COUGH # cough CoUgH! COUGH cough! COUGH

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For Thou art my praise. Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

While Jeremiah 29 is speaking about the nation of Israel after the seventy years of exile in Babylon I feel like it applies to any Christian who needs a closer walk with God when circumstances separate us from His perfect plan. God does have a plan for each of us. It is the best plan we could ever hope for. I have found that the time we can best understand His plan is when we are in the waiting room when all the world’s pressures are somewhat isolated and we can listen and learn. The same applies when we are in the middle of trials and tribulations. We have the hardest time understanding God’s plan for us when life is good because we tend not to listen to God as closely or as often. In my case, I recently learned that God wanted to use a severe and persistent cough and the inability to carry on long conversations to reveal a more complete picture of God’s plan for me. I have many times spoken of the unshakeable faith that God provided from the first day that I was told I had pancreatic cancer and that it involved several different organs. I did not go through the various steps one would normally go through with such a disheartening diagnosis. The ability to approach “The Robertson Adventure” as just that meant that I could meet each doctor, each test and test result, and each procedure with an expectation of how it would fit in God’s bigger plan for me. A little more explanation of the Cough and what it is all about is in order. On November 12^th I started to cough. That in itself is not significant. What makes it relevant is that two times in the last two years I had a persistent, often times unrelenting, dry Cough. The first time it started with a small cold and ended eight weeks later. The second time I coughed for ten weeks. During the second time my doctor took me off Lisinopril thinking that may have been the cause. When the Cough started in November (eight months after the prior episode) I was concerned it was back and I could not blame the drug. As it turns out the Cough was back. I immediately blamed the accuser of a front-on attack to shake my confidence and weaken my resolve. The Cough progressed until last week it was impossible to talk in sentences longer than ten words without the Cough appearing and making it very uncomfortable for everyone around me. An appointment with a Pulmonologist was in order. The Cough had gotten so bad that at night I was unable to even silently pray without coughing so violently that I would lose my train of thought. At those moments I was sure it was the accuser. Finally, I just thanked God for the Cough because I would give no ground to the accuser and God could heal me if He wanted. The appointment with Dr. Weinstein (Pulmonologist) was this last Friday. He determined that the Cough was caused by irritation from sinus drainage and aggravated by talking. I have a regime that I follow twice a day to stop the drainage and clear up the cough. So far it’s working.

So, how has this latest experience given me new insight into God’s plan for me? As I stated earlier, I filter everything that occurs against how it fits into God’s plan for me. I did not immediately filter the Cough in that manner. It took too long to realize that failure on my part. The last part of the Jeremiah 17:14 verse For Thou art my praise ties into the last update I did on Thanksgiving. We praise God when we give thanks, we praise God when we ascribe things to Him, we praise God when we pray to Him, we praise God when we tell others of the things He does in our life, we praise God when we teach our children about God, we praise Him when we worship Him with fellow believers. I failed to praise Him when I did not immediately thank Him for the Cough. Part of God’s plan for me is to praise Him every way, every day. That is a key action for me to remember during this process as I receive healing and am saved from calamity, but they are not things I can make Him heal me from or save me from in my own strength. God has the power, the plan, and the unmanageable love for us. Prayer is also a way we can praise God. Prayer is a way for us to let God know what our needs are. He already knows what we will pray, but we have to take the action and invoke the relationship we have to Go through His Son Jesus. Jesus sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (Hebrews 1:1-3- please look it up, great verse). That is the power that I failed to invoke by not turning the Cough over to God at the very first. That does not mean that I wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble if I had turned it over to God sooner. It means that I was outside of God’s plan for me and working on my own strength. That is not a good position to be in. What I learned is that even while in the waiting room where I am somewhat protected from the pressures of the world I can get lost. In the larger picture while facing major life issues, we need to work in God’s plan for us, praise Him, and make it a daily activity. It will not make life easier, or guarantee we will be healed, or even give us more control over our destiny, what it will do is put us in the hands of God which is the best place we could possibly be.

Now for The Robertson Adventure update. The Cough, in different forms, has visited all three of us this week. Jan got the bad one where she feels bad, coughs a lots, has aches and pains and a low grade fever. Julie just coughs every once in a while. Maybe she is sympathetic coughing since I practiced so long and so often around her. We do not see the nasal involvement or any fever in Julie. Since the Thanksgiving update Jan has been to the doctor for her foot to get the stitches out and was released to bear full weight on it. They will take another x-ray in four weeks when she goes back for a checkup. She is not having any pain so we may be on the road to recovery. Julie has her up and down days but is playing the Shadow Soldier very well. Carol’s back is back to normal. I am still progressing with the treatments and will have a transfusion tomorrow to bring my hemoglobin above 8. Even though it was 7.9 they did my infusion today in spite of the below 8 reading with the knowledge that I will get the transfusion tomorrow. That should bring my hemoglobin back up nicely.

Not much else to report on my status. Still all the same effects of the Chemotherapy, all of which are easily handled with none of the really difficult impacts. Still no pain and no effects of the cancer. Carol and Catherine were in town this weekend which is always such a blessing. Jan’s best friend since 6^th grade, Cathy, is staying for a few days with us. She is such a beautiful sister in the Lord. I love talking with her about how God is working in our lives. It is a real blessing for Jan when Cathy visits.

