Victory through Christ Alone

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness. 
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. The words from this hymn come to mind when I think about what we heard today in the doctor's office.


(This version is beautiful. Hope it lifts your hearts, too.)

I'll back up. Last Friday, Mom and I went to get her final scans (MRI, mammogram, ultrasound), kind of like a student's 'final exams'. Only these scans would reveal how the full treatment (praise, prayers, chemo, etc.) worked and what she should do next.

Mid-way through chemo, Mom couldn't feel the lima-bean sized lump anymore.

When asked if she should still receive chemo, the doctor said, "Our 'route' is going to Chicago, so we don't want to get off half-way; we'll finish the treatments." She kept going; with her great attitude and kind heart reaching out to everyone she saw, encouraging, hugging, saying she would pray for them. It's been 'fun' too, in a sense, to have a full day with Mom, sitting by her, visiting with other patients, playing board games, listening to music, eating lunch Dad brings in, and receiving amazing care by the nurses.

Along with the chemo, we've been praying, and so many of you have joined in this 'battle cry' of prayers lifting to the very Throne Room of the King of all kings, requesting and speaking the Lord's healing over Mom's full body, and Mom has been 'receiving' those prayers by faith. So, really, it's been double-duty treatment: Faith + Medicine.

Here's another blessing that our wise and kind doctor pointed out, who is one of the most talented diplomats I have ever witnessed. (That's on his business card: a diplomat for cancer happenings.) He said, "You really have much to be thankful for. The type of cancer is triple +, which means that there are three positive ways we can treat it: chemo, Herceptin, and estrogen-removal."

I would personally add, 'quadruple +', prayer and belief that God is our Healer, like he described of himself: "If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees [thankfully we live in the time after Jesus Messiah fulfilled the requirements of the Law, and opened a New Covenant bought & sealed by His shed blood . . . so now we follow the Law of the Spirit of Life, Romans 7-8], I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

I found that verse by doing a Bible keyword search on 'heals'. There are a lot of verses about God healing all our diseases (Psalm 103), binding up our wounds (Psalm 147). And we read about the life of Jesus Messiah: healing the sick, casting out demons, and preaching 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'

He even brought dead people back to life; like the little girl who's parents' believed and said, "Yes, our daughter died, but could you come and pray for her? We know nothing is impossible for you Lord Jesus." Wow, that's big faith.

Bible keyword search: "heals" (www.biblegateway.com)

Anyway.

Scan Day: 
So Friday, Mom and I went to the scans. First: big MRI, where Mom said it was like you're slid inside a round hole, a giant doughnut-machine, and then for an hour, you hear loud ratt-a-tatt-tatting all around, like a jack-hammer. She endured.

Then we went upstairs and Mom got a mammogram, where they press, really tight, flat metal plates against your chest, and it's not too comfortable. She made it through. Then the nurse called her back for the ultrasound and allowed me to come back, too.

As the nurse ran the wand over Mom's chest, a black and white video showed on the screen. The nurse said, "I can't officially say anything." We looked together at the screen, and she kept looking and looking, but couldn't find anything. She could barely find the small titanium marker the docs inserted where the lump was when they took the initial tissue sample for biopsy.

That's right, was.

I felt like God drew back the curtains to show me a peek at what He had been accomplishing in Mom's body, and what we (everyone) had been praying and cheering for: complete healing in Jesus' Name.

Back in January, when Mom got the call from the nurse, saying the biopsy was cancerous, Mom's response was, "Bummer." She thought the results would be benign. But it was amazing that her family was right there (we were all in the van together, so really together, even though a few weren't able to be present). And then we were right around her own Regnier family, brothers and sisters, neices and nephews, whom she loves dearly. And one uncle Norman, in particular, who is walking a similar road, put his arm around Mom and cared for her really well, making her laugh with his emails. So, thank you, everyone for how you have walked with Mom, all in your own ways and methods of showing love--it's so beautiful.

There have been flowers sent annonymously, cards arriving in a continual stream, meals lovingly prepared, phone calls, text messages at just the right time, conversations, encouragement, and even if you've never personally talked to Mom, but have been part of this journey through your love and or prayers, we want to thank you. Really. You're part of our family's story along this road.

Next post: The results. :)