More Good News

Chemo was delayed one day so John was able to mostly enjoy Thanksgiving day. Son John and his girlfriend Mindy came up for a few days, but left Friday morning to join Mindy's family for their dinner. He had to be back on the news desk on Saturday. Although short, it was a nice visit. We all joined Pam's family at her parents and John was able to stay about 4 1/2 hours, so that was great!

John isn't feeling too great now but with chemo on Friday and the removal of the infusion pump today, this is expected. We did have some really great news from the oncologist on Friday...John's CEA (tumor marker) is .5! This is really great as normal for a post cancer patient is 2.5 and John's has moved from 55 when we started, to 25 following his first chemo regimen, to 3.5 following his surgery and now .5. We think that is fantastic news and give God the glory!

The tree and outdoor lights are up for John to enjoy and we're hanging tough...most days anyway.

I invite you to take a few minutes to relax and focus on the greatness of God at these links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-6gwssX0Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybDjb6tQes4&feature=related

Time to Come Clean

Ok, I admit it. I've been avoiding talking to my in-laws. There has been good reason though - I knew I would cry. I look at my own two children and can't imagine what it would be like to watch them go through what their child is going through. I have felt like I needed to hold them up in some way but didn't have the strength. Tonight, I knew I had been incommunicado for too long so made sure I participated in our weekly Skype call. Sure enough, I cried, and continued afterwards until I had achieved one of those gargantuan headaches. Real smart, Pam. After talking I was again reminded how much our families love us, how much grace they show us, how much faith they have, and that we can only rely on God to do the carrying.

We had a fabulous weekend as John felt pretty darn good! We spent time doing what regular, healthy folks do and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Puttered around the house, talked about things we want to do, went to church (yay!) and picked up a sandwich on the way home. We even got in the hot tub. To our surprise, son John phoned Saturday night saying he was 90 minutes away and coming for a quick overnight visit.

Whoop, whoop for Audrey! Our oven hinge broke this week and since it is not our practice to farm out repair jobs, under her dad's direction from the recliner she went downtown and purchased the part, took the stove apart and installed the new hinge with only one odd screw left over! Girl power!

Prayer request - John's Aunt Lou went for a knee replacement but has been in the hospital several weeks and needed multiple units of blood for severe anemia. Progress in deciphering this has been slow and her knee has become somewhat frozen during the wait.

Below is a poem that I'm sure most of you have seen and sometimes, when I'm feeling like cancer has stolen our lives, I have to remind myself of it. If you are having your own challenges, replace the word "Cancer" in the title with your own burden.

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot erode faith

It cannot eat away peace

It cannot destroy confidence

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot shut out memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot reduce eternal life

It cannot quench the spirit

It cannot lesson the power of the resurrection

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

And with my husband softly snoring beside me, I wish you good night.

It's Been A While

So it has been a while since I updated. The truth is, I just don't know what to write. This is a long process and we've been at it going on six months now.

Third chemo was last Thursday and it hasn't been easy, but we know it could be so much worse. So, we're trying not to complain although I miss my loving husband, his sense of humor and the feeling that we're moving along toward our goals in life.

It was nice to hear from several folks recently and nice to make some phone calls to catch up with a few folks this weekend. Pam's mom (you remember...she had the open heart surgery four days after John had his surgery) is energetic and active and has brought us some meals and Pam's dad has chopped up leaves. A neighbor brought some delicious vegetable soup, a friend cleaned out our gutters and we receive encouraging notes. As you can tell, we are loved.

With everything going on, we have of course not attended church but have relied on our TV church and even that can be sporadic. I think I needed to hear one of our favorite pastors when he said to be a witness no matter where you are. Because we're feeling stagnant and so caught up in John's medical needs, I often feel I am not much use at building the kingdom. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm doing what I am supposed to do, but I sometimes feel like something is missing. So, dear friend, I will just take the opportunity to say, if your commitment to God is lukewarm, or you have never made a commitment, or your priorities aren't what they should be; make a change. Accept Him wholly, trust in His word, examine where you're going, and serve wherever you are.

For God so loved the world, that He gave us His son, that we should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

Getting Back On Track

After a few days in the hospital, we are back home and John is doing well. We found out the blood clot actually formed in his left leg and small pieces broke off and traveled to both lungs. He will be getting shots of Lovenox in his belly twice a day and is also taking Coumadin. The shots will end in about a week but he will be taking Coumadin for about a year.

This was a pretty scary process but we are so grateful that he had the baseline CT Scan scheduled, and that this was discovered before we got into a really serious problem - or worse. He had no symptoms at all, although he may have been a little short of breath. Since he has been inactive going on six months now and the huge surgery and chemo, sometimes it is a little hard to distinguish what is abnormal based on what he has been through.

Anyway, praise the Lord he is home and doing ok! We are just so thankful for one another, our family, and all you great prayer warriors.

Love, Pam

Unexpected Turn (May Day)

We need your prayers (as usual).

John went today for his CT scan and we were surprised to learning late this afternoon that he had blood clots in both lungs and he needed to head to the ER. He was admitted this evening and his stay will depend on how his body reacts to the drugs that are supposed to dissolve the clots.

While this was certainly a shock, we are grateful he had the CT scan scheduled to get a look at the lungs as a post-surgery follow-up. He had no symptoms that usually accompany blood clots in the lungs and we are grateful for that as they sound scary.

It really is a bummer to have this happen but we're thankful to get it taken care of. Please pray this issue will resolve quickly and without incident.

Thanks so much for praying.

Love, Pam

Doing OK

Hey all.

John is doing ok since chemo last Thursday. He is tired and has had some of those three nap days but yesterday I think he just took one. The physical therapist came to the house this morning to help him with his shoulder. This is the right shoulder and has been problematic since the surgery almost eight weeks ago. They really did rough him up during surgery. He found the experience encouraging and has exercises to do. The pt will come twice a week for a while.

We enjoyed a short visit with JR this weekend when he came home to vote. Also enjoyed visits from some other folks. We really appreciate the encouragement and prayers we receive from so many. John remains in good spirits but misses his work very much. Pam misses John.

Truthfully, it is strange when people tell us what a great example we are and how we have such a positive energy. What I really feel like is a soggy tissue, wet from tears and boohoo stuff. Still, even though we're having some tough times, and operating in a manner that is pretty off the mark for our family, we know we have so many blessings. Very kind people, some of whom we don't even know, have done some very nice things for us. We feel undeserving.

Prayer requests: That we would really feel God's presence and hear his voice. That John would handle the chemo and that it will stick - for good! That Audrey and JR will get their footing. And a BIG prayer request - that Pam would actually be able to keep her mouth shut and not ask her daughter what her school plans are. I'm pretty redonkulous (family joke) with crabbing about that.

And this very appropriate message came today from our favorite pastor: Bayless Conley.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The word temptation in this verse also means test or trial. With that in mind, here are a couple of thoughts to encourage you today.

1. Whatever test, trial, or temptation you are facing today, it is "common to man." That means that you are not the only one who has gone through whatever you are facing.

It is comforting to know that others have faced similar problems before us and made it through!

2. God makes a way of escape with the trial or temptation. That means you're not stuck! Before your difficulty ever arose, God designed a way of escape. And that means of escape comes with the problem.

So if you find yourself embroiled in trials, tests, or temptations today, start looking for God's way of escape--it exists. Trust Him to guide you safely through and out of your difficulties!

Aren't we blessed that the Lord Jesus dwells among us.

-Pam