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From Tom, ZM's husband:Sorry for the long silence.... It has been quite a ride. On Monday 8/28 we met with ZM's oncologist to learn the results of the chest and abdomen CT scans. As I told you in my last update, all the news was good and we decided to switch to the chemo pill since ZMs veins were shrinking. We had great fun for the rest of the week planning how to use the time we would be getting back since she would not be sitting in the infusion room for 4 hours every Friday. Over the labor day...

<p>We went in for Chemo on Friday (7/28) as planned. However, blood levels have now taken the nose dive we were expecting so they were unable to do the full treatment and in the end simply gave her a shot to help with building up her red blood cells. They decided to give her a whole week off in order allow a build up of blood cells. So we will be back there next Friday to see if she has recovered enough to continue the treatments.</p>

I received an update on Zac's mom this AM as follows:Well we have now been through 1 iron infusion and 4 full blown chemo treatments. In some ways ZM seems to be getting stronger, but depression is setting in as her hair, eyebrows and eye lashes begin to fall out on their own. The oncology folks are surprised that she has not lost more of her hair already, tell us that by the end of the second or third week of treatment most have already gone bald. She seems to be gaining some strength and her blood counts have not...

Prayer Needs: Prayer requests for members of our armed forces: Tracey, Sgt. Kevin Downs (injured), stm, nckerr, Jason freema asks:" I beg your prayers for the Haditha Marines, the Hamdaniya Marines  known as the Pendleton 8, the Ishaqi Marines who were recently cleared, and their families."http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1649656/posts?page=25#25 An update on the Hamdaniya Marines:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1651033/posts freema also asks: "I have had a request to contact the USMC Ping List to ask you keep up the heat on the subject of the Haditha Massacre Accusations, as FReepers are investigating every nook and cranny, and to request any new information be directed to FReeper backhoe."...

As many of you know, Zac's mom has been sick for the last couple of months. I got a message from her husband, Tom, yesterday and the following email. "ZM is gaining a little bit each day, but is still very weak and needs the oxygen in order to breath comfortably. Any small amount of exercise just poops her out and movement brings pain. They had to cut their way through muscles in her back/shoulder to get to the growth on her lung so they say that will be a long time healing. She is beginning to get more range...