A Blogger Promise + Prayer Request

I've been behaving badly.

While in the midst of a trial, I was quick to share the details. I reflected, I pondered, I noted, I reported, and you all humored me.

Now that we are near the end of this race and our days are full of sweetness, I've carried on my merry way. Oh fickle Blogger that I am!! How could I treat you so?

So here's my promise: I will post every day between now and 31 March. Not only do I have some medical news and updates to share, not only do I have another major surgery scheduled for 25 March, but I now have a life post-big-treatment. I'll write about it.

Whether you find it interesting--this regular life of mine--is another matter entirely. If you don't, that's kind of your problem, though. Right? I mean, I'm just happy to have one. . .

As for the prayer request:

You remember my neighbor, Stefanie, the cancer survivor who moved in this summer. She's been suffering for months from side effects/damage from her treatment and Monday morning, she'll undergo major, major surgery. They expect a 6 week recovery, the first week of which must be spent in the hospital. And the procedure itself is very complicated--I almost want to call it "creative" as they'll be redirecting her intestines.

Please pray for her, her doctors, her children (3 daughters ages 5, 9 and 11) and her husband, who is active duty Army away at a mandatory school right now. Pray for wisdom and skill amidst the doctors, peace over all, no complications and, of course, complete healing.

Prayer Request

You all know of the devastation in Haiti. Bryan and I particularly attuned to the welfare of an orphanage there called For His Glory. It is home to about 120 children, many of whom are already part of a family in the US, but who are waiting there for the 2 - 3 years it takes for their paperwork to be processed.

We are friends with 4 different couples in our church who are pursuing adoptions from this orphanage. My heart aches for them as they are helpless to protect their children right now. Helpless, that is, if it were not for prayer and a Mighty God.

The following is a copied post from their web site:


URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER

We received word from Pierre this morning that the situation in the orphanage is becoming dire.
We would like to ask EVERYONE that receives this to use this information to get on your knees before our Lord and ask Him to provide.

We have one nanny that is deceased and the orphanage needs her body to be removed.

The orphanage has no drinkable water.

In addition they need:
formula for babies
medicines
IV fluids (one child is currently on an IV)
charcoal to cook
diesel
cash to buy supplies if they find them.

They are running out of cash and there are no banks open to get cash, so it needs to be delivered by someone already on the ground or by helicopter.

Others are beginning to rob them of what supplies they do have.

There are helicopters flying over the orphanage and they have made a sign on the roof that says they are an orphanage and need help.

The staff is also working to get together all the paperwork for each child that has an adoptive family in a way that it can be attached to their body if there is an opportunity to evacuate.

For His Glory is doing everything we can on this end to contact people who may be able to help. Please pray. Currently, that is the best thing you can do to help.

Trusting in Him,
For His Glory

Prayer Request

It seems that lymphedema has started in my arm. This is the collection of lymph in the limb when you have no lymph nodes to pump it out. Radiation triggers it 30% of the time and it seems I'm again in the minority.

But it is very slight right now. Possibly even "pre-clinical." At this early point, it's possible to reverse it back to normal. My appointment at the lymphedema clinic is on Tuesday, which will be 12 days after it started. I'm hoping that is soon enough for reversal. Hence the prayer request.

Please pray that the therapist will be able to rid my right arm of the lymph and that it would be back to normal.

By The Way. . .

First round of Chemo is tomorrow at 9:20.

This means I'll get my answer to the "Maurice Question" at about 9:05 AM.

Please pray that the poison will work. Come whatever side effects must come. So long as it's all for the purpose of erradicating every last cancer cell.

Prayer Request

So many are praying for us. Knowing this is not some mere "happy thought" that lets us know how supported we are. We are truly thankful, and we truly believe God uses these prayers somehow. Thank you for them.

What is before us now is the chemotherapy portion of the adventure. We have our appointment with the oncologist today (Friday, 10 July) and I presume that protocol(s) will be put before us. Maybe we'll have to make choices. Please pray again for our discernment in proceding. That we would hear God's whisper, "This is the way, walk in it."

I'll give a full report after the appointment.