Cancer Update

Woo hoo! Have I got an update for you! Thank you to all who have prayed me through the last eight years of cancer treatments and my bout with severe covid. God's Army is the best Army and you all deserve a medal for supporting me in prayer and in many other ways. There was not a day I felt unloved by God or all of you. Thank you.

Let me remind you, in January 2016 I was diagnosed with "high risk" chronic lymphocytic leukemia. "High risk" because three of my chromosomes are not normal. (Glad they didn't check my brain!) The prognosis was 

"Rapid progression   

inferior survival, 

shorter survival time 

and resistance to treatment." 

Bottom line:

There was no treatment for me,

 I was not expected to live,

 death would happen soon, 

and I would go fast. 

"We'll keep you comfortable" 

was all the hope I received from the doctor that day.

But God!!! 

I became ill the following December. Expecting to cash in on the "keep you comfortable" promise, I returned to the oncologist.

 Great news!!! 

FDA had just approved a treatment for "high risk" cll. 

Three pills a day, which has now been reduced to one pill a day, my leukemia stopped progressing.

 Within two months,

 my blood counts were normal! 

Hallelujah!!!

"This is phenomenal!!!" 

my oncologist cheered. 

I assured him not only do we have a God of the phenomenal, 

but a God of the impossible!

The medication (imbruvica) was new and doctors hoped it would buy me time. Three years, then five years, now seven years. Today I learned that imbruvica has been so successful, "high risk" cll is no longer labeled "high risk." 

Imbruvica works! 

This wonder drug has stood the test of time. 

Other than my bout with covid, I have remained healthy, strong, and active. leukemia lurks inside me, but imbruvica acts like a fortress keeping it from going any further. 

I thank God today, but I also thank cancer researchers and doctors. These men and women sacrifice much to spend long hours glaring at test tubes and people's blood. Thank you, dear ones, called by God to heal this vicious disease. Three cheers and many prayers go up for you!!! Thank you!!!

"For nothing will be impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

God shows Himself in many ways when cancer hits home. I write about my cancer journey in Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. You can purchase a copy on Amazon or directly from me. 

https://www.amazon.com/Praise-Lord-Pass-Chemo-Response/dp/1945976012?ref_=ast_author_dp

Please pray for cancer research. I am so thankful.

My covid Journey — The Three C's — Christ, cancer, covid

cancer and covid are similar diseases. 

Both cause 

pain, 

fear, and 

death as 

each maim and eat away at organs essential to live. 

cancer and covid attack in varying degrees. 

Whether we barely notice the symptoms, or 

suffer for the rest of our shortened lives, 

no one would choose either of these little c's.

I have cancer and I am still recovering from covid.

 My human suffering with covid was more severe than with cancer. 

I came closer to death with covid than with cancer. 

With covid I was isolated, 

with cancer I was surrounded by my loved ones.

 Leaving for my covid hospitalization, 

I could barely think, but 

I knew my Bible and my book, 

Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality would

 bring comfort and a reminder that 

Christ is my big C. 

Not covid. 

Not cancer.  

"Christ is the Big C" is 

a chapter in Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo. 

Be encouraged by the following excerpt from that chapter. 

I've replaced the word "cancer" with the word "covid." 

They both apply. 

 Believe me!

 I know.

"covid is not the big C. Christ is the big C.

If we let covid replace Christ as our big C, 

our hearts may become bitter, or 

angry, or 

depressed, or 

anxious, or

 afraid, or

 all of these. 

 But when Christ takes His rightful place in our hearts,

 He fills us with His love,

 joy, 

peace, 

trust, and

 hope. 

So when the doubts and anxieties arise 

— and they will — 

let us remember who is the big C in our lives.

 Focus on Christ, not covid. 

And this is the secret

 — Christ lives in you! 

Who is more powerful in your life? 

Christ or covid?

 covid can eat away at your bones and cells,

 but covid can't touch your soul.

 covid can steal time,

 but covid can't take away a moment God planned for you. 

covid will not win the victory for your life.

 Christ already won it.

 Jesus Christ is the Big C.

 Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ the healer, 

not on covid the destroyer. 

covid is vicious, 

but Christ is the Victory!"

Christ is the Big C. 

