Just wanted to give a "Ray update" on the trial medication. Today was the LAST day of the 12 WEEK DRUG TRIAL! It is hard to believe that 12 weeks have come and gone and so has this TERRIBLE virus! He will continue to meet with the duke study drug team over the course of the next several weeks. He will be seen by them until July 18th, twice in February, once in March, once in April and then the last visit in July. Dr. Smith I am sure will begin to pick back up with care and monitoring during long spans of time between study trial visits...I think he misses Ray and I truthfully!! :) Ray ask the question today out of those who have taken the drug before him how many have "relapsed" and the Hep C has returned...out of about 40-50 people there are maybe 2-3. Those who are POST transplant like Ray, most have just finished their 12 week course like Ray. Duke is very very hopeful that the virus has cleared and will stay that way. Ray and I are as well!
Over the past week Ray also received notice from Carolina Donor services and signed a release from them to have/accept contact from the donor family. Ray did and so did the parents of the young man who donated to Ray. We had received a letter from the young mans father and then right after Christmas received one from the young mans paternal grandmother. Just this week Ray received an email from the donors father. They may now have open communication through email- letters back and forth, calls, etc...Ray was very touched and thrilled- it truly seems so is this young mans father to be talking with Ray. He told Ray that he and his mother (the grandmother) had already found Ray (they felt) before receiving the confirmation from Carolina Donor services...interesting because we had done the same...locating the young man that had passed around the time of Rays transplant and finding his story on the news...they were doing the same thing....interesting how God was leading us right to each other, we both just knew we had to abide by the "rules"
So we just ask that you continue to pray for complete and TOTAL healing in Rays body. Continue to pray that Ray and I stay faithful that God has provided this miracle for ALL to witness and that no "seeds" of doubt be planted or paid attention to by satan of the "what if's" and "what if the virus returns"....NO WAY...God isn't done with Ray and I believe he has healed him and will use Ray for great things. So as Ray gets blood work in the next month we will share with you results and that the virus STAYS AWAY!
Thanks all! Ray, Janet and kids (and it actually snowed here this week...REALLY snowed so we ALL had so much FUN playing and sledding...that is the picture of us all above!)
