God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Dad Update 2-14-08
On Sunday night, Dad went into the hospital for pain management after having suffered for a week. The hope was that the pain was associated with the chemotherapy. A couple days ago, we became aware of paralysis in his face once again. An MRI was done and the cancer is now covering the nerves in his head. To say this is sad news is an understatement. There will be no more chemotherapy and Dad has maybe "weeks" left here on this earth with us. He is losing his speech due to the paralysis and he is losing is eye sight as well. This will be a difficult time as we selfishly desire to keep him here with us.
I had been praying that he would live long enough (end of August) to know his next grandchild. Now, my prayer is that this will go quickly for him so that he doesn't need to suffer any longer. Please pray that they can keep his pain under control and that God will be merciful and take him home quickly.
Once again, I am attempting to find comfort in the Bible and music. If anything comes to mind, please send it my way. I'm grateful for all your prayers and your friendships. Despite the bonus year we have been given with Dad, nothing prepares one to say goodbye to someone they love. It just plain hurts.
I had been praying that he would live long enough (end of August) to know his next grandchild. Now, my prayer is that this will go quickly for him so that he doesn't need to suffer any longer. Please pray that they can keep his pain under control and that God will be merciful and take him home quickly.
Once again, I am attempting to find comfort in the Bible and music. If anything comes to mind, please send it my way. I'm grateful for all your prayers and your friendships. Despite the bonus year we have been given with Dad, nothing prepares one to say goodbye to someone they love. It just plain hurts.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Dad Update 2-12-08
This morning Mom called to inform me that they were still attempting to manage Dad's pain. She was headed out to get him some breakfast.
This evening she called to tell me that when she got back, he told her that his lips felt swollen. When she asked him to smile, the worst was confirmed. That partial paralysis he had previously (around Labor Day) has returned. Doctors did an MRI and found that there is something pressing on the nerve by his eye. The plan is to do a spinal tap to see if the cancer is once again attacking the nervous system and to administer chemotherapy at the same time to fight against it.
Every day the situation continues to seem so surreal to me. I still cannot believe that my Dad has cancer. That my Dad has been told there is no longer a hope of a cure.
On Sunday, Steve and Laurie prayed with us. Steve prayed for healing for both of our Dads. I thanked him because so many times it's difficult to pray for healing. I don't want to be disappointed or I don't want to make demands of God.
Still, I am reminded that whether God chooses to heal him here on this earth or in heaven, He will answer this prayer and Dad will receive healing.
This evening she called to tell me that when she got back, he told her that his lips felt swollen. When she asked him to smile, the worst was confirmed. That partial paralysis he had previously (around Labor Day) has returned. Doctors did an MRI and found that there is something pressing on the nerve by his eye. The plan is to do a spinal tap to see if the cancer is once again attacking the nervous system and to administer chemotherapy at the same time to fight against it.
Every day the situation continues to seem so surreal to me. I still cannot believe that my Dad has cancer. That my Dad has been told there is no longer a hope of a cure.
On Sunday, Steve and Laurie prayed with us. Steve prayed for healing for both of our Dads. I thanked him because so many times it's difficult to pray for healing. I don't want to be disappointed or I don't want to make demands of God.
Still, I am reminded that whether God chooses to heal him here on this earth or in heaven, He will answer this prayer and Dad will receive healing.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Update 2-11-08
Dad went to the emergency room last night. The pain was overbearing and he was desperately in need of some medication. Thankfully, the doctors were able to get the pain under control. They are also leaning towards believing that this pain is related to the chemotherapy. He needs to be in the hospital for 24 hours and should then be able to go home. It's hard to see him in so much pain. Please pray that they are able to keep in under control.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Rude Awakening
Dad has been experiencing a lot of pain lately. It's very similar to the kind of pain he experienced back around Labor Day at the farm. Doctors never identified what the pain was from at that time and we are uncertain as to the current cause. The nurse has advised him that bone pain is one of the side effects of this chemotherapy he had administered on Monday. Yeseterday she laid out a pain management plan to hopefully help him sleep and feel some relief.
Rod's dad is going to begin kidney dialysis on Monday. They will also be administering some type of alternate chemotherapy drug to help combat the leukemia soon.
With both of our dads experiencing the health issues that they do, we realize each night as we fall asleep that tomorrow may not be what we expect.
The other night, we are both sleeping when Jaycie began to cry. Rod graciously went to attend to her so I could continue sleeping. That's when the phone rang. I jumped out of bed, my heart pounding, mind spinning and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Can I be transferred to..."
A wrong number at 1 a.m. I didn't know which emotion was stronger: irritation or relief.
"You have the wrong number," I stated and hung up.
Rod inquired as to what was happening and I informed him of the situation.
It took a while to fall back asleep. Still, I think relief was the stronger emotion. Thanking God that nothing had changed that we were aware of with either of our dads and praying for relief from the pain Dad is experiencing, I fell back asleep.
Rod's dad is going to begin kidney dialysis on Monday. They will also be administering some type of alternate chemotherapy drug to help combat the leukemia soon.
With both of our dads experiencing the health issues that they do, we realize each night as we fall asleep that tomorrow may not be what we expect.
The other night, we are both sleeping when Jaycie began to cry. Rod graciously went to attend to her so I could continue sleeping. That's when the phone rang. I jumped out of bed, my heart pounding, mind spinning and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Can I be transferred to..."
A wrong number at 1 a.m. I didn't know which emotion was stronger: irritation or relief.
"You have the wrong number," I stated and hung up.
Rod inquired as to what was happening and I informed him of the situation.
It took a while to fall back asleep. Still, I think relief was the stronger emotion. Thanking God that nothing had changed that we were aware of with either of our dads and praying for relief from the pain Dad is experiencing, I fell back asleep.
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