"I have been crucified with Christ; and

 I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me." 

Galatians 2:20

If you are looking for a book for yourself or to give a covid patient, I recommend Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo. Trust me. Covid patients need A Hopeful Response to the Hard Reality of covid.

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month

I chuckled when I learned September was Blood Cancer Awareness month. Believe me, those of us with blood cancer are very aware — not just in September — but every moment of our lives. We are aware each time we see lymph nodes swollen on our necks or feel them in our groin or under our arms, when an ugly bruise appears and stays for  months, at every tiny mosquito bite that doesn't heal, when a miniscule paper cut bleeds and bleeds and bleeds, and every sneeze threatens to lead to pneumonia and death. We are aware when the night-time pains shoot through our bones. We are aware as we fight cancer's attack of our bodies and satan's attack of our minds.

We are aware.

Are you aware:

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the United States in 2019 approximately

 every three minutes one person is diagnosed with blood cancer,

176,200 people are expected to be diagnosed with blood cancer,

ten percent of new cancer cases diagnoses will be blood cancer,

1,3999,180 people are living with blood cancer,

Approximately every nine minutes someone dies of blood cancer,

156 people die each day from blood cancer,

six people die each hour,

56,770 people will die this year,

9.4 percent of cancer deaths this year will be from blood cancer.

I thank God  and prayers, and cancer research that with treatment and a daily targeted therapy pill, most of the symptoms I experienced in the first paragraph are gone. I now live a healthy and happy life. Thank you for your prayers for me. Please keep praying for all cancer patients every day and month of the year. They suffer. They endure. They conquer thanks to your prayers.

My cancer care costs approximately $350,000 a year. Thanks to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other grants, I am not hit with that financial burden. Won't you consider donating for cancer research and funding for grants to help patients like me? You can donate at www.lls.org.  Thank you. 

I was thinking of the money spent on Halloween candy. Perhaps giving the same amount  to www.lls.org will free children with leukemia from the fright of cancer.

To encourage cancer patients, I share the lessons God taught me on my cancer journey in my book Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. Do you know a cancer patient who needs encouraged? Available on this website, Amazon, and Walmart.

Splashes of Serenity to all my fellow cancer warriors and thank you again to all who prayed for my healing. God heard. God healed!  Praise the Lord!!!

Has God Put A Cancer Patient in Your Life or at Your Market?

https://www.amazon.com/Praise-Lord-Pass-Chemo-Response/dp/1945976012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1540390079&sr=1-1&keywords=praise+the+lord+and+pass+the+chemo

Tears! Those are the drops I shed when I realize what God is doing with the work He placed in my heart. Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo has reached across the States and into El Salvador.

My friend from El Salvador ordered two copies of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality.

She writes:

Both copies of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo have been given away spontaneously. I'm glad I quickly read it before the second copy flew out of my hands about an hour ago— to a cancer patient. 

I have been watching her for a couple of years, now. She owns a little corner convenience store that sells fruit and vegetables. Our favorite goodies are the homemade Salvadorean sweet and savory breads and fresh bread. 

Obviously under treatment, I have occasionally asked how she was doing. Radiation markers and a port site have faded and her beautiful head scarves have been set aside as her hair is filling in. A puffy extremity is covered by a compression sleeve. 

A smile and a polite conversation led me to be forward... “Is there any chance you could read a book in English?” I was surprised at my lack of thought before those words escaped me. 

“I have something just for you!" I left my fresh bread and produce on the counter and went to the car to get the book.

 “Here! This is for you! It is nourishment for the soul!”  

I explained in Spanish that you are one of my dearest friends and a pastor’s wife. I also told her that your husband officiated at my wedding to my Salvadorean beloved, the very reason why I reside in El Salvador.

 I explained that your response to your diagnosis was, “For the glory of God” and that you released your book only a couple of weeks ago and that I wanted her to have it. An educated, middle class lady, she told me that she would try very hard to read the English. We clasped hands. So, off for the glory of God goes your book!

Wow! I love these God stories. Please pray this dear El Salvadorean cancer patient will be able to read the book and God would speak to her through it.

I'd love to hear your God stories and how Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo is impacting the world with hope. Has God put a cancer patient in your life or at your market? Perhaps you will be surprised how quickly God opens doors for a conversation and a gift of hope.

