Ferndale Tonight

Finally, a Diagnosis

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 20:48:00 +0000

I know that it's been a while but we finally have news:

It's P.O.E.M.S. Syndrome.

That's what the mystery-solving team in the Oncology/Hematology Clinic at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD came up with after consulting with docs at The Mayo Clinic.

No, you're right. We'd never heard of it either. So far none of my VA docs have heard of it. The Mayo Clinic website describes it as "extremely rare. To explain, P.O.E.M.S. is an acronym for the syndrome's most common signs:
- Polyneuropathy: Nerve damage causing numbness, tingling and weakness of the hands and feet.
- Organomegaly: Organ enlargement of liver, lymph nodes or spleen.
- Endocrinopathy: Abnormal hormone levels.
- Monoclonal protein: A collection of abnormal blood proteins (immunoglobulins) made from bone marrow cells called plasma cells; also called monoclonal immunoglobulin.
- Skin changes: Increased skin pigment, increased body hair, thickening of the skin and whitening of the nails.

Aren't you glad you asked?

To break it down, P.O.E.M.S. is a blood disorder that affects many of your body systems and causes damage to your nerves. It may occur because of the growth of certain bone marrow plasma cells that produce an abnormal amount of blood proteins, which damage body organs.

It's treatable - chemo - but we can't start yet because of some other weirdness going on in my body.

Another good question I've heard... How sure are they? Well, the diagnostic process is pretty objective, blood test and such, so it' not as hard to nail down as, say, fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. They're sure - and they're optimistic.

And that's about all we know right now. It doesn't look like there's a lot more to be known. It's just that rare. No drug trials, no no long-term patient studies.

For nearly five years y'all have stood with us as we've struggled with this mystery illness. Y'all have kept us fed, warmed, and indoors. You've encouraged, comforted, and listened patiently. We can never begin to repay all the kindnesses we've received.

Thank you.

And please do stay in touch. We love hearing from y'all. My long silence and general unresponsiveness was a matter of disability, not distancing ourselves.

Two final things:
I'm not contagious (really!) and I'm still doing my best to be a pastor to anyone who needs a pastor (John Wesley's "The world is my parish." pretty much applies.). Don't hesitate.

God bless you all!
Daniel

P.S.Do feel free to pass this along to people who care. Too many military moves and my medically-forced retirement caused us to lose track of many we care about. Please get back in touch.

Psalm 95 on my mind...

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Today,
if you hear God's voice,
turn to Him not away.
Don't harden your heart,
don't dither
      & go bitter
              & isolate
                 & what-if.
Turn to Him.
While it's still
Today.

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I Haven't Forgotten Y'all . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Really. I'm not ignoring y'all -- it's just that fighting this dragon is really putting a hole in my days. Mouse-clicking, copy/paste, and post reading pretty much max me out. [Is it lurking if I'm on my sites?] Know that I'm still praying for you and there'll be more posting as I'm able. ;^) God be with you!

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What are you working on?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:40:00 +0000

In case you missed this...

What are you working on?
If someone asks you that, are you excited to tell them the answer?
I hope so. If not, you're wasting away.
No matter what your job is, no matter where you work, there's a way to create a project (on your own, on weekends if necessary), where the excitement is palpable, where something that might make a difference is right around the corner.
Hurry, go do that.
Posted by Seth Godin on December 18, 2010 | Permalink
I meet so many folks (even in ministry!) who answer this question with a job title not with a goal or a project. Sad, isn't it?
Trust me, life's too short. As Seth Godin points out, you need to solve this one...now.
Oh and don't make the mistake of assuming that the way you make a difference has to be the way you pay your bills.

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Church, Honor Your Leaders (a meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Dear brothers & sisters, always -- but especially at this time of year -- honor the leaders who are working so hard for you, those whom God has given responsibility for urging and guiding you along in your obedience to Him. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

You'll never know how demanding their work can be or the price they pay for their service; never pass up an opportunity to show them that their efforts among you are not wasted. Embrace them and their families so that even those who came to you as strangers will have no doubt about your love and welcome.

Also make sure each of you does your part to get along among yourselves--when you don't, it makes leadership a burden you can't imagine.

God be with you and bless you all! -- db

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One More Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:02:00 +0000

This seemed especially appropriate this year. Thanks to a treatment we were trying, I spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas fighting a migraine, unable to even think about food, crawling around on the bathroom floor. (Isn't it funny how soothing that cold tile feels...?)

Anyway, yesterday I was able to feast with my family and celebrate with some of you online. It was time worth savoring and I'm grateful:

May God be praised now and forever.

Let us praise our God
of Whose bounty we have partaken
and through Whose goodness we live.

Praised be He, and praised be His name.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe:
You sustain the world with goodness,
with grace,
with love and mercy.

You give food to every creature,
for Your love endures forever.

Through Your great goodness,
we have not lacked,
and may we never lack,
our daily bread.

God is great;
He nourishes and sustains all,
and deals bountifully with all,
providing food for all His creatures.

Blessed are You,
Lord who provides food for all.

Sustain Jerusalem,
the Holy City,
now and forever.

Blessed are You, Yahweh,
Who in His grace builds Jerusalem.

May He Who makes peace on high,
make peace for us,
and for Israel,
and all His people.

May God give strength to His people.
May God bless His people with peace.

Amen

(adapted from the Bir’khat haMazon,
the traditional Jewish Grace After the Meal)

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Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 04:59:00 +0000

I ran across this at Forbes:

When one DOOR CLOSES another DOOR OPENS;

but we often look so LONG
and so REGRETFULLY

upon THE CLOSED DOOR

that WE DO NOT SEE THE ONES

which OPEN FOR US.

– Alexander Graham Bell

What doors are you facing?

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Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:43:00 +0000

It's that time again... The annual Project Valour-IT fundraiser has launched. What's that you say? Check this out from the Soldiers Angels website:

Project Valour-IT helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:

Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

This is an outstanding project that really makes a difference. Navy's goal this year is $15,000. Do what you can!
(And of course I sent you to the Navy link! Duh. If that's a problem for you then here's the generic link for the project.

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Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:53:00 +0000

God Almighty--He is Lord
above us all .
He is the only true refuge--He alone can save.

He spoke and the result? All Creation!

He faithfully preserves those who walk with Him.

He communicates with anyone willing to listen.

Other "spiritualties" are just distractions.

You know that you know this!

Isn't it time to turn and give Him your attention?

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Greatest Campaign Ad Ever?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Daniel) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:42:00 +0000

This just may be it:

And what an endorsement!

Ferndale Tonight

Finally, a Diagnosis

Psalm 95 on my mind...

I Haven't Forgotten Y'all . . .

What are you working on?

What are you working on?

Church, Honor Your Leaders (a meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

One More Thanksgiving

Doors

Untitled

Meditation

Greatest Campaign Ad Ever?

Has It Been 100 Years Already?

John Wooden Made Me (look like) a Genius

He's Not Lost, He's Home

A Different Perspective on Memorial Day

More for Memorial Day: God of the Living

The Navy Hymn

Why Memorial Day?

We Will Remember

So Real It Couldn't Be Aired!

Funny Mythbusters episode that won't be aired

Reveille

Why "Daniel"...

Tom, We hardly knew you...

As Someone Who Was "Hazed..."

Aren't You Glad...

Three Hebrew Heroes