Pray Specifically

Here's where we are with my mom.  Her body is still making a LOT of fluid as it heals from the surgery, which is normal.  The problem is, more fluid is draining out of her body through the drain tube than she can replace by eating and drinking.  My mom is a VERY TINY lady, and she doesn't drink in a WEEK what they want her to drink in a DAY.  So, the doctor has decided to cap the drain and see if he can get her body to absorb the fluid instead of her body taking the "easy route" and just passing it out through the drain.  Somehow we need to get mom over this "hump" so she can gain some strength, get out of the hospital, and eventually GET BACK HOME!!

So I'm asking my awesome PRAYER WARRIORS TO PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR MY MOTHER:

We need her body to absorb this excess fluid and NOT just accumulate in her abdomen like it did the last time.

We do NOT want the fluid to grow bacteria, so pray against infection.

We want mom's appetite to INCREASE so she can begin to build up some strength.

We need her to be able to easily take her medicine.

We need the JOY of the LORD to fill her soul.  This has been a long process and frankly she gets very discouraged sometimes.  She is sick and tired of being sick and tired.  She needs the Holy Spirit to come upon her like a mighty rushing wind!!!

I know that our God is able to do ALL THIS AND MORE and

I ask you to agree with me for these things.

We need to get mom stable, which is the first step to getting her OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, which is the first step to 

GETTING HER HOME.

Prayers appreciated for safe travels for my dad and brother-in-law, as they are headed back to Houston tomorrow.  Hopefully by the first of the week mom can be out of the hospital and in the hotel, and then after a few days we can bring her home.  I'll head down there the first of the week and stay until I can bring her home.

Your prayers are appreciated beyond words.  My heart is so full of love for all of you that have prayed continually for my mother.  God is good, and He answers prayer. 

 

Still In Houston

My mom is still in Houston, Texas.  Nothing super serious, but some "hiccups" as the surgeon calls them that have prevented her from coming home.

Last Wednesday she had to be re-admitted to the hospital to have the drain put back in.  The fluid was accumulating faster than her little body could get rid of it, and her white count was a little elevated, so they put the drain back in, got her started on IV antibiotics, and kept her overnight for observation.  They released her to go back to the hotel Thursday afternoon.  We had a "changing of the guard" on Friday.  One sister and my dad headed home.  My other sister arrived to take care of mom.  Friday and Saturday weren't the best days as mom just couldn't seem to get over the hump from having the drain reinserted.  She had no appetite, very weak, and in pain.  So, by Saturday evening she was dehydrated and my sister took her to the Emergency Room.  They readmitted her and she's been in the hospital ever since.  

Yesterday the chaplain of MD Anderson came to see mom on his day off and prayed with her.  Since then, I can tell you that we've had a BIG TURNAROUND!!!  Mom has eaten better.  She has got up and walked.  She has been able to take her oral meds and keep them down and that is HUGE for mom as swallowing any kind of medicine is a struggle for her.

My mom has been in Houston, Texas for 22 days.  She had surgery on April 6th.

So here I go again, asking you to PRAISE THE LORD WITH US FOR ALL OF THE MIRACLES HE HAS PERFORMED.  Mom's liver is back to 100% of the size it was before they removed 70% of it on April 6th!!!  While she has had some minor setbacks, NO MAJOR COMPLICATIONS!!!  Mom is tired and weak and she wants to go home, but the surgeon wants to make ABSOLUTELY SURE she is stable before she makes the 750 mile trip back home.

If you've been praying for my mom, I ask you to continue.  We aren't settling for 1/2 of a miracle, we want it all!!  We want complete healing and we will keep praying for it.  

Please pray for strength for my mom, both physical and mental.  As you can imagine this surgery, and 22 days away from home, have taken their toll.  Pray for no infection, and for the fluids to be reabsorbed so they can remove the drain.  Pray for her appetite to be strong, and her stomach to be settled.  Pray for ease of taking the medications.  Pray for her to do lots of walking.

And pray for my sister that is down there with mom.  It is exhausting being a care giver.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart  for your continued prayers.  Please know that I am a "pray-er" and if you need prayer for something I am honored to lift your need before the Lord.  He never fails!!!

I hope to be able to tell you SOON that she is headed home.  In the meantime, I pick up my beautiful daughter from the airport later this week, and she graduates from college on Saturday!   Pictures to come!!!

May the Lord bless each and every one of you.  He is good.

The Resurrected King is Resurrecting Me!!!

