning with the following update. Lynette is experiencing substantial pain now in many of the areas where she has cancer. Nathan described the pain as "the worst she has experienced since this ordeal began". In addition, she is feeling quite sick and weak, possibly because she has the flu, on top of the cancer. They ask for your prayers as Lynette endures this new level of pain and sickness.
Last night, the Hoppes drove to the cabin in Wisconsin where they stayed at the beginning of the summer. They will spend five days there together as a family before Tristan and Katherine are scheduled to start school on September 1st. This will be the first experience for the children in a school, as Lynette has home schooled them up to this point. Nathan and Lynette feel very good about the school, a small Christian school in Minnesota, and they ask for your prayers that it will be a good, positive experience for Tristan and Katherine.
Lord, hear our prayers.
