Richmond Family Updates

(Written by Becky)

Mom had a dr. appointment with the oncologist yesterday to review her first month on Tarceva, the chemo pill. They didn’t do any scans because this drug usually takes 3-4 months to start working. This visit was just to see how Mom is feeling, eating and sleeping. She had some questions, which the doctor took time to answer. She really is a great doctor. They also drew some blood to test Mom’s levels and we got the results in 10 minutes. (Isn’t technology amazing?) All of Mom’s blood levels were in the normal ranges, which is a GREAT sign that things are ok.

Mom has another visit just like this scheduled on October 13th at which time they will schedule a scan for early November. Until then, we follow our treatment routine which is so complicated now, we’ll have to write a separate blog post some time if you are interested in hearing about every single thing we are doing.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we settle into a new routine, a new lifestyle and a new treatment. Our friends and family have been unbelievably encouraging and we mean it when we say that we couldn’t be surviving this without you.

P.S. DAD GOT HIS CAST OFF TODAY! He is SO happy! He has a boot cast that is soft and allows him to start putting weight on his foot. I tease him that he looks like an old man in his shorts, compression stocking and big huge “shoe.”  

(Written by Becky, at request of John)

On August 4th, 2011, I experienced a very physical wave of relief like I’ve never felt before. It was so strong, I sobbed. The four of us (Mom, Dad, my brother and I) were in a small office with Mom’s oncologist and we just learned that her cancer has been reduced by over 50%. It was a miracle!

But the fight isn’t over and we need your continued prayers.

I am in no way trying to be pessimistic in this next paragraph… In fact, there’s such a bounce to our steps now that you’d be hard pressed to sense that we are experiencing a crisis. Dad asked me to clarify with you after he and I have both received several messages from people praising God for Mom’s healing. While we are believing this is going to be true, we are still fighting the fight. Mom’s recent Facebook and blog posts about being healed are her way to declare her healing in Jesus’ name and start praising Him for it before we even have confirmation from a scan or other tests. I believe in what Mom is doing and the effect it has even just on her positive spirit is evident. However, I wanted to clarify with you in case it was confusing that we STILL NEED your prayers. Please. This isn’t over yet.

Trust us, when we have confirmation, you won’t find out about it from a typed blog post. We’ll at least post a video in the event you can’t hear our screaming.

(written by Chris)

I am SO VERY GRATEFUL to each of you who are walking this journey of FAITH and HEALING with me.  Your prayers, your cards, your calls, and your visits ALL have meant so much to me.

God is my healer – HE has heard the cry of my heart and many others – and has touched my body with HIS healing power.  The cancer is disolving and my body is healing.  I believe we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Creator, and His plan is for our bodies to be healthy and whole.  As I pray, “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, I believe there is no sickness in heaven and God wants me to be well.   In Jesus’ name, I stand against the enemy who seeks to defeat and discourage and destroy.   BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED.

There is no bar-code with an expiration date stamped on my body. Doctors cannot tell me I have “6-8 months to live”.   God is the only one who knows my days…my life is in His hands.   I believe He wants to manifest HIS MIGHTY POWER.  This healing miracle is AMAZING – TO GOD BE THE GLORY!   The GREAT Physician has touched me!!

The last few weeks I have felt SO MUCH BETTER – more energy, the cough that brought me to the doctor is gone, no pain in my chest, and my left leg is less swollen each day (the leg with the blood clot).

Please shout it from the rooftops, in your congregations, at your workplace – GIVE GOD THE GLORY for the GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

I love you Jesus, – thank you for holding me close. I run to you.

(written by Becky)

We’re trying our best to be more regular with posts after a few weeks of slacking… so sorry! This week has been a little crazy with post-Irene issues as well as a major project: Basement Overhaul. Our wheatgrass on the back porch for Mom’s juice is growing slower now as the evenings get cooler. Our plan is to make a growing room in the basement with UV lights. However, everything in the basement needed to be shifted… Christmas decorations, boxes of memories, etc. Organizing, de-cluttering and trying to find a new home for things actually makes the rest of house a bit of a mess as we make piles for items going to different places, like my brother’s garage sale or a consignment shop in Albany. But we’re almost there. The basement is ready for Dad to order the lights. We just have to deal with the piles of stuff we created!

So, that’s what we’re up to this week.

Dad’s back to work full time and Mom goes to work about 15 hours a week at the office and is working at home on a new YFC prayer ministry she will be coordinating.  I’m trying to make her rest often (a hard feat!) as she stays quite busy at the house, too!  She’s pluggin’ along with taking her chemo-pill every day, as well as her alternative treatments like wheatgrass juice three times a day at home and Vitamin C infusions at the doctor’s office twice a week.

It’s easy for us to forget she still has cancer. It’s easy for her to push herself and slack a little on her diet. And it’s easy for us to forget the urgency of our prayers. But we can’t stop fighting. Will you please continue to pray?