You can pray for continued healing for Jan’s foot and now her sinus “whatever it is” sickness. For me, please continue to pray for God’s provision in healing the cancer and helping on a daily basis with my general health. I think the Cough is almost handled but it would be fine with me if you wanted to throw that into the prayer mix as well. It looks like I will finish this current round of Chemo and have one more before the CAT scan. That scan will tell the Doctors what progress has been made on the cancer. Prayers are in order for that as well. It never hurts to pray for far off events as well as current ones. Prayers of support and protection for my family are coveted by me so please add that to the list. All the prayers are coveted and very much appreciated. I cannot begin to describe all the love letters from God that have come from your prayers including the many answers to prayer that have already occurred. Each one is a gentle confirmation that God is working.

 

COUGH

Robertson Caring Hospital

A lot has happened since the last update. We have added two more wings to the Robertson Caring Hospital. Besides the Seizure Management Clinic and Cancer Treatment Center we added the Back Pain Management Care Facility and the Orthopedic Surgery Recovery and Rehab Center. That will all make sense soon. Let me start with Monday, November 12^th. That night was the Appreciation Dinner for the 5^th Annual Energy Efficiency Conference held at the Addison Convention Center. It went very well and I got back to the house at about 8:30 pm feeling fine. That night at 12:40 am I got a fairly severe case of the chills that lasted for 5 or 6 minutes. I threw an extra blanket on and they went away. At 3:30 am Jan woke up and I told her about the chills. She immediately took my temperature and it was just under 100 degrees. Two things my Gastroenterologist told me about the stent in my bile duct was to let them know if I got chills with a fever. Jan called the doctor as soon as they opened up at 8:30 am and they wanted me to come in for blood work. I of course had to miss the Conference so we got ready to get the blood work done and drove to the Oncologist without any problem.

Wednesday morning we had an appointment to see the Oncologist for a progress consult on continuing the Chemo. While getting Julie ready that morning Jan rolled her ankle and fell to the floor. We both heard the sound of a snapping bone so we knew it was not just a sprained ankle. I loaded Julie and Jan in the car with an ice bag on Jan’s foot and headed out to Presbyterian to make my appointment. I valet parked (a great service by the way) at the Presbyterian Hospital Emergency Room and Jan checked herself in. I took Julie and walked to the Oncologist to make the appointment. Dr. Strauss had good news on the blood work and said I would be able to start the Chemo Friday on schedule. He was concerned about the chills and low grade fever. They ordered antibiotics for me so he decided to see how that progressed.

I met Jan afterwards in a room where she was waiting for the nurse to bring her a boot, crutches, and discharge orders. She had broken the little toe connecting bone (it is called a Jones fracture). Funny thing is that all the x-rays were of her ankle. We made an appointment with the Orthopedic doctor for Friday and headed home.

Upon hearing the news that Jan had broken her foot Carol drove up from Austin Thursday afternoon and I went to work. Friday, Carol stayed with Julie while Jan drove herself to the Orthopedic Surgeon. He took the proper x-rays and said there were two choices. Put a screw in the fracture in a fifteen minute procedure or spend 8 weeks completely off the foot with the high risk that the displaced bones would not mend. Not much of a choice in Jan’s mind. The surgery was scheduled for Monday at 4:30pm after my Chemo therapy at 9:00 am. Things were progressing well until Saturday morning when Carol was lifting Julie to a standing position. She severely injured her back, although at the time it was just a small pain. It rapidly got worse until she was having back spasms and very bad muscle pain. That is when we opened the Back Pain Management Care Facility at the Robertson Caring Hospital. Two dear friends, Jeff and Melanie, helped get the ball rolling for Carol’s pain management plan by bringing supplies over that day. Monday morning Jan, Julie and I went to my Chemo appointment and left Carol at home on bed rest. Julie did not have a very good night Sunday so we continued the Seizure Management Clinic that night. We arrived at the appointment early only to find out that they only had one nurse to do infusions and a whole lot of people that needed treatments. They did my blood work at 10:00 am and we waited for the results. My first treatment started at 11:00 am. The last treatment started at 2:00 pm. It was pretty obvious to Jan and me that I would not be finished in time for Jan to make her 4:30 pm surgery in Carrollton. So she took the car and Julie and I would take a cab when I was finished. Carol wanted to drive us to the surgery center but that would be the worst thing for her back. After one or two cell phone conversations with me Carol dialed her friends cell phone by mistake. Katie moved here from Austin two and one half months ago to start a new job. As it turned out she was planning on visiting some friends who lived off of Walnut Hill Lane that afternoon. Her friends also had a van she could borrow that could carry Julie’s wheel chair and all the stuff we take for infusion days. Katie picked Julie and me up and we headed to Carrollton. We got there at 5:00 pm which turned out to be just in time. If Carol had not misdialed we would have missed God’s blessing by way of Katie.

They had taken Jan to the operating room at 5:00 pm so Julie and I hung out in the recovery room thinking it would all be over by 6:00 pm. What was supposed to be fifteen minutes in the operating room was over an hour and a half. I was not aware of that until Jan came into recovery at about 7:00 pm. That was very difficult because no one could tell me what was happening. There was a lot of praying going on by Julie, Carol and me until they rolled Jan into recovery. Dr. Heier, Jan’s Surgeon, talked to me just before they brought Jan back. He explained that the fracture was so bad that when they put the screw in the bone it broke into multiple pieces. His only option was to put a plate and five screws in. That is why it took so long. Jan came through fine but would only be able to put partial weight on the foot until her follow up appointment on the 27^th.

