Richmond Family Updates

(Written by Becky)

If you’re just tuning in now, please read the post before this. This one is a “P.S.”

We’ve decided to postpone the surgery for the port tomorrow as well as chemo this Friday the 18th. We just got word today from the oncologist that there is a clinical trial through Sloan Kettering in NYC that Mom is eligible for (her type of cancer) and has shown a tremendous amount of success. We are hopeful because this trial is for people in Mom’s exact situation: her type of cancer and for those showing resistance to Tarceva, the pill she was on all winter.

Will you please join us in prayer that we get into Sloan Kettering ASAP and that we will have the wisdom as we decide which treatment plan to follow.

Mom doesn’t believe in time-lines and is defying them with lots of attitude, which we love. However, to give you an impression on how serious the doctors think her current status is, they’ve told us that “averages” and “statistics” (which aren’t personal and don’t take into account the natural stuff Mom’s doing nor the size of the fight in her!) say that she’d have 6 months to live without chemo and 1-2 years if she did chemo now. “Now” being the key-word here… we can’t let it grow any more. So, decisions are needed quickly.

We are still in shock because Mom has been doing so well and feeling so great.

Thanks for standing with us!

(Written by Becky)

The results from Mom’s scan are not what we hoped for, but as a dear friend reminded us tonight, there are no surprises for God.

Mom’s cancer has grown almost 30% and there are also some new spots on her liver, bones and lymph nodes. We were shocked, stunned a speechless for several hours – disbelieving the news because Mom feels so good.

The plan of action is still being hashed-out, but it’s looking like this: Mom will stop the Tarceva (daily chemo pill) and is scheduled to resume conventional chemo through an IV next Friday the 18th. On the 16th, she’ll have surgery to get a port installed again to make IV’s easier. Chemo will be every three weeks with scans after every two rounds. We’ll resume our rigid regiment of an extra clean house during chemo and lower white blood cell counts and go back to her “crisis diet” of only raw fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and juicing. She’ll increase her dosage of Vitamin C IV and other alternative treatments that she had reduced due to previous success and budget because they aren’t covered by insurance. We’re discussing the idea of her not working for the time being and get lots of rest, so visitors will be needed to make her relax!

We’ll fight with all we’ve got.

And we’ll pray.

Although I had my scan today (the first since early December) to check the status of my cancer, this post isn’t about me. We won’t know anything about my scan until next week and we’ll post as soon as we hear.

I want to ask you to pray for a dear young Mom today. Right now, would you take a few minutes to pray? Her name is Kelly and she’s in her early 30’s. She’s the daughter of a couple in Wisconsin that have dedicated their whole lives to serving Jesus through a camping ministry. Kelly is a wife and mother of a little baby girl.

Kelly was diagnosed with colon cancer a few weeks ago. Earlier this week, she has laparoscopic (robotic, with small incisions) surgery as doctors were very confident the cancer was contained to the tumor and they could get it out cleanly. Something went horribly wrong and she’s had some leaking in her intestines which has caused a systemwide infection and kidney dysfunction. She has another surgery yesterday, this time a major one opening her up to try to repair the damage. That surgery didn’t go as hoped and they airlifted her to a bigger hospital. She is undergoing a third surgery this afternoon to try to figure out what’s wrong and repair it. They are treating her with antibiotics for the infection.

This family has had a tough year. Kelly’s mother had some major heart concerns and a surgery for that earlier this year.

Will you please pray right now for Kelly and her family?  I’ll post updates in the comment section of this post as I hear them.

Thank you for joining me in petitioning our Almighty Healer for this sweet young Mom!

Love, Chris

Here’s a photo of Kelly and her family. Kelly is the third from left in the pink scarf.

I am going this week for another scan (last one was in December).

Please keep me in your prayers on May 3rd at 11:30 am (it is the National Day of Prayer).   I do believe God is healing me for His glory and this scan will be the evidence of that miracle.

Thank you for walking with me and my family through this year of faith and healing.  We have learned so much and KNOW that our lives are in HIS hands and that HE loves us so very  much.

After the scan, I go the following week (May 10th) for appt with oncologist to discuss the results.   I tell her she is watching my God heal.

Thanks for your prayers….I’ll keep you posted.

Love

Chris

Easter….we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

I celebrate by HIS STRIPS I AM HEALED….my sins and my diseases.

It has been almost one year! (April 19th) when I was told I had stage-4, terminal lung cancer with about 4-6 months to live.

Today I am back to work, feeling well and thanking God each day for HIS miracle of healing in my body.

I go for another scan the end of April. We are believing this will show the evidence of the miracle taking place in my body.

