After many weeks of no news, I write today asking for prayer that this new door might open for me.  In a roundabout way I learned of research being done at Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC.  Early reports are VERY encouraging for folks like me who have had no curative prospect for myelofibrosis.

I have had email contact with the department (Dr. Hoffman) and sent medical records -now I await word from them inviting me to come in for a consultation.

Meanwhile, we are firming up plans for a trip east starting Nov 10 in Yakima, WA.  We are heading to Sevierville, TN for the National Bible Bee in which Tirzah is competing.  She’s nearly finished memorizing some 800 verses of Scripture and doing an in-depth study of 1 John and Ephesians for the competition.  Lot’s of hours of review and pop quizzes from her folks over the next few weeks!

Some dear friends have made their van available to us for the trip and my body seems “up for the challenge.”  We’ll include a mini-reunion with Rebecca’s relatives for Thanksgiving and maybe end up heading east to NY after that if Mt. Sinai is ready for me.

Here’s a link to the article that describes what’s happening at Mt. Sinai: http://blog.mountsinai.org/blog/physicians-identify-successful-drug-for-myelofibrosis/

Thanks for praying,

J. Dan Small

Many have waited patiently through the month of September for an update on my health -I haven’t written much because there wasn’t really any news.  In general, my energy level and discomfort level have remained the same but blood tests and check-ups reveal that the spleen is growing and white-cell count is still up over 80,000.  The Dr is putting me back on the first med (along with the one I’ve been taking) to see if it will push back those symptoms.

I am able to function adequately from a semi-reclined position so I’ve made some progress on writing projects.

Naturally, the question I’m asked most often is, “how are you feeling?”  To be brutally honest, I think I can relate (emotionally) to someone who has been put on death row and told that the execution may be imminent but they won’t know until “they come to get you.”  I’m sure that’s unhealthy “negative think” and I don’t engage in it at a conscious level unless I’m being asked to make decisions re future activities -or responding to someone who’s just asked me how I’m doing.  I suppose I could be evasive and say, “better than I deserve.”

In another fit of transparency I’ll admit to occasional bouts with enemy “arrows.”  I was reminded the other day of Martin Luther picking up his ink jar and throwing it “at the devil” who was oppressing him.

Mind you, I don’t share those two paragraphs in hopes that my readers will inundate me with good counsel -it may be one of those times that the less you say and the more you pray, the better off we’ll be!

Speaking of future activities, many of you don’t know that Tirzah (our almost 18 yr old) qualified for the National Bible Bee contest in Tennessee from Nov 20-23.  Her preparation is rigorous: nearly 800 randomly assigned Bible verses to memorize and a thorough, inductive, self-developed study of the book of Ephesians.  Upwards of 120 contestants from around the nation will be vying for the top prize of $100,000.  Second place will have to settle for $50,000.  And, of course, the gov’t will probably get half of it.

So, we’re seriously contemplating a family trip starting in about a month.  If my health holds out, we’d drive and hope to swing thru Texas and the midwest (coming and going or vice versa) and maybe pull off a Sheldrake Family Thanksgiving Reunion (Rebecca’s family) along the way.

We’re upheld by a faithful support team and thank God often for each of you!

jdansmall