Jan, Julie, and I got home at about 8:30 pm after getting up at 4:00 am that morning. That is when we opened up the Orthopedic Surgery Recovery and Rehab Center. We had to stop for supplies at CVS and I became the only staff nurse available. It was a good thing that I was in good shape after my Chemo and had my energy level intact. The same two friends, Jeff and Melanie brought supper over that night. That was the third day in a row that they helped out. Saturday they spent time with us at Jan’s mom’s care facility in Valley Ranch. They are another blessing from God. We are now fully operational and I expect a relief nurse by way of Catherine to arrive from Phoenix Wednesday night. All the patients are recovering nicely and the staff is still happy.

For an update on the Robertson Caring Hospital Cancer Treatment Center let me start out by saying things are well under control. I had that one spell with chills and a low grade fever starting Monday night on November 12^th. I have not had chills since that night, but the fever has varied from the low 99’s to 101. Just in case, I am on the second round of antibiotics but the Gastroenterologist says it is atypical to have a low grade fever with an infected bile duct. I should be sick as a dog and have a high fever. My doctor brother and his wife think the fever is from the cancer cells dying. I like that diagnosis so that is what I am going with. The fever has since subsided due to the steroids I started back with Sunday. I take them one day before infusion and two days after infusion.

One other thing that started Monday night on November 12^th was a dry cough. Twice before I got that and it lasted for over eight weeks each time. It is aggravated by talking. It started when I was praying silently in bed. It got so bad I could not complete a single prayer. The same was true when I tried to talk out loud. I need to talk so it is very frustrating when I am unable to put more than two or three words together without coughing. Maybe I just need to “get over it” as I am prone to say to others. The past two episodes were caused by a medicine I was on called Lisinopril. I am not on that medication so it can not be the cause. My doctor has me on Robitussin DM. That might have done the trick but prayers are in order.

I am now showing some of the classic side effects from the Chemo. I am losing my hair, am sensitive to light, my sense of taste has a metallic taste component, I have high blood sugars, and my blood counts are being affected. So far the big ones of losing weight, nausea, low energy levels, sores in the mouth, and other ones I will not mention are not evident. Again, I attribute that to prayers by the Cloud of Witnesses and God’s loving kindness. I am okay with losing my hair, can wear sun glasses for the light sensitivity, have started using sliding scale insulin injections, and I have learned to embrace the new way of experiencing the way food tastes. The trick is to ignore your brain telling you every bite is spoiled and will make you very sick if you continue to eat it. I have started classifying foods by the different metallic tastes. I have not found many that taste like gold but a whole lot of foods taste like magnesium. A taste that takes some getting used to. Every time I try a new food there is a sense of adventure. Ordering off a menu is really challenging as I learn what different things taste like. Combination foods are very challenging. I am now glad that I eat one thing at a time, as I have done my whole life, and now see a purpose for such a strange way to eat.

It is a tradition of the Robertson house to read Psalm 100 at Thanksgiving. I am especially thankful this Thanksgiving to all God has done and is doing and I am trying to practice everything in that Psalm on a daily basis. Jan brought the verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13 to our family in the midst of all the past events. It states, No temptation has over-taken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. That is very comforting and helps us get through each day with joy and faith. Please have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and please keep praying for us. Thank you, Price

The First Two-Week Chemo Round Is DONE!

Price wrote an update last night.  It was a momentous day since he finished his first "round" of Chemotherapy.  We thank everyone for your prayers.  I know it is what sustains us.  We have our Robertson Family Prayer List on our coffee table where we are carefully recording and praying for all the prayer requests passed on to us from you! We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.  Psalms 78:4 - Jan

From Price:

I just took the final Chemo pill for the first round of Chemotherapy. I now have seven days with no pills or infusions. The amazing part of the last two weeks is that I have not had a single moment of all the side effects that come with Chemotherapy. I attribute that to the tremendous power of prayer and a loving God. There is a lot of truth and applicability packed in the following well known verses from Philippians, Philippians 4:5-7 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Those verses embody what the last two weeks have felt like for me. I have experienced the peace of God, due in a large part to all the tremendous support I have received. What I have come to understand is that a forbearing spirit is vital to following God’s plan in one’s life. For me a forbearing spirit is a magnanimous outlook on life that lets me stand confidently with God on a daily basis. From that position, with all the support I spoke of earlier, I have lived on a moment by moment basis surrounded with the peace of God guarding me in ways I could have never imagined before.

