Hello All, Easter 2010 has now come and gone (I’m hoping you all had a lovely time remembering the true meaning of the season) the family is all fine here & doing well & school will soon be back in session after a busy Easter season. For me this Easter, spending time thinking more about God's ultimate sacrifice, was this year more important to me. Finding frequent time alone and taking more time out for prayer is becoming a greater focus for me, day by day.

Hello Family, Friends and Supporters, BEFORE I start, a reminder to please support the annual Leukaemia Foundation event: www.worldsgreatestshave.comI pray you all had a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year is shaping up to be your best ever. Time for another blog and update....now that the kids are back at school and life is a bit quieter at home for me.

A new blog is well due for you all to read, as a lot has been happening. The following verse reminds me of my final goal: Paul & Barnabas on their discipleship journey.

Acts 14:22 - Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God', they said.

A lot of happenings have occurred since my last blog. The results are in and finally (after 2 years of lobbying) for a resolution from both the Health Quality & Complaints Commission and the Queensland Medical Board, on Tuesday 25th August/09a decision was made by the board to formally caution a GP who did not care for me appropriately, during the 11 months prior to my eventual diagnosis. The formal caution will be listed in the Queensland public registry for 1 year.

(My 38th birthday tomorrow, getting older now!) Time to update you all on the going-ons here in the lives of the Guerreros and Jodies Journey. My health and immune system continues to be a problem for me, so far 135 days sick (harbouring constant viruses, upper respiratory infections) since March 23rd of this year. A five day break just after the Hervey Bay holiday, made me feel it may have left, but right after I wrote my last blog.it made its presence felt again, unfortunately. It is becoming more difficult for me to function day-to-day, as my body is weaker and I am both physically and mentally finding this part of my journey, very hard indeed. We were eagerly awaiting a referral to see an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist.

We are reminded constantly of people in our lives, we are blessed with and who love us through the challenges and difficulties.A wonderful scripture relates to this love and support from friends and family: Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Romans 12: 10

Greg and kids are getting over cold's/cough's etc, and other than minor ailments are happy. loving and supportive of all of mummy's treatment. Alot of people ask me, 'How is Greg? How is he coping?'--Greg is like a rock and I believe it's because of our strong faith in God, as a family and some of his experiences growing up that have prepared him for these difficult times. He is a regular, quiet guy with lots of love and tenderness, but knows when to trust God and always leads us. We are so blessed to have him, in our lives. Our kids are little characters and both are so, so loved and fill our hearts and home with joy. I am very actively blogging at the moment to keep every one up to date on all that is going on. 02nd June (Tuesday) I went to see the Heamotology Registrar (my clinical consultant is in Belgium on a conference) to be checked after leaving hospital and be given some MRI results.

I was admitted again to hospital on Monday, 18th May with infections and a high temp of 38.3--the infections and temp started only about 12 hours earlier and quickly took hold. This is because my white (WBC), red (HB), Platelets (PLTS) and Neutrophils (NEUTS) blood counts were reversed or holted by the immunosuppressive effects of the strong (fludarabine) chemotherapy, taken for the Lymphoma symptoms. This is described in oncology/heamotology circles as being 'Neutropenic' as opportunistic viruses and bacteria hone in on destroying your body and infecting the weakened immune system.

Just a quick update on how things are progressing with my health and some other important matters. I was in the RBH, in isolation for 9 days with Pneumonia. It was quite an awful illness and apart from have the initial stage 4 Lymphoma, I don't think I have ever felt so sick. Nine days of rest and many, many anti-biotics, got me back on board. I came home on Saturday, 26th April and have been slowly getting back to full health and trying to rest. I have been preparing for the continuation of my chemotherapy (fludarabine), as I have 2 more doses left and then an MRI. We are praying and praying that this works, the disease be cleared and a transplant is not in the immediate future.

Just a quick family update to let you all know what we are dealing with right now. I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS, WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN & EARTH. Psalm 121:1-2Jodie has been struggling the last 3 weeks to ward off a virus (called RSV) that one the kids brought home. Her immune system has been weak and this past Tuesday, she had her first dose of plasma to assist her immune system -- unfortunately crackling on the L & R lungs and breathlessness have come about and she is now in the RBH getting some good doses of anti-biotics and anti-bacterial medications.

