Wednesday

Since we started this blog in August, we've posted every day, with the exception of one day (and then we posted twice the next day). Our goal was to provide updates on a regular basis regarding Marty's health. Recently, the updates have been less content-heavy and today, there's really nothing new to report. So, we are going to stop posting on a daily basis. 

We will continue to post to this blog any significant updates as pertains to Marty's health. One could say that at this time, Marty is doing quite well. As was mentioned in a recent blog posting, "well" is a relative term. The reality is that Marty is a brain cancer patient at the Juravinski Cancer Centre. Brain cancer. Several weeks ago, he was lying in a bed with multiple pipes, needles, lines, etc. inserted into him -- and day to day, there were many uncertainties. The doctors, for instance, had no protocols to follow regarding Marty's treatment and they and we were taking things one day at a time.

We are still taking things one day at a time but now, medically speaking, there is a longer-term plan of action. For instance, 

Marty's received two rounds of chemotherapy and is scheduled to receive two more. Tentatively, the third round is scheduled for about a week-and-a-half from now. The chemotherapy is the only medical treatment that Marty is receiving for his brain cancer.

On a day-to-day basis, Marty is getting stronger with the help of physio and a slowly increasing calorie intake per day. Thankfully his weight loss has subsided and hopefully Marty can begin to regain some of his weight -- specifically some muscle mass. Regarding strength, Marty's left side is significantly weaker than his right side and we're not sure why. This has been the case since mid-summer. At one time this summer, Marty was non- or minimally-responsive and almost comatose for about a week and a half. Today, he is stronger in the sense that he can reposition himself in bed with minimal physical assistance and a lot of verbal coaching; he can sit on the edge of his bed, being held for balance, for several minutes; he can stand, with two nurses holding him for balance, for a minute every few days; he can sit (slouch) in an upright chair for 30 minutes. So, Marty is stronger than he was this summer, but like "well", "stronger" is a relative term.

Marty shows very little to no emotion. This isn't to say that he doesn't feel/have emotions; he just doesn't really display them on his face or in his body language. That said, Marty is looking forward to Friday when his boys will visit him again.

At this time, there is no prognosis for Marty. This is because the doctors can't provide one. We don't know how he'll be or what to expect after the third round of chemo -- the fourth round of chemo.  Also, once the chemo's done, then what? The chemo drugs that Marty's been given have more risks than just short-term infection, a battered immune system, hair loss, etc. They're supposed to kill the cancer cells in Marty's brain. But what else can they/are they doing? We pray that they are just doing their intended job, and that with much success.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marty and Erica and their five children at this time. Hopefully by reading this post you can get a glimpse of the scope of the journey that the Marty and Erica Toet family and loved ones are on. We don't know how and where this journey will go, but we do know Who is in control and leading the way. 

So, this is the last day-to-day update. We will continue to update this blog when there are significant things to post -- for better or for worse. We are confident that the medical professionals are doing all that they can do. And even when they are looking for answers and direction, we know that they are doing their work under the watchful eye of the Great Physician. We may not understand everything that's going on or why it's going on, but we can know that all is going according to the LORD God's plan. 

"Jews demand miraculous sings and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

FOR THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MAN'S WISDOM, AND THE WEAKNESS OF GOD IS STRONGER THAN MAN'S STRENGTH." 

-- I Corinthians 1:22-25