Please pray!

Good morning everyone,
Help! I know you are praying for me today as I see my doctor then have a treatment (by the way my appointment was changed to noon).  I have a bit of a complication that has me concerned.  Yesterday my G-tube quit draining.  This could be for a variety of reasons, but I do have pain in my right side,  that is  very persistent.
Thank you very much.  I'll try to keep you all posted ASAP. 

With love and gratitude,
Denise

An answer to prayer!

Hello Everyone,
I have to thank you for your prayers for peace this week. I already have noticed a difference that is awesome, I just need to share it with you.

Back in 2009 when I was diagnosed with cancer, the Lord gave me a verse that I interpreted as assurance that He was going to heal me. Later, as doubt crept in I lost hope in that verse. That lost of hope is what has caused my apprehension at confronting my doctor.  I believe in answer to your prayers, today I was leafing through Psalms and 119 caught my attention.  I was going to read a section somewhere around verse 65, but had this strong inclination to read under the heading of Zain which starts at verse 49. Wow, this is what I read:
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  Wow! That really put the hope back in my heart.  Now, I'm not saying that I'm all fixed, and never to feel doubt again, but I haven't had any "Doom of Thursday" feelings.  Thanks so very much for sharing my burdens with me, and helping me through all of this!  Praise and glory and honour to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
I love you people.  I sincerely hope that in Heaven you come up to me and let me know that you were one of the hundreds out there who prayed for me, because I want to be able to thank you in person.

It's been awhile since the last update.....

Hello everyone,

I know we haven't update this page since the 15th.  I do apologize. There just wasn't any change in anything.  As they say, "No news is good news!"   I've had one treatment since I had the reaction.  That one went well because I didn't get the drug that caused the reaction.  Now this coming Thursday, the 17th, I will start another cycle.  I'll see Dr. Cunningham first, and we'll talk about the change they'll make in my treatment.  But we've (Pastor and I) heard that they'll go with just the drug called gemsar. 

I have some anxiety about Thursday's appointment.  I always do when meeting with the doctors.  I know that God is in control, and it shouldn't make a difference what news they have, but this is where my faith is being tested the hardest.  I really do feel the strain of the test.  I told a friend awhile ago that it was easier to pray that God have His way with my life at a time when I truly believed that I would be healed.  That was before the most recent surgery, and being told that I had a limited time, and TPN instead of food, etc.  Now I struggle at times, with the thought that His way may not be the way that I thought.  Like I said this is the ultimate test of my faith.  But then Philippians 2:13 comes to mind:

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  

Praise the Lord that we don't need to pull it together ourselves to do what He has planned for us. Neither do we have to struggle with our "want to" as we're doing His will.  Because it is He that not only helps us to do His will, but also helps us to want to do it.  I remember when the Lord wanted me to work with the deaf.  I couldn't see myself in front of the auditorium signing.  It just wasn't my thing to do anything in front of anyone!  But as I submitted to His request He made me want to do it.  As a result I completely enjoyed those years of interpreting and teaching the deaf in Sunday School.  

So I said all that to ask this: please pray that I don't fret this whole week what my doctor will say, but that I can rest in His love and grace, knowing that He does all things well. And pray that Dr. Cunningham will be moved to do His will with the necessary knowledge.

Thanks again for all your love and prayers.  Please continue!!

Love, 

Denise 

Tuesday, March 15th

Denise wanted to let you know that she is doing alright.  She is having some discomfort in the morning but it seems to go away as the day goes on.  You are welcome to call and visit again.  A reminder to give a call first if you can.  She has chemo on Thursday and prayerfully there will be no surprises this time!  If the Lord leads, maybe drop her a note of encouragement or just a simple card letting her know you're thinking of her.

Friday, March 11th

Pastor just called and told me in detail all the events of yesterday.  I will do my best to relay the information to you!  As yesterday's blog read, Denise went in for her chemo treatment and had a severe reaction from the carboplatin (which is one of the drugs used in her chemo).  Pastor said that it was so scary that he didn't know if Denise was going to survive it.  They gave her the meds to counter the reaction and within an hour she was back to normal (other than being completely out of it because of the drugs they gave her).  Once she was stable the doctor sent them on their way only to call them on the way home to tell them to go to the ER.  Her electrolytes were low, along with her potassium.  Normal potassium levels are 3.6 and Denise's levels were 1.8 and when they get that low it can cause problems with your heart.  So she spent several hours getting fluids and potassium to get her levels back up.  She was able to come home.  He said that she is having some cramping this morning (which is normal for her condition) but that she is alert.  I'm sure she will be taking some naps today!  The doctor told her to plan on having a blood transfusion next week sometime too.  I'll keep you posted on any changes!  Keep on praying!

Thursday, March 10th

Denise went for her chemo treatment this morning and the unexpected happened.  She had a severe reaction to one of the elements of the chemo.  Her blood pressure and pulse shot up and she got red splotches everywhere.  Pastor said it was very scary for awhile.  The doctor was very close to calling an ambulance.  They gave her medication to counter the reaction so she is and will remain "out of it" for a couple days.  Pastor asked that no one call or stop by today or tomorrow.  Pastor said that she should be feeling better by Saturday.   Needless to say, they won't be giving her that same regimen of chemo next week.

A Message From Denise 3/6

Hello everyone,
Thanks for all the prayers concerning the transfusion I had last Thursday. It all went well, and by Saturday I was feeling great, and that has carried over to today. I had an awesome time at church this morning. I feel like David when he wrote, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 122:1.  It's such a blessing to be able to join brothers and sisters in the Lord to worship and praise Him.  It's never the same when at home, trying to make that connection. 

I had an opportunity Saturday to experience a biblical concept.  Faith was running in the 3K Heart Walk and Run fundraiser.  I woke up Saturday morning only to realize that she had already left, and I hadn't sent her off.  Then this crazy idea  hatched in my head.  If I hurried I could be at the finish line when she crossed. This was truly crazy because I wasn't sure where it was, and with all the rigmarole I need to do in the morning I would be short on time.  But I went for it anyway.  As I was driving towards Utica, I wondered why I was doing this, and the answer clearly rang out in my heart, because I love her.  Simply that. Then I realized that it's this same motivation that makes us serve the Lord.  Because we love Him. Why do we go places that we don't know, (think of all the missionaries).  Because we love Him.  Why do we leave our comfort zones, to do His bidding?  Because of love.  I could go on and on.  The sweet ending was that after many blessings of the Lord just getting there, I did see her.  When she hugged me and said, "Thanks for coming it means so much to me," it was more than worth it.  Just as when the Lord says, "Well done, good and faithful servant" it all becomes worth it.  (By the way, she did great.  I'm so proud of her!)

Thanks again for your prayers.
Love,
Denise

Wednesday, March 2nd

Denise went for some testing today.  It showed that her blood levels were low, so she will have a blood transfusion tomorrow.  She will have it done on an outpatient basis.  She said she feels pretty good otherwise and the transfusion will only help her feel better!  This week is her off week for chemo treatment.  Please continue to keep her and her family in your prayers.