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Saturday, May 10, 2014

from Steve | onward and forward...

It is hard to believe it has been a little over a month since my last update and many of you have expressed that you have still been praying for Sandy and I. Thank you very much! It is so encouraging. There is still much healing to be accomplished and here is where we are at this time:

-          Last week I did get my customized glasses (well, one side of a pair of glasses, a modern monocle?). It is great to see detail at a distance again!

-          The free flap is shrinking slowly with the intentions that 80% of it will shrink away because most of it is muscle. And with no nerves to stimulate the muscle tissue it will atrophy and shrink but leave enough mass for a later cosmetic surgery. Other surgery sites are healing, but slower than I prefer (imagine that).

-          After meeting with the local oncologist once and the radiologist twice and consulting with a naturopathic doctor in Kenya and another oncologist in Mexico, and doing hours and hours of research we have chosen to wait to do any conventional radiation or chemotherapy treatments. As you might remember from a previous update we were told from the post-surgery pathology report I was clear of any detectable cancer in my bones, nerves, brain, and the margin surrounding the tumor EXCEPT for one small spot in the upper sinus area. Because of the potential damage that would be created by the radiation and chemo it did not seem worth it for the little benefit I would gain (reducing my reoccurrence rate by only 20%). We are choosing other options to eradicate any remaining cancer cells that have a higher success rate with no side effects. We feel very good about this choice. So this is the path we are on and praying like crazy that God will make it very effective and we gain the healing that is much needed.

-          I am driving again (all the kids say woo hoo!) and working two part time jobs also. I am so thankful to be productive again. It is definitely harder to mow grass with one eye – try it – with the loss of some depth perception it is hard to see when things are lined up right – hey, but it is great to have that problem because that means at least two things: 1) I’m alive to struggle with the change, and 2) I can see something at all! Aren’t we blessed more than we deserve? The Lord is so good!

 

Thank you again for praying for my healing! Having the tumor removed is so glorious and getting my strength back each day is awesome! Thanks is advance for your prayers for my continued healing – maybe I should name this “Operation Eradication!” Love you….

 

Oh, by the way, I attached a recent picture for those of you that are not local so you can see the surgery free flap. Also, when trying to choose a style of monocle it was a hard decision…. I passed on the first two…..

 

Steve & Sandy

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”