I am Free...

.... In Jesus Name. This is the name of  a song by Darlene Zschech. She battled cancer and takes a moment to pray for others during this song who are fighting cancer as well.  The words of this song are a very powerful declaration. I love hearing my girls walk around the house singing this!


"In Jesus' Name"

God is fighting for us,
God is on our side
He has overcome,
Yes He has overcome
We will not be shaken,
We will not be moved
Jesus You are here
[x2]

Carrying our burdens,
Covering our shame
He has overcome,
Yes He has overcome
We will not be shaken,
We will not be moved
Jesus You are here

I will live, I will not die
The resurrection power of Christ
Alive in me and I am free
In Jesus' Name
I will live, I will not die
I will declare and lift You high,
Christ revealed and I am healed
In Jesus' Name

God is fighting for us,
Pushing back the darkness
Lighting up the Kingdom
That cannot be shaken
In the Name of Jesus,
Enemy's defeated
And we will shout it out,
Shout it out
[repeat]

  I'm making good progress with my surgery recovery. The soreness has become much less over the last week. My ileostomy is working well and is also healing nicely. Friday it will be 4 weeks since surgery! My energy level is still not back to normal but my family is picking up the slack nicely!   I'm just so thankful to have wonderful family and friends to cover us in prayer and help us on this journey!

  My pathology results are in and the margins on my bowel section were all good. My tumor shrank from 5 cm to 1.5cm. They removed all 15 lymph nodes in that area and 2 of them had cancer.

The nodule in my lung disappeared but another one showed up. My chemo Dr. seemed to feel like it is probably not cancer by the way it is "acting" for lack of a better word, but he made it very clear that they will keep a close eye on it.
  On Aug. 3 I'll be having a port put in ( minor surgery) and will probably start chemo on the 4th if all my blood work is good. This is called preventative chemo. I'll get 12 rounds of it over 6 months. I will go every 2 weeks to the cancer center at the Health Campus in Lancaster and be there for about 3 hours to get my infusion. Then I'll come home hooked up to a pump for 2 days to get the remainder of the drug. I'll probably finish chemo in January and then a month or so later have my ileostomy reversed!!
  I'm so glad the surgery is behind me. It is easy to get overwhelmed when I think about the next 6 months but I must remember to take one day at a time and trust that His grace is sufficient for each moment!! Pray for strength and health over me and my family as we begin this next phase in a few weeks! I'm on my way to being cancer free! Thank you Jesus!


Marcia

  

After a week in the hospital...

...it is so good to be home. After a few days at home....I'm buggy. Ha Ha!! Well, it is still very good to be home. I am now 11 days post op and I'm getting stronger each day. I still sleep a lot and just am focused on eating healthy, resting and taking care of me. I went nearly a week without much sustenance so my body had to get used to eating again. I still have some intense belly aches at times but they are becoming less and less. I'm not in pain other than the usual tender belly and bottom from things being rearranged in there. The Drs are very pleased with my progress.  I'm still waiting on the pathology and CT scan results.
  I would have to say the recovery was more difficult than I imagined and I'm so glad the surgery is behind me. I know I was able to be peaceful through it all because of your prayers and just trusting God for each moment. I spent an hour one night commanding gas to come out of my belly in Jesus name!! Imagine 5 days of farts trapped inside your already bloated belly. Yeah! Not pleasant! I told Duane I would rather have 5 babies than go through that again! 
 My Mom brought the girls to see me every day. One afternoon when I was feeling miserable, they prayed over me for the bloating to go away. Soon after that things started moving. Precious times to see them growing in their faith and helping to take such good care of me.
 Yesterday I was feeling discouraged and was hitting God with the why questions. Today the title of  my devotions was "Coping With Life's Challenges".  Life is a set of challenges. We are tempted to see these challenges as preventing us from carrying out the ministry that God has given us. In fact, dealing with the problems is the ministry. (Bible in a year)
 Right now, my ministry is continuing to walk in gratitude and trust God in each moment.
You may never know, in this life, how God uses your faithfulness in the face of challenges.
Today, I'm encouraged to keep on keeping on. God can and will use all this stuff for good. May He be glorified!!
 


I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labor.
You called to me in your pain;
I got you out of a bad place
The Message
Psalm 81:6-7


Lots of love!
Marcia

A long road....

This is Lynnea:

Marcia had a good day yesterday and felt the best she felt since the surgery!

At 5:30 last night the family gathered for a training session on how to care for her illi bag.  It was a bit surreal.  It was something you never thought you would be doing/getting together for.  But it was so sweet and special to see her family rally around her and be interested and caring on how to care for Marcia during this season. (I was just there to take notes and observe.)

