Rachel's Victory: The Progress Reports

September 5, 2007 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Rejoice with us! Today Rachel had a scan and the report came back good. Rachel and Shaun are enjoying life as new parents.

March 11, 2007 (Jennifer Kachelman)

I realized that it has been too long since we updated this page, so I wanted to add some news. Rachel went for her two-year checkup on September 8, 2006. John and I were with Rachel and Shaun that day for her appointment. She started the day off having a scan and then we went to have lunch while we waited for her appointment with the doctor. Her doctor saw Shaun in the hall (while Rachel was having blood drawn) and told him that everything looked great, thus relieving our anxieties before we were called back to join Rachel in the examination room. Rachel’s scan showed no trace of the cancer in her body. You can imagine our happiness!! We all started calling friends and family on our cell phones immediately to share the news. That evening we had another celebration dinner with family!

During the past two years the doctor discouraged Rachel from thinking of getting pregnant. He said that the chances of the cancer returning were greatest during the first two years following treatment. Had the cancer returned and she had to have further treatments, the treatments would not have hurt the baby. However, he reminded her of how she felt during the period of time she was having treatments. He suggested that she think about that and whether she could handle being pregnant or caring for a child while going through that. Of course, he was not being pessimistic about the success of her treatments. He just wanted her to plan responsibly.

Rachel and Shaun actually knew around Thanksgiving that they were expecting a baby, but they had it all planned as to how they would tell their families and surprise us at Christmas. We were surprised but very pleased with the news.

Below you can see a picture of Rachel at 4-1/2 months pregnant. She is feeling good, looking good, and happy with the news that she is having a baby girl….around July 22, 2007.  On the right is our grandbaby!

If you can’t tell, let me assure you…..John and I and Teresa and Mack are thrilled with the idea of being grandparents. And we feel so blessed to have a healthy, happy Rachel. And John and I are so thankful that Shaun is the father of our grandchild. Everyone keeps telling us how wonderful grandchildren are. At this point, I have to admit that I cannot imagine anything any better than having our own children. They are such a blessing to our lives. But I’ll let you know when Makayla Grace Townsend arrives how it is to be a grandmother.

September 19, 2005 (Johnny Kachelman)

Last Saturday, September 17, was one year since Rachel was declared cancer-free!  I wanted to share the good news with our friends and family who have been so encouraging throughout her treatments.  Thank you so much for all the kind words of encouragement, letters and calls.  You continue to be a source of encouragement to us all. 

Rachel continues to do well and has started a new job in the accounting department at a law firm in Nashville.  She has gotten all her strength and hair back!  Her and Shaun continue to work hard and are doing well.  Please continue praying for her and all the others who are dealing with terrible illnesses like cancer.  Prayer can work miracles and encourage more than many ever know.

Thursday, March 2, 2005 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just wanted to let you know some good news! Rachel had a scan on Friday. This was her first scan since they ceased her chemo treatments six months ago. The doctor was VERY pleased with the results. The lymph nodes have shrunk even more since her treatments ended. Rather than coming back every two months for checkups, he has told her that she only has to come every three months now.

We appreciate your concern and your prayers. I’ve attached a photo of Rachel and Shaun and Bekah taken this weekend while they were home. Doesn’t she look great?

January 1, 2005 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just a brief note to let you know that Rachel is doing great! We had a wonderful holiday together with her and Shaun. She will see the doctor this month for her second checkup. Just thought you might like to see a picture of her made on Christmas Day. Please keep her in your prayers in 2005. She will have another scan in March.

Saturday, September 18, 2004 (John L. Kachelman Jr.)

On Friday my daughter Rachel had the PET scan following her 12th treatment. We were hopeful that the scan would say all active cancer cells had been eliminated. Around 3:00 p.m. the doctor came in and said, "OK, that's it -- it is over!" With that simple verdict Rachel's treatment for NS Hodgkin's lymphoma ceases. She will report back for a check-up in two months. For the first year these bi-monthly check-ups will continue.

So many, all over the world, have emailed us and told us they were praying for Rachel. We printed out the emails and they are bound. In addition Rachel and Shaun have received hundreds of cards expressing heartfelt concerns and wonderful words of encouragement. In your Lord's Day worshipping assemblies tomorrow please pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His merciful care in hearing the hundreds of prayers and for the wonderful care that was given Rachel & Shaun by the Vanderbilt Oncology Department.

