Hi All,
I'm late again, but slow motion is better than no motion. I hope that this finds you all well. I know that some of you are having rough times and I pray for you all often. Please allow me to update you on the friends you have been praying for during the last few months. Celestia and Ed Tarver are on a new regime of chemo and are praying that this drug will help to place Celestia into remission. This drug is given weekly and has some nasty side effects. Celestia has been having a lot of pain and her blood counts are way down. She is currently on "house arrest" and cannot see her children or grandchildren until the numbers come up. Please pray that the Lord will provide His comfort and peace to each of them during this time and that this new drug will do its job. I ask that you also pray specifically for Celestia's blood counts to come up enough for her to have her next treatment tomorrow. They will be able to due a body scan after her next treatment to see if the drug is working.
Wesley and Carm Hargraves are home and doing OK right now. Carm said that Wes is still having difficulty breathing, but seems to be gaining some strength slowly. They have not heard anything from the Emory transplant team as to whether Wes has been placed on the list. Please pray that Wes remains infection free and that his strength returns soon. Also, please pray for Carm as she cares for Wes and waits for encouraging news about his future.
Suzi and Jim Bauch are now officially out of the drug trials in Seattle. They have decided to go with the new drug Herceptin and forego the experimental vaccine. Suzi was unable to take both of the drugs and opted to go with the Herceptin, since the trial results were so positive. This change means that they will not have to travel to Seattle on a monthly basis and can be done in Atlanta. Please pray that they will be encouraged and uplifted during this time.
As you can see from the above information, there are many pray opportunities for these friends. Not only the ones who are directly going through these trials, but their spouses, families and friends need support and prayers. I truly believe that it is harder on the ones standing by and watching and caring than on us who are going through the illness.
Well, my journey is almost complete for this phase of my treatment. My blood counts were not wonderful, but were acceptable to do my chemo last Friday. The Neulasta has kept my white count up fairly well, but it was below the normal range and has been ratcheting down with each treatment. The nurse said that even if it was marginal before my last treatment that they probably would go ahead, since it would be my last one. I am asking that you would pray specifically for my blood counts to stay up and that we will be able to finish this journey on time. I know that the Lord will work this out within His perfect plan for me and we rest in that thought daily.
To each of you I am sending a huge E-HUG!! You are all very special people and true pray warriors. I will pray for you as you have so faithfully done for me and all of my friends over the past months. I would like to leave you with a few verses from a wonderful book I have been rereading. "Life is full of challenges and disappointments. But take heart and experience My supernatural peace. Just as you compassionately comfort your child, so I tenderly comfort you. My Word is your source of encouragement. Remember, when you love Me and are called according to My purposes, I even turn life's difficulties into unexpected victories. Victoriously, YOUR GOD OF ALL HOPE John 16:33; Isaiah 66:13; Romans 15:4; 8:28
Yours in Christ,
Sandy