“An Update from the Thoracic Vascular Surgeon and a Prayer Request”

February 16, 2016

Yesterday Karen had a follow-up appointment with the thoracic vascular surgeon. Before I share what he said, I just want to share several tremendous blessings that we have recently received.

James puts it this way, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (1:17). Many of us have been asking the Lord to take Karen’s cancer away. We’ve listed all sorts of very good reasons why this would be a wonderful thing.

He still may do this. But to date He has answered with a “no” or at least with a “not now.” Every day I write a very brief devotional that I call “Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescription.” This little spiritual vitamin goes around the world. Did you read my DP for today? You can find it at www.michaelpeck.org. It specifically addresses those times that the windshield wiper doesn’t immediately come back on. You’ll see what I am talking about when you read the DP for today.

So how does “every good and perfect gift” fit into our situation? It fits in many ways. Let me share just a couple of the blessings we are experiencing.

• The cancerous tumor has not grown. It has been arrested.
• The cancerous tumor is no longer producing the horrible fluid that this kind of tumor produces.
• On Saturday evening and Sunday morning my Karen was feeling well enough to attend an “Elevating Marriage Conference” at the First Baptist Church of Brunswick, OH where I was the speaker. We so enjoyed being with this dear congregation. It was such a personal blessing to be speaking about developing friendship in marriage and to look out and see my very best friend smiling at me.
• Yesterday Karen was feeling well enough to go out and do a little birthday shopping for our granddaughter. It was a joy to see her come back and say “I feel like this is normal.”

All of these are precious gifts from the Lord. We count these as blessings that could very well not be happening in our lives. But you are waiting on the update from the surgeon. He listened intently to multiple places on Karen’s back and chest. I watched him as he listened and listened. His eyes caught mine and he smiled as he put the stethoscope down. “Clear. Both lungs are absolutely clear. This is excellent.”

When the thoracic vascular surgeon, one year from the original diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer, listens intently to both lungs and says “excellent” I think, it is a time for celebration.

The prayer request concerns the amount of sick people all over the place. Folks in public places that obviously very sick with coughs and cold-like symptoms pose a threat to folks like Karen. Please pray that she doesn’t catch a cold. A common cold could have an uncommon effect upon her. We both send our love and thank you, thank you so much for praying.

Though we have been given a very difficult assignment, we have also been showered with every good and perfect gift from the Lord. Thank you for walking along with us. Don’t forget to hop on www.michaelpeck.org to check out today’s Daily Prescription. If you enjoyed the DP you would be welcome to sign up to have them delivered to your inbox each morning. You’ll find the place to subscribe (free of charge) at the bottom of my homepage.