56 The Little things

God thinks of the little things to quiet/still my heart.

Before the last scan God arranged for my brother, Doug, and his wife, Donna, to be here all the way from Kenya. Nice distraction leading into another run of tests and doctor visits, which always tend to create some anxiety, despite the fact I know He has everything under control.  Well, He's done it again, lined up another visit from family right before the next scan. Coincidence??  No!! That's how my God works to say, “I love you, Debbie Stamper”.  I called this “The Little Things” because in the whole scheme of life, they are little.  However, to a heart in need, God makes them a priority. Because to that heart in need, they are a priority and I love that I am a priority to an almighty, all-powerful God.

A song that encouraged me this past Sunday at church was ‘Tis So Sweet.  Particularly this verse:

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

There is another song that continually runs through my head.  I mentioned this in #47.  But here’s the rest of the story.  This song continues to be an encouragement. 

 In 2000, “Commissioned” the singing group I travelled with while in college went to Kenya on a short mission’s trip.  My mom went with us.  While there, we received a phone call informing us that my dad who had stayed in America to keep some preaching engagements as they were on furlough at the time, was quite sick.  Later, we would find that he, too, was going to face his own battle with cancer, losing one kidney and part of the other.  Well, on the way to the airport to head back to America, one of the ladies in the group began singing this song and it continues to be an encouragement to me on a regular basis.

PRAISES:

Safety, and strength for each new day.

Lessons God continues to bring my way about Himself, me, others around me and life in general.

On Saturday of last week, I walked to the stop sign, mentioned in my last post.  Yes, I was tired but it was good for me and I intend to do it again soon.  Every time I do, it will get better and faster.

A wonderful friend of mine here in Sebring gave me what’s called an e-stem device.  It has these little plastic/rubber pads you place on your skin.  The wires attached to the pads plug into a machine that sends electrical current to the area.  Depending on where I place the pads, the device will cause my fingers or wrist to move.  The other day I was using the machine to move my fingers and it made my fingers move like they used to while playing the piano.  It was not by my effort, the machine did it all, but it was nice to experience that sensation again. I still find myself playing in my head while people at church play for the offering, playing along sometimes with my right hand. But the other evening, when all this movement was going on it was as if God wanted to remind me what it felt like to have my left hand join the "party".  Coincidence?  No!!  That’s my God again saying, “I love you, Debbie Stamper”.

PRAYER REQUESTS: (Many of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

Extra fatigue from medication.  So please pray for extra strength on a daily basis.

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

Safety.

Family who are hanging in there with me through this battle.

Wisdom to know my limitations and observe them.

Still working on paperwork for various devices to assist mobility as well as insurance matters.

Next MRI and doctor visit Feb 8.

55 LESSONS FROM THE DOGS

Last entry, I talked about trying to understand others a little bit more. Well, here may be a new one, I now understand my dogs a little bit better. Since I was a baby, my family has had dogs, some were pets. Once we moved as a family to Kenya, the purpose switched from just being pets to being security.  When I got old enough, I began taking over much of the obedience training.  I did a lot of research, read a lot of books and tried a lot of things.  I declared some things were not good ideas.  I feel I did a fairly good job with dogs and basic obedience and a few fun tricks with dogs ranging from a 3-pound Poodle that one visitor one day, mistook for a rat in the house, to Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Schnauzers and other mixed breeds. There have only ever been two I feel I failed with. They are pictured below.  Spike and Chloe currently live in Kenya with my brother, Doug. Their purpose is security and while they do a good job of that, their basic obedience I failed at before I left Kenya.  Sorry Doug.   Now Sophie (here in America) is an entirely different story because of the abuse she experienced before I got her, but even she has come a LONG way.  I feel successful with all the dogs I worked with in obedience training (except these two).  However, there has always been one thing that has baffled me.  How do dogs get so tangled in their leashes?  Well, now I get it.  I went out on Tuesday of this week for some lab work.  Before I could get that done, I was so twisted in my cords, from the device I wear on my head (Optune), just from getting out of the car that my brother, David, had to come over once we got inside and straighten me out.  I thought in that moment.  “This must be how the dogs feel when they get all wrapped up in their leashes.”  You never know what you’ll learn when you go out.

Here’s Spike and Chloe when they were young, innocent and cute:

Here they are now:

You may find my humor odd that I am amused by understanding more about how dogs get twisted in their leashes and feeling the same way, myself.  However, we all need to look for amusement in frustrating situations and enjoy life.  It passes by too quickly and we miss lessons or times of joy.  Now, let me share a verse that encouraged me this week.  Despite the steps I do or do not take forward, everything I do is a gift from God, every breath, every laugh (even if at myself), every walk down the road, every day in which I may need an extra nap.