Bring a Splash of Serenity to a cancer patient in your life,

A Grandmother's Love

We were always close. You can tell by the way we look at each other. A grandma/grandson bond formed at his birth and sealed with memories created over the years.

When he was two, he inspired me to write the following:

"Placed on the chair for a "time out" the weepy two year old wonders why he misbehaves as he whimpers, 'I be a good boy.' In his heart, he is persevering at being good while we are certain he is mastering being bad. All the while, his defiant heart is crying out, Don't stop loving me! Don't give up on me! Who can understand a two year old? God can." ~  Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms:

I never did stop loving him. I never gave up on him. Isn't that what grandmothers do? We grandma's have hearts to love unconditionally and forever. And we have faith. Faith to know and believe that

 "Love never stops being patient, 

never stops believing, 

never stops hoping, 

never gives up." 

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)

A warrior from birth, Connor's passion for all of life —the good and the bad—kept this grandma's prayer life vibrant. Yet within him I saw the tenderest of hearts.

When he was ten he stayed with us for a week of grandparent/grandboy time. Our grass needed mowing. Cutting the grass is my job because I love to mow. With Connor settled inside playing, I set about my task. Before long, Connor appeared at my side saying, "This isn't right. I can't bear watching you mow. I'm going to mow the lawn for you." Two hours later he finished with a smile and a joy in his heart.

When his Pop Pop arrived at his house for a birthday party, 17 year old Connor was the first to see the car. He jumped up and ran outside to help Pop Pop (who has difficulty walking) out of the car and into the house. In Connor I see compassion and love.

Connor and I have loved taking walks together since he was a baby. I'd point out the lion statues on the road and his one-year-old voice would "ROAR!" And then there were the snakes. Oh, the time he   entered his Aunt Joanna's house carrying a black snake longer than he was tall. We gasped. Well, actually, we screamed. Connor was delighted with the snake, but quickly respected our wishes for the snake to return to the woods. Big or small, if there was a snake, Connor found it.

My heart rejoices remembering the best walk I ever took. My neck swollen with leukemia and my body weak, I wasn't walking far or long. Connor picked up on what I needed to boost my spirits and my health. "Hey Grandma, let's take a walk!" To everyone's delight and surprise, Connor and I walked four miles that day! My leukemia took a turn, in fact it walked right out of me. Today I walk daily, my neck is not swollen, and my blood counts are normal. Thanks, Connor, and thanks, God!

In a few weeks Connor's passion to be a Marine, serve his country, and rid the world of the bad guys will come true. He'll walk many roads, see snakes and lions along the way, and meet people in need of his tender heart. God has prepared him for such a task as this. He leaves with a piece of my heart and all of my love and a promise of  my daily prayers on his behalf.

Semper Fi! means "always faithful." 

As a Marine, Connor will be always faithful.

 Better yet, our God will be more faithful still. 

God's got your back, Connor. 

Afterall, Grandma is praying!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

 plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

"being confident of this, 

that he who began a good work in you

 will carry it on to completion 

until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NIV).

 Semper Fi! my Marine grandson! I'm so proud and I love you. Looking forward to walking this adventure with you down the roads of life.

Pray for our military, please!

Cancer is Conflict

My heart aches. 

Such conflict within me.

I awoke to "amazing, phenomenal, unbelievable" blood test results. Those adjectives are the doctors, not mine. Take a look. I rejoice and thank God there is no trace of leukemia in me, so says my blood. Each component is right dab in the middle of standard range. Even so, there is a battle going on in my body. Daily, leukemia rears its ugly head as targeted therapy goes after and kills the cancer cells. Tomorrow these two foes will rise to fight again. So far chemo is winning the conflict. Hallelujah!

So why is my broken heart conflicted?

This morning I also received the news that a dear friend, wife, mother, daughter, writer, and lover of Jesus didn't receive her hoped for test results. Her bone, lung, and brain cancer may soon take her to Heaven. My heart grieves for her sweet family. I know how she feels, as I received bad news a year ago.

Yet, here I am well,
and there she is suffering. 

My mind is in conflict. 

Why her, and not me? 

Why a young mother and not this old woman? 

