Yesterday was the last infusion of the fifth course of chemotherapy. This coming Thursday I will take the last oral dose of chemotherapy which will complete the fifth two week course. They take lab work before starting the procedure and then check with the doctor to get clearance for the treatment. My lab work came back with the hemoglobin at 7.6 which is below the 8.0 threshold that Dr. Strauss wants. Because I have been sustained by the Father throughout this adventure I am not responding to such a low hemoglobin level in the normal way. That is probably why Dr. Strauss released me yesterday to receive the treatment. He also scheduled me for a blood transfusion today which is where I am as I write this. This is the second time I have had a blood transfusion. The first one brought my hemoglobin up to 9.6.
I am scheduled for a CT Scan next Monday, February 4th. As I stated in the prior update that is when the doctors will find out what the chemo has been doing to the tumors but it also is the first opportunity for them to discover God’s miraculous healing of the cancer. That brings me to the point of this update. If it were not for the unshakable Faith that God granted me from day one I am sure I would be anxious and concerned about the upcoming results. That would be the normal reaction as well as worrying about what it means if the tumors have actually grown and the chemotherapy has had no impact. Could that be part of God’s plan for me? Would that not make the miraculous healing even more dramatic? Is God not capable of healing terminal cancer? Of course nothing is beyond God’s ability. His plan for me is perfect and His timing is never wrong. If I were to pray doubting that He will heal me then that would be an ineffective prayer. I have confidence in the prayers I have offered to God because of the journey He has taken me on and the many answers to prayer I have already received. I have rested in His arms and laid my desires into God’s hands through Jesus, who sits at the Father’s right hand interceding for me (Hebrews 1:1-3).
I was impressed to discuss these things before the CT scan results are known because fear of the unknown is one of the accusers most powerful tools he uses to separate us from God’s plan for us. We must have confidence in and depend on doctors and chemotherapy as well as the vast array of options that are available to treat cancer. That is God’s will for us. God uses all of those range of options to heal us just as effectively as if He were to reach His hand out and remove the cancer. In my case He has set me on a path of total dependence on God and effective prayer. I have grown in my relationship with Him and found a much closer walk with Him through this adventure. The accuser has been silenced from day one and the prayers that everyone has offered have had a great impact. Please keep praying as you are lead and know that I could not be in a better place than I am right at this moment.
There are two versus that fit the current situation I would like to discuss. The first is Psalm 55:22, "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." That speaks to the unbelievable gift God gave me with the unshakeable Faith. I could not have made it this far or have such confidence or so successful defeated the accuser without God’s provision for me. By praying effective prayers I am casting my burdens on Him. He has sustained me and will continue to do so to the end. My walk with Him has never been closer. He truly has protected me and sustained me. I have never been shaken in large part due to your prayers and God’s answering those prayers. It is human nature to want to remove doubt and uncertainty from life’s equation but that is so very difficult to do without Faith in God’s provision for us. The second verse is 1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." This speaks to the confidence I have had from day one. I am in His will and He sends love letters through each of you to show His provision for me. You are a large part of the reason I am in such a good place. Your prayers sustain me and give me confidence in the future outcome. God hears my prayers and He hears your prayers for me and my family. The adventure continues so please continue to pray as God directs you.
Thank you,
Price
P.S. Price and I (Jan) would like to ask for a special prayer request for our Aunt Becky and her wonderful family. Aunt Becky is presently taking a turn for the worse this evening and the family has been notified that time is very short. We know Aunt Becky, after 93(?) amazing years, is ready to see Jesus! We pray for her now and all her loved ones.
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