Interview Update!

The interview went great! She told me that she'd like to highlight what each survivors "weapon" was for their battle. After I told her my story she asked me if she was correct to say that my battle weapon was God. I said, "yes! God, his Word and my faith". I hope I get selected! However, she said with my permission she would like to possibly use my story in another article if it's not selected by her editor this time. Thank you for praying!

Unique Opportunity to Share My Story - Maybe!

Today at 2:00 pm I have a phone interview with a reporter from the Dallas Morning News. She is working on a story about cancer survivors. She wants me to share my experience and tell what has been most helpful in getting my through this time. Well, for me it's been my relationship with God and my faith. I love sharing my faith and telling of how God truly carried me through my diagnosis, treatment and helped me overcome my fears. I will be completely honest with her however, I know that my story may not be chosen because of my faith. So, I would appreciate your prayers. I'm praying that the reporter and editor feel that my story would be very helpful and encouraging to others and that it will be chosen. Stay tuned for details!

Health Update!

Many of you have asked how my health is lately.Well, my bone marrow biopsy came back and I was so close to remission that my doctor decided to leave me on my current medication. J.P. was thrilled about this because he was worried of new side effects coming with new medication. I am supposed to meet with the head of Oncology at Medical City in the next month to determine course of action at this point. Dr. Juturi believes I will reach remission very soon because I am so close now. I appreciate your prayers and please continue for complete healing for me. I faith that God will heal me in His perfect timing!

Giving Him all the glory,

Charissa

Bone Marrow Biopsy Done & Update

Thank you so much for your prayers, phone calls and text messages. I feel incredible blessed to have to many people praying for me and my health. The bone marrow biopsy went very well. It was quite longer and more painful then I remembered but that is a good thing that I didn't remember exactly what it was like. :) I went in with a great attitude and was not dreading the test at all. I brought some wonderful scriptures with me on paper and written on my heart. Some of you sent me some great scriptures too and I appreciate that. Dr. Jurturi told my mom that I was a woman of great faith. What a compliment! I'm so thankful that I have had the opportunity to get to know her and share my faith with her. It's amazing how God works through his children. I read the scriptures aloud as she was performing the biopsy. :) She gave me some wonderful news too! She said that her purpose for doing the test was that in this last year since my diagnosis two other drugs have been developed and are being used with incredible success. She said that she wants to make sure she is doing all she can to get me to remission. The bone marrow test will give her a complete picture of where I stand and then she will know if I should continue taking Gleevec or try one of the knew drugs. The biopsy results will be back in 1 - 2 weeks. I will send out an email when I receive them. Thank you again so much for the prayers! Keep them coming!

Love,
Charissa

Health Update - Bone Marrow Biopsy Ordered

My oncologist decided it was once again time to test my blood for remission. The test came back and I was not quite there yet. The Leukemia specialist at Medical City, not the doctor I see regularly, was a little concerned that I am not yet it remission. He ordered a bone marrow biopsy so he can get a better and more accurate picture of where I stand. I am asking for prayer. My husband says he is praying that I am healed. I am praying that the test was wrong and that the biopsy shows that I am in remission! So, this is my optimistic self coming out once again. :) However, I don't know what the outcome will be. But, I do know that I am in God's hands and that he will carry me through whatever storms come my way. I continue to praise him for my health because I feel good every day. I have an amazing amount of energy and most nights J.P. actually makes me go to bed. :) I thank Him for each day. My faith is strong and I know that eventually I will be healed by His mighty hands. Thank you once again for praying for me!
Love,
--
Charissa McLain

In Full Bloom

My flowers are really loving the cooler temperatures. Merit helps me water and sometimes pull weeds. Well, he thinks he's helping and he tries to help but really he's not much help at all. :) On Sunday, we followed a beautiful butterfly as he landed from flower to flower. Merit had not really seen one close up and he loved watching it flutter it's wings. There is nothing better then real life learning experiences!

Update!

