Regressing Tumor

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He Hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5: 14-15


Marc had his second chemotherapy treatment today and met with his doctor. His doctor was impressed that Marc had been off of pain medication for over a week. His blood cell counts -- both red and white -- were up and stable. His weight went up a pound during his treatment (hooray!). And, from his examination he was encouraged that the tumor is regressing! The cancer cells are responding to treatment and the cancer is noticeably shrinking!

We are by no means out of the woods; however, we are encouraged by our appointment today. We have prayed specifically for these cells to respond to treatment...and they have. In fact, many of the things we have asked you all to pray for have been answered as we have asked (see Marc is Home; A Most Memorable St. Patrick's Day). Elo hit it on the head today -- she compared God's gracious answers to prayer like our daily bread. He isn't giving us everything all at once...he is doling out what we need on a daily basis and it sustains us. Today we are more than full from his provision...our cup overflows again.

We are excited to share this initial news. We are so incredibly grateful for the many prayers on our behalf and the wonderful support you have given us. We really believe that any progress or healing that Marc is experiencing is due to God's great mercy. We are grateful to Him today and give him all the glory and credit for these blessings.

So, for the next two days the routine will be the same. He is at home with his pump, taking the remainder of his chemo. He will be disconnected on Thursday and will have twelve days off to feel "normal." We really enjoy the stretches when we don't have to see the doctor or endure treatments!

In the meantime, I will continue to post about all you amazing friends and family that have completely overwhelmed us with your generosity and love -- there are a lot of neat stories and it will take a long time to spotlight you all! This has been a fun exercise in counting our many blessings. We hope these stories serve to encourage you all.

Please continue to pray that...

• Marc's treatment remains effective and tumors continue to shrink (or disappear!)
• His appetite remains good and he can continue to gain back the weight he lost in the hospital
• His energy would increase. His red blood cell count is looking better than it has in weeks and we are hopeful that his energy will increase soon.
• My grandmother will continue to stabilize -- her pain is a major concern right now, as is her pneumonia

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Knowledge

This is Elo and Roger (and yes, that is a guy with an accordion in the background....but that's a story for a different day). We met Elo and Roger through our church Growth Group years ago. We have considered them dear friends ever since. Though life and circumstances change, we have always managed to come back together for Bible study. They have been gracious enough to host our group for several years and this year volunteered to be our leaders.

Elo and Roger have been an incredible blessing to us over the years. In recent weeks we have appreciated their insights as doctors. Both have been able to help us better understand Marc's cancer. They have asked helpful questions and shed light on many of the issues surrounding his treatment. Their willingness to share their knowledge has helped alleviate a lot of confusion and uncertainty.

Their knowledge isn't limited to the medical field. They also know full well what it means to have friends with cancer. I remember a couple of years ago seeing Elo crying during worship at church. She told me that her best friend, Armida, had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer in her bone. The prognosis wasn't good. She was a wife and mom of two. The whole situation hit me hard. Not only could I identify as a mom with Armida, but the fact that she was such a dear person to Elo made it incredibly personal. To this day I have never met Armida, but I think her often and feel a tremendous connection to her. We prayed diligently for her in her weeks of treatment. We prayed for a miracle; for a great mercy. After just a few weeks of treatment, Armida's cancer was no longer visible on her scans. To this day she is cancer free. There is never a day that I don't think of God's great mercy on us by healing Armida. Now, more than ever, I think of her battle against cancer as a great source of hope. Elo reminds me constantly that there are no absolutes in this fight and that there is always hope. There are miracles....She should know. She helped me see one.

Elo and Roger have been a huge source of comfort to Marc and me. They were gracious enough to host a large group of family and friends at their home to pray for Marc. I was overwhelmed that so many would show up on a Saturday afternoon to simply pray over us. This was a beautiful and humbling experience -- one I am not likely ever to forget. I can't thank these two enough for suggesting the idea and sacrificing their Saturday to host us.

