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Thursday, March 20, 2014

from Steve | Steve must leave the band...

Yes, it is true. Steve can no longer play the trumpet. Actually, I never have played the trumpet but today the doctor removed a device inserted in the left side of my nose called a trumpet. Its purpose was to provide a structure for the surgical site to heal around so that the end result will be to have a left nostril to breathe with. It was also where the feeding tube was inserted when I had that. This trumpet was the last device to be removed and am I glad! It was creating a lot of discomfort (okay, the correct word is pain) whenever I swallowed. Since it had been stitched to the inside of my nose I felt like a bass in the everglades with a fishhook in my nose and every time I swallowed (which is more times during the day than you normally would think) the pain meter would get a nice escalation. So that is gone and I can now swallow with ease and breathe a lot better – freedom feels so good… thank you LORD!

We also met with the radiologist doctor yesterday to evaluate the need for radiation treatments. It was a long appointment but very encouraging. The doctor reviewed the pathology reports stating there was no evidence of cancer in the nerves, was no evidence of cancer in the bones, was no evidence of cancer in the margin area around where the tumor was extracted except for one area in the upper sinus cavity but could not determine how much because it was small. The diagnosis was that there is a 30-40% chance of reoccurrence and with radiation treatments it gets lowered by 20%. We discussed the side effects. But it was determined that there is no urgency to have to do the treatments right now. We have a follow up appointment next month to decide which direction to go. Our focus right now is for everything to just finish healing. The first meeting with the oncologist is April 1 (no connection to Fool’s Day, that is reserved for Atheists (Ps 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…”) While we gather information and continue to heal I continue to do my anti-cancer diet (mostly vegan) and alternative protocols to help build my immune system. So we will know more later and will keep you updated.

                It is hard to believe the surgery was one month ago from this past Monday. How time flies when you are having….. fun…. We are so thankful to the LORD for bringing us this far and healing so quickly.. God has made these bodies so amazing on how they heal and mend (Ps 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”) There is still much to heal in my throat and neck and back and face. We thank you for praying still – it is much needed and appreciated.

 

Steve & Sandy

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Saturday, March 08, 2014

from Steve | I am SO THANKFUL!

I have been home for 7 days now and so far Sandy doesn’t want to discharge me! She said I could stay a while longer! Healing is going well but mentally it seems so slow. But all I have to do is think of other individuals that are going through or have gone through much worse challenges than I and I must close my mouth and be thankful.

Today, when I think what has taken place the past 12 months and especially the past 3 weeks I get overwhelmed with thanksgiving.  I am so thankful for:

-          My faithful God and Saviour Jesus Christ who promised to keep me, promised to never leave me, promised to never forsake me, promised to love me, promised to protect me, promised to give me all I need, and I could go on for pages…. What an awesome LORD, there is no one like Him!

-          God’s word – it sustains me, gives me eternal life, comforts me, reveals to me what is true – so important when there are so many lies out there.

-          A family that genuinely loves and cares for me. They have been tested and they shine forth. Our kids have honored Sandy and I like no other parents could enjoy. Sandy has gone through the wringer and has been so faithful.

-          A church family that demonstrates biblical Christianity in how they weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. How God has stirred in their hearts to encourage, to pray, to give, to help…. Wow, they have honored God – they get it – how ministry is supposed to work. We are so blessed!

-          Others friends around the world who do the same – just amazingly generous. How can this be? It has to be a God-thing…

-          The tumor is GONE! – How God used the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff that are very skilled at what they do to answer our prayers and get this thing off my face!

-          This affliction – yes, this affliction. It is a journey I would not volunteer for but one that God chose me for - it pressed me toward my Saviour, knowing nothing can touch me without His loving care and always meant for my good and His glory. It’s all about Him, not about us. We have to start with God (not ourselves) to make sense of things.

-          I am thankful to be alive – I am so blessed to have had 58 years of no hospitals, no surgeries, two eyes and good health.

-          For all the prayer intercessors on my behalf! You definitely made the difference!!! I thank God for you.

Prayer requests:

-          Continued healing of my body - my left back where tissue was taken (staples to be removed Monday), throat (8 inch cut) where lymph nodes were removed, left face where flap is (looks like a large skin-colored pouch from forehead to bottom of nose) – that it heals correctly (will take months)

-          Challenges of finding my new normal – one eye and all the surgery challenges, vocation, get back to prison ministry

-          I make the right choices going forward to help my body be cancer free (close, but not quite there yet).

 

Steve & Sandy

Isaiah 25:1 “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”