We are enjoying a family vacation in Colorado Springs for the next 6 days. We are staying with JP's aunt and uncle. JP's grandparents live here too! We are looking forward to relaxing, having fun with the family and making some great memories. I wanted to update you on my latest health report. I finally received my remission test back. This test basically checks for cancer cells circulating in my blood. The last time Dr. Juturi tested me was a little over a month ago. That test revealed my number to be 0.125; which is very low. The number as of now is almost half of that, around 0.07. So, in one months time it went down quite a bit. She will test me again in 8 weeks. Thank you so much for your continued prayers! I have continued to feel great! And, I truly have no fear or worry regarding my health. I know I am in God's hands. I will keep you updated!

Health Update - Visit With My Oncologist

My appointment with Dr. Juturi went great! She said that my blood levels have truly leveled out at this point. For the months of November - March my levels were very inconsistent. As of now, my white blood cell count seems to have leveled off as well as my red cell count and my platelets. She did send my blood off to be tested for remission. I should have the results some time this week. She said she has never seen anyone respond so quickly to the medicine and that in her opinion my bodies response is perfect. She is going to have me and JP meet with Dr. Braushawn again, he is the Leukemia specialist at Medical City. I am very hopeful that I will be in remission. However, God has truly met all of my needs for the past few months. I have felt great and have been able to continue my normal daily activities. We stay very busy at the McLain household. Please continue to pray for me! I appreciate your prayers!

Latest Doctor Visit

I went to see Dr. Juturi, my Oncologist on Monday of this week. My numbers were good. My white cell count went up by 1 full point and Dr. Juturi was thrilled. We had a great conversation about our faith. She told me that she is a believer and she does pray but that she doesn't think she has the same relationship and faith as I do. She explained that she prays to God and asks Him for strength and wisdom when she is in need. She went on to say that there are many things she doesn't pray for because she believes God already has a plan and she can't change it by praying. So, I told her that I pray for the needs my family has and that I believe He will provide for us. I have faith that He knows what is best for our family and that He will work all things out for us. He is good and He loves us. Anyway, I look forward to many more conversations with Dr. Juturi. We have built a wonderful relationship and God is truly working in our lives. Thank you friends and family for continuing to pray for me and my doctor.

New Labs

I went back to the doctor today for lab work. I missed my appointment last week due to our four days of being iced and snowed it. My white cell count was lower then what my doctor would like it to be but the rest of the results were good. God is truly taking care of me. Please pray that my immune system works hard to fight off illnesses and that my white cell count improves. Thank you prayer warriors!

Our God Reigns!

Today was very rough for me. I woke up with a sore throat again; it seems I can't seem to get rid of this sinus infection. Then JP was called to an early meeting and I had to find someone last minute to get Merit to the CLC. My dear friend, Juls Humphries was nice enough to agree to help me. I planned on leaving early in order to get Merit and all of his things to Juls and when I got in my car it was dead. Arghhh...I got to school on time, thankfully and then Juls sent me a text at 5 'till 8 telling me that she was stuck in traffic. I thought, really, what more could go wrong. I was reminded today that I am not in control, God is. I know that He knew all of these stumbling blocks would be in my way today, yet He had confidence that I could handle it. He is sovereign over all! He gave me the strength and encouragement to not only get through the day but make it a great day! Juls shared my morning trials with the 3rd grade prayer warriors and they prayed for me. I received emails and texts during the day telling me I was being prayed for. I even had more offers for help with Merit! At the end of the day, I was surprised by Mrs. Rudd bringing me a homemade pie and a gift card for dinner. What a blessing to work in a place where we are surrounded by not just Christians but servants too. God is good.

Counting My Blessings

I am so thankful to God that the medication is working to make my blood levels normal. I am also very thankful that the medication doesn't affect the way I feel. I am still praying for Complete Molecular Remission and I believe that God will heal me completely. He is good and He wants good things for all of His children.