I pray my life shows that at all times.  It’s not about me; it’s about HIM.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

Find something to smile about when life gets hard, you may just make someone question what’s different about you.  What an opportunity to talk about the Lord.

PRAISES:

Safety, and strength for each new day.

One thing doctors continue to check is regular lab work to ensure blood levels are where they should be.  I continually hear.  “Your lab work is great, keep it up.”  I have had very little sickness, apart from the chickenpox in November 2016.  With all the chemo, I am very susceptible to catching just about anything. Thankful for protection from all those germs out there.

I’m also thankful for the local lady who draws my blood here in Sebring, so I don’t have to travel to just get lab work done.  She is so friendly and encouraging, notices my progress physically in walking and is very skilled at her job.

Lessons God continues to bring my way about Himself, me, others around me and life in general.

On Monday I walked partway down the road. Something I haven't done since around last Easter. I went to the neighbor's property line which is actually two properties down, as there are two empty lots between here and there. Next stop will be their mailbox. Cancel that, on Thursday, that was a success. Now the next step is the stop sign at the end of the road. But for today. I'll take what I can get, since it's another step in the right direction.

PRAYER REQUESTS: (Many of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

Extra fatigue.  So please pray for extra strength on a daily basis.

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

Safety.

Family who are hanging in there with me through this battle.

Wisdom to know my limitations and observe them.

Next MRI and doctor visit Feb 8.

54 TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN (BEGUN NEW YEAR’S EVE)

This is the time of year when we tend to look back on the previous year at what we did or did not accomplish, reevaluate and make plans for trying again the following year.  Growing up, I often heard, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”  Well that’s not exactly how I would describe this past year, though it seems to have flown by.  It was a year ago January 13^th that I woke up from surgery #2 in the ICU unable to move anything on my left side. Two days before, I had walked a mile with Sophie and rode my bike 5 miles.  Now it takes several minutes sometimes to get from the front door of the house to the car which sits right in front of the house.  However, I can get there.  So many other people did not see the beautiful sky that I did today, nor did they have the opportunity to be encouraged by God’s nor did they hear the beautiful music this morning at church like I did.

Verses like:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5, 6

Songs like “Though it all”

Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.

As I look back on 2017 I have been reminded of something my Dad has talked about in reference to his 1982 climb of Mt. Kenya (Point Lenana – 16,000+ feet).  He says one of the most difficult parts of the climb was the scree”.  Here is a definition:

“A mass of small loose stones that form or cover a slope on a mountain.”

My dad says you take 2 steps forward and slide 1 step back. That’s a lot of how I would describe this past year.  Right before my surgery in January, I had almost recovered the use of my left hand and was beginning to play the piano a little, then I woke up in ICU from surgery unable to move my foot or hand in any direction.  A few months later in June, I had surgery #3, at which time I was told, I would likely loose ALL mobility on my left.  However, friends, family, my wonderful church family of Southside Baptist Church (in Sebring, FL) and complete strangers jumped in and started praying in earnest and God performed a miracle again.  I’m still walking and have some use of my left arm.  Now when I say some, I do mean SOME, but SOME beats NOTHING.  I am thankful for lessons God has allowed me to see through these experiences.  Have I been discouraged? SURE!! Plenty of times. But I can see God’s hand through all of them, even if only to remind me He’s got everything under control and that I need to be more understanding of others.  You never know what they have been or are currently facing.  I sit here New Year’s Eve with fireworks going off around the neighborhood. For some reason after my radiation, my hearing became quite sensitive.  Doctors said, I would likely lose much of my hearing, instead it went in the opposite direction.  The doctors can’t explain it.  Between that and effects of some medication, I am sometimes a bit sensitive to loud noises.  So, with fireworks going off, I am a bit jumpy tonight.  I laughed that I was worse than the dogs ever were.  Then, my heart went to those brave men and women in the military who have fought for my freedom on the front lines of war and who have struggled with the same loud noises.  Now I don’t struggle for the same reason as I was never in the military, but I can sympathize with the discomfort of the sounds.

Instead of losing my hearing.  I have a lost much of my voice (my “teacher voice” and my singing voice).

