Subject: Tuesday--Brian Update #13

Dear Friends and Family,
Good news---Brian slept last night.  They had to up his dose of pentobarbitol
for him to get to sleep.  He has had a fairly peaceful day.

The oxygen has been removed and he is breathing fine.  The NG feeding tube was
put in and as I was talking with Sara they were bringing in his first feeding.
They will use a pump like the one Sara will use at home.  He will receive this
feeding at night while he is sleeping.

Brian was given a pill pain killer that will be the substitute for morphine.
He is still on the morphine while they wait for the pill to take effect.  They
will take away the morphine later today and we hope the pill works for him.
As you know, each change is a mystery as to whether or not it will work.  If
successful, this pill will be given twice a day while at home.

Brian's white cell count is going up fast.  This is wonderful for healing, but
it means the cancer cells are also growing quickly.  Consequently, the chemo
plan has changed once again.  Drs. feel that they can't wait until the 16th,
so chemo begins Mon.,Jan 12th. We are still hopeful that Brian will go home
this Thursday or Friday and have the weekend at home.

Evaluation on Tuesday has been cancelled and will return Monday, Jan. 12th for
the chemo to begin again.  This doesn't give him much time to fatten up, but
it is essential to start killing the fast growing cancer cells.  (Those of you
new to this e-mail may not know that these Burkitte's lymphonma cancer cells
double every 16 hours.)

His stomach stills hurts from the mucousitis.  Control of this pain while they
are home will be important.  We need to pray that the pain pills work for him.
We also hope that when that food hits his stomach tonight that he doesn't have
a bad reaction---pain,vomiting.  

Prayers. Prayers.  God is holding us in his hands.  We feel his love for us
and for all of you who are praying and supporting us.

Love,
Susan