A request for prayer…please pray for my Dad, Vincent, he had a lump come up in his neck in May so he went to the Dr, had a Cat Scan then a biopsy then a Pet Scan and a bone marrow biopsy. We were referred to the cancer center for the final results and my Dad was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. It is stage 4 since it is in all his lymph nodes and bone marrow. He has already had his first two chemotherapy treatments which he gets on a Wed. and Thurs. every 21 days followed by a shot on the Friday to boost his white cells.The Dr is very optimistic that the treatment will put him into remission and my Dad has a great attitude and looks and feels pretty good also. The lump in his neck has gone so that is an excellent sign. He will be having treatments every 21 days for six treatments and will have a repeat Pet Scan after the first three treatments.
My second prayer request…at the same time this was happening with my Dad my Mom, Mary (she has been in treatment for bladder cancer for the past 4 years) had her 3 monthly check up. The last 3 scans have been clear of any signs of cancer but this last scan, the beginning of June, the Dr found some new growths and the pathology results showed a reoccurrence of cancer and it is of aggressive nature. Immediately my Mom was scheduled for a bone scan and a cat scan to see if the cancer was contained or if it had spread outside of the bladder, thankfully both showed that the cancer is contained within her bladder. The Dr talked with us about treatment options and suggested that before making any decisions that we should get other opinions so we are sure about our next step. My Mom has seen 4 different doctors in the last few weeks and all of them agree she will need to have her bladder removed and all the other organs around it ASAP. As you can imagine this news of both my parents within a month has been difficult but thankfully we are all together under the same roof and my mom and dad are in good spirits and are expecting and looking forward to many more wonderful years here on earth together!!!! We are prayer warriors and we have many more warriors around the world praying for my mom and dad. I know that God is with my mom and dad, He will never leave them nor forsake them. My devotion today faithfully reminded me to always trust His redeeming purpose which is to make us all vessels fit for our master’s use. He reminds us in His Word that the heat of trials and hardships to us are like the heat that the goldsmith applies to a lump of gold that he wants to make into a beautiful golden ring. I cannot ask WHY, “why my beautiful and faithful mom” or “why my dad, who is so wonderfully strong and healthy, ” WHY is this happening to them. God’s Word assures that what is happing is not a punishment it is the Refining Fire of our great God. God has trusted us to go through this really hard thing
“that the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:7
I wanted to post this news not for our friends and family to worry or be sorry (because He promises us that trials and hardship WILL come) but, to ask you to pray for my mom’s surgery which will be scheduled soon, my dad’s chemotherapy treatments and divine strength and miraculous healing over the coming months.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Blessings,
Sian
