Dear Praying Friends,
This week we met
with the oncologist and radiologist following Doug's CTs and brain MRI.
There is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the
cancer in his brain is "stable" - no new growth and the three
tumors are about the same size as when they were discovered in August.
The bad news is that the metastases of the cancer in both his lungs
have "increased in size and number." No new treatments are
planned at this time.
Many ask how Doug
is doing. Physically he is tired most of the time. He takes two long
naps daily. He is in bed much of the time. It is difficult for him to
sit for long periods of time. He gets short of breath if he overexerts
himself. A cane is used for support when walking. He has difficulty
concentrating for too long. Reading is done in short spurts. His speech
gets slurry when he is tired. Pain is kept under control with the pain
medications he takes around the clock.
Emotionally he
is generally strong but he feels down sometimes when he thinks about
what he'd like to be doing (working around the house, taking walks,
going to the office, visiting our sons who live in other cities, going
to our daughter's high school functions, writing, reading for great
lengths of time, driving, visiting friends, and planning for the Philippine
medical mission in April).
Spiritually he
feels renewed day by day as he looks to the Lord. He wanted me to share
the following Bible verses with you for your encouragement: "...With
the same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because
we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also
raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this
is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more
people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore
we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly
we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
(Ephesians 4:13-17).
(He doesn't know
that I'm adding this paragraph.) On Thursday, October 30th it will be
Doug's 50th birthday! It would be wonderful if we opened e-mail that
morning and found many surprise birthday greetings for him that day.
Please, no electronic cards - our phone lines out here in the country
are very slow, and therefore to load an electronic card takes a very
long time. If you prefer to send a card, you may send it to Doug c/o
Christians in Action, Post Office Box 728, Woodlake, CA 93286-0728.
Write "Birthday Greetings" on the bottom left corner of the
envelope - they will gather them and give them to my husband in one
big bunch as a surprise. Do you realize what a miracle it is that Doug
will even see his 50th birthday!? How blessed we are that the Lord has
given him this extra time. Without a doubt we are fully aware that it
is only God who imparts life and breath (Acts 17:25).
Please keep our
children in your prayers: for Jeremy in Santa Barbara working two jobs
(God recently answered prayers by opening up a part-time job for Jeremy
in the major of his bachelor's degree from the University of Santa Barbara,
the large company has great potential for him); for Bryan stationed
at Humboldt Bay in the U.S. Coast Guard (physically he is being incredibly
challenged as he is training hard to be a rescue swimmer); for Kimberly
in her junior year of high school (making plans for college and future).
And of course, please keep my husband in your prayers. God bless you
and thank you.
Learning to day
by day trust in Him,
Becky
