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.

My covid Journey — The Nurse Saw an Angel

The supernatural can happen when severely ill.

God heals terminal patients.

Peace arrives in turmoil.

Joy replaces fear.

Angels surround your bed.

God takes an old lady and makes her beautiful.

Ha!

I'm that old lady.

In ICU with covid, I still needed my every-six-weeks cancer treatment.

The Corning cancer Center brought my three-hour infusion to my ICU room. 

For this procedure, I am sedated slightly.

You know, where you are aware of people talking but you are unable to respond.

On this day, I heard the nurses' conversation:

"I've never seen anyone in such a deep sleep."

"Isn't she beautiful."

 

 "She looks like an angel."

Are you kidding me?

Beautiful was not me on this day.

No shower.

No shampoo.

For. Over. Three. Weeks.

And yet,

the nurse saw an angel.

I've pondered this day in my covid recovery and realized

I was at my lowest and ugliest.

 But, 

the nurse saw an angel.

A supernatural event.

Perhaps closest to death, 

I was also closest to Jesus.

He so filled me with His Glory 

 that the reflection on my face was

Jesus Himself.

"And we, 

who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,

are being transformed into His likeness 

with ever-increasing glory, 

which comes from the Lord, 

Who is the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 3:18  

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.