Psalm 121

Psalm 121. "I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved: he who keeps you will not slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.  The sun will not strike you by day not the moon by night.  The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.  The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

The Lord is my keeper, he keeps me in all circumstances, good or bad.    Yes, I was disappointed about the results yesterday, ,but after speaking to the doctors I can see their wisdom.  I was told that all tumors could not be removed without some potential problems.  Dr Heppell said that this type of cancer is not curable but is treatable.  He also added that there could be a miracle.  This is what I believe.  I am in God's hands now, it is his choice.  Sometimes he heals, sometimes he increases our faith, either way he will keep my life.

I will have chemo as soon as I heal.  I have been blessed with easy chemo before and I can only believe that this will happen again.

Thank you for your prayers and support.  I am blessed.

Post-op

Hello Everyone,

This is Gwen's son Jeremiah.  My mom is out of surgery and in her room and is doing fine.  Im afraid to say that the doctors decided to not remove the tumors inside her.  One of the tumors has spread and removing it would cause more harm than good.  This is difficult news to hear and that is all we know so far.  The doctor will be up shortly to explain everything better.  I would like to ask that everyone would continue to pray for Gods provision in this situation.  I know that my mom would appreciate your prayers for her continued faith, hope and joy through this.

As is my mom's tradition I want to include a verse that is appropriate to the post.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:34

Matthew 6:34.  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.   Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

My surgery is tomorrow, or today if you are reading this on Tuesday.  This is the day I have been waiting for, the day that I have been thanking the Lord for since December.  This is the path for healing that has been chosen for me.  The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:10 says, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  His will....  that is what this is all about.  It is not for me to question him, just accept that he is in control.  I have no doubt that there will be 5 surgeons in the operating room, the 4 that has been appointed to operate on me, and the 5th is the Lord, who is the ultimate healer and physician. 

I have done everything that has been asked of me, beginning with chemo.  I have not skipped one doctors appointment or lab schedule. I have had all the scans and radiation.  I have completed all the shots and the cleanse for surgery.  I am ready, packed for the hospital, and finally writing this blog just to let you know that I am well.  There is a wonderful hymn that says..."It is well with my soul."  That is what peace is...being well with my circumstances.

I thank you for your prayers and look forward to writing again soon.  I have asked Beau to write for me during surgery and afterwards, but I will be back as soon as I am able.

Romans 8:31-32

Romans 8:31-32.  ".....If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Verse 35:"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or danger or sword?...."

I met with my surgeon, Dr Heppell, again today.  Once again, he went over what to expect.  He is preparing me for the idea that I may loose my right kidney as a result of the location of the tumor.  The surgeons agree that loosing the kidney would be better than having a urthera that was scarred or damaged.  I am blessed to have a very healthy left kidney and the more I talk to other people about having one kidney, the more assured I feel. I was told that my surgery would start first thing the morning of July 29.  I will need to report to the hospital at 5:30 am and surgery at 7:30 am.  This will be a long surgery.  Maybe 7 hours or longer.  In Dr. Heppells words, "we will take as long as it needs and not be in a hurry".

In preparation for surgery, I will need to stop taking my blood thinning medication 5 days before and then start giving myself shots twice daily that will take the place of the coumadin. Ouch!!! I have a class on the 21st, so that I can learn how to give myself a shot.  That makes me feel weak at the knees.  Surgery...fine....shots...bad!!!!  Dr Heppel joked today that I would not make a good drug addict.  He could not be more correct!!

Many of you are asking how to pray for me.  Please cover me with your prayers. Pray as you are lead to pray.  Even though I am not frightened about the surgery, I know that Satan will do everything in his power to cause me to doubt.  I want to give God all the glory and  to run with endurance the race that is set before me. (Hebrews 12:1)