Now don’t misunderstand me.  I’m human.  I still have to grab a tissue and just let the tears fall, sometimes rather heavily.  These tears do not come from fear of what comes after this life ends. I'm secure in that. I know where I'll be then. “Absent from the body. . . present with the Lord.” However, there are a lot of other unknowns and frustrations between now and then.  I can look back at this year and see when God used my experiences to show me something important about my relationship with Him and with others.  I still feel as though I’m on that scree. These past couple of weeks I have noticed a change in my energy.  Then starting back on the double chemo Christmas Day, that fatigue was intensified.  That all sat me back some more.  So really for about the last two weeks, I’ve been back on that scree again.  Then last night (Saturday) I noticed a new movement out of my foot.

(Continued New Year’s Day)

As I was falling asleep last night, saying goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018 (not at midnight, my weary eyes had closed and I was sleeping long before that).  I was thinking about what did I do last year that I would rather not repeat in the new year?  First of all, I would rather not put the wrong Christmas card in the wrong envelope.  You know who you are.  I’m Sorry.  Now don’t tell me you’ve never done that before.  I would also prefer not to look quite so foolish or at least not worry about looking foolish when getting in the car and my left leg, which sometimes has a mind of its own, sticks out like a flagpole when I try to get in the car.

Sunday evening, I also received an encouraging email from a friend in Kenya who reminded me of another verse (see below) to get me through those stepping backward days.  This is my motto for 2018.  So welcome 2018.  You are beautiful this morning.  What do you have in store for me this year?  Better yet, what does God have in store for me this new year?

PRAISES:

Safety, and strength for each new day.

Lessons God continues to bring my way about Himself, me, others around me and life in general.

Another new year.

PRAYER REQUESTS: (Many of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

NEW – Recently I have been extra tired.  After a discussion with my doctor’s office, they informed me this will happen when a person is on chemotherapy for an extended period of time. So please pray for extra strength on a daily basis.

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

Safety.

Family who are hanging in there with me through this battle.

Wisdom to know my limitations and observe them.

Next MRI and doctor visit Feb 8.

#53 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here are my thoughts for this week, one of my favorite times of the year, Christmas and New Year’s.  First, I'll start with my New Year’s resolution:

No more falling in 2018.  I am asked at every doctor’s visit if I have fallen recently.  I have gotten into the habit of saying no.  But I can't just rattle off an answer like that now.  It started with the “crash of 2017”.  You can read about that in a previous blog entry.  But the holidays can be rough sometimes in many different ways.  On Tuesday before Christmas I fell after passing out, probably from exhaustion of two days back to back that were extra tiring.  Then Christmas Eve (afternoon) I fell off a stool trying to take pictures for Christmas in front of the tree.  Medical professionals have told me that because of the injury to my mobility and the lack of proper feeling on my left side from surgery and treatment that things like this can happen.  They expect with time and continued therapy and improved strength, this too will improve, and I only need to be concerned if I hurt myself or if things get significantly worse. However, I simply lost my balance sitting on the stool, something that I knew was a potential problem. This time I ended up with a 6-inch bruise on my leg from Tuesday and a bump on the head from Christmas Eve.  Thankfully the bump on the head was on the opposite side of my surgery.  That was the worst of the injuries apart from my frustration of having to call my retired parents to help me out. I know a lot of people are praying for me and I appreciate that.  But when you mention my name, would you please add their names too?  I think weeks like this one add gray hairs to their heads.  I was also joking afterwards that my guardian angels are probably asking God for a vacation from their duties with me.  All kidding aside, I am thankful for God's protection during these two incidents.  Things could have been SO much worse.

After my visit to the floor of the living room Sunday afternoon, I told my mom she wouldn't have to sweep the floor for Christmas.  My clothes were taking care of that as I struggled to get back on my feet.  We laughed and tried not to take ourselves too seriously.

On Christmas Eve I decided that despite the adventures of the day, the Christmas Eve service at church was a good place for me to go.  Why?  Because I can. I am thankful that I was able to do so.  So many others would like to have been there but just simply were unable to get out of bed or for some other reason just couldn't make it.  I said in the car coming home that it just seemed like the right place to be. Not only that, but it was encouraging to be around others who have faced harder times this week, than I have, but decided a Christmas Eve service at our church was also the right place to be.  Why?  Because we can.  And why can we, because of God's grace and the true meaning of Christmas.  It's all about perspective, I suppose.    At the end of the service A little girl sang the following song.  This is not her recording, but I wanted to share a link to a beautiful way of putting Christmas in the right perspective.  Here is the link.
So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

PRAISES:

Safety, and strength for each new day.

Lessons God continues to bring my way about Himself, me, others around me and life in general.