Roger and Elo, thank you for being committed friends. Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge you share and the grace with which you share it. Your knowledge and experience have helped us so much in the past few weeks. Thank you for making us ask the hard questions and encouraging us with messages of hope and love. I appreciate all the time you have sacrificed for us -- visiting us in the hospital, watching the kids, opening your home to all of us. We are blessed to call you friends.

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Diligence

This is Dave and Karen. If it hadn't been for Dave I would not have met Marc. Dave was my Sunday school teacher all those years ago when I met Marc. It was through his group that we met each other and many of the friends that have been so supportive during this time.

Dave is probably one of the most diligent people I have ever met. He is conscientious and hard working at everything he does. And I'm not just talking about work....I'm talking about his relationships -- those with God, his family, and his friends. He takes his relationships very seriously and works incredibly hard at making them work. He studies, he thinks, and he puts in tremendous time and energy into serving.

When he married Karen several years ago, he found someone just as diligent and committed as himself. Marc and I have been so delighted to see how Dave and Karen have blessed each other and how well they work together as a couple. We have benefited immensely from their marriage and their friendship.

At any time we have experienced hard times, Dave and Karen are there. Dave has been present at the hospital and the chemo clinic, distracting both Marc and me. As we have had physical needs, he has been delighted to help -- my lawn mower is running again! Dave is also great at just hanging out, arguing politics, discussing theology, and asking questions. We have learned a lot from his knowledge and experience.

In the same way Karen is consistently present, helping with meals, encouraging me with truth, watching my kids. She is sensitive and compassionate, always considering others before herself. She also has some helpful life experiences that help her identify with what we are going through right now. I have found it sobering and yet encouraging to know that our struggles aren't all that unique -- many of our friends and loved ones have stories of sorrow and hope to share. We aren't alone.

Thank you, Dave and Karen, for diligently pursuing our friendship. We are grateful for all the effort and energy you put into helping us and being present in our hour of need!

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Family

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven...
Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is my Grandma Irene at her 90th birthday party last September. I like this picture because it's pretty typical of how you could find her on any given day -- laughing and usually with a grandchild in her arms. Grandma is an energetic, determined woman. She is full of life and faith. She is passionate about her family and has been a powerhouse of a matriarch. She has prayed for her family diligently over the years, watching as we have grown up, married, and had children of our own. I am fairly certain that this woman has prayed for me every single day of my life.

She and Marc share an uncommon bond these days. A few weeks before Marc was diagnosed with his cancer, Grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They have somewhat similar cancers, share the same doctors, and the same family. Needless to say, Grandma knows exactly what Marc is going through.

While Marc is feeling better -- his pain is gone to the point that he doesn't take pain meds, his nausea is gone, and he is resuming his normal activities -- Grandma has grown worse. Her pain has escalated, she has contracted pneumonia, and the cancer has now spread to her liver. From a human standpoint, it appears that her fight is nearing its end and she will be going home soon. And, she is okay with that.

I marveled last night at how, once again, our family has come together to support each other. We stood around her hospital bed, held hands and prayed for her and for each other. We have been blessed with a loving and faithful family. It seems like life has heaped up a lot of sadness and uncertainty on our family in recent weeks. Part of me wonders how much more grief we can all take, but then I remember how much of a blessing these experiences have been. God has a purpose for this season in our life. We may not see it now, but there are good reasons for our suffering. I have started to see them already: Compassion, mended relationships, love, and refined faith, have all grown out of so much pain and uncertainty.

My family continues to struggle with grief over both Marc's and Grandma's illnesses. The physical and emotional demands are tremendous on everyone at this time. I find courage and strength, though, in our family and our shared faith. Thank you to all of our family members that have supported us and been such huge help during this time. Thank you for the prayers and the love. A family that loves each other and serves each other is a beautiful thing to watch.

Please join us in praying that...

• Grandma's doctors and nurses can keep her pain under control
• Her pneumonia would resolve itself and that she can return home to rest
• Her family would find comfort and peace during this time
• Her caretakers would not become exhausted and overwhelmed with her care
• Wisdom for the family to know how to direct and manage her care after the hospital
• Marc would continue to enjoy being pain free, hungry, and energetic
• That Marc's chemotherapy is effective and that his cancer is cured

Thank you for your continued prayers and support during this increasingly difficult time. With love and gratitude....

