Dear Praying
Friends,
Philippians
4:1-7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Again,
we want to say thank you for your faithful prayers. I know that it is
truly sustaining us. I want to report that I’m feeling much better.
I have been off of experimental chemotherapy for just over a month,
and I am feeling strength and energy that I haven’t felt for 7
or 8 months. Truly, it is exhilarating. Another praise report is that
my need for supplemental oxygen has decreased to almost nothing.
My oncologist
tells me that the most recent CT scans show that the tumors in my lungs
are “stable.” There is no significant change, either way,
from our last scans. They are not growing, nor are they shrinking. Therefore,
I’ve decided to cease experimental chemotherapy treatments altogether.
The side effects of the treatment are just not worth it for such a low
(well below 10%) chance of success.
While
I’ve been ill, my office was moved to another part of the building.
In the last couple of weeks my daughter Kim and I have spent several
days organizing my new one. In fact, she just finished hanging pictures
and decorating. Now that I have a functioning office I am trying to
get into my office at Christians in Action (CinA) a couple of days a
week to work on the upcoming medical mission. If you would like information
about participating in that exciting outreach, April 19-30, 2004, please
contact me at this address or dougs@christiansinaction.org.
The other day, after hearing the scheduled dates for the CinA Annual
Medical Mission to the Philippines I told Becky, “Wouldn’t
it be great if I could be a part of that?”
I have
said this many times before that in many ways this cancer has been a
gift, even though it may sound bizarre to most of you. To say it’s
a “gift” certainly doesn’t minimize the pain and suffering
cancer patients endure, nor does it minimize the effects on the whole
family And the eventual loss and temporary separation makes me cry as
well. Yet only some cancer patients can truly understand the depths
of this gift.
This cancer
has changed me. Physically, it’s wreaking havoc in my body, but
the Lord has a habit of encouraging me constantly. 2 Corinthians
4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
Yes, I
have those physical changes that aren’t pleasant but so many of
the changes are positive. My new friend, Galen, also a Renal Cell Cancer
(RCC) survivor recently put it this way and I say Amen. “I
love Jesus with more passion than ever before. I love [my wife] and
our family so much more. I appreciate every day of life and breath more
deeply. Friendships are invaluable. Material things mean absolutely
nothing. I find myself in conversation with others and ministering more
deeply to them than ever before. Every encounter with another person
has purpose. So, really this cancer has given more life than I could
have ever hoped for.” John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.”
We have
been told by many that they are really blessed by our web site. If you
haven’t visited it yet, please do so soon. Also, recommend it
to a hurting friend or someone with cancer. There are lots of photos
as well. The address is www.sutherlandsfaith.org.
Feel free to give us your feedback.
In closing,
I have several very specific prayer requests:
- Please
pray for my pain management, currently through narcotics. I’m
still waiting word on the placement of an intrathecal catheter morphine
pump for pain management. It’s very expensive and has to be
approved by my insurance.
- Pray
that God will give me the strength to work a couple of days a week
for a few hours at a time at the CinA office.
- Pray
that God will give me the strength to accompany Bryan to his new Coast
Guard duty in Northern California in October. He’ll be there
two-months before he is assigned to Elizabeth City, North Carolina
where he’ll undergo 4 months of Aviation Survival Technician
(AST) training in Search and Rescue (SAR). This training is similar
to U.S. Navy Seal training.
- Pray
that God will also give me strength to be a part of CinA’s medical
mission to the Philippines in April 2004. Becky (RN) and Kim (11th
grade) want to participate as well!!
We are
so grateful for your prayers. May God richly bless you.
Basking
in His Love,
Doug Sutherland
E-mail:
dbsutherland@lightspeed.net
Our Web
Site: www.sutherlandsfaith.org
Our Mission’s
Web Site: www.christiansinaction.org