I'm so sorry I'm just now updating you on my mom's big surgery.  Everything went VERY WELL!!!  The surgeon was pleased with the outcome and mom is doing great.  They removed 70% of her liver during the surgery and there were no complications.  Mom is still in Houston, as the surgeon wanted her to stay a couple weeks after the surgery just to make certain everything is good.  She has an appointment Wednesday morning, and if everything is good, which we expect it to be, they will head home.  PLEASE KEEP MY MOM IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!  Her body is working hard to regrow her liver, and it makes her feel very tired and weak.  As you can imagine, it is very discouraging to not feel good for a long time.  So please lift my mom in prayer for complete physical healing, and also prayer for God to encourage her through the coming weeks . The tiredness will last for several weeks, which is a good thing because it means her liver is healing, but that's a long time to not feel very well, so keep those prayers coming!!!

Happy Easter to everyone.  What a day.  What a reminder of my Savior's love!!  I'm sharing my Facebook post from yesterday:

Because He died for me knowing every sin I would commit. Because even though I have failed Him many times, He has never failed me. Because He promised to never leave me or forsake me. Because death and the grave could not hold Him. Because He is seated at the right hand of God interceding for me today. Because His final breath now lives in me. Because His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Because my hope, in this world and for eternity, is found in Him alone. This is why I am a follower of Jesus Christ. "I am He who lives and was dead and BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE! And I have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:18

My new favorite song:

Please turn up your speakers and let your Spirit come alive as you realize what a gift the love of Jesus is!!!

I can't thank you all enough for lifting my family in prayer these past 9 months.  Yes, it's been 9 months since my mom's diagnosis.  We've had good days and bad.   Days of feeling strong in our faith, and days where we wondered where God was in all of this.  But we KNOW that He is with us.  We trust Him!!!

THE RESURRECTED KING IS ON THE THRONE!!!!!

 

Prayers Needed

It's finally here.  The day we have waited for since last fall.  On Thursday morning, April 6th, my mother will have her "big" surgery at MD Anderson in Houston.  The surgeon will remove approximately 70% of her liver where the remaining cancerous tumors are located.    

My folks are already in Houston, and she had blood drawn and a CT scan yesterday.  Today mom has no appointments, so they are hanging out enjoying the beautiful weather down there.  Tomorrow they meet with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, and the surgery will be Thursday morning.

 

Since this journey began we have asked God for complete healing for mom.  I know that no one lives forever, and neither will my mom.  But we do not in any way believe that God brings sickness upon His children.  His Word says the prayer of faith SHALL heal the sick, and that is what we stand upon.  

Today I ask once again that you pray with faith, confident that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, asking for my mom's healing in Jesus name.  We are praying for God to guide the surgeon, the nurses, the anesthesiologist, everyone that will come in contact with my mother during the surgery and her recovery.  We are asking for a completely routine surgery.  We are praying for NO COMPLICATIONS AND NO INFECTION!!  We are praying for a SPEEDY and COMPLETE RECOVERY.  And we are praying that the cancer will be TOTALLY GONE, NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN.

Before my mom's surgery in February I believe that God gave me the verse Exodus 14:13  "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever."  I have taken that verse to heart, and truly believe that after the surgery on Thursday, there will be no cancer in my mother's body and IT WILL NEVER RETURN.

If God has another plan for my mother, then I will accept it.  I trust Him.  But until He shows me differently, that is my prayer for my mother, that the cancer BE GONE FOREVER IN JESUS NAME and I am asking for you to agree with me.

I fly to Houston Wednesday afternoon to be there for the surgery on Thursday, so prayers for a safe trip will be appreciated.  Mom has to stay in the hospital for 5-7 days post surgery, then she will be in a hotel in Houston for another week, just so the doctor's can keep an eye on things.  I'll be staying there for the first week, and then my sister will come down to stay the week mom is in the hotel recovering.  Please keep my mom, Donna, in your prayers over the next few weeks.  This is a big surgery and the doctors say the recovery will take some time.  We are praying God shows off in a big way, and mom recovers completely and much faster than they think!!!

Please remember to pray for my cousin, Cami, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January.  She has 3 chemo treatments behind her, 3 more to go before she has surgery.  And just yesterday I found out that the mother of a blogging friend of mine, Shelly Wildman, was diagnosed with cancer last month.  Shelly's mom is having surgery on Wednesday, April 5th, and I know she would appreciate your prayers as well.  You can check out Shelly's newsletter HERE.

So many need a touch from Jesus.  So many need healing and encouragement.  So many need comfort.  This road called life is not easy.  But a life lived with Jesus as your guide is a life lived well.  He never promised it would be easy, but He promised to never leave us or forsake us.  These past few months have been extremely difficult for our family, but we know that He is in control.  I fail him many times, but my heart's desire is to serve Him.  One day I want to hear those words . . . "well done, good and faithful servant."

Thank you all so very, very much for your prayers.  They are appreciated beyond words.  And if you have a few minutes, click on the video below and check out my new favorite song.