Hello Dear Family and Friends,

Since our last blog Kelly has told our oncologist that he will not be continuing chemo. Our doctor agreed to monitor Kelly on a monthly basis. We are very grateful for this. We continue to work with our Naturalpathic doc. here in Fresno. He is also a pastor and has been talking to us about pursuing the healing of our souls.

He explained that we are all born body and soul and our spirit comes alive when we become Christ followers. These three part of a person effect the other parts. Every emotion causes a chemical reaction in the body and every experience is stored in the soul weather memories are explicit or implicit.

In my soul I have memories, both good and bad, and likes, dislikes, preferences etc.. Some of this stored information is good and some of it is not. For example, why do I want to eat a piece of chocolate when I feel stressed out rather than turning to God for help. I know that there is a physical reaction to chocolate, serotonin levels and all that but... I cognitively know that the better help in times of stress is God.

The work of the Holy Spirit in us and show us the beliefs that do not line up with what our spirit might already know. Have you ever had the thought, "I know that God loves me and will always do what is best but some how it doesn't reach my heart? And I still worry." This is what I am talking about.

The Holy Spirit goes into the soul and helps us "work out our salvation" or simply the process of sanctification. As Beth Moore said in a recent study I took, "I want my theology to match my reality."

I feel like I am rambling a bit, sorry. Anyway, I am just starting to grasp this whole thing and so is Kelly but we both feel a confidence that God is leading us and preparing us for a work that He has prepared for us and we are both excited about it.

We are still prayerful as to the direction we are taking with regards to treatment and remain open if the Lord leads to chemo but for now, we believe that He has us here and is giving us an opportunity to take an inward look and work on living in the freedom that He has already provided us.

We covet your prays during this process because we are not ignorant of the enemy and his desire to steal, kill, and destroy the work and image of God in and through us.
Thanks, Gabriela

Happy New Year...2008 has been good!

Hi Friends,
It's New Year's Eve and we just finished a great turkey torita soup without the toritas. We will spend a quiet evening playing a game or watching a movie with the kids and end the year thanking God for 2008. We have been so blessed this year. I am healthy and back to ministry full time. The kids are doing great in school and we are growing together. Gabriela seems happy and spiritual focused - connecting with women here. We have a huge support system of friends praying for us, investing time in our kids, and have hope in the next steps of prevention.

The Stanford Doc called and spoke with Gabriela last week. After our visit he contacted the lab that did my chromosome testing and then met with the oncology staff discussing my case. Their findings where inconclusive. They couldn't tell why my chromosome 15 was missing on some of my cells. They did not think it was connected to the leukemia or an indication of a pending relapse. They denied that any previous treatment could have caused it and recommended that I continue chemo where I left off. I don't know what to think about this, but prayerful that they are right about it not being an indication of a relapse - even though this chromosome has been linked to acute leukemia. I finish up my naturopathic treatment this week and will be tested next week to see if the frequency treatments show an improvement in my immune system. It's really an amazing science. I can also test some other alternative medicines using this frequency treatment to see if they would have a beneficial effect on my immune system. This way I am not using products that don't specifically work in my body. The way it works is that every disease, medication, and substance as a frequency. So by creating a substance's frequency and directing it into your body, it as if you are taking that substance. We found seven substances out of 30 that are used for leukemia, that responded positive in my system. So bi-weekly I have been receiving these frequencies. The goal is to see if these substances will keep my immune system at peak fighting force. The body was designed to fight cancers, so the hope is that my immune system will detect the cancerous cells and kill them before they can multiple. What I am not clear about is because Leukemia is a white blood cell, can healthy white cells detect that it's cancer and kill it - and can they do it fast enough to prevent the Leukemia to over take the blood system. I'm still trying to get a clear answer, but no doctor has been able to affirm this either way. If you know anything about this, please let me know.

As a dear friend Monica wrote,"Our trust is in God" and everyday He gives each of us life, whether we have cancer or not. I know that He is good and I can trust Him regardless of what awaits my family in 2009. He has loved us well through many of you in 2008. Thank you and His blessing to you and your families. Kelly

Stanford was a flop...

Hello
Gabriela and I headed to Stanford on Tuesday as recommended by our Oncologist. The question was if our chromosome 15 issue was an indication of a pending relapse and if Stanford would recommend a Bone Marrow Transplant at this time. My question was more about understanding the chromosome 15 issue. To make this short, the doctor said it wasn't an indication of a relapse and he would not recommend a transplant at this time with my history of Mucor.

The reason the visit was a flop in my option is that the doctor didn't have my test results and after I gave them to his medical assistant, he still hadn't read it. I had to point out information that led him to need to do a further investigation and get back to us. Gabriela asked about alternative protocols and trials. Specifically we ask about the German study using Methadone on ALL. He never heard of that study. Our local news station highlighted the story. Why didn't this doctor - an expert on Leukemia not know something that is huge in possible future treatments? I wasn't impressed and at that point felt we were talking to another narrow focused doctor that treats only with chemo and radiation with no real knowledge of other protocols. It's sad that doctors aren't more rounded. They are directing people's lives. The psalmist warns us not to trust in men, but that our trust must only be in the Lord God.

