Bring on the Balance

With the plethora of choices we have in our Western society today it can cause some anxiety. Fortunately for us,  we experienced some relief this week looking into different options for Dave and his ITP. So last week, the plan was to move forward with the Rituxan treatment on Thursday. We decided to wait for his platelet count results before making a final decision to move forward. His counts were back up to 88,000, the highest they've been but still below average. But, they were increasing even though he was on a lower dose prednisone. With that, we decide to put off the Ritaxan for a week and look into a few other options to either supplement or treat him.
After spending hours on the internet and phone, we decided to see a doctor that was recommended by a number of people in Dave's company (Keller Williams). They suggested we see Dr. Marc LeBel in Santa Monica. Dave and I went to his office on Friday for an appoint which lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. We spent a lot of time with the doctor. He asked Dave lots of questions in relation to past and recent history, lifestyle,  diet, events, anything that may have contributed to the onset of his ITP. He then used his expertise in the area of Auriculomedicine, which combines ancient wisdom of traditional Asian medicine, western naturopathy and homeopathy and reflects modern findings in neurophysiology to diagnose and treat patients.
You may be wondering what that looked like for us. Well, after all the questions he laid Dave on a table and used lenses, in-fared laser and pulse to look at his head and ear. Different parts of the ear are connected to the different parts of the body. He can tell by looking at each of them and talking to you which is out of balance. It was definitely interesting and a new experience for us!
What he suggested: He said because of the prednisone Dave needed to do some things to protect his Kidney's, so he gave him a supplement called Renafood and told him to make a tea out of Parsley to cleanse the Kidney's. He thought that Dave's onset of ITP was most likely hereditary. He also wished we had come sooner so he could have done more to help from the beginning and possibly avoid the rituxan but then encouraged us to go through with it if the levels did not go up again. He said he would help us after the treatment and mixture of herbs to rebuild the bone marrow and raise the platelet count. He said he would probably suggest sesame seed oil to prevent degeneration into leukemia. I am not exactly sure what he meant by degenerate, but trying not to think about it!  He treated Dave with Acupunture which was interesting. one needle in the ear to regulate the autonomic nervous system and one in the ear for the frontal lob which helps dissipate worry and anxiety.
We got home from the appointment and realized they actually leave the needles in your ear:) That was interesting. I guess you wait until they fall out. Well, all this to say we feel better about the course he is on and with the help of Dr. Lebel we feel he is being treated in a more holistic manor, even though it is kind of funky! Dave and I both feel more at peace due to this appointment, prayer times with friends and the prayers of family and friends from all over the world.
Dave has another blood test today and we will find out the results in a few days and see what will happen then. I will keep you posted.
In the meantime, please pray for a few other things...my 4 month old nephew Trey who has some health issues due to aspiration and reflux, my 9 month old niece Kendall who had her first of a few surgeries today to remove the mole on her head, and my in-laws with the upcoming election.