Richmond Family Updates

(Written by Becky)

Just a quick hello from camp. We are having a great time… such a great time that I stopped short in my tracks today and remembered that Mom has cancer. I had truly forgotten – and that was a nice thing for a few days.

She’s looking better and better each day. The rest and fresh air are doing her good. She’s regaining her energy and has had NO side effects from the last round of chemo.

Dad’s foot is the same… still quite swollen and he’s anticipating surgery next Thursday which will set him back in the pain department. For now, he’s managing with his crutches and is milking it with all of us serving him!

We’ve had a few great visits from loved ones and had lots of time to do absolutely nothing. We’ve rested, read books, played games, tubed on the boat, fished and ate lots. We’ve had the amazing blessing of sharing this week with Dad’s bother Jay and his family who have been instrumental in this vacation being so successful. With Mom and Dad both needing a great deal of rest with their feet up, it’s been a huge blessing to have them here with us.

We enjoyed fireworks for the 4th and had many of the Richmond’s here today to celebrate Gram and Gramp’s 62nd anniversary. It’s been VERY relaxing and fun… lots of laughs and lots of memories.

Ok… back to the the campfire… will update more when we get home.

More S’MORES, please!

Each day is a gift from God. Today  I celebrate His Goodness. I run to Him.  He holds me in His loving arms.  I choose to trust Him. His Word says by His stripes I am healed.  I am claiming His promises to me each day.   We are watching His Healing miracle unfold each day and I am believing MANY are seeing the goodness of God and He will receive GLORY for the GREAT things HE has done….not only healing of my physical body, but MANY will be drawn closer to God through this victory that is HIS alone. My daily prayer is that everyone who knows me and is praying for me will examine their own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and will be drawn closer to Him.  He loves you so very much.

Praise God today with me for:

1.  I am thanking him for an awesome time this week with my family  and grandkids…camping.  Becky and Keith arrive tonight.  Johnny and Johnny5 and Brianah already here.   A very special  loan of a RV from dear friends makes this so comfortable for me.   This campground is small Christian camp on small lake – very quiet and peaceful.   We are looking forward to special times with gramma and grampa Richmond (live close by and will visit often).  

2.  I am feeling more energy each day.  I wake and thank God for His healing that is flowing through my body.  I thank God that I slept well last night and am tolerating the chemo treatment well.  I’ve asked that the “deadly poison” I am putting in my body will only target the cancer cells, and my immune system will not be compromised.  (Mark 16:18)

3.  I praise God for SO MANY people who have come alongside John and I to care for us during this time.  Family, friends and the body of Christ – we couldn’t do this without you and we thank God for each one of you.  

4.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude and praise to my God when I hear hear how many people across the world are interceeding on my behalf asking God for  healing.    He is a God of love and compassion and I believe He hears the cries of  His people.  There will be a ROAR of praise circling the globe as we all stand and shout our praise to God for the GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

PRAISE GOD WITH ME.  WORSHIP OUR KING.  HE IS MIGHTY AND WORTHY OF ALL OUR PRAISE.

I love each of you so much.  THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN THIS AWESOME JOURNEY OF FAITH AND HEALING.

Love,

Chris

(Written by Becky)

I’m scatterbrained. I’m leaving England in two days. My life has been a bit insane here packing our things, shipping things, leaving my job…. I apologize for forgetting to update you in the last few days.

Mom just got news of blood tests today. All her levels look good. Her white blood cell count looks good. Good news! Also, since having her first round of chemo last Friday, she’s been feel ok! Just tired, really. No nausea. More good news!

Dad was supposed to get surgery today on his foot. However, since he’s managing to hobble around, he doesn’t want to do it right now. (Explanation below.) He has an 8 week window to get this done and has scheduled it for July 14th.

We are going on our first family vacation this Saturday for a week. Just the 6 of us: Mom, Dad, Johnny4, Johnny5, me and my husband Keith. This really means alot to us and we are thankful for our extended family and friends for allowing us this time to be alone together. (Dad didn’t want “fresh pain” during this time, which is why he postponed his surgery.)

Please pray for the making of some memories of a lifetime next week. We really need this.

(Written by Becky)

Minutes after my update earlier today, I got a call that they discharged Mom from the hospital! They said that the blood clots look fine and she was responding quite well to the chemo. She’s so happy to be sleeping in her own bed tonight!

(written by Becky)

Because of some needed shots of vitamins and steroids, Mom didn’t get chemo on Thursday as planned. She got it yesterday, however. I just skyped with her and she looks great! She said she’s had very little side effects and is anxious to go home. She was walking around the room and talking in her usual animated self.  They are hoping for her to get discharged from the hospital tomorrow or Monday.

Dad’s foot is in “limbo.”  He hasn’t had surgery for pins/screws yet because his foot wasn’t ready yet. There was some badly damaged skin that died and that needed to heal before they could do surgery.

My nephew, Johnny5,  just finished 1st grade and is counting the days until his 7th birthday party in a few weeks. Johnny4 and Johhny5 have more time to visit Mom each day now that school is out. This is always the highlight of her day!

Keith and I are cleaning our apartment today. (I’ve made a promise to myself that I will clean my next oven more often so it isn’t so much work at the end!) The shipping company came yesterday to take our stuff and all we have left is 2 suitcases each. We fly home next weekend and we’ll go straight to a family vacation with just the 6 of us… which we’re all really looking forward to and desperately need. We really need this time together to create some memories and be together. I’m so thankful to our extended family and friends for allowing us this pricate time together.

Again, we are indebted to you, our partners in this fight. We couldn’t do this without you!