But this morning Marcia texted me and needs our prayers.  Pray that this bloating will GO AWAY. In Jesus name.  She felt very uncomfortable again overnight and I think is just over it all.
In terms of this surgery recovery she is doing really good.  This is all "normal"  but that doesn't make it any easier.

Duane is able to hang out with her today (which I think will lift her spirits, I know just having your hubby there is comforting) and she is hoping that things will start moving better and she is HOPEFUL that she can maybe come home tomorrow.

But the bloating/pressure has to subside and her illi has to start having more solid discharge (not just bile) and she has to be drinking enough on her own so she doesn't get dehydrated.

Thanks for your continue prayers and concern and thank you for those who have signed up for meals. The family is very appreciative of them and there will be more opportunity in 6 weeks when chemo starts to love on them more! :)

Noises!

From Lynnea:

It is hard seeing your friend in so much pain and discomfort.  I wish I could take this away from her.

The best thing we can all do is pray for her....I know that sounds so "simple" but she cherishes those prayers for specific things and she knows it is helping!

Pray for a good nights sleep and that her bloating and pressure will subside.

She is experiencing LOTS of bloating and pressure in her belly.  But her illi bag started to "burp" this afternoon....which is a very positive sign.  That means the air is leaving her body and that gave her some relief.

She did sit and eat a little broth and hot tea tonight which was encouraging!  Hopefully tomorrow she can move on to thicken liquids. (Doesn't she look amazing for not showering in 4 days?!?!?)

The doctor says that she is "right on schedule."  So I guess that is good....but Marcia would say these last few days have been the worst days she has ever had.  She didn't realize/grasp how hard this kind of surgery was going to be.  But by God's grace she is keeping a positive attitude through it all.

Small Update

Lynnea again:

I texted Marcia today and it sounds like she is in a bit less pain....which is encouraging!
But she is so very tired and wiped out that she isn't up to any visitors at this time.

Please continue to pray for her and for her family as they are missing their queen.

Marcia was able to get up a walk for a bit this morning...so that is another positive praise report!
She sees her surgeon tomorrow so she most likely will have more of an idea of how long she will be in the hospital for after he assess her progress.
Blessings!

Prayer Points

Lynnea again:

I was able to see Marcia this morning and she is in good spirits.  She needs to rest and let her body heal but the doctor is happy with her progress.

The doctor wanted her to get up and try and sit in the chair today and she almost passed out.  She is very bloated and tender and is pushing the morphine pump!  So you can pray for that the pain will be controlled and that she can get a solid nights sleep.

Pray that her bowels will start working, the illio bag is working but she is just passing bile at this time.

She is drowsy but her positive spirit shines through. She is amazing and I'm so very proud of her!
She is happy to have this part of the journey over with.

She told me she feels very loved and cared for and she appreciates the prayers so much.

In recovery

This is Lynnea updating for Marcia while she is in the hospital:

Marcia's surgery started around 2:00 and lasted about 4 hours.
The surgeon took out about a foot of her colon and the lymph nodes surrounding it and it all is being sent away to pathology.  We should have those results in about a week.

It sounded like the surgery part all went smoothly.  She has her ileostomy bag in now and will have that for about 6 months.

She will be in the hospital for about 3-7 days.
Of course everyone is praying and hoping for 3 days!

The whole family appreciates the prayers and love for them during this time.

His eye is on her!

Providence...

...means God's foresight: the way He anticipates and prepares for the future. It is the protective care of God. It is the way He guides and steers your life personally. In all the circumstances of your life and the events going on around you, you can trust in the providence of God.
                                       Taken from my "Bible in One Year "app
Providence. This is my word for today.
    This morning I met with a lung specialist to discuss a nodule in my right lung that showed up on the PET scan back in February. It was 5mm in Feb and shrank to 2mm on the May CT scan. They do not know what it is but it is suspicious because it shrank during chemo. It could be a fungal infection or it could be cancer. It is very tiny and therefore they cannot biopsy it. The only way to really know what it is would be to have lung surgery and remove it.
 At this point, the plan is to watch it. If it grows, it needs to come out. This would mean surgery on my right lung to remove the whole bottom lobe. It is major surgery and would require a week stay in the hospital. 
  If it stays the same or disappears they will rescan me periodically to monitor it. I am due for another scan the beginning of July.
 As you can see....all of this is in the hands of God and totally out of my control. I share this so you can be in prayer that God will completely heal me. He knows best, how to bring that about. Pray for wisdom for the doctors.  Pray for the PEACE of God that passes all understanding to rest on me and my family. God sees everything and He knows everything. He knows the future and already has a plan in place for me.
Divine Providence (according to Wikipedia)- God's extraordinary intervention in the life of people!
                                                                           aka Miracles!
  I'll take it!!


