We Need Your Prayers! An Update on Karen

Karen and I certainly have much for which to be thankful. One year ago at this time my Karen was very much in serious trouble. The cancerous mass at that time was generating terrible fluid that could not be controlled other than by painful draining. Soon the thoracic surgeon would implant a catheter which would enable us to drain the fluid every other day. Dreadfully heavy chemotherapy would fight the mass, but leave her so sick.

Now here we are one year later. The mass has long since stopped producing fluid. The catheter from her side has been removed. She is doing every bit as well as could be expected on her maintenance chemotherapy. She has the lingering bitter taste of metal in her mouth. But compared with how we were doing a year ago, we have a lot for which to be thankful.

Friends from around the world faithfully pray for her. If I don’t write an update on her every once in a while, I hear from folks! What a blessing you are. Today I do want to bring to you a prayer request. On Monday morning at 9:45 Karen has a major CT scan. This will be more extensive than previous scans. This will check her abdomen and pelvis just to make sure that the cancer hasn’t spread.

Here are the prayer requests. First, Karen has to drink a rather large container of barium. She has such a gag reflex that we would like to ask folks to pray for her to get the solution down. Second, we are asking the Lord to help the scan to be clear. Please ask the Lord to give the radiologist wisdom and discernment in reading it. Then lastly, please ask the Lord to help us to trust Him for the results. Karen continues to have amazing opportunities to share with people about the “reason for the hope that is in her” (1 Peter 3:15). Yesterday I stepped back and listened to her explain to a clerk about her “win-win” situation. She told the clerk, “If the Lord heals me then I have more time with my family as well as serve Him. That is a win. If the Lord takes me home, then that is a real win.” It is hard not to listen to a person with Stage IV lung cancer as she tells about the amazing grace of God.

Thanks for praying dear friends. We won’t know any of the results before Thursday March 24th when Karen sees the oncologist and has her next chemotherapy. I promise that I will update you with the results later on Thursday.