Here are some things you can pray for:

1. Mom’s complete healing.  We are praising God for healing, and believe the next scan will show the cancer is gone. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

2. An answer on Keith’s visa application ASAP.  He’s in England waiting and it’s hard for him to be there alone and for us not to have him here!

(written by Becky)

When it rains, it storms… literally. I realize Mom and Dad are pretty much using up all their favors this year in return for their years of service to others… but they could really use your help again. The hits just keep on coming!

Irene hardly put a drop in the bucket to the storm of a year we’ve had. But it’s another slam that we need to bear. It caused alot of damage, much of which the insurance company is trying not to cover. Dad is in a cast, Mom doesn’t have the needed strength and they’ve both been slammed big-time this year with expensive cancer treatments, many of which haven’t been covered by insurance. I would love to see if they didn’t have to pay to get this cleaned up since they’ve had such a hard financial year. They’ve done so much for so many people over the years, maybe some of you can help me pay them back a little more? Can you please help up with yard clean-up?? Get in touch with me if you have any ideas. I still don’t have a phone, but you can call me on Mom or Dad’s cell and ask for me.

We still have no power at our house and the water is restricted. Please accept our apologies for not being able to update and/or access messages online.

Mom and Dad’s house – tree split in half lengthwise – cracking more with each hour. Tree remover took one look at it and said “This is dangerous. Do not sleep upstairs tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

See how close to house it is… one half would fall on house and the other half on our neighbor’s and a power line.

Mom and Dad’s house – tree removal takes a crane and a truck/lift. Had to tear up front fence, a bush and playground to get it. Left mess on back-yard to decrease the price.

Mom and Dad’s rental property – tree from house on left fell, crushed our garage and tenants cars and lands on house to the right.

(written by Becky)

The reason for such a long time between posts is that Mom is doing REALLY GOOD and we can’t keep up with her! She’s got more energy lately and sometimes it’s hard to get her to take a rest! (But don’t worry, we still make her.) She’s even doing about 12 hours a week at the office. BUT SHE STILL NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS! There’s GREAT progress in her treatments and healing, but we can’t slack. We can’t let up on our prayers just as she can’t let up on her treatments, diet and rest!

We love (and really need!) the steady stream of visitors! This week, we had the surprise visit of a lifetime! It was priceless! Mom and Dad didn’t know my secret plans with their best friends from 33 years ago. Bob and Nancy, my second parents from my childhood. Our two families did EVERYTHING together. We were all best of friends for so many years. And even when we all moved away from that small little town, the bond was still there. Time has passed, but we’ve always been able to pick right back up where we left off.

So, last Thursday night, the doorbell rang. And we orchestrated it so that Mom answered the door. The order of events that followed were: stunned speechlessness, screaming and then crying while hugging. It was a sight! Over the next few days, we had hours and hours of reminiscing of the good old days sharing countless memories. It was a good visit. A really good visit. But too short.

Thank you for coming, Bob and Nancy. Your visit was priceless!

Mom and Dad with Bob and Nancy… shots of wheatgrass juice for all!

News too big to type! We give God glory and praise!

P.S. Written by Becky: One more thing Mom and Dad forgot to say! Mom had a blood test today and the dr. said that all her levels “look better than before cancer!” So, with her white blood cells up, she’ll venture out in the the germ-filled world a little more, specifically to church and YFC for just short bits of time. She really needs the fellowship! So, please keep visiting! (And even though her white blood cells are up, I’m still gonna make you take your shoes off in the house and wash your hands! )

(Written by John)

Please be in prayer Thursday, August 4th at 9:30 when we meet with the oncologist to hear the results of Chris’ scan on Monday. She is tentatively scheduled for chemo all day after this appointment and we will have to decide there, on the spot, whether or not to go through with it. We would really appreciate your prayers for positive results and peace of mind during subsequent decisions. We’ll update as soon as we can. Thank you for standing with us.

Thank you everyone who gathered with us on Sunday night for a time of prayer.  Also thank you to the many others who were unable to be present, but also are standing with us in prayer.  Yesterday I had another CAT scan and will meet with the oncologist on Thursday am to discuss the next steps of treatment based on results.

I am trusting God…and believe He has the power AND DESIRE to heal for His glory. My God is a God of compassion…He hears the cries of my heart.  (and of MANY others).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul…..who healeth all my diseases”  Psalm 103: 1-3.

May God be glorified….my body is His.

Thanks for walking this journey with us….I pray you too are drawing closer to your Lord Jesus Christ, who loves you so very much.

Love

Chris

(written by Becky)

We’re getting ready for a live-stream of a church service in the comfort of our germ-free home. But Mom is desperate for fellowship. Will you please join us tonight at 6:00pm at First Baptist Church in Scotia for a prayer and worship service as we put Mom’s health in God’s hands in anticipation for her scan tomorrow morning? We hope to see you tonight!