Last Day of Chemo Treatment!

Congratulations, Mom!

Thank God for amazing nurses like Denise. We hadn't seen Denise in a while, because of schedule rotations, so it was an extra treat to have her here on the final day. She wore a cross necklace on Mom's first treatment, and helped us all feel more comfortable about the road ahead. We love Denise's smile! And we love and are thankful for ALL of the staff at the Breast Center.

Dad brought flowers to celebrate Mom's final chemo--6 treatments every 3 weeks: started January 12, finished April 26. Praise God for no sickness or infections throughout, allowing Mom to stay on schedule.

I won't forget sitting close to Mom, seeing her smile, and watching her love the people all around. She is truly Christ's ambassador, spreading a beautiful fragrance of Life and Hope in Him. This last day, she bought pink candles and typed out encouraging Bible verses for the nurses and staff in the Breast Center. She is a 'care-giver' even while being a 'patient'.

I like this picture because it reminds me of the empty cross or the empty tomb, only it's the 'empty chair'. The Resurrection Sunday song: "Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o'er his foes, he arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Halleluiah, Christ arose." And up from the chair Mom arose, surrounded by the prayers and blessings of so many 'in her court'--including you. 

Christ is also in 'Mom's court' and by faith in Him, even when her physical body wears out, she has His promise of eternal life. 

That is true victory; no more sickness, no more tears. 

Thanks, God. It's been fun to be part of a great team, and the team extends to all of you, reading, praying, loving, supporting, all in your own personal ways. Each of you are really special to our family, to Mom, to Dad, and to God. 

Blessings and Life to each of you, in the powerful and matchless Name of Christ.

Coming up: 

Mom has three weeks of rest. Ahhh . . . 

Grand-baby visit scheduled for Grand-Mother's Day weekend! Double celebration!! 

Prayer points: 

1. Mom's nerves, fingernails, tear-ducts, and ear to heal quickly. 

She has numb toes, balls of her feet, and fingertips (a condition called 'nuropathy', a side-effect of one of her chemo drugs), can't hear too well in one ear, 

and her balance is slightly off. Prayer is for complete recovery.

2. Mom's heart to be protected. 

Herceptin, which Mom takes through Thanksgiving, can sometimes affect people's hearts, so pray for hers to be protected and strong. Docs will monitor.

3. Grace for the removal of estrogen from her body, that her body will be protected and function like she desires, even with the lack. 

4. Wisdom for next steps with treatment and life.

Super-natural Healing

I asked the Doc, "How do we know if Mom is healed? We have a lot of people praying." 

His answer seemed to not really take super-natural healing into the equation.

[The place where I spent the last 9 months, we practiced a lot of praying for healing for all kinds of sicknesses. So it's definitely on my radar as possible, but maybe not on his, or maybe he just has to answer from a medical standpoint.]

 From his professional perspective, even if the lump goes away, individual cancer or pre-cancer cells are very tiny and can be anywhere in the body and won't show up on scans. So basically, because a cancerous lump was found, he treats the body like they're there, and goes through the whole regimine: chemo, surgery, radiation, follow-up drugs. 

And it seemed like they don't look at you as 'cured or healed' but as 'treating' or in 'remission'. 

It would be interesting to know how God sees Mom's body. 

So we pray for discernment in how best to walk each step and pray and trust the LORD for His power to fully heal, in Jesus' Name.

Thanks for your partnership in Mom's full recovery and complete victory in the LORD and His mighty power. 

Rest & Recovery

Congratulations, Mom, on making it through all these TREATMENTS! 

I love what Linda said, a dear friend from Sunday School said, "My doctor says you only really heal when you sleep or rest, so you need to rest a lot."

May you rest and recover really, really fully.