Encouragement from others around me who are also struggling with issues of their own, many bigger than mine, but keep their eyes on the Lord and remind me that it’s not about me, it’s about what my life can do for HIM and what He can do through me.  For those of my friends who have experienced difficulties in the past couple of weeks or so or who share their difficult experiences from the past and continue to show God’s grace in their lives.  Thank you. You are an encouragement to me.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  (Some of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

Safety.

Family who are hanging in there with me through this battle.

Wisdom to know my limitations and observe them.

Next round of double chemo started Christmas Day and will continue for 6 weeks.

Next MRI and doctor visit Feb 8.

#52 AN EXPLANATION

When I was challenged to start this blog.  I was a bit nervous about it.  I am not generally a very open and public person.  I do not post things on social media or tell everyone I know what I’m thinking at a particular moment.  People have often commented that they view me as a “private person”.  That would be correct.  So, this blog took me to a whole other level personally.  I said at the very beginning of this blog that I didn’t want this to become a “feel sorry for Debbie” activity. 

I have felt the need to be open and honest about what’s going on, which requires me to share some things I might otherwise keep private.  Yet if I’m going to express to you anything about this journey, it MUST include references to the grace of God through these difficult times and experiences.  I said from the beginning of this journey, I could not handle any of this without His grace.  Yes, this means I must share certain personal details in order to express how grace comes in.  Don’t feel sorry for me or pity me in any way.  Instead celebrate God’s grace and in whatever change in your life you weren’t expecting comes along lean on that grace.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. - 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

I commented last time on some of the rudeness of people you meet shopping.  Well, I hate to mention all the bad and not give credit when it’s due.  Yesterday, I was “walking”, yes, not riding in a wheelchair out of a store and as always it was taking a long time.  A lady held the door for me.  I said, “I hope you’re not in a hurry.  This could take a while.”  She said, “Don’t worry.  I’m in no hurry.  People are in too much of a hurry these days and miss so much in life.”  I agreed with her and thanked her for her patience.  My mom has constantly reminded me in life that people need to stop and smell the roses.  Well, I now have plenty of time when walking somewhere to smell the roses or other things I might prefer to ignore.

Now with this Optune device on my head, I have an electric blanket attached to my head.  During Florida summers with hot temperatures and high humidity, it’s not so nice.  But this time of year, when it’s cooler, as it is right now for Florida, the electric blanket is kind of nice.  This morning, I noticed it was extra warm.  My head actually felt hot, like a fever.  It wasn’t that, but my dad mentioned (I like his thinking).  “You know, when that electrical current hits such resistance as a brain the size of yours (because you are so smart), it’s going to produce more heat. Good thinking, Dad.  I like your thought processes.

praises:

More small steps forward with my left leg and arm.  Slow but sure.

God’s continued provision and faithfulness, including, working out issues that have been hanging on for 3 months, unrelated to health matters.

Right now, I am on a short break from the chemo.  That’s a nice break.  The only negative part is that it starts back up again Christmas Day.  Not the Christmas celebration I would have chosen, but Christmas isn’t about me anyway.

PRAYER REQUESTS: (Some of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

#51 SPIRITUAL WARFARE

a few thoughts from my heart this week:

Thursday morning, I have to admit I had a bit of a battle within myself.  There is no excuse.  God is great.  He has blessed me beyond measure.  I am, however, human and fail to hold onto faith sometimes.  Thank you, Father for your patience with me.  Which reminds me of:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places – Ephesians 6:12

I really don’t need to worry.  God always keeps His promises.

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations – Deuteronomy 7:9

As previously promised, here is a picture of the wonderful gift sent to me from the Bible Baptist Church, Makongeni.  Thank you again.  Not pictured here is the tea, that I have already been enjoying.

Sometimes when you’re having a rough day, God will bring something along your path to just make you smile and forget your rough start.  Let me explain:

When you go shopping, you never know what kind of people you are going to meet.  Last week I was at a local grocery store (supermarket) and left my phone in the shopping cart.  When I realized what I had done, we went back and found a lady who had seen it and turned it in as lost.  I thanked her for her honesty.  Yesterday, I was at the same store and now with my mobility issues, I use a motorized cart.  Below is a picture for my friends reading this who may not be familiar with these carts.  They are available in many stores here for customers to use while shopping.  Now back to yesterday, I was going through the store and there was an older lady in one of these carts, as was I.  She saw me coming and hurried to get in front of me.  She wasn’t joking either.  She really cut me off to go down the isle first.  I thought I was back in Nairobi traffic.  I’m not sure what was going through her mind, but she certainly was determined to be first.  I think I might have even laughed out loud once I realized what she was doing.  Maybe she used to be a NASCAR driver or an East African Safari Rally driver. 😊  Either way, God provided an amusing end to a hard day.

praises:

I am amazed at how many people are praying for me.  I was reminded again this past week of a comment I had made a while back.  There are so many people praying around the world and across the USA for me.  I have people praying in so many different time zones that God must hear my name a lot during a 24-hour period.  As well, I am constantly being told from people I don’t even know that their family and/or church in some other location are praying for me.  It’s a truly humbling experience.  I am blessed with friends, family, acquaintances and total strangers who see the value of prayer.