Those are questions no one can answer. Except God. He has a plan and while we watch His plan unfold, I am praying with all that is within me for Deborah Kessler's health. A big part of me feels her possible death is unfair. I wish I could take her place. And then I remember, there is One Who already did. Because He lives Deborah and I will live forever. Jesus shed His blood and now our blood tests really don't matter. The conflict is over for those who believe in Christ.

Please join me and pray for a miracle.

 Pray for Deborah Kessler's complete healing in the Name of Jesus!

Deborah posted the following on facebook this morning: 

"First, I want to say, it’s all true: Jesus, the Bible, the peace that passes all understanding,... I’m telling you, I’m looking death squarely in the face and “I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed to Him...”

  I know God is in control. For whatever zillion reasons, He is allowing this for my good and His glory. I don’t like it, but in heaven, when I really know why, I will.

Please pray for the miracle. I am hemmed in between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, I can feel the heat of the fiery furnace, And I know that God is able to deliver me from the mouth of the lions.

But after that, please pray for my family. We are having a very difficult time.

It’s time to think of funerals and realities of death but also it’s time to think of living and spring and hope... it is very sad here. We need to laugh.

I am sorry for all of you, my sweet friends and family who are sad. I hate that you’re having to go through this, too. Know that God is helping me through my story... but this really is part of your story too. Let God comfort you and help you through your story that’s still unfolding. I’m praying for you. I’m trusting God. 💙😢💙🙏🏻💙😊💙

Deborah described her feelings on the day she learned of her cancer as "walking under a beam of sunshine that was filling my soul with indescribable peace. His umbrella over me is His steadfast love." She sketched this picture in her journal on that rainy day. Her drawing is the perfect example of what I experienced and what other cancer patients say, The day they learned they had cancer, they had total peace. Thank You God for Your Peace when we walk through the thunderstorms under the umbrella of Your love.   

"All His work is done in faithfulness . . . the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 

Psalms 33:4-5

Today I planned to write my book's next chapter titled, "The Blessings of Cancer." Hard to write on this day, but I know Deborah would cheer me on with, Don't let satan win this battle. You write the blessings, for we both know the blessings abound for those who know Christ and suffer with cancer. Deborah, I dedicate this day of writing to you and pray your blessings abound as I pray for healing in Jesus Name.

Jesus is our only Splash of Serenity on days of conflict. There is No Other Name by which we are saved. Thank You Lord, the Blessed Controller of all things, including our health and our death, for the glory of God!

Laughing at Cancer. A Glimpse into my Journal

My journal entry written the day I learned I had cancer made me laugh out loud. I hope you are encouraged reading my unedited thoughts. Go ahead. Have a laugh on me.

 "Leukemia.

So pretty. So feminine.

It almost sounds like a young maiden's name.

I think I'll call you Leu on days you treat me spunky—like a hurricane roaring through my body.

On pleasant days I'll call you Mia and sing,

Leukemia.

I just met a girl named Leukemia.

And suddenly I see how beautiful the world can be.

Leukemia.

Say it loud and there's music playing.

Leukemia.

Say it soft and it's almost like praying.

How true. If I have to die of a disease, I'm glad it has a pretty name like Leukemia. 

A name that makes my death the beautiful event it will be as God takes my hand and ushers me to

 the Divine—

My eternal home—

the place I was born to live—

where there are no more tears or pain and I will enjoy beauty as I've never seen before.

I'm glad I won't die of rheumatoid or arthritis or heart attack or tuberculosis or blood clot or alzheimers, train wreck, or car crash.

I will make my exit arm in arm with the lovely Leukemia."

Ha! Only God could give me a sense of humor, total peace, and a song when my world came tumbling down. 

Truly God did not lie when He promised me in Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV): 

". . . 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name;

you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . ."

I'm so glad God has a sense of humor! Enjoy Him today. Surely, He is all the Splashes of Serenity we ever need.

PS: Surely, I am laughing at leukemia because God is choosing to keep me on this earth longer than we first expected. My blood counts are normal and we anticipate years before my exit with the grand belle leukemia. Thanks for your prayers.

My Cancer Miracle! Thank You for Praying!

"Did she just say I was terminal?" I asked my husband as the oncologist left us alone to digest the test results.