The last weekend and week brought a great visit from my brother and his wife, my daughter Catherine, and some of my high school friends who were in town. It was a great weekend with family and an unexpected opportunity to see some very dear old friends. More love letters from God. Jan and Julie have walked this journey step by step with me, which is so special. Prayers would be in order for the high blood sugar levels and falling blood lab values, which are to be expected based on the normal progression of Chemotherapy. I rejoice that I am free of pain, have the old energy levels back, have an appetite, am able to work a full day, and I have even gained a few pounds. All of that is such a blessing from God due to the support from everyone. I am in the “waiting room” period of this journey. The next CAT Scan will be sometime in January. That is the defining moment for the doctors as to whether or not the Chemotherapy has had any impact on the cancer. I already know that the cancer has been hit hard from all the prayers. That feeling I have is also due to the peace of God I spoke of earlier. I have found that the waiting room is a great place to be while God and the myriad of people who are lifting me up are with me in that place. It could be a time of doubt and uncertainty that would weigh heavily on one’s soul. The enemy uses those times to separate us from God, cast doubt about the future, and generally make us miserable. I am free from all of that because the enemy was defeated, in my circumstance, by the power of Christ from day one. God is with me in the waiting room as are all of the people lifting me up. Thank you for that amazing gift and for your continued prayers. I start the next round of Chemotherapy on November 16^th. Please continue to support us going forward as you have in the past. I understand what a precious gift the support is and the price it comes at. Thank you, Price

First IV Infusion Completed

This morning I was impressed by the Lord to talk about Psalm 16:5-9 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh will dwell securely. There is so much of these verses that fit my current situation it is like God wrote this for me. I never have any issues with sleeping yet tonight God counseled me and instructed my mind about how securely God has me in His hands so that I will not be shaken. I have a glad (joyful) heart that rejoices and my flesh is very secure.

I had the first round of infusion of the two other chemo drugs yesterday at 9:30 am. There was no unpleasantness with the port, the drugs, the experience, or the time it took. Julie the Shadow Solider had a great time, Jan was my great supporter, and all the prayers that were being lifted up for me were very definitely felt. At one point I asked the nurse if she was sure the drugs were actually in the bags she was hanging because I was not having any issues. She laughed and assured me I was getting the full doses I was due. It is a little intimidating to see the nurse put on gowns and re-glove several times because she was handling the bags with the drugs. I realize that she hangs bags all day and it protects her from any possibility of contamination but these are very powerful drugs to warrant that kind of protection. These are the drugs being infused directly into my blood stream. It truly is God’s provision that I can be sitting here with no ill effects writing about God’s provision for my flesh. I am so confident in His provision that I will most likely be at work today. My wife has taken on the control of my blood sugar variances by setting up a sliding scale insulin regime. Evidently the Dexamethasone (steroids) really mess up the amount of glucose in the blood such that the cells cannot process it without much more insulin so it stays in the blood. All that is to say I will be checking my level and injecting insulin tomorrow before going to lunch. That is a new experience for me.

We are now into the full court press against this cancer and I really feel like we have it on the run. Thank you for your faithfulness in this battle against my flesh. I will have the next infusion next Monday at 9:30 am. Please keep praying and supporting my family. Thank you, Price

Chemo Starts Tomorrow!

I am mostly a man of action who loves challenges and likes to solve problems.  However, from the first of this adventure we have been on I have sought direction from God for every step forward, every step backward, and every season of waiting.  He has blessed me, sustained me, encouraged me, and answered prayers in a mighty and humbling way.  Most of the blessing, sustaining, encouraging, and prayers to be answered has been accomplished through all of the people God has brought to this fight.  I say all of that because today He allowed me to exercise some of my drive to be in control by dealing with insurance rules, hospital protocols, medical regulations, and other challenges that have nothing to do with healing my cancer and everything to do with the world and the disruptor.  All of the roadblocks and bureaucracy are meant to discourage and defeat one’s soul.  The verse in Isaiah 49:16 states that Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.  I take comfort in that verse because it lets me know that I am always on God’s mind (think about how often throughout a day we look at our palms or use them as a writing tablet to document things we do not want to forget).  The second part of the verse reminds me that He is diligent to maintain the hedge of protection around me no matter what my worldly circumstance is at any one moment it time. 

What God allowed today was for me to take an active part in setting up the first of the chemotherapy sessions.  It was a glimpse of the in control Price who does not know the answer no.  I do not state that with pride, only satisfaction.  I do not presume to take any of the credit for completing the task, only that God used me like he has used all of you to get me this far down the road to healing.

What has been accomplished is nothing like my expectations were just a few short days ago.  Pretty much everything related to my treatment has changed as well as the timing of the treatment.  As it stands now I will start tomorrow morning taking one of the three chemo drugs by mouth.  Two pills in the morning and two at night for fourteen days.  Every fourth day and every eleventh day during those two weeks I will go Presbyterian Hospital for four or five hours of infusion of the two remaining chemo drugs.  The first infusion will be this coming Monday at 9:30 am.  Talk about an answer to prayer!  I am encouraged to finally be starting the process while always understanding that God is the one who is in charge of the destruction of the cancer growing in me.

As always please continue to support us in all the ways God ordains but most especially in prayer. 

 

Thank you, Price

Each Day A New Adventure

I looked up adventure in the dictionary. There were parts of the definition that do not apply to this Robertson Adventure. But there were some parts that do. “A remarkable occurrence”, “labor, project, task”, were some that seemed to fit. As a verb I read “try” “seek”. I read one that said to “put on the line”. I think the author meant it in a risk sort of way. I think that fits, but with out the risk part. We are putting on the line the most secure proposition that ever was.....there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. We are confident in that. The title “Robertson Adventure” came from a birthday card Carol sent a few weeks ago before this started. She wrote at the bottom that the coming year would be a “wonderful adventure”. When I read it I felt a strong confirmation that the words were indeed true. So, our title came from that occurrence. It truly seems like each day is a adventure with twists and turns. Yesterday we thought fairly late in the day that Chemo would start today. Late in the day we met with the doctor and he talked with us about changing our protocol. We will now start Friday or Monday. There are many variables that the doctors consider when prescribing a certain protocol. We are thankful for the doctors careful consideration. The Lord is guarding us from discouragement. His mercies are new every morning. We are finding the treasure that is JOY. He is keeping his arms of love and comfort around us. Thank you for the prayers that I know you will continue.

