Today's update

After last night blood transfusion, Steve was much more alert this morning. He was able to eat a piece of canned fruit this morning. For lunch he had a couple of nibbles of Chinese food. Because of his high pulse rate (138 ppm), he still has a hard time talking. Right now, he is getting a thoracentesis (a draining of fluids in areas near his lungs). The doctors hope that this procedure will allow more oxygen to flow into his lungs, and thereby slow down his heart rate.

Another important diagnosistics that we are waiting for is a sample of his stools. This can tell us if his blood loss is due to hemorrhaging in the stomach (which, according to the encologist, can happen when the tumor in the stomach shrinks too fast and leaves a lesion). Once this is confirmed, then procedures can be done to treat the lesion. However, we are waiting for him to pass stools. Until then, his hemoglobin level still seems to drop at an alarming rate.

Prayer requests: Please pray that the draining of fluids really makes a difference in his heart rate. Pray for him to pass stools so that the doctors can make a prognosis about the cause of his blood loss. Thank you so very much for your love and prayers.