"We're all terminal." The only words my hand-holding husband could say as he comforted me and grasped his own sudden grief.

We didn't tell anyone. Not one. Try telling your children you are soon to die. Impossible to do. A mother's heart can never hurt her child. I couldn't inflict that pain on them. Not yet.  I was still stage 0, so we held on to that hope and the promises of God to carry us through this quick journey to Heaven.

Doctors chastised us. "You must tell people. Your children need to know. You can't bear this alone." The conclusion of test results saying "rapid progression, low survivability, high risk, not responsive to treatment" haunted me all hours of the day and night.

Then it happened. I got sick. Thanksgiving 2016 I thanked God that He had given me nine months, because in one month I went from stage 0 to stage 3 high risk leukemia.

"We've got great news for you!" was not what I expected to hear the oncologist say. "A new drug specifically for high risk leukemia has just been approved. You take three pills a day. There are no
side effects. You won't get sick or lose your hair. It has a 90 percent effective rate."

Good news indeed! The week before Christmas Dan and I prayed over our pills (Ha! They are our pills, not my pills, because from day one Dan assured me we are one in sickness and in health.)  We asked God to Please destroy the leukemia and keep it from progressing. And please Lord, let me be in the 90 percent where they are effective and not the 10 percent who die.

Celebrate with me that I had no side effects from the medicine and the best news ever:

Last week my blood count was normal!!! 

"Phenomenal!" my oncologist gasped and then said again, "This is phenomenal!"

Why are we surprised? We're not. We have a phenomenal God who can do not only the impossible, but also the phenomenal.

Thank you for your prayers. Oncologists expect I will live a full and long life. What joy knowing He has more work for me to do here on earth.

Yes, I am writing a book as I travel the cancer road, for God has taught me much about the joy of life that healthy people miss. Please pray my words will be God's words. Thank you.

Splashes of Serenity. Every day there are splashes of serenity. Don't miss yours today.

The Gift of Cancer

Clinging to the cross. Always.

"I have a praise report! I have cancer!" George announced at our church's Wednesday night prayer meeting many years ago.




"George! How is that a praise report?" I asked.




"Can you imagine the group of people I will meet who I can tell about Jesus. Doctors! Nurses! All kinds of medical staff! Why, I'm having chemo every week with the same seven people in the same room. I'm going to tell all of them 'I know I'm going to Heaven. Do you?' And they won't be able to leave because we're all having chemotherapy."




Then there is the oncologist who said "George, this is serious. You are a sick man."
George answered "Doctor, if you don't know Jesus as your Savior, you are a lot sicker than I am."

Cancer was a gift to George.

Today, I laugh with George as I too have a cancer diagnosis.

Don't panic! I'm fine.

A month ago I was diagnosed with active stage 3 high risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia. That's really the only bad news. The great news is I started chemotherapy (taking three pills a day for the rest of my life) in the comfort of my home or wherever I travel. I will not lose my hair, but I should lose some weight. Leukemia burns up calories. How funny is that. All these years I've been trying diet plans. Who knew? Well, God did.




Cancer is a gift because cancer  makes you a better person. God opens your eyes to the important. The eternal. Priorities change. Each day (each moment) is a gift you treasure.




 I am excited to share this journey God knew about before I was born. He has me in this place for the glory of God. And so, like George, I look forward to a new audience, new stories, perhaps a new book. For, indeed, God ordained this day for me. He knows and He cares. He holds me and He will never let me go.

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:16

  

Prayers are working.

Three weeks of chemo and I have not one side effect.

Not ONE!!!

I have energy by day and sleep well at night.

I asked two oncologists if I should cancel my speaking and they both replied "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Over the past six days, fourteen women gave their hearts to Jesus at luncheons where I shared my story.
Blood tests reveal the chemo has effectively stopped the progression of the leukemia. Hallelujah!!!

Your prayers are always appreciated.

If you are going through a difficult cancer diagnosis, please know that Jesus loves you, He holds you, and He will never let you go. If you need assurance that you are going to Heaven, please read "Elaine's Testimony" at the top of this webpage. I am always happy to pray with any in need.




Who knew cancer could be a gift that brings a splash of serenity? God did. To God be the glory.