Our next step is a geneticist to address the chromosome issue. I really want to understand this before we take any action. Please continue to pray for us. It's hard to have a "specialist" tell us we need to return to chemo. We don't believe that is the right step presently, but there is always that sense that we may be wrong. We are at peace regardless, but always questioning. I know less than the doctors and they know less than I need them to know. Anyway, thank you.

We are considering a home purchase and working with a great Realtor. The market is right with the housing bottom pretty close. Interest rates are very low. It's been nice to be free from a mortgage, but having a home would be great for our family to really settle down.

Would love to hear from you. We are not having anyone commenting to the blog, so I don't know who is out there. Would love to know how to pray for you.

His blessings,

Kelly

Something Unexpected...

Hi Friends,
I met with Dr. Pascuzzo to find out the results of my biopsy last Monday. I had fully expected to be in remission and I am, but there was something unexpected. The biopsy testing includes a chromosome analysis. In the past this always was clear. My Leukemia was a T-cell type, not chromozonal. Well, some of my cells had abnormal chromosomes. Chromosome 15 was deleted in 8 out of 20 cells. This particular chromosome has been linked to leukemia. The Doctor wasn't sure why this has occurred but suggested that it could be an indication that a relapse was ahead. The report emphasizes that this deletion of Chromosome 15 is not an indictation of a relapse, but that it should be monitored.

My doctor recommended visiting Stanford again to get their opinion on this and if they would recommend a bone marrow transplant at this time while I am in remission. You can't be transplanted if you have active cancer. So I have an appointment this Tuesday to get their thoughts on this new development. After reading the report, I sense the analysis to be more positive - that my bone marrow is in excellent shape and that the chromosome issue is just something to watch. I do think that my doctor knows that we have loss confidence in Western Oncology and are researching other treatment protocols. I think that might be the reason to recommend a second option from Stanford.

Brianna turned 6 years old today and has lost her two upper front teeth. We had 15 girls over today and Brianna had a great time. They grow up so quickly. The rest of the family is doing well and getting ready for Christmas.

From the Rosenthal Family, we wish you His best and that you will know His love in deeper ways through the holidays. Merry Christmas!!

Kelly and the Rosenthals

Living Thankfully

Dear Friend - May this find you well. The Rosenthal family is getting ready to start a Thanksgiving tradition. This year we are going to include our kids in the preparation of the meal, the house, and our family devotion (Ps 103). In the afternoon we will visit a local convelessient home to deliver cookies and the girls will sing a few songs for folks. Then its home to dinner, a visit to friend for dessert and home for a movie - Princess Bride. That's the plan, so we'll see how it goes. We hope your Thanksgiving is full of praise for God wonderful blessing (read Ps. 103).

On the cancer front, I had a bone marrow biopsy on Monday and will find out next Monday the results. My blood work is good and we anticipate the results will still be that we are in remission. I haven't discussed with the doctor that we are not planning at this time to continue with the chemo regiment. He wants to start on Monday with in intravenous chemo. It's called an "induction phase" which means a heavy dosage of chemo which will depleat my system. It will be a difficult conversation. The doctor will warn me of all the possible reasons we should be continuing and the danger I am putting myself in by stopping. He will tell me this is the time to stay with the treatments to ensure the best long-term results.

These possibilities are concerning to me and I waver in my heart. I don't have confidence in the Western approach to treating cancer, yet I don't know enough about the alternative approaches other than a few books and some web study. It just makes more sense to build up your body to fight disease than to kill the body with the disease and hope that the body will recover. Alternative routes to recovery have and do work for many people, but not all. Chemo works for many, but not all. It's feels like a crap shoot. I have tried the chemo and it has almost killed me with the fungus and debilitated me with radiation. It did knock out my Leukemia, but that is not a reason to continue with chemo for me.

If the Leukemia was to return, I wouldn't rule out chemo and I may be open to a maintenance dosage while using the alternative non-toxic approaches. But we feel I need to try the healthy non-toxic approach. I can tell that many friends and associates think I am wrong for stopping. It's hard because they could be right. I'm not confident of that, but as you can tell, I am still wrestling with it. I just don't know enough and haven't found a doctor that isn't biased to their training and are for the most part ignorant to alternative approaches. Therefore I don't feel I can trust them. I don't question their hearts and convictions, but they don't know enough.

God hasn't given me any clear guidance. Gabriela and I are in complete agreement at this stage - stop chemo and go alternatives until my condition changes, if it should change. Our hope and greater confidence is that the naturopathic and alternative cancer non-toxic treatments will address any future leukemia stem cells that might still exist in my body. Ultimately we trust the Lord and believe He has, (Gabriela believes that He has) or will heal me. So I share this with you our friends to have you continue to pray. I would like our oncologist to continue to monitor us even if we stop the chemo. He may not and I will need to have an oncologist that will. I will let you know the results of the biopsy and my conversation. I think I mentioned having a naturopathic doctor that is advising a protocol to strength and remove the heavy toxins in my body from the chemo and living in our environment. I really am feeling great! He is also working with us to build up my T-Killer cells which are part of our white cell makeup and they are what kills cancer cells in all bodies.

