Courageous Journey

September 18, 2008:  Today I took Maria to her doctor’s appointment.  Here’s an update of how she’s doing right now. 

First of all, a draining tube and small bottle that was inserted in the left side of her chest reaching up to her left arm pit after her Mastectomy was finally removed.  The amount of fluid that drained into the bottle was right on target so Dr. Woodburn said she healing very well.  It didn’t hurt Maria at all to have it removed but she was quite surprised to see how far it extended into her chest.  Secondly, Dr. Woodburn removed the staples and again said that Maria was healing very well.

Maria met with her oncologist several days later.  The oncologist told her that she had an infection from the draining tube and that she would need to take antibiotics until that cleared up.  If all is well, then on October 3, she begins her first chemotherapy treatment which will take about 5 hours.  We joke about having a great Christmas card picture since we’ll both be without hair.  We’ll see…

Both, Maria and I, want to say THANK YOU to each of you who are coming alongside us in prayer.  We know God is at work in great ways.  Thank you also for bringing meals, blessing bags (grocery items, etc.) and many other ways.  For those who take time to drive our kids places…thank you as well!  She’s getting lots of rest because of your help!

We had a huge blessing by having Maria’s Mom and Dad stay with us for a week!  They are so awesome and the best grandparents in the world.  Maria’s brother’s and sister’s did an amazing thing too.  Their families all chipped in for a maid to come clean the house during her chemo treatments.  Pretty cool family!!!  Thanks to the whole family!!

How can you pray…here ya go:   

1. Continue to pray for balance in our family, marriage and ministry.
2. Pray for God to lead us with his wisdom in all our decisions.
3. Pray for God’s provision and our faithfulness in trusting Him.
4. Pray for the Doctors to have wisdom as they plan out Maria’s treatments.

Well, that’s the update for now.  We would love to hear an encouraging comment from you.  Pass on the news to others!  God bless you as you take the next step on your courageous journey!

September 9, 2008:  It’s difficult to believe that it has only been one month into this courageous journey of battling breast cancer.  So, where are we now?

On September 8, Maria undersent a mastectomy surger of her left breast.  The surgery had zero complications and Maria is resting well.  Dr. Woodburn scheduled Maria for three nights in the hospital for recovery.  We thank God that Maria was able to attend the Women of Faith Conference the weekend before her surgery.  God really blessed her as she spent time with 19 women from our church.

Maria met with her oncologist to discuss follow up treatments.  In October, she’ll start chemo therapy for about 5 months every three weeks.  By her second treatment she’ll lose her hair.  She’s trying out some short hairdos now to get ready for it.  After a healing period she will undergo radiation therapy and at some point start hormone therapy.  What struck us the most was the length of time it takes for treatments, healing, treatments, healing, etc.  This is why we call it a courageous journey.  We’re probably looking at year and half or more.   Pray for us as we balance life, family and ministry; to grow closer as a family and to God; and for Christ to be revealed in our journey.

August 27, 2008:  This week Dr. Woodburn gave us some not-so-good news.  Teh results from Maria’s second surgery revealed that the cancer is still invasive.  In other words, the margins were not clear of cancer.  We’re still rejoicing, though, that the lymph nodes were cancer free. 

What does this mean for Maria? 

First of all, quite honestly, some tears and a few fears.  Her fears mainly are with how this will affect the family.  Although, I remind her that we’ll all be in this together it’s still a legitimate fear.

Secondly, we will be meeting with the oncologist this Friday morning to discuss her treatments of Chemo, radiation and hormone therapy.  Then, in the afternoon, we will be meeting with Dr. Woodburn to discuss her third surgery.  Maria will need a mastectomy and will be scheduled next week.  This is not the news we were praying for and yet, through tears we will desire God to be revealed through this. 

Last Sunday, I preached on 2 Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  (Check out sermon podcast “Fulfillment”)

The question I asked is this:  If the teasure is inside the pot, how does anybody see the treasure?  We need to know atht in the frist century the refining process for pottery wasn’t perfect.  So, very frequently the pots that were made would crack.  Once they they did you were able to see what was inside.

Theologically speaking, that means God uses cracked pots.  But a better way to say it is that he uses broken people.  It’s in our broken places that God can be seen.  It’s in our weakness that He is made strong.  It’s not in my strength.  It’s where we’re broken and where we’re humbled that Jesus shows up the most.  It takes broken soil to produce a crop and broken grain to give bread and broken bread to give strength.  And it takes a broken person to really show Jesus.

