Our Dear Praying Friends,
June and even into July have proved to be very busy and we have neglected
to
get an update out. In the process we realize that hundreds (possibly
thousands) of prayer partners have not been aware of the challenges
and we'
ve missed that spontaneous prayer support on our behalf.
One of the reasons for our delay in getting an update out is that there
have
been so many things happening health-wise that I simply couldn't keep
up
with things myself. Then I have to take into account the mental and
physical
strength it takes to put this together. Becky was also inundated with
working at the hospital as well as reviewing for her State Board exam.
She
took her actual exam on June 24 and we were notified a couple of days
ago
that she passed and she is now a Registered Nurse! Becky is so grateful
for
your many prayers.
HEALTH UPDATE:
I've been trying experimental chemotherapies over the past couple of
months
(as you may remember there is no conventional chemotherapy for kidney
cancer). These treatments combined with my pain medications I take pretty
much wipe me out - and put me into a stupor most of the time. I was
told
these chemo treatments are "long shots" with a very small
chance of success.
After finishing this round of chemotherapy I will be getting new CT
scans to
determine the effectiveness of these treatments. At that point I may
consider stopping treatments altogether, depending on the results.
Diagnostic tests reveal that the cancer continues to grow in my lungs
-
necessitating the use of supplemental oxygen several hours a day. A
recent
CT and MRI revealed a new and destructive tumor in one of my front ribs
that
has caused significant pain. I've undergone radiation for that and am
waiting for results of its effectiveness.
My biggest issue at this time is pain. This week we traveled an hour
and a
half to consult with an oncologist who specializes in pain management.
His
suggestion is that we investigate the use of a morphine pump implant
(this
would be surgically implanted with a catheter threaded to my spinal
column -
where the pain can be directly acted upon). This is compared to the
massive
doses of oral narcotics that I take every day. Despite my extensive
travels
in the past, even a 1 ½ hour trip is quite a challenge at this
time.
Thank you for your prayers regarding wisdom needed to know what steps
to
take in the near future.
FAMILY NEWS:
Becky's supervisors in the labor and delivery department at the hospital
have been very understanding of our situation and have put Becky on
"Intermittent Personal Leave" - this allows her to work part
time (two
twelve-hour shifts per week) but also gives the flexibility for her
to take
extra time off for when the occasion will arise when I'll need her more
at
home. Please pray for stamina at work and home.
Jeremy (24) has relocated back to Santa Barbara. He is working this
summer
as a beach lifeguard. He is thrilled to be back in sunny southern California
where he can surf, rock climb, and mountain bike. I'm happy that he
is close
to us again where he can come for an occasional visit home. There is
a
possibility of a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) job opening
there in
the fall. Please pray that the GIS job will indeed open up for him.
Bryan (21) has been working at various jobs on and around the Coast
Guard
base in northern California since he returned from the Persian Gulf
in
February. Bryan is enjoying the San Francisco Bay Area where he gets
to
mountain bike and skydive (he's close to his seventieth jump!). And
we love
it when he also makes an occasional visit home. Please pray for him
as he
prepares for further training towards his goal in search and rescue
in the
United States Coast Guard.
Kimberly (16) is enjoying her summer break before she enters the 11th
grade.
She's working part time for a local rancher - any opportunity to be
around
horses makes her happy. Next week she'll be helping to teach at our
church's
Vacation Bible School. This summer Kim is also raising a pig at the
local
school farm for Future Farmers of America (FFA). "Gus" will
be sold at the
county fair in September (any of our local friends interested in some
pork?). Please pray for her along with her brothers and mom in this
extremely difficult time with my illness.
IN CLOSING:
You may think with my treatment options running out that it would be
discouraging to me. Actually, it is very freeing. I've known from the
beginning that this is a killer and that my life is ultimately in God's
hands. This once again puts me in the position of completely trusting
Him
for my survival, with no medical intervention except for pain management.
Remember, my original prognosis was six months! I've gone over a year
past
that date! Of course I know who gives me my next breath. It's not
guaranteed.for you or for me. We simply continue serving Him until we
step
over that threshold into eternity. In the months (or years) I have left
it
is my desire to continue to be an aroma for Christ.
II Corinthians. 2: 14 - 16a (NIV) "But thanks be to God, who always
leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere
the
fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the
one we
are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."
In the midst of my bouts with pain and my times of stupor I wonder:
"How can
I be a fragrance for Christ right now?" "How can my light
shine?" The above
passage is very comforting to me. Please pray that God will continue
to use
me. Our web site at www.sutherlandsfaith.org is one way for me to continue
sharing when I can't do so in other ways. Please pray that God would
use
that site for His glory.
Above all, I feel I am most blessed. Every concern I had regarding events
"I
might miss" have been nullified. Imagine, God allowed me to see
Jeremy
graduate from university. I was allowed to see Bryan gain more rank
in the
U.S. Coast Guard. I saw Kimberly turn "sweet 16" (Lord willing,
I'll see her
turn 17 in September). I saw Becky not only graduate from Registered
Nursing
school in flying colors but also pass her State Board exam to become
a
Registered Nurse! Becky and I had a special get-a-way last summer. I
had a
special time away with each of my kids separately. I had that special
trip
to the Far East last year. And, our house is in order. How more blessed
could I be?
Have I given up? By no means. There are more goals I have: things I
want to
do, people I want to see and places I want to go. By God's grace and
through
His strength I will go after these. We covet your continued prayers.
Resting in Him,
Doug Sutherland