Job 10:12 You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.
I love you Jesus!
His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over me!
Marcia
 
 

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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! Phil. 4:6-7
  It has been awhile since I blogged! I've been busy jamming my summer into one month and oh what fun it has been! These past weeks hold many sweet memories and it feels good to have phase one behind me!
I'm so thankful for:
1. Energy!!! I appreciate being able to cook and clean again believe it or not!
2.A wonderful family vacation at Raystown. I even squeezed in some water skiing! Such a peaceful place to be!
3.The end of the school year and more free time!
4.Many precious birthday celebrations from breakfast parties to pedicures, lots of presents!  Hobby Lobby shopping, lunch with friends, dinner with family and lots of laughter! I felt quite spoiled, loved on and blessed!
5.Adrienne's new job.
6.A bigger work van for Duane. He is having fun getting it all set up.
7.Kyle's job and that he can help Duane out when needed.
8.Summer! My favorite time as I get a break from homeschooling and can catch up on housework and projects.
9. Unhurried mornings to meet with Jesus.
I cherish these gifts and so many more!!
  There are times when anxiety and fear want to creep in as I think about the future. Fear of the unknown and the reality of the changes that will be taking place in my body occupy my thoughts. Add hormonal changes to that and you get a very interesting mix of emotions! Mostly tears! I'm so thankful for friends and family who understand. I know that it is very normal to feel this way. The best cure is to continue to feed on God's word. His words are truth and I'm so thankful to have something to hold me firmly. He is my anchor in all of this!
   My surgery is scheduled for Friday, June 26th. They will resection my bowel and will give me a temporary ileostomy. It will probably be about a 3 hour surgery and I'll be in the hospital for 4-5 days. Some days the waiting seems long and I just want to get it over with but I'm sure it will be here before I know it!
    For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord...
Jeremiah 30:17a
  God is challenging me to speak His word over myself daily. Isaiah 55:11 says, " So is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." This season of my life has caused me to dig into God's word even more. That and your prayers enable me to walk in peace when the fears come.  The more I dig into the Word I see that it is full of power, life and good news and promises!
  Laughter is so refreshing and I pray that this next phase holds lots of it! I'll just say in advance, that if I fart, fluffer or toot in your presence, I'm sorry, I can't help it.
I know you are either laughing or totally grossed out...oh well. Get used to it.
Thanks for your prayers and love!
Marcia





 

To God be the Glory....

...great things He has done!! I am now one week post radiation and chemo and I feel so much better!! The nausea is gone and my energy is coming back. On Sunday I went for a three mile walk by the river with my family! It was a slow go but it felt so good to be outside getting some exercise! I am slowly transitioning from a low fiber diet to adding some fresh fruits and vegetables. I still need to take Imodium till my GI tract heals.
 Yesterday I met with the surgeon. I will have surgery sometime mid to end of June to remove the part of my bowel that had cancer. They will also remove some of my lymph nodes and send it all to pathology.  It will be laparoscopic surgery which made me very happy (no big incision) but I will also need an ileostomy for 4-6ish months, which did not make me very happy ( poop in a bag from a stoma on my abdomen). Woo hoo! I'm looking at about a week stay in the hospital to make sure everything is working properly. I will then heal for 4-6 weeks before I start more chemotherapy. The ileostomy will be reversed after I'm done with Chemo.
 I would be lying if I said these things excited me.  I'm laughing as I type this because it just helps. A few hours ago I was crying about it. It is all part of this process. Emotions are real and so is the faithfulness of God!
 My devotions today just hit the nail on the head! This is from Jesus Calling on May 7.
  If you learn to trust me - really trust me with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from my Peace. Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me. This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you. Joseph was a prime example of this divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Genesis 50:20a
  Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter.
 What a great word! I feel as though God is asking me not to dread the future but to focus on the fact that, come what may, He is with me all the way! Everything within me wants to escape these unpleasant experiences but I do not want to escape the loving arms of Jesus who will carry me through! What an amazing God we serve. The same God who bottles my tears challenges me to trust Him with my whole being. The same Jesus who bore all my sickness and disease is healing me! I choose by God's grace and your prayers to walk this journey full of faith, trust and peace!! I want to experience Gods' divine reversal on this journey.
  The month of May holds some special stuff and I'm soaking it all up-  Mothers Day, my birthday, time away with Duane, a day to spend with my dear friend, family vacation and the sweetness of a God who loves me and will never leave my side!
  Blessings to you this day! May you experience the love of God whatever you are facing!
Marcia