Jan

Good Lab Report!

Prayer works so well and God is so good. Dr. Strauss liked my bilirubin level and liver function so much he wants to start chemotherapy this week. We will make the appointment tomorrow morning. Thank you all for getting me this far and on the road to recovery. Please keep praying.

Thank you, Price

**Update: We just found out that Price will start chemo at 1 pm tomorrow (Wednesday)!!**

Cloud of Witnesses

The beginning of a marathon (although I have never run in an actual marathon) is exciting, you are full of energy, hope, adrenalin, confidence, and you are focused.  As I begin the marathon of beating pancreatic cancer I am now full of energy, faith, joy, hope, and love.  Four dear friends each with their own marathon experience came over yesterday to help Jan and I complete some very important tasks and most importantly to share their experience and the marvelous way God carried them through their marathon. There was a glorious time when my family (my girls were in town again this weekend) and these four brothers and sisters in Christ circled around me and we had a great time of prayer.  It was appointed of God and provided us with that extra boost as we start the race.

A very familiar verse is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  The Bible goes on to list many examples of faith.  Some of those are hard to understand while others are very comforting.  In Verse 11:6 it says “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” The unshakable faith God provided me was built on the faith in God I have had since May of 1972.  That is when I accepted Jesus and all he did for me to restore my relationship with God.  On September 14th, God gave me Unshakable Faith because He knew I would need that kind of support.  Additionally, in Hebrews 12:1 it says “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us , let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin (unbelief) which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Verse 11 talks about the great cloud of witnesses, God is bringing this great cloud to surround my family even as recently as yesterday.  All of you who have reached out with thoughts, deeds, notes, tangible support, and most importantly prayer are a cloud of witnesses to me. You are preparing me for the race just as God is.  You are obedient agents of God and your impact is immeasurable.  Please continue to be faithful to God’s purpose in providing a cloud of witnesses to my family as we continue on the Robertson’s adventure.

There may not be as many updates going forward but for sure there are two dates I need your prayers for.  This Monday, October 22nd at 2:00 I will have blood drawn to check liver function and bilirubin levels.  Dr. Strauss wants the liver to be as healthy as possible and my bilirubin level to be 1 or below.  Last Monday it was 4.2 which was much improved from a high of 11 two weeks before.  This is part of getting ready for the marathon. The next date would be October 29th which is when I am scheduled to start chemotherapy, assuming the liver and bilirubin are willing to cooperate.  Every step forward takes a measure of faith but we seem to be more comfortable when taking those steps.  The “waiting room” is the tougher test because we can do nothing but pray and seek a closer walk with God.  In my vernacular, a closer walk with God is when I fall back into His arms and let Him wrap me in love.  The waiting room is also the time the cloud of witnesses has the biggest impact of supporting me.
 
Thank you, Price

October 19- Prayer for you.

The first week back at work was perfect.  I had my old energy level and caught up pretty quickly.  As usual there were lots of meetings to stay engaged in and a few action items to take care of.  The thought that struck me during the day was the amazing level of unselfishness that everyone had.  What I mean by that is while at work I became aware of issues people are dealing with every day.  While away from work I was isolated from these revelations.  Learning of the variety of things others are dealing with helped me appreciate the sacrifice all those people who have been thinking of me, sending notes, supporting my family and most importantly praying for us have made to put aside their concerns and devote time to the Robertson’s.  That is extra special to me.  I was led to pray for the things I had been made aware of and offer my family’s prayers for any one that wishes them.  Please send me a note asking for prayers and the Robertson’s will respond. 

Thank you, Price.

Back To Work

Today is my first full day to be back at work. The blood work yesterday showed great improvement in my bilirubin level but not enough. It fell from a high of 11 when the stent was put in place on September 28^th to 4.2 yesterday. They want it to be below 1 before starting chemotherapy. The next blood test is Monday October 22^nd at 2:00 pm. I did get some great sunning in since yesterday was such a beautiful day. In Colossians 3:16 it says “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”. That is what your prayers, notes, and love letters from God do for me every day. It is the many many answers to prayer that lift me up and maintain my strength. As I am driving often a song will come on the radio that speaks to me in the most amazing way. It is just one more affirmation of how He looks over each one of us in such a personal way. When you let Him quicken your spirit to reach out to me and my family you are His arm of love. Please keep close to Him and continue to support me and my family as we continue on this marathon. Thank you, Price

Wonderful Weekend

 

The Robertson Family had a great weekend being together and the extra added treat of having my brother and sister-in-law here with us.  We also had a amazing answer to prayer that Price felt better and was able to enjoy food for the first time! He even started fixing things and went on a trip to Home Depot!  For anyone who knows Price, this is a good sign.

 

On Friday Price wrote the following:

 

"Last night just before I went to bed God gave me the following verse: 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the Mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. That is my desire every day and night. Today my brother-in-law and his wife will be coming to Dallas. They will be helping out in many great ways. Family is such a blessing from God. Thanks to you all for thinking of me and my family. Thank you, Price"

 

Prayers are appreciated for Price's blood work today at 2:00 pm.  Pray that the results indicate that the liver is back to normal so that we can start chemo as soon as possible.

