Flatrock Middle Schoolers jazzed about raising money for Cancer research

Hello friends, and a Happy Valentine's Day to you!  Today's blog is dedicated to Mrs. McElrath's class at Flatrock Middle School in Hendersonville, NC.  These young people are participating in the school's cancer research giving drive - there is a contest among the classes to see who can raise the most money for the school's donation, and they are determined to win!  The charity they are donating to is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - the class has taken a special interest in me (poster child, perhaps?) and actually texted this photo (and the one below) to me this morning.  The aforementioned Mrs. McElrath is my sister-in-law and teaches science at FRMS.  The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (http://www.lls.org/) is a wonderful organization that supports patients (they give us $100 per year for treatment-related expenses) and also funds research into new treatments.  So all in all, this project is a fantastic way for youngsters to gain awareness of cancer and related issues through participation and fund raising.  As you can see, they are really excited about it!

Close-up of their poster (that's my likeness in the lower right)

Meanwhile, back in Houston.....I'll introduce some new terms to you today - these are some blood chemistry parameters that have always been measured in my blood draws, but have never been issues....representing liver function, we have Alkaline Phosphatase, Lactate Dehydrogenase, and Alanine Aminotransferase.  Representing Kidney function, we have Creatinine Serum.  We've been watching these this past week as they have all ticked above the normal ranges, but now the "kidney number"- this is what I call it - is back to normal and the "liver numbers" are trending back down also.  The doctor says these anomalies are likely caused by medications.  Also the virus I mentioned in my last entry was not present in my last blood draw, so that seems to be resolving as well.

However, my sinuses continue to be an issue - I had a CT scan last Friday evening that showed increasing inflammation and blockage up there, so the doc wants me to get checked out again by the infectious disease (ID) team (today) and the eye, ear, nose, throat (E&T) team (to be scheduled).  This will delay our departure from Houston until next week sometime - hopefully mid-week.  The good news (there's always good news if you look for it!!) is that I was put back on an anti-biotic starting last Thursday (at my request) and the sinuses are definitely improving.  The Lord is in control and we trust Him completely.  We know we'll head home in His timing.  He has been so faithful with us.  In a little while we are going out for ice cream with Bud and Nancy Simpson, a couple from the First Presbyterian Church who have been supporting us with prayer and anything else we have needed since we arrived here.  

Renee and I are trying to hit the 'best of the rest' eateries here in our final days in Houston - yesterday we hit this absolutely excellent Greek diner - very famous in Houston since 1977 (http://nikonikos.com/).  Here is a pic:

Niko Niko's

That's all for today.....grace and peace to you.  Dan and Renee