“You Are An Inspiration!”

Karen’s Update August 28th, 2015

Over the years Karen has been the recipient of many compliments.  However today probably one of the greatest compliments that could be paid by her oncologist was that Karen is an inspiration. Let me share a little of the reason for his statement.

When we began the journey six months ago, Karen was in very serious condition. Her stage IV cancer caused a pleural effusion which made breathing terribly difficult. No one knew how quickly this tumor would advance and grow. Would I even have my Karen for another six months? The Lord knew, but none of us knew. The mass continued to spew terrible fluid with build ups that required draining her lung and then the installation of plureX catheter which drained the fluid every other day. Then the day finally arrived when the mass quit producing fluid which allowed for the catheter to be removed.

Here we are today.  The mass has been reduced twenty-seven percent. Now the Lord has used the maintenance chemotherapy to stop the tumor from growing. That wretched mass has been stopped in its tracks. After seeing how well Karen is doing physically, how well her blood lab numbers are, how good her lungs sound, and on top of this with the mass stopped in its tracks for now, the oncologist told her “You are an inspiration.”

Will the mass continue to be stable? Will it decrease even further? These both are possibilities. So we are asking our friends to please continue to pray for Karen. We both truly appreciate your prayers and friendship. The Lord is bringing us into contact with people that we would never be able to meet and serve. Today for instance, I was paying a medical bill and was able to share with the person in billing a word about Biblical prophecy. She had never heard this truth before. Since we are going to be regulars at the University Hospital Seidman Cancer Center, I know that we will have opportunity to follow up with her and others in the future.

Last but not least, I truly do still believe that the Lord is fully able to remove the mass in its entirety from Karen. I don’t want my precious Karen to miss any of the blessings and opportunities that the Lord is bringing to her. I want the Lord to work everything according to what is the greatest spotlight of His glory which will also be the very best for my dear lady. In my heart I know what I want the Lord to do. That’s taking this miserable mass away. But ultimately I want the Lord’s will for her and me. Thanks so much for praying. The next week may be rough. Karen calls it “yucky.” I’m not sure that this is a strictly medical term; but it fits how she will be feeling from today’s infusion. I’ll keep you updated whenever there’s news.