RECENTLYMy family covets your prayers.
As some of you may know, 6 weeks ago, it was discovered that my father-in-law has colon cancer. He has been getting 5 weeks of chemo and radiation therapy. He has 1 more week to go and then will wait for 6 weeks and then have surgery. The therapy, however, is starting to take a toll on his body. He was teaching the BENCHMARK exam this last week, which was very tiring, along with his therapy. This morning, he was feeling ok after having a day off to rest. He preached this morning (he's our Pastor) and took us all to lunch. Rather an appropriate sermon, he preached on WORRY: Matthew 6:34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
After lunch, he and my mother-in-law went to Wal-Mart to prepare for our evening fellowship. While there, his heart started to race and he was unable to settle it down. She took him to the emergency room and they have decided to keep him overnite for observation. My husband and our kids are here now with my brother-in-law (who is 13) and my sister-in-law (who is 16), while we wait to hear anything. He has been admitted to the ICU until tomorrow. Please remember us in your prayers.
Also, my jr. and sr. high best friend has had to deal with endometriosis and cysts for the last several years. 2 years ago, at the age of 24, she was faced with a drastic decision: to have a hysterectomy. She is married to a wonderful and supportive husband, but they have no children (which is seeming to be more and more a blessing as she deals with all her illnesses). She has had a recurring cyst over the last few years and has had to have them removed. However, she has been advised not to have many more surgeries, due to the amount of scar tissue. And, in the last surgery she had on Thursday, the oncologist discovered that at some point, the doctors in the past cut thru her intestines and then sewed them back up, without telling her. The surgery to remove the mass on Thursday was successful and they believe they got everything, including the pieces of ovary that were growing back, but on Friday they discovered her kidneys were not functioning properly. They said this is "common", or at least, has happened with this type of surgery before, but they are unsure as to what is causing the kidney failure. They moved her to an ICU to observe her heart. When I talked to her on Saturday, she was in the middle of a blood transfusion, because they realized she is also very annemic. Please pray for Andrea. She is honestly the strongest person that I have ever known. She is a believer, but her patience and faith is starting to waver some. She just doesn't understand what is going on and for how much longer this will last. She is only 26! She had confided in me recently that she was struggling with the idea of not having children, even adoption, considering her numerous amounts of surgery. But she was hopeful when she went in on Thursday. Now, she is scared.
Anyways, I thank you for prayers and hope that will remember these 2 families.
UPDATE: MONDAY
My husband and I were able to go see his father last nite in the PCU (he was moved out of the ICU after the medication they gave him started to take effect). My MIL sent us up to take a bag of clothes and toiletries and visit with him. This made us very excited! We had ever intention of dropping off the bag and staying for 10 minutes. An hour later, I finally dragged my husband out of there. He and his father were bantering back and forth, as they always do. He was in good spirits and hopefully will be home today! PTL. Please continue to pray for him
I've had no word yet on my friend, as to whether treatments are effective at this time. Please remember them in your prayers, as well. Thank you!
Dear Lord, I just don't know how much I can handle anymore. I'm stressed and I'm tired and I feel so alone sometimes. Lord, I offer up a prayer to you, that You will carry these families and heal them and make us all stronger through this entire ordeal. I pray that you will remind me not to worry, for tomorrow is a new day. That you are a God of healing and of answers and of understanding...and that your time is not mine, but Your own. Thank you for the faith that these two people have shown to me and my children. Thank you that they recognize who the Savior of this universe is, and that they trust only in You. I pray that you will give wisdom to the doctors as they work on their patients and that you will guide their hands, the heads, and their hearts. I pray for the families involved, that you will bring comfort and wrap your hands firmly around them. In your name I pray all of these things, AMEN
Peace,
Angel
Hope your FIL is out of the hospital soon.
I'm listening to the song "New Disaster" - "I'm ready for the next trainwreck, a new disaster, 'cuz I'm getting good at falling down and playing dead..." and it so describes what I'm feeling right now. Somehow, through it all, I know God is here, holding Me...
BTW, I have not figured out why we are such 'poor' children and have such a hard time listening to The Father...it's all right there before us, you would think we could just follow His Word. If I figure out how to get my own kids to listen all of the time (or even most of the time), I will bottle and sell it;)
So, I posted about my day today... wasn't exactly what I'd planned, but I learned an important lesson. Please stop by and SHARE and Tell how it went for you.
Blessings,
Amy