Please pass this report on to all others who have known about Rachel's condition.

Thank you!

Friday, September 3, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Rachel had a pulmonary test today which showed that her lung function was not good enough to have the "B" drug in the ABVD treatment.The doctor did not seem to think that leaving it off would affect the effectiveness of her treatment considering the fact that she was able to take it 10 out of 12 treatments. She's been sleeping since about halfway through the treatment and since we got home.

The next scan will be two weeks from today. She will have it that morning and see the doctor that afternoon and find out what is recommended from that point.

Thanks for the emails and prayers.

September 3, 2004--Treatment #12 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Today is a day that seemed only weeks ago would never arrive! Rachel is scheduled to have her 12th--and, we hope, last--treatment. Wow! Has it been a long journey, but one filled with courage and determination and a lot of encouragement and faith. John and I are so proud of Rachel and Shaun. (I think I can speak for Rebekah, Johnny, Brian and Mack, Teresa, and Rebecca. too.)

I ask that you take a moment as you read this and ask our Father to be with her today and throughout the weekend. We must arrive at Vanderbilt a little before 11:00 this morning so Rachel can have pulmonary tests. She has been having more problems with her breathing and the doctors will need to check her out before her treatment to decide if her lungs can handle the chemo drugs today. We hope to find out today when her scan will be.

I am in Nashville and will spend the weekend with Rachel and Shaun. John was here for a couple of days but had to be back in Arkansas today. Teresa and Mack will be here Sunday to check on them.

Thank you for your concern for Rachel!

August 19, 2004—Treatment #11 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Tomorrow begins what we are hoping will be the last round of treatments for Rachel. (Each round of treatments includes two treatments.) Following treatment #12 there will be another scan and then we will know whether further treatments will be necessary. As always, we ask you to remember Rachel in prayer as she faces the weekend ahead and also as her body deals with the drugs. Shaun will be with Rachel this weekend and her sister (Rebekah) and cousin (Jessica Kachelman) will be there to help care for her.

Rachel and Shaun moved into their first house this past weekend. If you are interested in sending them notes of encouragement, their new address is 221 Lone Oak Drive, White House, TN 37188. They had begun plans for this house just before she was diagnosed and the builder was very much willing to put it off as they had not starting pouring the foundation yet. However, we are pleased that they went on with their plans. It has been a positive diversion for them during the past seven months. And they are so happy to be out of an apartment!

Thank you all for your concern and love for our family. Your prayers, calls, and cards have encouraged us beyond expression.

August 7, 2004 - Rachel's 10th Treatment (Jennifer Kachelman)

I'm not where I have easy internet access so I didn't get this email out yesterday. I know some of you are anxious to hear about Rachel's day yesterday. All blood work and the pulmonary tests were good, so she had the usual treatment (including the "B" drug) this time. They will be very watchful that her breathing is okay! Of course, that means she was completely wiped out after her treatment. When I talked to Shaun last night at 10:00 p.m., Rachel was sleeping and had been all evening.

The doctor re-emphasized that he felt the scan was good but that he still cannot assure her that she won't have any further treatments after #12 until another scan is done. Please keep her in your prayers continually!

We appreciate your love and concern so much!

July 26, 2004 - Results (Jennifer Kachelman)

We got back some news today but not as much as we were hoping to hear. The main thing is that they say the scan looked good!!! We are pleased with that news. We didn't get many specifics as the doctor will be working with his research team to further study the results and compare them to the first scan. The doctor did confirm that Rachel would have to have the 12 treatments and then another scan will be done. We won't know anything for sure until after that scan.

We continue to ask that you pray for the success of the treatments and thank God with us for the success thus far.

July 23, 2004, 7:00 p.m. (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just talked with Shaun. They were on their way home from Vanderbilt. We have been so eager for today to come just so that we could get the results of the scan. However, we won't know anything until next week.

Not sure if most of you know, but last week Rachel had problems with her lungs. We have known from the very beginning that one of the drugs in the ABVD treatment is very hard on the lungs, so the doctors have had a close watch on her. She ended up having to take steroids for five days and when she had the pulmonary tests today, they felt she was much improved. She had her usual treatment today...treatment #9. We are so thankful to see nine behind her and hope the scan will show a need for only the customary 12.

