A Mixed Day - But God is not Surprised

Greetings:

Thanks to all of you who carry us on your hearts, and are faithful to visit here - only to find no update. I know that many of you would appreciate more frequent postings. So, I apologize for the length of time between postings... its been a very busy season...too busy. Thanks for your patience on this.

Let me get you up to date. Muggs had her fifth round of chemotherapy today, and is feeling pretty well. These last several days she has felt very well. So good in fact, that on Saturday and Sunday, she walked the two-mile route around our neighborhood. She did great! However, as I may have mentioned before, she has been experiencing some pain in her left hip, so last week, the doctor ordered an x-ray of the area. Also, this past Monday, she had a second CT Scan of the primary tumor in her lung. At our oncology appointment this morning, the news was mixed. We are thrilled that the primary tumor is still responding to the chemotherapy, and has reduced in size by another 33%. This is indeed, very good news. However, the news on the X-ray of the hip and leg region was not as encouraging.

The doctors discovered an "in-bone" tumor, near the neck of her left femur, near where it joins the pelvis. The tumor is about 2 cm in size. There is some good news... the doctors can use radiation therapy to treat the tumor. You will remember that radiation therapy was not an option for us for the primary tumor as Muggs had mantle radiation as a teenager for Hodgkin's Disease.

I want to put this seemingly "new" development in perspective. When Muggs had the original PET Scan in December before beginning treatment, there was a spot in the area of the leg pain that "lit-up", or indicated the presence of cancer cells. They looked at the area more closely, and thought that perhaps it was an anomaly. We think now, that the tumor was perhaps present there all along.

We also know that the cancer that Muggs has is metastatic, meaning that there has been some spreading of the cancer cells. We know, that the pleural lining is involved, and one lymph note also indicated cancer cells, but was not enlarged - none of this is new. Muggs' oncologist believes that the cancer in her leg is related to the primary tumor, as this is not uncommon with this type of cancer. Muggs has an appointment for a bone scan on Friday, to rule-out any other areas that may be involved. Then, on Monday, she has an appointment with the radiologist. She will likely have 5, but perhaps as many as 10 treatments of radiation therapy. The news today was disappointing in the respect that Muggs is ready to get the treatments behind her.

So... where are we? We are endeavoring to trust God with this "new" news as we walk through this. Muggs continues to keep a quiet mind and heart. This has not been an easy season of life, but God has been kind. The Body of Christ - both our local church, as well as the extended Body of Christ has cared for us so well. Our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues have really helped us during this season of trial - and we so very grateful for each of you.

As I close, I want to share some thoughts with you. I have been reading a lot during this time. As I have been seeking to make sense of this battle, I have been helped enormously by the book Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. The book is a compilation of messages on the topic of suffering, delivered at a National Conference hosted by Desiring God Ministries on the topic of suffering in November 2005. I would like to share a couple of quotes from an article written by John Piper with additional comments from David Powlison. The article is available in its entirety by clicking on the link to the right, labeled "Dont Waste Your Cancer". Additionally, the article is included in the appendix of the book, which is available from Desiring God Ministries at www.desiringgod.org.

As I provide these quotes, I am aware that there are differing points of view among Christians regarding cancer, and sickness in general. As I have journeyed through this time of trial, I am convinced of the Sovereignty and Supremacy of God over all things, including cancer. I am not qualified to instruct you here, nor can I cover this topic adequately. I can however, tell you that knowing that God is sovereign over all things, brings comfort, peace, and hope. Dr. Piper's writing has strengthened my understanding, and helped me process through this trial. As a result, my view of God has enlarged, and I am learning to love Him more as I endeavor to embrace his purpose for us during this season.

You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God... "It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it".

You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift... “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Numbers 23:23). “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11)".

To this, David Powlison adds: "The blessing comes in what God does for us, with us, through us. He brings his great and merciful redemption onto the stage of the curse. Your cancer, in itself, is one of those 10,000 ‘shadows of death’ (Psalm 23:4) that come upon each of us: all the threats, losses, pains, incompletion, disappointment, evils. But in his beloved children, our Father works a most kind good through our most grievous losses: sometimes healing and restoring the body (temporarily, until the resurrection of the dead to eternal life), always sustaining and teaching us that we might know and love him more simply. In the testing ground of evils, your faith becomes deep and real, and your love becomes purposeful and wise: James 1:2-5, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Romans 5:1-5, Romans
8:18-39".

As always, thanks for being our faithful friends, and for lifting us before the Lord. Please do continue to pray. I will endeavor to do a better job of keeping you posted over the coming days.

For the Family,

Andy