This update has rambled on to long. Again, His blessings to you and your loved ones.

Kelly

Our present direction...

Hi Friends,

This is Kelly writing to give a quick update on my continuing journey. It's wonderful that you care and take the time to check the blog and pray with us. I feel blessed and loved. Thank you.

Gabriela and I feel very united and at peace about stopping any additional chemo treatments at this time. I stopped my pill regiment three weeks ago and will await a bone marrow biopsy Nov. 24. We feel confident that it will continue to show I am in remission. At this time I will hopefully have changed oncologists. I approached the Cancer Care Associate administrator two weeks ago to ask if they had oncologists that were open to alternative treatments to our western protocols. Surprisingly she answered yes and that the Association was even starting a Eastern medicine study. She had a doctor in mind that would work with me if I wanted to try an alternative approach. So I meet this doctor on the 12th.

I was also given a book to read entitled, "Outsmarting your Cancer" by Tanya Pierce. I've started many "cancer books" only to put them down, but this book really has been an answer to my prayers for guidance. It speaks of the causes and nutritional care to fight cancers like most books, but Pierce documents several alternative nontoxic treatments that have been used with wonderful results and have better results than chemo treatments. Pierce gives history and treatment development information as well as case studies and contact information to purchase or contact doctors. It's very well done and I am shocked that I wasn't told of such options by my doctor.

Gabriela may have mentioned that we have been visiting a naturalpathic MD who has also given us great insight to the body and how if functions. He is able to use my blood test results to address my fatigue and detox my body. He is also a believer and ministers to the spirit and soul with the Word and prayer. He has opened my eyes to a spiritual realm of battle that is so freeing.

So all this to say that I am hoping, with the doctors, to design a nontoxic treatment protocol that involves nutrition, a balanced supplement package based on my bodies needs, and look into a few of the alternative treatments to maintain my remission. As long as I am in remission, I see no need to consider chemo at this time. For ten months after I contracted the fungal infection I wasn't able to continue the chemo protocol and still remained in remission. We have learned that with Leukemia, the longer you are in remission,the greater likely hood you are of staying in remission. The chemo treatments initially arrested the Leukemia, but the treatments haven't done anything to keep me in remission. They have only opened me up to other illnesses and have physically harmed me. Therefore, I can not in good faith continue to put my family, friends, and church, through this up and down roller coaster of treatments. It's barbaric and there are alternatives I am now aware of and believe are a better route to sustained recovery. We have learned that the rest of the medical world has come to see this except for our western medical community. So for now we are walking forward in the faith that God has healed me and are seeking to be wise in sustaining that healing.

I still am looking for God to confirm this direction. We feel God has provided a lot of insight. I would still like to have some further direct confirmation, but He has told us through several sources that this cancer will not take my life. I know I will live and continue serving the Lord and with greater fervor and fruitfulness. There are many that would disagree with our present direction and we appreciate your prayers and input. I am cancer free and believe I will stay that way. We can all agree and pray for this together.

Thanks again for reading this and I love the responses and shared stories. God is true. He is the Greatest Good. We get to know Him as the beloved. Regardless of what we face in this broken world, He is faithful and can be trusted. He is glorified best when we live fully alive in Christ. Let's push on and live in the reality of God's Word and our identity in Christ. It's such a superior life - God is and He cares!!

His blessings,

Kelly

Thank you for your prayers! Kelly's hair and strength is returning. He has been working full weeks and is no longer dealing with headaches. His appetite is slowly returning and he is enjoying being in a smaller pant size, (I wish I could say the same.)

Kelly is still on the oral chemo and that will last another couple weeks. After that he will be having a bone-marrow biopsy. The chemo at present makes him feel yuck but... it is "doable". His blood counts all look good and we are so thankful.

Right now our biggest prayer request is that the Lord would answer our fleece. We are asking Him to give us direction regarding further treatment. We want to know if He has already healed Kelly or if we should continue on the path we are on. We don't want to be foolish either way and we are confident that the Lord has an opinion about what we should do.

We know that not continuing with treatment will go against conventional thinking and medical advise but... we also have been loosing confidence in the process. Kelly is willing to go down this path if the Lord directs that way but we also wonder if Violet Huckelberry's prayer last year proclaiming Kelly's healing was about the fungus and cancer.

I am sure that for some of you reading this will be alarming and maybe even sound foolish but I want to assure you that we are very prayerful and seeking out wise counsel from both sides of the issue before us. WE NEE PRAYER FOR DIRECTION!

We are claiming scripture that, "If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." and God has said, "Call to Me and I will answer you, I will tell you great and mighty things that you do not know."

So thank you ahead of time for your prayers for us and praise God with us that He will give us the direction that He promises.

Sincerely, Gabriela and Kelly

P.S. I had a CAT scan that came back normal and am waiting to see a Urologist to investigate why I have blood in my urine. Thanks for praying.