Cancer battle continues::In Martin's words

Phil 4:11b-13

 

For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with the humble means, and also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things though Him who strengthens me  

 

Is 41:13

 

For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.

 

Is 41 : 10

 

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

 

Is 30 : 18

 

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

 

Ps 40:1

 

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

This is an update since my last email in August. A lot has happened and is percolating at this time.

 

In August, I approached a local pharmacist who reviewed my situation with the exposed bone that was not healing and he came up with a topical cream to apply three times a day. I called it the "miracle grow" cream. I would apply it to the exposed bone area and then add an additional poultice of aloe vera juice and raw honey.

 

For several weeks I did not notice a change until what I felt was some positive movement with gap around the exposed bone closing. About that time, I started to get a sore throat on my left side which is where the exposed bone is. It got so pronounced that I stopped doing the poultices and waited for the problem to subside.

 

I attributed it to the weather, smoky skies and air, exertion, working in 102 temps, etc....

 

This week I was back at MDA for another round of tests and consultations. It was a mixed bag of good and not so good news.

 

The good news is that the exposed bone finally had become so pronounced and visible that the dental surgeon could reach in there with his cutting tools and break off a big chunk. The result is that no longer do I have a sharp jagged bone sticking out  irritating my tongue and surrounding tissue.  What a relief!

 

The not so good news is that the CT scan showed an area in my neck behind the donor tissue and my throat that appears to have the characteristics of a tumor. This is the spot where my throat has been sore and is close to where the exposed jawbone was.

 

The surgeons want to have a biopsy done to see what this is. I will be having that done at some point soon.

 

There are theories as to what this problem area is. It is about the size of a quarter. One theory is that it is cancerous and it is now traveling to other parts of my body. The other theory is that it is a collection of fluid from the infected tissue related to the exposed bone and since I do not have any lymph nodes, it is trapped right now. 

 

Right now we have to get  the facts and then make a decision.

 

I have prayer time with the boys in the evenings before going to bed. Each of us gets to pick someone to pray for. Gunnar picked Ms Ruth, a fellow cancer warrior, Winston picked Gunnar who has a cold and me because of my mouth problems and I was at the end to wrap it up with the rest of the names on our list. We proceeded to pray and after wards Gunnar asked me the following question.  

 

Gunnar asked me why does God let all these bad things happen to you? Great question and awesome opportunity to answer in a proper way.

 

I explained that God is not letting bad things happen to me. They are tests for me to pass and so that others can be able to watch me and see the peace I have which comes from God. Then maybe they would want to have that peace also which comes from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing that as a believer, we are in His hand.

 

I expanded a little and talked about comparing our life now with cancer to our life before without cancer. We compared our house to the little house we used to live in. We compared being close to friends and family now and not so far away as before. We compared many other blessings as well.

 

I then told Gunnar that the biggest and most happiest day of my life with cancer was actually a day with him. He looked at me quizzically and that is when I relayed the time when shortly after three surgeries and during the radiation and chemo, I had gone to his room to pray and say good night. He told me that evening that he believed. I was not sure what he meant and he clarified. He said that he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He smiled and said he remembered that evening and where we were. 

 

So the take way in this is that our battle with cancer brought our son to the point where he made the decision to accept Christ as His Savior and for the parents, that is a moment of extreme joy and happiness.....makes this three year battle worth it. 

 

I will send out a new update once we get more feedback from MDA regarding the possible tumor and if it is cancerous or not. In the meantime we continue taking each day one day at a time and being thankful.

 

Semper Fi,

 

Martin, Traci, Gunnar, Winston and Tessa            

I love you Ruth:Bright Hope Ministries Launch

Today Ruth launched her new website of God's love and care for each believer no matter their troubles in life, even the death sentence of her own cancer.  I have talked about her here and encourage you to go to her new site, Bright Hope Ministries.  I just watched a Vimeo of a talk she did this past June 2011...my children even listened in to "Miss Ruth".  They paid attention to it.  They know her and I think know that we do have things in common.  The treatment results of cancer, the Lord and, a grand sense of humor.  You should know, Ruth's disabilities are more challenging or differ in challenge from Martin's and the type of cancer was different but the aforementioned similarities have been a grace gift from God to our whole little family.  Just go to the "Listen" link to see this talk.  We love her dearly and love even more her reflection of God's promises and certain plan for her life and family.  Please watch it.  You will need one hour and I pray you will emerge encouraged and in awe.

You can download her brochure to share from her site or contact her about it.