The Gift of Loyalty

This is Melanie and her wonderful husband, Steve. Mel has been my dear friend for over 25 years! Our lives have often taken different paths, but we have always managed to stay in touch. In recent years our childhood friendship has matured and expanded to include our kids and our husbands. Steve' s friendship has been a tremendous blessing to Marc over the years. We couldn't be more grateful to have this couple and their kids in our lives. These are not just friends...they are family.

Mel and Steve have the uncommon gift of loyalty. Steve is the guy that will always show up to help and does it with zero fanfare. He is a good and upright man that takes great care of his family and friends. In the same way, I can always count on Mel. She is the person I can call at midnight in an emergency. I called her two years ago when we had our house fire and she was there in record time to help house the kids. When Marc had to go to the hospital last week she came out and watched the kids for the night. The next day she stayed on with the kids and fielded the phone calls that were pouring in from family and friends. She is the first to volunteer to help and stays until the storm passes. Her willingness to help makes the impossible situation seem tolerable.

Thank you, Mel and Steve, for your many years of friendship. A lot of life has happened in that time, and it is so comforting to know that in the good times and bad that you are there. Thank you for your willingness to help with meals, logistics, and our kids. Most of all, thank you for your encouragement and love. You have both been a comfort to me and to Marc during this time. Your commitment to each other, to your family, and to your friends, is a rare and beautiful quality in the world today.

With love and gratitude....

The Gift of Spontaneity

This is Jessica. I have had the pleasure of knowing Jess for about eight years. Jess is a wife and super-mom of four really neat kids. When she isn't on the go doing stuff for her kids and friends, she works as a nurse. She is also a devoted aunt to her niece, Kamelah, who is in the midst of winning her battle against leukemia. This is a busy woman that knows on a very personal level our fears and challenges.

Jess was one of the first to offer help in the midst of our crisis. Despite having four kids of her own, she has willingly taken on our four at any time we need her...and makes it look easy. Jess keeps me sane during the week by making me coffee and giving me a place that I can vent, fall apart, and hear some words from someone that understands. She has a brilliant wit, a heart of gold, and a spontaneous spirit.

It was the spontaneous spirit that put her on my porch at 8:30 this morning. Surprise! She brought her espresso machine, a dozen doughnuts, her kids, and....a rack of barbecue ribs for Marc from McGraw's (ribs are the only food that has consistently sounded good to him during his treatment). We had a lovely breakfast party -- the kids played and we had a great time visiting. What a treat! Thank you, my friend!

Jess has the amazing gift of spontaneity. She is able to drop anything at any time to help a friend in need. She is also great fun -- her ability to prioritize and not sweat the small stuff allows her to embrace the fun opportunities. She is an inspiration to me. I tend to be more rigid and she has helped me recognize the costs and pitfalls of too much structure. She gets me out of my Rainman mentality! She is a dear friend and a wonderful example to me.

Thank you, Jess, for all you have done and continue to do for me, for Marc, and for the kids. Your friendship has kept me grounded during the uncertain times. I am so grateful to you. Thank you for going to all the work to get your family here this morning just to surprise us and make us laugh. You gave us cause to forget our troubles and face the day with a smile.

With love and gratitude....

Marc...

We have been blessed dearly with good friends and family. I plan to start sharing about some of the wonderful ways we have been encouraged over the last few weeks in upcoming posts. Today, though, I want to say thank you to the man at the center of it all...my husband. Of all the people that have prayed, encouraged, shared, and served, it is his grace has helped me the most. Watching this quiet, humble man go through this misery has been inspiring to me. He is truly my hero. He doesn't complain. He isn't bitter. He shows no fear. When he is down, he prays. His faith is amazing. He remains more concerned about others than himself. He takes his treatment and is resolute about doing all he needs to do to get better. Without his courage and leadership, I would still be falling apart. I am blessed with far more than I deserve.

Thank you for joining me in praying for Marc and for supporting our family during this time. I look forward to sharing some of your stories in upcoming days.

With love and gratitude...