 

Grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers,

 

Jan

 

 

Ports and prayers...

The port went in perfectly!! Thank you so much for your prayers for this morning. Julie did well to! She started out the day with one big seizure but did great the rest of the day. Praise God!

I wanted to forward along an email my dad sent to his coworkers yesterday (so ignore the details that may be a day out of order). So precious and encouraging!

"Yesterday I fell into my Father’s arms.  Last night and most of today God has been teaching me what my part in the next stage of this battle is.  The spiritual  battle has come easily because God blessed me with unshakable faith and unstoppable joy.  The accuser cannot stand against those.  In a note from a dear sister in Christ, that arrived this morning, she gave me a verse God gave her in her battle with cancer.  Psalm 27:13-14 “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.”  When I came home from having the stent put in the first thing I wanted to do was read God’s Speeches to Job, The Book of Job Chapters 38 ,39, 40, and 41.  For some reason I wanted to hear from God in all His majesty.  That is what God does for us when we call out.  Just now while I was on a call I was given the verse from Matthew 19:26 “And looking upon them Jesus said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””.  That is where I am right now.  Like I said earlier God has been teaching me all last night and most of today that my walk in the physical realm has just started and I need to understand that is where the enemy has more dominion than anywhere else.  The accuser even challenged Christ in the physical realm not to mention what he did to Job.  The flesh is truly weak and we can fall into the trap that there is a set way to defeat the enemy in all things physical.  But we cannot, only Christ who strengthens us and God who has all authority can truly defeat the accuser.  As I start on the marathon like Carol wrote below (it is amazing how God will line up thoughts between two believers and send that out as a touch from Him) I know that with His help I will be able to eat when I have no appetite, sleep when the thoughts race through my head at night, drink when water does not quench, get up when my whole body says lethargy is the way we feel, and most importantly listen to God and minister to those around me that are suffering, more than I am in some cases.  The pathway I am being led to follow, due to the excellent Doctors and medical staff, is for Chemotherapy.  The first step is to have a port implanted in my chest Wednesday morning in day surgery at Presbyterian Hospital.  Next I have to be patient and wait for the bilirubin to go down in my system which means my liver has recovered sufficiently to withstand chemo. Needless to say there are lots of prayer opportunities as we move into the physical process.  As always prayers are very much coveted.  In a small victory of sorts, that means a lot to me but very little to my physical preparation, my voice has been restored to a place of strength.  Maybe it was the bilirubin levels or my body just being in physical stress but I have had a weak and ineffective voice for the last two weeks.  That is twice as frustrating to me since I so dearly love to talk and express my views.  On second thought maybe that lack of effect in my voice was some direction for me to consider from God as well.   Anyway I can now speak with clarity and force.

My favorite verse in the Bible is Job 19:25 “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”  As I start my stand on earth, with the help of God and the army of believers supporting me, I pray that I not fall prey to Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”.  What I mean is that there are no short cuts to the end of this battle in my own strength.  God’s timing is perfect and my response to the challenge ahead needs to be prayerfully directed by Him, not me.  Once again thank you from the bottom of my heart for your concern, your obedience to God and your prayers.  

Thank you, Price              

p.s. I had to postpone sending this so I could complete my “sunning” treatments as ordered by my brother Dr. Robertson (he is a dermatologist).  I know it pained him to recommend sitting in the sun to work on the bilirubin but I am being obedient to his wishes.  I know it is too much information but it is an hilarious sight to see me sitting in the front window with as much exposed skin as possible fighting the bilirubin.  Thankfully the front entry window is so high only the planes landing at DFW would be able to see me."

    

Thank you for your prayers. We can feel them and treasure each one!

Love, 

c

October 9- update email

I am beginning to understand that fighting cancer is more like a marathon rather than a sprint... Dad went to the oncologist yesterday and they want to get him started on chemotherapy as soon as possible. He is getting a port tomorrow at 5:30 am. They can't start chemo, however, until his bilirubin count goes down so that his liver can handle the chemo. Bilirubin makes you yellow when you have jaundice (or the "Mellow Yellow" as Dad calls it...). I am learning so much about the body through this process! Right now he is scheduled to officially start chemo October 29th. He will have a blood test next Monday the 15th to see how is count is doing. Please join me in praying his bilirubin count decreases swiftly so that he can start chemo asap.

Also, Dad has no appetite. Please pray that he would be able to eat well in this waiting time so that he can store up some reserves for his chemo process. He has already lost a lot of weight, it would be good if he didn't lose anymore!

God gave us such an amazing weekend together as a family! Thank you for your prayers for that. We have TONS of little "love letters" from God to share with you! I could seriously go on for a while about all of them as my sweet roommates can attest. But I will only share three for the sake of brevity.

First, my dad's team from work sent over a catered meal that could have fed an army! It was so generous and kind of them to care for our family in ways we didn't even know would be a blessing! We were able to eat off of it all weekend and even freeze some for future gatherings. It felt a lot like Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, but with BBQ. 