I thought it was time for an update, as I have had some people asking what is happening & how I have been. I have some very specific prayer points also, so if you want to help us (keep reading through), prayer is always the best way to intercede for us with the Heavenly Father, who always takes care of our needs. My Fludarabine Chemo Round 2 is now finished, 10 days of nausea, constant exhaustion, 4 days of Neutropenia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutropenia). I have 2 more rounds of this chemo left, then we schedule an MRI to see if the disease has regressed.

I got out of hospital on Monday this week. Today, (18th February) is the first in the last 6 days I have felt like I have been able to do some things around the place and not be in bed so much. I received three days of chemotherapy last week, Thu/Fri/Sat and it was tough.A hard, hard mixture of hard drugs (Fludarabine), which really wiped me out and I certainly felt it. Now, I will get sores in the mouth and throat, hair will fall out in about 2 weeks. But, Have Michelle G, coming over to shave it off this weekend to avoid dropping big clumps all over the house.

I am in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and it appears we have found disease evidence on the MRI -- we will inform as we get more from our team of doctors. This may be a long process and I have started chemo drugs already to help my body digest any tumour that may exist and prepare me for the next lot of treatment. (Amazingly our bodies digest tumours through the same process as we digest food, but drugs protect our kidneys from damage).

We are not letting Lymphoma take Jodie's leg or life! Well, we have some news about Jodies health. We will keep it brief and to-the-point: I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11. So far, Jodies first chemotherapy, got rid of the majority of Jodies Lymphoma (remission occurred in March/07) relapse in Jodies Sciatic nerve started in January/08 when her Right toes stopped responding to individual movement requests, along with other symptoms and a very weak Right leg. EARLIER THIS MONTH: 7th January/09 (3 months after the end of Jodies last treatment), Jodie noticed pain in the area of the R Sciatic nerve & some leg weakness, although dim.

Life Continues to be stable (health-wise) at the moment, although our house was subject to a real lashing during the SE Queensland massive storms from 16th November. Our roof tiles were obviously lifted and smashed in several places during the wind and hail, during the big storm week, this caused water damage to the inside of the roof and our large entertainment area is now leaking in many places.

Well, lumbar puncture 5 is now complete and thanks to a finer needle, no migraines, the 6th and final lumbar puncture will be in the next 1-2 weeks. Then it is 'watch and wait'. Continually testing my R leg will be part of this watch and wait process.

If we notice any re-occurance of weakness--we'll re-evaluate our situation and decide and the way forward. Thank you all for your continual prayers and love.

I have now finished 10 days in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and happy to be out and feeling fine. Lumbar Puncture #4 was performed on Monday, 06th October/08 with a very fine needle - which has halted post lumbar migraines to zero. A fabulous result, as I had previously struggled through 5-6 days of migraines, after the LP. Amazingly, the migraines are caused from a tiny leak and imbalance of spinal fluid from the puncture site. Incredible, how it all works. We have run tests and find no cells that we can test for Lymphoma, although I had the symptoms, we could not find the evidence. Therefore my doctor gave me a choice as to whether we would like to progress with Fludarabine (relapse chemotherapy for Lymphoma) or wait off.

Jodie will be speaking at a Leukaemia Foundation function to mark 'World Lymphoma Awareness Day' on Monday, 15 September, 2008. Jodie (and 2 other paitients) along with Haemotologist guest speaker, Dr. Jason Butler, will speak about their experiences, through Lymphoma and emerging therapies. To RSVP, please contact the Leukaemia Foundation directly, by Thursday 11 September, 2008.

But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)--'Cancer Relapse' sounds very frightening and indeed it is. Unfortunately our worst suspicions about Jodie's leg have now been confirmed. The cancer has returned (in a small amount)--But, in a critical area, in the R Sciatic Nerve (the first tumour hot-spot). The cancer is causing problems with Jodie's leg, foot & toes and other functions.

Another challenge has arisen and so we need everyone around us to pray, pray, pray. In advising of what is happening from the medical doctors, we certainly don't embrace this or believe that it is Jodie's future, as a family we are believing for complete restoration and deliverance and this and any future health concerns. (Thanks to Joni, who reminded Jodie about this verse in the Bible): Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.