What Do You Say?

When people ask, “How are you?” sometimes we just give the polite answer, “Fine.”  More and more we say something like, “OK,” or “we’re hanging in there.”  Occasionally, we are able to say, “We are blessed.”  I mentioned that I wanted a plaque that says, “Count your blessings,” because in our struggle against cancer, I forget how blessed we are.   A few days later, I was given a lovely plaque with those words on it in big letters!

We are blessed – Dan only had to take 2 pain pills today.  The new bandage material being used keeps the drainage from staining his clothing.  We have free air mile tickets to fly out to be with Scott and family in Montara, CA.  We have a nice big place to stay.  Brenda, Charla and Natasha do our shopping for us.  Natasha and Melissa do our chopping for us.  Paul makes fresh carrot juice for Dan. We have empty boxes to store things in our 10′ X 10′ storage room, boxes to ship a few things to Romania.  I could give you a long list of heartaches, but, if you’ve been reading the blog, you’ve heard them all before. Instead, we focus on our many, many blessings for it is God who is at work in you and us both to will and to do His good pleasure.

However, we do have the daily challenge of watching the sarcoma grow in the open incision that will not heal. Even in that we are blessed because this is drawing us closer to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.   Jeanie M. blessed us with 2 Peter 1:19, “May the Morning Star rise in the darkest corner of your troubled hearts.”  Thank you, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for all these blessings, in the name of Jesus, Amen. ~~ Anne and Dan

The Sun Is Always Shining

Even though this has been a very challenging week, it ended with much joy.  God filled our day with love.  Melissa, our friend for 8 years, came this morning to help me cut vegetables with my new vegetable slicer.  While she was here, Glenn and Lani arrived from Houston!  We have been friends about 20 years. Marjorie, a friend for 5 years, phoned from Colorado.  All these fine people walk with the Lord…intentional followers of Jesus, and help support our work in Romania.

While Glenn and Lani were here, Adolf and Reka Skyped us from Romania.  We were so happy that they could “meet” each other.  To top our day off, Dick and Hanny phoned from Holland…best friends for almost 50 years!   We celebrate that Dick’s cancer is going away!!!

Dan remains about the same – no fever even though the incision shows no improvement.  The Home Health nurse comes each day to clean it with saline solution, and put a new silver carbon bandage on it. We hope that the wound vac can be put back on after the surgeon cleans out the incision next Wednesday.  Though sometimes we think we are alone, God has not forgotten us. Look at all the love He filled us with today.

Again tonight, for the third time, God gave me this scripture about Dan, “…wherever you go, I will let you escape with your life.” Jeremiah 45:5b. God still has work for us to do.  We choose to believe, to live in hope, and to walk with Jesus no matter how rocky the path or what trials come our way. — Anne and Dan

Two Steps Forward & One Step Back?

Dr. Hendrickson said this a.m. that there is dead tissue in the opening of the wound – she showed me the white “stuff” around the edges of the new flesh that had been filling in the cavity.  She put a special silver carbon bandage on the wound.  She will call the surgeon, Dr. Elieson…and ask him to clean out the dead tissue and lance the dime sized hematoma.

Dan’s incision has stopped closing. Fortunately, Clark Byroad delivered groceries and one dozen mixed colors of roses today.  He told Dan that he had the exact same problem several times when he had a wound vac…that it is normal.  The long talk they had helped Dan and me a lot.   

God sent Paul Bourland, a nurse who specializes in palliative care, on Monday to calmly discuss the difference between hospice and palliative care.  He pointed out to Dan that he does qualify for hospice which means that if they can find the right, cheerful, helpful person to do it, we can have someone come one hour a day to chop veggies.  If we move to another house in this area, we can have someone come clean house, etc.  He helped Dan understand that hospice care does not mean that he is dying.

Monday Natasha chopped so many veggies that I didn’t have to chop any for 3 days.   When Paul told Melissa that I need help with chopping, she wrote and asked to come Saturday to chop!  I am so thankful for all the loving care we are receiving.  More good news – again, tonight, the Lord gave me this scripture, “…wherever you go, I will let you escape with your life.” Jermiah 45:5b.  Rejoice all you who are in the Lord Christ Jesus for He is the one is helping us during these hard times, and who will help you escape with your life eternally. — Anne and Dan

The Tides Keep Changing

One day we get encouraging news; two days later a problem arises – infected blisters under the tape. Friday the blisters are improving, but, much to our dismay, there is a small hematoma on top of the new flesh that is growing. We feel that we are trapped in the middle of a storm with the winds whipping the tides back and forth.

Dan’s personal physician, an internist, gerontologist, and wound care specialist, worked Dan in this afternoon. She said, “the wound looks fair, but I am not pleased with how it looks.”   She went on to say, “It is ‘early days,’ but I am more concerned about the odor coming from the wound.”  She did not want to disturb the hematoma today.  She applied an antimicrobial binding dressing, Actisorb, a Silver charcoal type bandage.  She gave us her cell phone number in case the visiting nurse needs to speak to her Saturday.

Dan remains outwardly calm throughout this storm. On the other hand, after the nurse left today, I did enough crying for the two of us when Dan was out of the room.  Kelsey Herndon and Craig Altrock of Let’s Start Talking called as soon as they received my e-mail asking for prayers this morning. They came to pray over us.  That was very helpful.  It feels like our boat may capsize any minute.  But we know that God wants us to keep going. Please keep praying that God heal Dan, smooth our path and grant us peace.  “Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  Unto to Him be glory.”  Eph. 3:20,21 — Anne and Dan

Surgery Is Scheduled for 20 October

Surgery to clean out the mass in Dan’s pelvis is scheduled for 12:30, Mon., Oct. 20. The Dr. said, “The 1st C-T Scan showed a mass consistent with cancer. The last C-T Scan showed a mass atypical to cancer.”    
The Dr. also said, “I do not understand it.”  We believe God healed the cancer. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

Today, we found out God has granted us a one year visa for Romania!   As soon as Dan has fully recovered from surgery, we plan to return to Romania.  God is always good even when we don’t understand what is happening. — Anne and Dan