Today was a day of waiting. Mary, with her husband Bervin and their firstborn, Luke, moved from one clinical waiting room to another for blood tests, scan prep, and then the full body scan itself. It was tempting to lose patience, but Mary testified to a heart and mind overflowing with peace through those many long hours. This, she believes, was the result of the prayers of people like you, Blog Reader. And Mary wants you to know she is filled with gratitude tonight!
First, the results of last November’s scan: a ¾” tumor in Mary’s liver, nodules in one lung, and lymph nodes in her abdomen that were also cancerous. Today’s results, nearly 7 months later, are these:
The lung nodules and lymph nodes are virtually unchanged. This was good news! But the liver tumor has grown to almost 2 inches. As Mary put it, “That’s not such good news.”
Even so, there are things to be thankful for. Mary’s doctor told them that the slow-growing nature of her cancer is not typical in pancreatic patients. That’s one more item in the “good” column. And another: all of Mary’s blood tests today came back normal! For example, though she has always leaned toward anemia, today’s hemoglobin count was up in normal range.
But the best news of all today (the #1 “good”) is that God is in the process of working all these things, both the good and the bad, together for good in Mary’s life and even in the lives of all those who love her. We may not be able to see the details yet, but we believe the promise because it was made by a trustworthy Person.
Over the course of many hours of waiting today, Mary said she was reminded of our Mom when she went through a painful medical procedure years ago. She began quietly singing a favorite old hymn, and as she did, she was able to disassociate from the misery of the moment and be transported to “things above:”
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”
Mary also mentioned being encouraged by the many word pictures of Psalm 91: the shelter of the Most High; the shadow of the Almighty; God as her Refuge and Fortress; being covered by His feathers; being protected under His wings; knowing angels were standing guard.
When all was said and done, her summary of the day was a good one: “I’ve decided just to be thankful for the good and trust God with the bad.”
“You [Lord] will keep [her] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because [she] trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Thank you for sharing! Our prayers continue ue and we join you in praising The Lord for every day and the amazing “feeling good and the strength and peace you do have”!
Love Beth and Bruce.
I was waiting up until this update came in. Mary has been on my heart and in my prayers ever since you posted about the scan. It’s hard to accept that there is nothing that can be done medically, but of course if there was, the doctors would be doing it. So the liver tumor slightly more than doubled. In itself that means nothing to me. How big does a tumor have to be to be fatal? The more significant news to me is the slow growth of the cancer. I’ve been praying that God would give Mary more time with her loved ones, and compared with the usual experience of the doctors, God has done that. I pray for continued health and strength for Mary, and the sweet and precious days she is enjoying. For every one of us, no one knows what tomorrow will bring…except God. xxoo
I praise God for the trust He has given to Mary and her family. I will continue to pray for peace and rest and enjoyment of life.
Thanks again for sharing and allowing us to be prayer partners with you. Jim and Pearl. ( Looking unto Jesus, The Author and Finisher of Our Faith )
Thank you for sharing, Margaret and Mary.
I am rejoicing with you, praying with you, and giving thanks with you.
I know this is not easy; in fact, it’s most difficult, but God is giving you so much grace that you make it look easy to have cancer.
Thank you for sharing Mary and my prayers for you began when learning of your scan and continue now as you walk with God with this new knowledge. Praising God for the good news and praying He will continue to keep you in his perfect Peace. Love James’ words of God’s doing this when our minds are stayed on Him. Your mother’s solution to bearing painful medical ordeal by singing hymns during was my “turn to” as a claustrophobic enduring a closed MRI….with closed eyes I was transported to a peaceful place singing hymns. Being in His Presence can be anywhere, Praise God! Mary, you are such an encourager to me and others privileged to know about you…..you are blessing lives with your strong faith and I pray your days ahead be filled with all of God’s myriad ways of bringing joy into your life, and I know you already have experienced how wonderfully He unexpectantly does this.
With love in Christ, Pat Dorroh