Please keep Rachel in your prayers the next few days. Seems that the treatments are harder on her each time. We thank you for your concern and constant prayers!

July 23, 2004 (Johnny Kachelman)

We just talked to Rachel and she was on her way to Vanderbilt hospital for today’s events. Thankfully, Peggy Moore (our adopted aunt from St. Louis), Rebekah, and Jessica (our cousin) are with her for today’s treatments and Shaun will be there by treatment time. Today will be a long and tedious day for Rach because they are doing several tests today before even beginning her treatments. They will start out this morning with a lung and blood tests to make sure things are going ok with her reaction to the previous treatments. And, today they will also do a PET/CT Scan that will tell how affective the treatments have been thus far. We are praying that the test will show that there is no more cancer in her body. The results will not all be back today but they will have some preliminary results after the test. The PET/CT scan is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. After that test, she will undergo her usual chemo treatment.

Please keep Rachel, Shaun and our families in your prayers today. We are all going to be nervous while waiting for all the results to come back. We are thankful for all of the kind and thoughtful emails we have received. I know Rachel has really been encouraged by so many people’s thoughtfulness. It is truly a blessing to have so many good friends and family!

July 9, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just a quick note to let you know that we are home from Rachel's 8th treatment. Her blood counts were within acceptable range today and she was able to have the full treatment. Before the treatment was over she was already so tired she was sleeping, she slept all the way home, and she has been sleeping every since.

In discussing her body's response to the treatment today, she was asked about the fatigue, nausea, etc. I asked the doctor if a more appropriate work for "fatigue" might be "lifeless." That's about how she feels for three days. Her chemo nurse thinks she is a great patient to work with, and Shaun and I agree that she is a very sweet patient!

Rachel and Shaun are already planning their celebration for when chemo is over and Rachel is well again! Please pray that her body will be healed!

July 8, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just a quick note as I prepare to leave for Nashville for the weekend. Rachel will have her 8th treatment tomorrow. Even though treatment #7 was not but 75% of what she normally receives, she couldn’t tell much difference in the after effects. But she did recuperate and had a nice 4th of July weekend with friends.

We are hopeful that she will be able to receive the full treatment this time. Please keep her in your prayers. She will have a scan the day of her 9th treatment (July 23) and our prayer is that the scan will show her free of cancer. Even if that prayer is answered, we know that she will have to complete the standard 12 treatments. Please pray with us!

Rachel and Shaun both continue to have positive attitudes and a bright outlook for the future. Your encouragement has been so great for us all.

Friday, June 25, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just heard from Shaun at 6:00 p.m. They are on their way home from Vanderbilt. Blood counts were not acceptable to give regular treatment, but they did give Rachel a treatment with about half the usual medicine. Shaun’s parents arrived at Vanderbilt for the treatment and will spend the weekend with them. Rachel feels about as usual and is heading home to begin her weekend of rest.

Keep them in your prayers, please.

June 24, 2004 - Treatment #7 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Tomorrow afternoon Rachel will have her seventh chemo treatment. She has had some good days in the past week and was able to enjoy a weekend to celebrate her first anniversary (a little late) last weekend. Shaun’s parents will be in Nashville this weekend to help out during her worst days. Please keep her in your prayers!

June 11, 2004 (Shaun Townsend)

I would like to take this opportunity to give you my utmost and deepest thanks. Since Rachel and I found out in February that she had cancer, we have had NOTHING but encouragement, prayers, and sincere thoughts. I want you to know that I, personally, can't thank you enough for everything. Your thoughts and prayers have been the glue that has held us both together at times.

We love you all and are thankful to have friends that care for us.

June 11, 2004 - 6:00 p.m. (Jennifer Kachelman)

Just a quick note to let you know that Rachel's treatment is over and we are back home. All blood tests were good and now we just wait for her body to work at repairing the damage so she will have energy. Keep her in your prayer throughout the weekend, please.

June 10, 2004 - Rachel's 6th Treatment (Jennifer Kachelman)

Rachel was suppose to have her treatment today but has requested to have it tomorrow instead so it has been changed. Please keep her in your prayers as she faces another rough weekend. Her attitude is good! But that doesn't take the dread of the days immediately following treatment away from her. I'm glad to be able to be in Nashville with her this weekend.

