Dear Praying Friends,
I am still basking
in the emotions of our trip to the Far East. Oh, what memories I have
to treasure. I am so grateful for your prayers that I believe supernaturally
sustained me over those 15 wonderful days. The Lord is so good.
We received the
results of my latest CT scans on September 13th. The results contained
quite a surprise. I have purposely delayed in passing on the news until
my son Bryan’s Coast Guard Cutter arrived in port in the San Francisco
Bay area - I wanted to be able to share the news with each of my children
first. I just returned home today after spending a couple of days with
him there, as it’s been over three months since we last saw him.
What a joy to my heart to see him again and see that he is doing so
well.
RESULTS: My last
scans in June showed the 8-9 lesions that have been present since my
original diagnosis in December. The June scans also revealed significant
growth in one tumor in my left lung. Then in August a MRI revealed a
new rib tumor which we tried to deal with by radiation. The shock is
that the new scans show that the number of lesions in my lungs have
multiplied to around eighty (yes, 80!). That is significant growth.
I have a consultation on Friday with doctors at the University of California
– San Francisco Cancer Center to discuss three separate treatment
options.
You must understand
I’m very aware that I’m dealing with a disease that will
probably take my life. Apart from a miracle from God the statistics
are simply not in my favor. Any treatments I undergo are basically experimental
and I may never benefit directly. However, as long as I believe there
is a reasonable option out there for me to try, I will do it. I don’t
know how long I have left (neither do you) but I intend to live very
focused on what God has called me to do. I appreciate your continued
prayers as we move forward.
God has been so
gracious to me. Here are just a few of the invaluable lessons I’ve
learned on this journey. First, peace and joy have nothing to do with
our outward circumstances - it comes through our relationship with Jesus
Christ, no matter what is going on around us. Secondly, I’ve learned
to focus more on the unseen and eternal - that is what is real.
II Corinthians
2:16-18 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. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
There are many,
many more lessons but I’ll save them for another time, the Lord
willing. Please remember Becky and our children in your prayers. I am
insisting that no matter what happens, Becky continue with her nursing
studies so she can receive her Registered Nursing pin in May 2003. She
is so close and that has been “our” goal from the beginning.
It’s one of the most important things to me.
In closing, thanks
again so much for your prayers, e-mails, calls, cards and encouraging
words. It means so much to us.
Moving ahead in
Christ,
Doug Sutherland