I pray the doctors will be amazed and I will be able to proclaim the goodness of GOD as they will witness HIS healing power.

HE IS ALIVE!  AND SO AM I!

MAY YOU CELEBRATE HIS LIFE IN YOUR HEART THIS EASTER.

LOVE,

CHRIS

IT’S ALMOST FEBRUARY..

And then it will be almost March, then APRIL!

April will be ONE year since the diagnosis of cancer and doctors telling me this is “stage IV, terminal, 4-6 months, to live, chemo probably won’t help, nutrition won’t make a difference…”

BUT GOD SAID OTHERWISE!

Please continue to pray and praise HIM with me for the AWESOME MIRACLE HE is preforming in my body and my life.  TO HIM BE ALL  THE GLORY.

I will go again in April for another scan.   I am trusting God and believe we will hear another good report.

I have learned so much on this journey….I think I’m supposed to write a blog, or a book or something.   I believe my story can help others.  Please pray for direction and someone to assist me with this project.

I KNOW that God does want to heal today to demonstrate HIS power so that many will see and believe HE is God.

I also know HE wants us to take better care of our bodies, His Temple.  He created our bodies to be self-healing.  Our immune systems are being destroyed by the toxins in our environment and the “SAD” (sad american diet).

AND I know that chemo, radiation and surgery are NOT the way to cure cancer.  If you or anyone you know is diagnosed with cancer PLEASE do not just accept the first doctor’s treatment plan – DO SOME RESEARCH – your eyes will be opened to the many alternative options out there (that the American Medical Society and FDA do not want you to know about).

The bottom line is this…My days are numbered and in God’s hands….In HIM will I put my trust.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH….the prayers, cards, words of encouragement, financial gifts, housework help, flowers, fruit baskets, etc…..ALL have meant so much to us.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY…

Love,

Chris (and family!)

As we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012, I want to take this time to say thank you to the many friends and family who have stood with us this past year.  Little did I know last January what this year would bring!  What a journey we’ve been on as a family.  I’ve learned so much and I am so thankful for all your support and prayers.

Please take time to PRAISE GOD for the amazing miracle HE is performing in my body and my life.   I am healing from this disease that doctors said I had about 4-6 months to live  (that was in April).  As of the last scan in December, the cancer has regressed over 70%.   I feel really well and have lots of energy.  I”m back to work and thankful to God for the opportunities HE is giving me to tell my story of HOPE and HEALING.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  I will have another scan sometime in April or May and I am believing we will have another great report.

God is Good…I thank Him that even tho we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear.  He is with us and holds us close.

I thank God for all I have learned in 2011.  “Oh Come Let Us ADORE HIM”…one of my most favorite Christmas songs….I”ve played over and over…..”We’ll GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY”.

One of my goals this year is to write a blog or a book…..I believe my story can help many others  Please pray for wisdom and direction.

HAPPY NEW YEAR…..LIVE STRONG this year….and LIVE FOR HIM!

Love,

Chris

(Written QUICKLY by Becky)

We just got back from a loooooong wait in the oncologist’s office to hear the results from last week’s scan… a further 30% reduction from the scan in August!!! Everywhere… in the large mass and all the places around her body that it had spread.

So, if we do our math right, that means the cancer is about 70% reduced from it’s worst state in June! PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

Mom will write more details ASAP about our next steps, etc… Just wanted to get the word out!

Love to you and your family from ours during this blessed season…

(P.S. Happy Birthday, Gram!)

We gathered together on Thanksgiving day to give THANKS….to God for His many blessings in our lives and in our family.

Early April, the doctors told me I probably had 4-6 months to live….

I celebrated Thanksgiving, almost 8 months later, feeling really WELL.  God is good, and I believe He is healing me for His glory.

Please celebrate and THANK GOD with us.

I go in on December 5th for my next scan  I believe we will see evidence of the God’s miracle in my body and the doctors will be amazed.  I will meet with my doctor on December 13th t o hear the results of this scan.

We will be shouting it from the mountaintops….THE GREAT PHYSICIAN HEALS TODAY!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

LOVE

Chris

http://www.creativehealthinstitute.com/wheatgrass.html

I’m learning alot about how to fight cancer with God’s medicines….here’s info on Wheatgreass.

I’m growing and juicing fresh wheatgrass everyday….come join me for a shot!

I do believe that there is a cure for cancer …and it’s not chemo.

Thanks for continuing to pray and believe God with me.  I go on December 5th for another scan.  I am feeling really well, and believe that we will get a good report – evidence of healing God is doing in my body.

Time for my Essiac Tea!

Chris