On another note, lately sweet little Merit has been waking up once in the middle of the night almost every night. It is really wearing on Mommy and Daddy! JP has been wonderful to take over most nights so I can get some rest. However, when Merit does wake up I spend a lot of moments praying over him. I began by praising God for bring Merit to us when he did and I thank Him for Merit's health. I then pray that God protects him from disease, that he comes to know Jesus at an early age and that he becomes a true servant for Christ. Most of the time Merit falls back asleep on my shoulder or JP's. Even though we are missing out on sleep I treasure the moments with him keeping in mind that this is a short period in time that will soon be gone.

Wow! Amazing Results!

I went to see Dr. Juturi on Monday because I was feeling quite strange. I felt lightheaded and just not right. She did blood work when I arrived and then we met. She was amazed at my numbers! My white blood cell count went up considerably and so did the nutrifill count! So...hopefully the white blood cell count has plateaued and will stay there. And, hopefully the nutrifill count is plateauing as well. She decided that the reason I was feeling strange is probably due to the fact that I am fighting a bladder infection in combination with being a little overly tired. I tend to do too much. You know, I think I am Super Woman! God is certainly answering the many prayers. Please continue to pray for remission! Thank you to my sweet friends & family!

Doctor Visit

I went to see Dr. Juturi before leaving for Houston. My blood work was really good once again. My white blood cell count only went down by .2. Dr. Juturi doesn't want it to fall any lower but hopefully it is stabilizing. My red blood cells looked good too. She is watching the nutrifill level, which is the iron in the bone marrow. If this gets too low then it will make you feel very tired. I am praying that this level stabilizes too and doesn't get any lower. On another note, we are enjoying the Christmas season with Merit as I am sure you can tell from the pictures. He brings us so much joy. We are truly blessed greatly.

Not Yet

The nurse called today to tell me that my blood does still have the cancer cells circulating. So...I am not going into remission yet. However, my numbers are great and the doctor fully believes that I will be one of the CML patients that does reach remission fairly quickly. God is answering prayers and I know I will be healed. I am so thankful the medicine is working for me!

More Great News!

I went to the doctor this week for blood work. It has been two weeks since my last visit. My numbers were excellent once again! Praise the Lord! My platelets are completely normal and my white blood cells are a little on the low side. Dr. Juturi is going to keep a close watch on it. If the white cell count goes any lower then she will look at either taking me off of the Gleevec for a few days or lowering the dosage. I know she will make a good decision as to what is best for me; I am praying that God gives her wisdom and knowledge. Dr. Juturi and I had another great conversation too! She asked me about whether or not we would like to have children in the future. The Gleevec causes birth defects so you are advised not to get pregnant while taking it. So...I was able to share with her God's perfect timing in bringing Merit to us when he did. Merit was a surprise and JP was so worried about not having enough money and not being prepared for a baby. He thought he was too young to be a dad. But...once again, God knew what he was doing. He knew that I would get CML and that I might not be able to have children once on this medication. He gave us Merit and what a perfect gift at just the right time in our lives! God is so good. He always knows what is best for His children. Dr. Juturi really liked hearing my story and she smiled over and over again as I shared this with her. She referred to God as "my God", so I am still not sure as to her beliefs. I am sure of one thing though, God definitely has a purpose for what I am going through. Thank you friends and family for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Complete Molecular Remission. The test was run to check for this and I will know the results in a few days.

No Trials, No Triumphs!

I subscribe to Greg Laurie's daily devotion and Friday's devotion was amazing! I felt as though he was speaking directly to me! So many of us endure trials and storms in our life but we know to fear not because God is with us! As I wrote when I was diagnosed..."don't ask why, but instead ask God, to what purpose Lord?" Read Pastor Laurie's words below and enjoy!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.— Psalm 23:4

Maybe you are in one of life's storm right now and have cried out for it to stop, and it hasn't. In fact, it has gotten worse. You're asking why—why has God allowed this? There are no easy answers to that. But know this: where there are no trials in life, there will be no triumphs. It has been said, "The hammer shatters glass, but it forges steel." And often in the hardships of life, great things will come as a result.