I have been doing some more research on GBMs and read something that may or may not be true.  It is NOTaccording to my doctor.  However, when you cross from monthly scans to scans every two months, that is a bit of a milestone.  Well, my next scan is in 2 months.  I’m going to hang onto the hope that this is a good thing, whatever the reason.

Continued improvements in how I’ve been feeling/strength.

God’s continued provision and faithfulness.

No more trips to Tampa until February, unless something comes up.  That means no scans, no doctor visits, etc.

BECAUSE I CAN MOMENT:

A few days ago, I picked up my left leg and set it into the car first, something I’ve not done in over a year. Small steps, I know.  But still steps in the right direction.

Improved strength.

PRAYER REQUESTS: (These are the same as my last entry, but still remain relevant/needed.)

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

#50 HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MEDICAL UPDATE

A few thoughts from the week:

I have not kept up as well with my blog entries recently. This is a busy time of year with the holidays. As I mentioned in my last post, for the first time in a LONG time, my parents, my two brothers and I were together for Thanksgiving. My brother, Doug and his wife, Donna, missionaries in Kenya, arrived the Sunday before Thanksgiving. There were other extended family and friends who also joined in the day, making it a great time to get together as family.

This week I have been encouraged by a couple of songs, sung in church and otherwise just brought to my attention. Here’s one:

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

I had the privilege of hearing Doug preach this past Sunday, who reminded us that our enemy, Satan, is out to defeat us, but by knowing our enemy, how he works, thinks and attacks, we can have victory through Christ. That reminded me of another song and Scripture.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth - Isaiah 53 4-7

JESUS NEVER FAILS 

Words and Music by Gary Driskell

So many souls have tested Him
Throughout the course of time
So many still reach out to Him
With broken hearts and minds

And everyone of them will say
Without exception that they find
Jesus never fails

Even in the days of old
He brought His people through
Then He came to show His love
And He died for me and you

And then He rose again to prove
That every story had been true
Jesus never fails

Chorus
Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
You might as well get thee behind me Satan
You cannot prevail
Because Jesus never fails

Sometimes this world brings trouble
I find so hard to bear
I know I could not make it
Without Jesus being there
It’s so encouraging to know
However deep we’re in despair
That Jesus never fails

So what can I do to prove to you
Tell me, how can you deny?
No untold facts, no mysteries
It’s all so cut and dry
And on the witness stand of your life
I’ll be the first to testify
That Jesus never fails

Repeat Chorus

Doug also brought some great updates of things in Kenya and he brought “get-well” cards from some of the churches with whom I worked while a missionary in Kenya. It was wonderful reading the notes of encouragement. Then he surprised me with a gift and card from the Bible Baptist Church, Makongeni, Thika. I grew up in this church as a young missionary kid (MK) and continued there even as an adult missionary, working with some truly wonderful people. To say that gift and card meant a lot, would be quite an understatement. It brought lots of tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Thank you for all the kindness expressed through your actions and cards.


I will post pictures soon. For now, I am thoroughly enjoying the tea. Thank You.

medical update:

Today, I went back to Moffitt for a visit with my doctor and to get the report from Monday’s MRI. Here’s what He said:

The MRI looked good. There are still places that show changes, but he called them pseudo-progression, which is a false indication that the tumor could be growing, but is more likely, changes due to the radiation treatment. He also said there are more signs that it is not tumor growth because there are no blood vessels in the spots they are seeing, which would also indicate that it’s not tumor growth. He once again said he didn’t understand what was happening in my case because my cancer is not acting “normal”.

So, of course we celebrated with frozen yogurt.



PRAISES: 

Continued improvements in how I’ve been feeling.

God’s continued provision.

BECAUSE I CAN MOMENT:

Today, I walked in to see the doctor, something I’ve only done once before. Sure, it took a while. I kept telling everyone they could have a head start, if they needed it. 😊

Improved strength.

I received an encouraging call today concerning some continued treatment and a possible step forward in the device for my leg/foot.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.