|
THE GOOD NEWS: The tumour is still shrinking and the doctors are
excited about that. I'm tolerating the tough regime of continuous
chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments and am almost half way
through this first round of treatments. It is a huge comfort and
help to have Val Hodgkin here. Many others are helping also, in all
sorts of ways. I have enormous confidence in the medical staff and
they are very kind to me. These things give us great reason to
praise God.
THE CHALLENGING NEWS: This treatment that is working so well is an
aggressive, experimental protocol. Please pray that my system,
particularly my heart, can withstand all that is being thrown at it.
At the same time I'm in danger, too, from any passing infection. My
energy levels are at an all time low. I've never had to sit down
after brushing my teeth before! Also, the extra speaking needed to
instruct the Dragon speech recognition program is too much, so Val
is doing my typing. Even though the tumour is shrinking, we're
living with the uncertainty of whether it will shrink enough to
allow the surgeon to safely remove it. Pray that the tumour will
separate away from blood vessels, nerves and tendons in my arm
before I see the surgeon again. All of these matters bring huge
opportunity to walk with God into the unknown, to trust Him and to
pray. I am reminded of Ephesians 3, verse 20 that "God is able to do
immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to the
power that is at work within us" and that "to Him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and
ever!"
THE GIFT OF LOVE FROM THE HODGKIN FAMILY: I'd like to ask you to
pray for Val and Brian Hodgkin and their family. You'll remember
that last year they stayed with me here in Dallas. Officially they
are on furlough in UK at the moment, but when I heard the doctors'
diagnosis, they decided as a family that Val should come and be with
me. Brian is "doing furlough", taking meetings, settling back into
the UK, and keeping the family going there. Tim (22) is a mechanic,
Deb (18) works as Care Assistant in a home for handicapped adults,
and Esther (17) is training as a hairdresser. Their oldest daughter
Becky (24) and her family live 3 hours from Dallas, but Val is not
able to see much of them because of the danger of infection for me.
It is a considerable sacrifice for them to decide as a family that
Val should be here. I am of course humbled and honoured by this
loving gift to me. Brian is going to come to Dallas on 30th
December and plans to stay until mid February. This will be over the
period of time when I am expecting to have surgery and more
chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Please pray for them all in
the various separations, especially over Christmas.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Each day I have been able to sense God's
loving arms around me in a special way. I KNOW that this is because
you are praying.
With much love and great appreciation,
June.
|