Just a note--Sunday, June 13 is her and Shaun's FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

Thank you for your continued love, concern, and prayers.

May 27, 2004 (6:30 p.m.) (Jennifer Kachelman)

Rachel’s treatment is over and she is on her way home to rest. Her blood counts were good and we are so thankful for the shots that Shaun is able to give her to maintain this. Shaun asked today when they will do another scan to see if the treatments are working. The doctor assured him that they KNOW the treatments are working by examination. The lymph glands are shrinking in size. But there will be a scan after treatment #8 so they will have a baseline to compare with later.

Thank you for your continual prayers on Rachel’s behalf. We also thank you for praying for Shaun. He is so good to our daughter and we are blessed to have him as part of our family.

May 27, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Today is treatment #5 for Rachel. Since her last treatment she has had some really good days. Rachel was able to travel last weekend to Birmingham for Johnny’s graduation from law school.

Please keep her in your prayers today and in the next three or four days as her body recovers from the treatment.

May 14, 2004 (Jennifer Kachelman)

Rachel had her fourth treatment today. She came out feeling tired but is home and resting now. A sweet sister from Rivergate Church of Christ brought dinner tonight and we all enjoyed it so much! Rachel even ate good despite the way she felt. All test results were good today!

Thank you for your prayers.

April 30, 2004 (from Jennifer Kachelman)

Rachel had her third treatment today. Her blood work was good and they were pleased with the results of the shots ordered after the last treatment. She will repeat them again this treatment but taking one less injection. We are home tonight and Rachel is wiped out and resting following her treatment. Keep her in your prayers as the next few days will be rough.

There were many thoughts that went through my mind today. 1) My daughter is a very brave young woman. 2) There are some very special people caring for Rachel and I am thankful for them. 3) I thank God for chemo treatments even though they make my daughter so weak and sick. 4) I am confident that God loves Rachel more than John and I do--and that is a comfort to know.

April 19, 2004

Rachel received her second treatment on Friday, April 16. She was delayed one week because her white blood count was not good the previous week and she had picked up a virus. She has done pretty good this weekend with expected fatigue and some other discomforts. But she was able to go to a friend's wedding Saturday with Shaun's family. Rachel is taking a shot each day to help boost her blood count. When they said she had to self-inject she didn't really like the idea at all. Shaun got instructions and has been recruited to do the honors. I guess he is doing a good job but now thinks he is a doctor.

Rachel continues to get cards and emails that are so encouraging to her. I thank you so much for your love, care and prayers.

April 9, 2004

Today was suppose to be Rachel's second treatment. She went to Vanderbilt for blood work and when they got the results back they determined that she could not have a treatment because of her white blood count. She has had some type of viral infection this past week with coughing, sore throat, and congestion. She was assured that this is not uncommon with new chemotherapy patients. They have rescheduled her next treatment to be next Friday, April 16. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. Even though her last treatment made her feel very fatigued and just generally sick all over, she began to feel better after about three days and saw improvement every day.

Thank you for caring.

March 24, 2004 (from John Kachelman Jr.)

Last night we received a message confirming Rachel's chemo treatment. She is to begin treatments this Friday. She was randomized for the "ABVD Treatment" that will be given to her over the next 6-8 months. The treatments will be given at the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN, USA. Understandably Rachel is apprehensive about the beginning of the treatments because it is "unknown" as to what will happen. I think after the first treatment she will know what to expect and will be less apprehensive. She is hoping that the treatments will allow her to continue working and wanted to schedule the chemical infusion in the mornings so she could go into work after lunch. The first treatment could not be scheduled until 2:30 p.m. this Friday. At this point she is ready and wanting to get the treatments started. Please continue to remember her in your prayers.

If you have an opportunity please send her a cheerful message, but please make sure to exclude anything but positive stories of cancer treatments! I continue to be thankful, and encouraged by the many emails received from literally all over the world. I forward some of these to Shaun & Rach but I am printing and compiling all into a binder that Shaun and Rachel read. They continue to receive a handful of cards via snail-mail each day. How wonderful it is to be supported by Christians around the earth. Those of you in Asia, Indonesia, Europe, India, and Africa please tell our brethren how much their emails and prayers mean!

