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.

Conquering Cancer

I have blood cancer.

Blood cancer is different than other cancers because it's not a tumor a surgeon can cut out. As my body deteriorated and my pain increased in the sleepless, pain-filled nights, I felt helpless realizing  cancer-filled blood runs through every organ in my body and there is not a thing I can do about it.

Fear gripped me. 

Then Jesus took hold of my thoughts.

Yes. I have cancer running through my veins. 

But Jesus' blood runs through my veins too. 

Christ lives in me!!! 

Jesus is more powerful than cancer. 

Christ is my big C. Not cancer.

 Christ is my Healer. 

Christ, not cancer, holds my life in His Hands.

"And this is the secret —Christ lives in you! 

Who is more powerful in your life?
 Christ or cancer? 

Cancer can eat away at your bones and cells,
but cancer can't touch your soul. 

Cancer can steal time,
but cancer can't take away a moment God planned for you. 

Cancer 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 cancer the destroyer. 

Cancer is vicious,
but Christ is the Victory!" 

  - from my book Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality.

We conquer cancer when we stop worshipping this disease by living in fear that cancer has more power than Christ. 

"I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live,
 but Christ lives in me."

  Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 

Not cancer. 

Christ!

I am very happy to report that not only is the fear of cancer gone, but targeted therapy continues to keep my leukemia from progressing. I no longer have pain-filled days or nights. I am healthy and happy and loving Jesus every day. Thankful that even this disease in my body can be used for God's glory. What a splash of serenity!!!

More of my cancer journey is shared in my book Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality.  Available on this website, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo Book Give Away in Memory of Joe Tolpa

Thank you to all who entered the give away and thank you especially for your prayers for the Tolpa family. If you are on a cancer journey, you have my heart and I will pray for you. The winners of two free copies of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo are

Nan Ripley

Cheryl Engle

Yea!!! I'm so happy for you two and pray God will bless your lives through the words He gave me while writing A Hopeful Response to A Hard Reality

Our friend and a fellow cancer warrior ran his victory lap to Heaven last November. Joe Tolpa praised the Lord through all his chemo, so in memory of Joe, I am giving away two copies of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. 

Enter the give-away by sharing this blog or a photo of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo on your social media sites and by saying a prayer for Pat, Alyssa, and Joshua. Please, you must let me know you shared, so I can enter your name in the drawing. Two winners will be chosen on Wednesday, February 13, 2018. Bonus! Every time you share Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo on your social media, your name will be entered to win. Please let me know on facebook messenger or my email, SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com.

Joe lived the victorious Christian life when he was healthy and while he was sick. What joy to talk to him and be blessed with his outlook on life and cancer and death.

Joe blessed me with an interview for my book Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. Cancer gave him a new perspective for living life. He praised God for the time he had left and that God gave him more months to live and love than doctors predicted. Thankful that God alerted him of his death, he made precious moments with his dear wife Pat and precious children Alyssa and Josh. Joe said,

"Without cancer, I would have been too busy working

 and not made some great memories with my family." 

Dear Pat, Alyssa, and Josh, how he loved you. I know those memories will hold your husband and father near to your heart.

 So, in memory of Joe, I am giving away two free copies of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo.  

JOSEPH A. TOLPA JR. Age 54 of Horseheads , NY formerly of New Hartford , NY passed away on Monday November 19 , 2018 peacefully at home with his family at his side after a long hard fought battle with cancer. Joe was born in Utica , NY on July 23 , 1964 the son of Joseph A. and Betty Jane Oleksik Tolpa. He was pre-deceased by his mother Betty. Joe is survived by his loving and devoted wife Patricia L. Hopkins Tolpa ; his children Alyssa L. Tolpa and Joshua A. Tolpa ; his father : Joseph A. Tolpa Sr. ; brothers and sisters : William & Ann Tolpa , Kathy & Rick Purcell , Karen & Steve Vedete , and Suzanne & Joe Hughes ; father-in-law and mother-in-law : Allan & Arlene Hopkins ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law : Thomas & Rebecca Hopkins , and David Hopkins ; several aunts , uncles , nieces , nephews , cousins and a host of caring friends . Joe spent most of his life in healthcare as a nursing home administrator and a registered nurse. Most recently working at Absolut Care at Three Rivers . Joe also had an entreprenueral spirit , owning TruBlu Services for many years. Joe always felt it was important to give back to the community. He spent many years volunteering for different organizations . The list includes Rutland Lions Club , Pregnancy Resource Centers in Rutland , VT and Elmira , NY , Cub Scouts Pack 41 and Boy Scouts Troop 3041 of Horseheads, NY , as well as being a Deacon at Maranatha Bible Chapel . He was a proud recipient of the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow Award for his community service. Joe lived life to the fullest , spending time with family and friends. He loved the outdoors , hiking, camping , boating , skiing , and motorcycle riding .

Splashes of Serenity on  your day! 

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality" Available on Amazon

What a surprise! Dan and I were away for our 48th Anniversary month-long celebration 

when I heard from my publisher,

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo

 A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality 

is ready to be published."

I am thrilled with the beautiful cover and thank Bob at EABooks Publishing for designing a cover according to my instructions: "Make the cover joyful and light because there is enough dark in a cancer patient's life." Music notes showed up because singing makes people happy. The reader is encouraged to sing out and breathe in the precious truths and powerful promises of the old hymns. A hymn is printed at the end of each chapter. Purple ribbons are the universal color for all cancers, because this book is for all cancer patients and for those who love them.

The back cover tells you more:

Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo is available at Amazon on the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Praise-Lord-Pass-Chemo-Response/dp/1945976012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1537661399&sr=1-1&keywords=praise+the+lord+and+pass+the+chemo

Available also at your local bookstore and major on-line stores.

Autographed copies will be available on this website soon.

Not many babies are born at anniversary celebrations, but we praise God for the early and the healthy delivery of Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. 

Please join Dan and I in prayer for so many suffering with cancer. May this book bring joy and hope and peace that comes only from our Lord Jesus Christ.