So, just keep praying for us, as broken people, who desire God to be revealed.

August 15, 2008:  First of all, my wife, Maria and I want to thank you for praying, caring and being willing to help in any way!  Thanks for passing on our prayer requests to other prayer warriors.  We received email prayers from all over California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Idaho, and as far as Massachusetts.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if they made it out of the country. 

At about 2:00 am on Friday morning, August 15, Maria woke me up and we enjoyed the sights and sounds of an incredible lightning and thunder storm.  Can anyone remember the last time we had a stomr like that–in August!?  For Maria and I, we just sensed in our hearts that it was God’s way of saying, “I hear your prayers, I’m greater than anything that could ever happen to you, and I’ll prove it with a display of my mighty power.”  We had some amazing moments being still and knowing that he is God.  (Psalm 46:10)

We talked to Dr. Woodburn and here’s what’s happening at this point:

1. The lymph nodes are clear of cancer.
2. Maria has stage 2 cancer.
3. The initial margins from Maria’s surgery last week were not clear of cancer.  Dr. Woodburn is scheduling a second surgery next week.
4. Dr. Woodburn is scheduling Maria to meet with an oncologist to discuss follow up treatments — chemo, radiation, and hormone therapy.  We don’t how much or how long yet.
5. We’ll meet with Dr. Woodburn early next week to schedule Maria’s next surgery and then discuss the results.

How you can pray now:

• Praise God for the reports on the lymph nodes.  That’s a big answer prayer.
• Praise God for stage 2 cancer.  That’s low and the lower the better!
• Thank God for a good recovery from the 1st surgery.  Maria is really bruised up and tired but in good spirits. 
• Pray now for the drugs affecting Maria’s eyesight — as I’m writing this she is telling me how handsome I am.  (Ha Ha…that’s a joke.  The handsome part isn’t but the eyesight part is.)
• Seriously, pray for her recovery next week.
• Pray the margins will be clear of cancer.
• Pray that God gives wisdom to Dr. Woodburn.
• Pray God would lead us to a great oncologist.
• Pray for God’s peace to rule.
• Pray that we would be still and know that he is God through all things.

August 13, 2008:  Thanks so much for your prayer, friends!!  On August 13, 2008, Dr. Woodburm met me after Maria’s lumpectomy surgery.  Here’s what we know right now:

1. Dr. Woodburm removed the lump and believes that with the amount of margin (healthy tissue) he also removed Maria’s post-surgery treatment would not include further surgery.
2. Lymph nodes were removed and will be sent to pathology.
3. The stage and treatment can not be determined at this point.
4. Dr. Woodburn hopes to have test results back by Friday.
5. Maria will be home recovering.
6. Maria will experience pain and need plenty of rest over the next 24-48 hours.
7. Dr. Woodburn has adequately supplied her with pain meds. 

Keep praying for us.  MARIA IS AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO BE AROUND, EVEN THROUGH THIS STUFF, AND HER FAITH INSPIRES ME!

On August 12, 2008 I sent out an update to the many people who pray for us. 

Within the last 7 days my wife, Maria, had a core biopsy done on a lump she had recently discovered on her left breat.  She was scheduled for a consult with Dr. Woodburn tomorrow but they calle dus today.  That to us felt like a red flag.

We’ve been praying that this lump would be benign and the doctors would simply remove it.  However, it turns out that Maria has invasive breast cancer.  Now the question is “what stage?”  The doctor explained that there are 5 stages and the lower the better.  Maria was scheduled for surgery the next day.  Due to the position of the tumor Dr. Woodburm was concerned that the cancer may have spread to the lymph.  So, that afternoon, Maria was injected with radioactive isotopes so that the surgeon wil be able to see the lymph nodes.  They will remove the tumor and several lymph nodes to send to pathology. 

How does she feel?  It’s still pretty surreal for her.  Her head is processing it way before her heart.  I will say this–our prayer is that, through this time in our lives, Christ will be revealed in us and to others in new and powerful ways. 

Fortunately, the doctor gave her anxiety medication for that night and before surgery.  We know about the follow up treatment until they determine the stage of cancer.

Here’s how you can pray for us:

1.  Recovery from the surgery;  2. Peace during the waiting period;  3. Our children understanding;  4.  Pray for the lowest possible stage of cancer, removal, treatment and healing.

And so, this journey begins.