The apostle Paul died and went to heaven, and he wrote a few lines about it. But then he was imprisoned under house arrest and wrote the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy. Through his glorious triumph in heaven, he said very little. But through his difficulties and hardships, he said a lot.
Many times when you go through difficulties in life, there are things you will learn and discover that you could not learn anywhere else.

Psalm 23 is a well-loved passage of Scripture that many have committed to memory. It is a pleasant scene of sheep grazing on grass and drinking from cool mountain springs. We love that. We love the green pastures and still waters. But then David continues on: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

Yes, there will be those times when God will take us to the green pastures and still waters. But He will be with us in the valleys as well. And it is through those valleys we learn important lessons, because fruit does not grow on mountaintops; it grows in valleys.

God has His purposes in the storms of life. And He is with you in your storm.

New Blood Work Results!

I went back this week for blood work. It has been two weeks since I was last there. My numbers are even better! The doctor is amazed at how well I am responding to the medication. My platelets have gone from 900 to 212; which is completely normal. My white blood cell count is now 3.6; which is actually a little on the low side. The normal range is 4 - 10. However, the doctor is not concerned and she fully expects this number to even out since my other numbers are so good. The iron (hemoglobin) number is great too! Dr. Juturi was a little concerned that it was getting too low but it has now normalized. I give all of the glory to our Heavenly Father. It is becuase of Him that we have people who have studied medicine and created medications to target specific illnesses. December 13th is my next appointment and the doctor will check to see if I am possibly going into Complete Molecular Remission. CMR would be a miracle from God!

Feeling Great!

I won't be going for blood work this week so I'll have to wait until next week to see what my numbers look like. I'm expecting them to be great. I have been feeling really good; continuing my normal daily routine. I'm so thankful to God that I have had plenty of energy to get through each day! Thank you friends and family for praying for me! Don't forget; Dec. 13th is when the doctor will check to see if I am possibly going into Complete Molecular Remission. Please also pray for Dr. Juturi and her family.

Prayers Are Being Answered!

Prayer Warriors,
Wow! I stand amazed this morning at the works of His hands! God is so good and He is truly at work in my life. I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon. They took blood and then I waited for the results. The doctor shared some pretty phenomenal results with me. My white blood cell count has gone from 46,000 to 12,000 and my platelets have gone from 880 to 550 in only two weeks of being on the medicine. The doctor could not stop smiling as she was sharing the results with me. She told me that patients who achieve these kind of results so quickly are usually the ones who reach Complete Molecular Remission. She doesn't need to see me for another two weeks since I am doing so well. On December 13th she is going to go ahead and test to see if I am entering Complete Molecular Remission. Keep praying!!! The next thing that happened gives me chills each time I tell the story. Dr. Juturi is Indian and I have had no indication from her that she is a Christian. She pushed her chair away from the computer and said, "Talk to me Charissa, you have to tell me how it is that you have such peace, calmness and even joy during all of this. From the time I told you that I needed to do a bone marrow biopsy to the day that I shared with you and JP the news of your diagnosis, you have remained peaceful. Every time you come to my office you are smiling, happy and so jubilant." These comments from the doctor completely caught me off guard and I really couldn't believe it! So...I shared with her my love for our Lord and Savior. I told her that he had given me peace because I know I am in His hands and that He will take care of me. I then shared with her that my family and I have been through quite a few storms in the past two years and that He had been seeing us through these storms. He has given me joy and happiness despite my circumstances. I told her that instead of asking God, "why?" I have asked him, "for what purpose?". Maybe this storm is going to make my faith and JP's faith stronger, or maybe He is telling us to count our blessings and not worry about all of the little things in life. Or, maybe I can serve as an encouragement to others who are experiencing health issues. She got tears in her eyes and said that she had never been around anyone like me before. She then went on to say that she wanted to be around me more. I am so very humbled that God trusted me to share the good news of Jesus Christ with her. I appreciate all of you praying and checking on me throughout the past few weeks. Please continue to pray. I am praying for Dr. Juturi and her family. The seed has been planted!