Diagnosis

We can finally say with confidence that Tony has been diagnosed with stage 4E non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that attacks the lymphatic cells (aka the white blood cells functioning in the immune system). Incidentally, Tony's 30 year battle with Hepatitis C served as a red herring throughout the entire diagnosis process-suggesting that he was fighting against a form of Liver Cancer. Now the oncologists are saying that the tumors present within the omentum cavity and the tumor on Tony's liver are both due to lymphoma and not associated with any previous speculations. The next step is to determine the proper form of treatment. Since Tony is still in the ICU surviving off of the ventilater and dialysis machines, the oncologist team must develop a specialized attack that would be less aggressive on his renal system then full blown chemotherapy. Tony's immune system is compromised by much more then just lymphoma, making this cancer increasingly more difficult to defeat. However, the blessing of this diagnosis offers hope that lymphoma is curable, but in Tony's case this requires a force much more powerful then medicine. Treatment is much more difficult for Tony then in a healthier patient. Please continue to pray that Tony's renal conditions will improve. We continue to cling to the hope manifested through prayer as prayer remains to be the only force that offers Tony a sense of peace.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.