Second, we are getting so many encouraging emails, calls, texts, and visits! Each one of them is so precious to us! I can tell that all the emails encourage Dad so much by the way he keeps calling us all over to read a new one every five minutes. Very precious. Also, some of my parents good friends came over on Saturday. It was such a blessing to just be with people who know and love you well and share stories. Sunday we met with a dear friend who was led to come over and pray for Dad's physical healing. It was a sweet time of prayer asking God to do great things all the while being comforted by His presence. I will cherish that prayer time as a family for a long time. Dad says that these are ways that "God crosses our path with comfort and love". I couldn't agree more!

Lastly, we got to take a break as a family and listen to a powerful sermon by Tim Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. It is called Praying Your Tears and is based on Psalm 126:5-6. I highly recommend downloading it! Such an encouragement on how to bring our tearful requests to God. And it seems like there have been a lot of those lately! Such a timely message. 

I have to leave this email with a sweet reflection that Dad wrote yesterday. I love the way the Lord is speaking to my father in such a powerful way. I am so blessed to have a earthly father who seeks God's face so wholly.

"One thought for the day which God gave me last night:  Sometimes when I am sitting on the floor with Julie she will throw herself back into my arms with total confidence that I will embrace her. She gives absolutely no warning that she is going to do that.  She immediately melts into my arms and is wrapped in love.  I always have to be ready for it without knowing when it might happen.  God was showing me last night that He wants me to do the same thing.  So I am throwing myself into His loving arms in total abandon, trusting that He will wrap me in His loving arms."

Praise God for His continual embrace! Psalm 17:6-8.

-C

October 6- update email

Here is the sweet update email from my mom sent out Saturday after Dad's procedure at Presby Dallas.

Thank you so much for your prayers yesterday for Price's procedure. The stent went in PERFECTLY and I already see the yellow diminishing from his skin. This morning he even asked for breakfast which is a good sign! He is experiencing some sharp intermittent pain in his back area that we would love your continued prayers for. He says that the pain is a reminder of his dependency on God for healing and comfort.

A dear sister asked me how I was doing via text late yesterday.  My response after a brief reference to a scripture that has sustained me over decades was I am waiting for the LORD where my strength shall be renewed, I am mounted up with eagle wings, I will be running without weariness, As I walk I will not faint. 

Thank you all for  your prayers.  They availeth MUCH.  I will ask that you keep them going for the path ahead as we take each step with the Light unto our feet.  My special request is for prayer for: first, Carol, who is doing such a wonderful job in updating you all.  She is in the mist of graduate school and writing papers and trying to think about so much along with everything else.   I believe that this experience will give her amazing “education” for her life and for her future career.  But certainly pray for rest, strength, and clear thought.  During times like this one can find themselves distracted as evidenced by standing in a room not remembering why you are there and finding strange things in the fridge.  Carol has been such a source of strength.  I give thanks for her.  Second, I ask for prayers for Catherine.  Her love and support are good medicine for the soul.  This is the kind of medicine her Daddy needs most of all.  She has a unique positive attitude that is a great comfort.  And third, pray for Miss Julie.  She remains our “Shadow Solider”.  Yesterday as they were poking, sticking, piercing, scanning, and intubating, Price was thinking of all the times she has gone through that and the amazing ease with which she did it. Also, God heard your prayers because Julie had a wonderful day at the hospital yesterday without any seizures! He is faithful. Thank you for praying for her. 

It is obvious to me that having all of Price's girls here is truly a blessing to him.

We have a appointment on Monday at 2 pm with the Oncologist.   At this time we will be getting the plan to begin chemotherapy.   Thank you God for the wonderful doctors, nurses, technicians, and everyone we met in the health care field along our journey these last few days.  Bless them in their wonderful work.

Much Love to you all!!!

Jan

October 5- update email

Today is the day of Dad's ERCP/EUS procedure at noon at Presby Dallas. Please join me in prayer for this procedure and for healing from the jaundice. He is very yellow and very itchy. He said even the bottoms of his feet itch at times! Once the stent is in, he should feel a ton better. The biopsy results should be back in a couple days so we can better know what kind of cancer we are dealing with. And after the bile duct shrinks down we will go get an MRI so that the surgeons can determine if the tumors are operable. It will also take a couple days for everything to flush out of his system. Please ask God for complete healing in all these things. 

My Dad is doing so wonderful. His faith is so strong! He said, "I know that I know God has a plan for me. I can rest in His love and not be anxious about anything. His timing is perfect and my job is to follow His lead with the doctors, asking for prayer and support all along the way." Wow. I am so blessed to bear witness to such an "unshakable faith and unstoppable joy".

Also, please pray for sweet Julie's seizures. Yesterday was a rough one. But she was able to get some really good sleep last night so that is a huge blessing!

Some more little "love letters" (answered prayers) from God:

God put my family on the heart of one of my good friend's in Austin last Thursday before she/we even knew about the ultrasound on Friday. She said that she was specifically impressed to pray for my dad. This was puzzling to her because she had only met him and my family once several years ago when she stayed at our house. How awesome is our God to cover my family in prayer even before we really even knew how much we would need his community praying?! He cares for us even more than we know to ask for.

My mom expressed to my Dad the first few days after learning about the tumors that a big question of "Why?" seemed to float over her head. God answered that question early one morning by bringing Francis and Edith Schaeffer to her mind.  She did some research and found out that Edith wrote a book called Affliction in 1978.  She downloaded the book and the first sentence in the preface said “Everyone has struggled with the question Why? in the midst of his own or someone else’s misery or difficulty.”.  The insight she provides from the book has really been an answer to prayer for our family. 

