Dear Praying Friends,
Please forgive
me for inundating you with these back-to-back e-mails. However, it is
very therapeutic and comforting for me to be able to write this knowing
within a short amount of time hundreds of you (besides the folks you
forward these to) will be lifting us before the throne of grace. (Hebrews
4:16)
I have to tell
you of the incredible peace (Philippians 4:7) and contentment (Philippians
4:12) I sense in my heart that I know is from God and Him alone. Last
week was a very painful and uncomfortable week for me before new pain
medications and other medications got me back together with almost zero
pain and much more energy. I do admit that I wept for a moment last
Friday on receiving the news of this new tumor. My tears were not over
the new cancer as much as over the possibility of a missed rendezvous
with Glenn Kennedy, a dear friend and his family as well as our Far
East trip being in jeopardy because of the new development.
You see, Pastor
Glenn Kennedy and I have worked together on the Philippines medical
misson projects for the past five years. He is a retired U.S. Air Force
major and is now pastor of a large CinA international church in Okinawa,
Japan, the CinA Far East Director and the Philippines medical mission
director. Glenn has a heart of gold and working with him in that outreach
has been one of the highlights of my entire ministry. He and his family
(most whom I have not met) are in the area on a summer furlough and
the only time for me to see them was just before our departure to Manila.
I thought my radiation therapy was going to eliminate that possibility
but God appears to be working that out as related below. Thank you,
Lord!
RADIATION REPORT:
I am so grateful to my local oncologist, Dr. Bryson and my radiation
oncologist, Dr. Gallardo and his staff who have expedited my treatment
schedule to accommodate the departure for Manila of Jeremy and me late
Thursday night, August 22. Yesterday was a long afternoon. I had to
do the long CT scan work-up to exactly pin point where the 3-D radiation
was to hit the tumor on my rib and spine. However, they actually did
my first radiation treatment as well, which was painless! I now have
a 15-20 minute treatment every day this week at 10:30 AM. Next week
will be the same except there will be two days when I actually will
have two treatments so that the schedule is properly completed. The
Lord willing, my last treatment will be early Thursday morning so Jeremy
and I can take off for the airport and still spend a little time with
the Kennedy family before boarding our Philippines Airlines flight.
The goal of this
radiation therapy is to entirely eradicate this new threat so it doesn't
grow further causing a very painful and complete debilitation. Then
and only then can I move forward with the other experimental drug trials
at UCSF or elsewhere to deal with the lung tumors, especially the one
that is growing.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- PLEASE PRAY that
the radiation treatments will be completely eradicate my rib and spine
tumor and will not damage my nerve and bone any further.
- PLEASE PRAY the pain medication will remain effective.
- PLEASE PRAY against radiation therapy side effects. They are minor
(fatigue and nausea) and I experienced a little bit of both last night
but the effects can be cumulative and I desire to avoid that. I need
to be on top physically for the trip across the Pacific and back.
- PLEASE PRAY that God will give me wisdom on the FINAL DECISION to
make this trip in case there are new and unexpected health developments
that could be detrimental to me long term. (I want this to be GOD's
trip, not DOUG's.)
- PLEASE PRAY that God will use Jeremy and me for His glory and to be
a blessing wherever we go in the Far East. As Christians, no trip is
entirely a pleasure trip as there are so many hurting people around
us. Jeremy, as a Campus Crusade for Christ leader at the University
of California – Santa Barbara, is not unfamiliar with ministry
but this will be a new venue for him. We will be speaking to at least
two church services on our two-week trip and will be meeting with lots
of friends.
- PLEASE PRAY that when needed, God will provide more comfortable seating
arrangements as we are flying economy all the way. (I call it "cattle
car class" on the Asian flights!).
- PLEASE PRAY specifically for Becky has she re-enters her registered
nursing studies today; for Kimberly as she starts 10th grade at Woodlake
High School next Monday; and for Bryan (U.S. Coast Guard) as he does
specialized training with the U.S. Navy in San Diego until sometime
in September.
In closing, on
one of our walks together the other day Becky and I were again realizing
just how blessed we are...blessed beyond measure. (Psalms 84:12; Psalms
145:6-10) God has been so good to us and we really don't have a complaint
in the world. We are so grateful for our mission, Christians in Action
and the way the board, the executive director Dave Konold, and staff
of have been so supportive of us through this challenge, doing anything
they can to make our lives operate a little more smoothly during this
time. The same goes to our local church family, Foothill Bible Church
and Pastor Bill Fox. Additionally, our financial supporters have not
only stayed with is but have almost doubled their efforts to make sure
our financial needs have been met...and they have been. What a pressure
that takes off. I only wish I could mention the name of every family
member and friend who has so graciously and deeply touched our lives.
Thank you.
Blessed by Him,
Doug & Becky
Sutherland
