Mike made some improvement today. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. The coughing has decreased some, and the sharp pain inhaling and exhaling has lessened. We have kept him on the oxygen continually. We are expecting to go in tomorrow, for Mike to have another thoracentesis; this time on the right side. I wish more than anything, God would touch Mike's body and remove this problem.

Last night, Mike woke me up around 3 a.m. in discomfort. I noticed when I had changed his dressing on his biliary site, there was nothing around it, which is unusual. Mike was feeling such pressure in his abdomen from the ascites; I asked if he wanted me to try and drain the biliary site. I told him I didn't think we should backflush it with saline. I didn't want to have the same problem occur as in June with the bleeding. So all I did was attach the drainage bag. Immediately, it began to drain. Then blood started pouring into the bag, just as before. I didn't know if I should stop it or not, but Mike and I decided to let it go, to see what might happen. Eventually, the bleeding stopped and it returned to the normal bile. It's troubling what is causing this. After it drained for a good while, I detached the bag and capped the drain.

Today, Mike looks like he's about 4 months pregnant. We have had to pull out his big clothes again, to take pressure off his mid-section. The fluid build up is making his legs and feet swell. He told me they feel like they are asleep when he tries to walk on them.

The blessing is that he's eating so much better. Praise God! I just wish we could gather up all our blessings in one swoop, and that his body would remember how to function again properly. We will be getting a treatment Tuesday, and most likely be speaking to the oncologist...about our problem over the weekend. I don't know what he might suggest.

I know God is with us in all that we're going through. As long as we're still fighting; even as exhausting as that has been at times, we've never lost the drive to keep trusting God for one more day, one more week, one more year. I'm straddling reality and hopefulness. I'm trying to brace myself if God chooses not to intercede and heal Mike. But I don't doubt for a second God's ability to completely, and supernaturally, heal him. He is all powerful! And He is Greater than science, or the medically impossible. I have more faith in Him healing Mike, than I have my ability to survive life without him. And I know what a fighter Mike is. He will not give up.

Thank you for being so willing to pray for us. The amount of comfort and peace we draw from you, is unmeasurable. Your loving kindness has lifted our hearts and spirits numerous times...as well as have moved us to tears. We have looked into your faces and have seen God's. He's lovingly caring for us even though we're in a lot of pain. We have so much to be grateful for.