Lastly, our whole family was able to pile up on my parent's bed last night and pray for Dad. This was such a sweet time to be together and ask God to do big things through this situation. One of my old coworkers from my church in Austin had shared a verse that she prayed over her sister when she had cancer recently. This verse really became a sort of battle cry for us. It says (with a couple human additions for temporary context), “May we shout for joy over your victory  and lift up our banners in the name of our God…Some trust in chariots and some in horses [or doctors, chemo, radiation…], but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20. Jesus, thank you for giving us words to pray when there aren't any!

What an awesome God we serve! "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT).

We are so grateful for each of you! I know I feel a lot like Moses having his arms lifted up by Aaron and Hur so that Israel would win the battle(Exodus 17:8-16) with all the prayers that are being sent on behalf of us!

Gratefully,

The Robertsons

October 3- update email

Prayer Warriors,

Once again, thank you so much for your constant prayers. I am so humbled by the sheer number of you praying! I can’t tell you enough how sustaining and precious all the prayers are to me and my family! I have said it before and will say it again, they are literally like sustaining food for the soul.

I think the best update can come directly from my Dad. Here is an update email he sent to his coworkers about the meeting with the gastroenterologist today.

“This Friday at noon the Gastroenterologist will do two procedures. One is an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)  and the second is the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).  The second procedure is what will place the stent in my bile duct.  I know that God’s providence is in the change of date, plus my daughters will now be able to be in town for the procedure.  I can wait a little longer for relief from being yellow, itching like crazy, not having an appetite, and generally feeling blah.  I have found in my 61 years that God’s timing is perfect and I cannot get ahead of Him and His will.  He has blessed me with unshakable faith and unstoppable joy.  Those both are truly a blessing from Him, especially when I am totally dependent on the support of prayer, the love of my family, and the enormity of His army of believers.  That is not a position I have needed any more than I do now.  My God is sufficient for my needs.  The notes, thoughts, scripture quotes and personal commitment from everyone are very humbling.  As most of you know humble is sort of foreign to me but it is providing me with growth and comfort.  I am not in pain and very blessed.  Good places to be.  Thanks for being diligent in your prayer support and outreach.  Thank you, Price”

I don’t know what he is talking about when he says that humble is foreign to him. He is one of the most humble men I know!!

The doctor said the procedure Friday will take about 3 hours. My parents really like the doctor who will be doing it. He sounds like a very competent man as he is one of the best gastroenterotologists in Dallas. My mom says he is a “cracker-jack” (that is a good thing!). :)

I am headed to Dallas tomorrow! I am praising God for having the flexibility of a student schedule!

Grateful for each of you! Revelation 12:10-11

Overcoming by the blood of the Lamb,

c

October 2, the evening update email.

The meeting with the oncologist went as well as meetings with oncologists can go!  They now have a better idea of what the next steps will be.

First, my Dad is having a ERCP tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4:00 pm at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.  This procedure will help the jaundice and fatigue he is currently experiencing to go away! They will also get a biopsy of the tumor. The best news about this procedure is that they will go through his mouth so there will be no incision!

Please pray for the doctors, that Dad will have a quick recovery, and continue to pray for complete healing. How cool would it be if the MRI showed that the tumors had disappeared?? Pray as the Lord leads!

Now to some of those "love-letters" and answers to prayer! God is so good! Julie has been going to all the appointments with my mom and dad and she has been a "perfect angel". No seizures! This is also an amazing gift. My mom calls her their "shadow solider". I can only imagine the prayers sweet Julie is silently lifting up in those doctor's offices...:).

Also, a friend of my sister's is a pilot in Phoenix and has made a way for her to fly in this weekend! Our entire family being together is an incredible blessing!! 

Lastly, my precious community group prayed kingdom prayers tonight over my Dad . It once again reminded me how thankful I am for your sustaining prayers. They are powerful and effective. 

Thank you for walking alongside us in this crazy journey. Lamentations 3:22-24.

For His Kingdom and Glory,

c

The first email after the CT scan...

I sent out this email to a small group of friends on October 2 the day after the CT scan showed multiple tumors in my Dad's abdomen. It was a rough day. I have never felt so dependent on the Lord for... well, everything.

Hi friends.

Thank you all for the prayers! I literally feel them. They are like sustaining food for the soul. I am so grateful for each of you and to have such an amazing community of prayer warriors! There have been so many answers to prayer already in the way God has provided strength and peace to me and my family. I hope to capture them all at some point. Really faith-building and a beautiful reminder that God is still here in the midst of this situation. My mom calls them "love-letters", and they truly are...

My Mom, Dad, and Julie are going to see the oncologist today from 4:00 - 5:30pm. Please join me in prayer for the doctors and staff that will be a part of my father's case. Please continue to pray for complete healing, strength and peace. Pray that God would use this situation to bring greater glory to his name and that many would come to know Him as they see his power demonstrated in our lives. And pray for anything else the Lord puts on your heart. I have loved hearing the specific scriptures he has given some of you to pray. They are powerful and sustaining.

My parents are in such amazing spirits. God has given them an enormous amount of faith and trust throughout this process. It is really supernatural.

Thank you for partnering with me in this. I truly believe the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. Keep praying as the Lord leads!

I love you all and am so grateful for all the visits, texts, calls, scripture, and check-ins. Thank you for loving me so well. I am humbled.

-c