(Written by Becky)

Mom is in surgery right now as I type getting a port installed for IVs so they don’t have to prick her every time. She’ll start chemo today. Please pray for our family? We are so scared, so weary. Please pray that Mom has very little side effects to the chemo. Please pray for continued healing for Mom and for Dad’s foot. (He’s still waiting for some badly damaged skin to heal before they will do the surgery for pins/screws.)

On a side note, Mom will be quite tired these next few days. For those of you visiting, would you please call Dad first to check that it’s a good time? She really loves visitors and, up until now, surprise visits have been fine. But now would be  good time to call Dad first.

Nana playing tic-tac-toe with her favorite visitor:

(Written by Becky)

Dad asked me to post an update, but it’s hard to think clearly. We apologize for a few days’ absence from this blog, but we’ve been trying to survive. Just keeping our heads above water is just about all we can do some days.

Mom is still in the hospital. She’s been on oxygen and blood thinners since I last wrote. She was taken off the oxygen today, just before we got new CAT scan results back. These last few days have been a bit of a whirlwind, necessitating help every step of the way. Loved ones have been lining up to drive Dad back and forth and others to spend the night with Mom.

I won’t stall anymore… The CAT scan results weren’t good. The tumor in Mom’s lung has grown 1cm and now the lesions on her liver are too multiple to count. (They counted 12 last month.) Doctors are indicating she’s losing liver function.

Mom is starting chemo tomorrow. She’ll have 3 rounds of regular chemo and then start that pill we told you about a few updates ago. She needs the regular chemo because of how advanced the cancer is.

I would like to ask a favor of anyone sending messages or visiting Mom. This is a very difficult time right now and she just needs your love and prayers. We’ve entered a new phase in treatment this week and we really need your support. The time for opinions on which treatment path to take has ended.

That’s all I can type right now – just the basics. Hopefully Mom or Dad will be up to contributing to this blog soon and they can expand further on their feelings and prayers. I’m just too numb to give you anything more than the facts at this point.

(Written by Becky)

Your prayers are urgently needed again. Mom went to the Emergency Room this morning after coughing up small amounts of blood. It wasn’t alot, but enough to worry and go to the hospital. After a CAT scan, we were told she had multiple blood clots in her lungs and they are admitting her to the hospital now.

So, now she’s in Albany. Dad is with her but in a great deal of pain. He’ll need to rest, soon. The trip between Albany and Schenectady is usually ok for most of us. But when Dad’s in so much pain, it’s quite a distance. And Mom’s strict diet is impossible in a hospital without someone to help by bringing her food. Mom’s sister, Kate, is on her way and knows Mom’s diet. She’ll oversee this for a few days.

We don’t know much more than this right now, but will let you know when we do. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep praying… we are so weary right now. We need a break from these multiple set-backs.

(Written by Becky)

Mom’s doctor in Michigan cleared her to fly, so she’s coming home today! Johnny4 and Johnny5 (remember our number system because there’s so many Johns? Johnny4 is my brother and Johnny5 is my nephew) are picking Mom up because Dad is still an invalid!  But I’m not sure Mom will mind Dad not picking her up because Johnny5 running into his Nana’s arms will make up for it.

My brother works during the days, so if you can offer to drive Mom to a doctor’s appointment or to the grocery store, will you please leave a post here? No need to put your number on this public site. When we are signed in to this blog as “admin” we can see your email address and Mom will send you a message you if she doesn’t already have your number. If messages are left via the computer (blog of facebook), Mom can read them in her own time when she has the energy so she has more control. She can’t control when she gets a call/text and sometimes she isn’t able to respond right away.

I’m out of the hospital back at the Health Institute…these folks have been WONDERFUL.  I spent 3 nights in the hospital and didn’t have to go off my raw food/wheatgrass/detox diet – they brought my food to me!  How I praise God, I didn’t want to eat the hospital “dead” food and the toxic tap water.  (I’m really learning alot!)

What the enemy may have meant for harm, to defeat an discourage me, God used for good.  I had a few very special visits from some local YFC friends but, for the most part, I had a very long “divine appointment with Jesus.”  I had my Bible, my iPod with praise music, and instructions from the doctor to say in bed and keep my leg flat…(could use the bathroom and shower).  I had phone calls with loved ones, but for the most part, many precious hours in prayer and worship.  I thank God for this time.  “He MAKETH me to lie down…He restoreth my soul.”

I’m extending my stay until next Sunday, as I have an appointment with the doctor later this week and he will clear me to fly.  With a blood clot, they have to make sure the cumadin (sp?) level in my blood is where it should be to prevent any new clots.  The doctor felt that a short flight home (2 hrs) was better than the long car ride.  Also, I can get back home quickly to my strict diet I’m on.

I will be in contact with local doctors this week, regarding follow-up for this blood clot, and then the next steps for ongoing treatment.  Prayer request is that our insurance company will quickly approve the new drug they want to give me that has much better results for my type of cancer (have been told it could take up to a month for approval).

However, other that my leg and having to keep off it, I am feeling really good.  If you have a chance, google “wheatgrass”  and study the amazing health benefits.  I believe as I build up my immune system, my body was designed by my Creator to heal itself, and the healing process has already begun.

Thank you everyone for all your prayers and words of encouragement. I believe The GREAT PHYSICIAN is healing me and TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

I KNOW that my REDEEMER lives…and I KNOW that HE loves me so much. My life is in HIS hands.  I run to Him and He is my strong tower.

I love you all and am so blessed to have so many prayer warriors.  Together we will see the Goodness of God as His miracle of healing is unfolding.

Love, Chris