Thank you for your gracious love & concern,

March 20, 2004 (from John Kachelman Jr.)

Rachel did not begin treatments yesterday (Friday) as we'd hoped. All of the paperwork was not in so she could begin. Hopefully she will have her first treatment this coming week. Rachel was randomized to the 6-8 month treatment schedule. I hope the following email from Kenya helps all to appreciate just how "small" our world is and how wonderful God's Christians are to support in times of great need. I've received such emails from many places (China, Indonesia, Ukraine, Canada, India, and many other places).

---

Dear John and Jennifer,

We the elders and ministers of the Kenya Church of Christ - Jericho are in receipt of the information concerning your sick daughters, Rachel and Shaun through Bro. Charles Creel and we were seriously touched by the sorrowful news.

As we write this letter we have and still carrying out prayers for a quick recovery of your daughters, by the grace of God we believe that God is going to heal both our sisters in Christ.

We trust and believe that God will give the family courage and strength to with this devastating situation during this period of temptations and trials (Rom. 8:31-34).

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your family and the entire fellowship.

Pass our regards to all. May God bless you.

Your Bro. in Christ,
Isaya Omullo Oguta (Moses) and Joseph Aketch Ombe
Preacher & Church secretary

March 19, 2004

Rachel and Shaun found out today that she will be included in the longer, 6-8 month treatment plan.  She will not receive her first treatment today but will hopefully start next week sometime.

March 16, 2004 (from John Kachelman Jr.)

We've spent the day at Vanderbilt talking with the Oncologists that will be treating Rachel. Rachel and Shaun have decided to become a part of a study that Vanderbilt is making on the effectiveness of various treatments. Both treatment options are proven methods for curing NS Hodgkin's Lymphoma but one takes 6-8 months and the other takes 12 weeks. Subjects are assigned randomly so until Rachel is assigned we will not know which treatment she'll receive. We will know by Friday and probably on Friday she'll receive her first treatment. Today there was the conference with the doctors, the research nurse, tests on her lungs and heart to provide a baseline for making sure the heart/lungs are not affected by the treatment. So until Friday we'll not know any more than this. Of course we are all hoping for inclusion in the 12 week treatment program.

March 9, 2004 (From John Kachelman Jr.)

We have just returned from the Oncologist's office. We now know that Rachel has Stage 3 NS Hodgkin's Lymphoma. They are to do same day surgery on her tomorrow morning (Wednesday) to implant a porta-cath (permanent catheter for chemotherapy treatment) and to take a bone marrow biopsy. The Oncologist is suggesting that Rachel join a research study sponsored by Vanderbilt Hospital where two different chemotherapy treatments are compared. The Oncologist in charge of this project is the "expert" in Lymphoma at Vanderbilt.

The news was hard on Rachel because she will probably begin losing her hair after three weeks and the fact that she has to have a bone marrow biopsy was very upsetting. The Oncologist is VERY optimistic.

There was some encouraging points but I think we were all disappointed that it is at Stage 3.

Please continue remembering us in your prayers!

March 2, 2004 (John Kachelman Jr.)

We have just returned from Nashville where today Rachel & Shaun met with two doctors. The first was the surgeon and the second was the oncologist. The oncologist reported that Rachel's malignancy is Nodular sclerosis (NS) Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This is a type of cancer in younger people. This kind responds favorably and has 97% "cure" rate at best and even in its worst form has a 74% cure rate. The treatment will range from chemical IV infusion to radiation or a combination of these two. The cancer is ranked into 4 different stages. Stage 1 is limited to one section of the lymphatic system. Stage 2 is limited to 2 sections of the lymphatic systems above the diaphragm. Stage 3 occurrences are located above and below the diaphragm. Stage 4 is the worst and it has invaded the bone marrow as well as lymphatic sections throughout the body.

Now that pathology has identified the cancer the next step is to determine how far the cancer has spread. This is accomplished by a scan being made of the body (CT/PET). This scan will show the infected lymph glands and a determination of the "stage" can be made. After the "stage" has been determined then the treatment is designed.

This Friday (3/5, 1:00 p.m.) Rachel will have the CT/PET. The radiology will not be ready until next Monday. The Oncologist will get the results on Monday and look them over, confer with colleagues, and then meet with Rachel and Shaun next Tuesday to discuss treatment.