My Birthday is Tomorrow.

      

 

 

    We had out second oncology appointment this week. We were hoping to get results back from genetic testing, but we will have to wait until the next appointment. However, we did get one major blood test result back. It was a test to show the MTM/mL (mean tumor levels) levels in her blood.  It came back showing there were no molecules of cancer in her blood stream. Obviously this is a tremendous praise report and relief. This is one of the tests we were waiting on to figure out her post treatment and the need for chemo.  Unless the Oncologist finds more abnormalities in her blood or future Imaging, prayerfully she will not have to go through that process. A silver lining that we were told though is that if she does have to go on chemo it wont be an aggressive round of it. 

 She also had her first appointment with her PCP. We were blessed to see how much she was on top of things. I would hope that this is standard practice, but we were so glad to see how much time her doctor had gone through Laura's medical record before they met so there was not catching up needed. Something of note that we did find out was the size of her tumor that was removed. Initially we both thought the size of her tumor was rather small. Turns out we were wrong. It was the size of a lime. I don't think I was ready to know that. It was like all the emotions from the hospital hit me again. I guess when I was thinking it was much smaller It wasn't as sinister in my mind. The amount they removed from her colon was the size of a baseball. I thought it was the size of a marble!

    Another answer to prayer is that Laura got the approval to get an iron injection on Monday. Lord willing, this will help her with the exhaustion that she has been feeling in recent weeks. She is starting to feel a bit better though. We've found that as long as I can get her breakfast before she gets out of bed she feels much better throughout the day. She isn't 100%, but she doesn't feel as if she is going to faint over too much physical exertion. 

    Laura and I had dinner with a dear friend last night. And somehow the topic of what would have happened if Laura would have passed away. I know, real enjoyable conversation to have over dinner, right? But the conversation was more about the desire to see our friends and family come to Christ. We all know that as Christians our greatest hope is for those we love to come to faith and have a lasting relationship with our savior. But, what exactly are we doing about that? 

    When my Dad passed away, one thing that I couldn't stop thinking about was, what his life would looked like if he knew he had seven days left to live? What about 20 min? What if we knew that before the night ended we would be standing at the bema seat having our lives played out before God having to give an account for every needless or idle word that we spoke? What about the times that we didn't do what we knew we were supposed to do? 

    Throughout the new testament we are called imitate Christ. 1 John 2:6 states "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." John in his gospel writes "if you love me, you will keep my commandments" (14:15).  But what does that look like in our daily lives? Is it just to do good? Not break the rules? What is our mission? What was Christ's mission? We can find clarity in chapter 20 of the gospel of John. Here we can read that It was God who sent the Son (John 5:37; 6:44, 57; 8:16, 19; 20:21; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:14) to an unbelieving world so that through faith and believing in Him they might have life (John 20:31). As Believers we are also sent by the Son in the same manner in obedience to bear witness to the one who has brought reconciliation to the Father (Romans 5:8-11). Yes, there is a place for mercy ministry, and we are required to obey the commands of the old and new covenant. In all of these things we are to be faithful and Holy (Leviticus 20:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 1 Peter 1:16)

     As I was finishing writing this update, Laura received the results from her Genetic Testing. She was told that they screened for 89 different types of genetic cancer and she was negative for all types. This is another huge answer to prayer. I don't really have words describe how joyful I am right now. 

    Please continue to pray for us.