I call this a lazy update because I do not have any earthshaking news to tell you but I thought I would write anyway. Dan is happily working at his job in West Covina. He is teaching math and Bible to grades 6-8. His hip surgery is off until next summer and as I was pondering the delays he has had for that surgery it came to me that wouldn't it be great if the Lord Jesus would just heal that ball of the femur and Dan would not have to undergo anymore surgery! We can ask. We will ask! I am asking you to ask! Let's ask.
My job is going great. I love ultrasounds and I love the ministry of helping young women some of whom are in a crisis situation. I am still learning to adjust my life to my new schedule. Maybe I can't do quite as many other things as I did before:)
Jessica and Josh are in the midst of wedding plans and Jessica is also applying to graduate programs in urban planning with an emphasis in transportation. I confess I hope the school is west of the continental divide.
Again and again as I share the miracle that is Dan, I am reminded of the mercy and love we have received from the Lord. I am so grateful, so thankful that my heart is bursting with gratitude and love for my Lord Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Jesus our Messiah rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Jesus our Messiah dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus our Messiah, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
good good good news
So it has been awhile since i have posted but I have some wonderful news. Dan has a job teaching math and bible at a Lutheran school in West Covina. It is not maybe his first choice as he would rather be in a high school setting but it is a good start on the road of teaching experience. We are so thankful! Next, our daughter Jessica got engaged to be married on Friday to her love and best friend Joshua McBride! We are anticipating a spring wedding! WOOHOO!!! Next I got a part time job! For those who weren't aware, I went to Florida for 2 weeks to receive training in limited obstetrical ultrasound. I have been hired by our crisis pregnancy clinic to perform ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and counsel women who find themselves in a difficult situation. I have been volunteering there since January and am very excited about the expansion of my hours and duties. This is the fulfillment of desires I have had for many decades. The Lord has brought this about in my life and I am looking forward to all He will do in me and through me to help others.
In all this good news I see God's hand guiding us and directing us. My you sense His Presence leading and guiding you, especially as this world faces more and more troubled times.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 3:
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
In all this good news I see God's hand guiding us and directing us. My you sense His Presence leading and guiding you, especially as this world faces more and more troubled times.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 3:
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Fighting an infection
Dear One and All,
Unbelievably, Dan is in the hospital (again) with an liver abscess from his ablation in June. He will be having it drained tomorrow by an interventional radiologist at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier. He is also on IV antibiotics. What this will mean for his hip replacement surgery scheduled for July 28 we are not sure yet, but it may be postponed due to this complication. So again we ask for the Lord to intervene and heal Dan, and also to give Dan and Ashley the strength to get through this obstacle before them.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
Words to bank on:
Psalm 62
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Unbelievably, Dan is in the hospital (again) with an liver abscess from his ablation in June. He will be having it drained tomorrow by an interventional radiologist at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier. He is also on IV antibiotics. What this will mean for his hip replacement surgery scheduled for July 28 we are not sure yet, but it may be postponed due to this complication. So again we ask for the Lord to intervene and heal Dan, and also to give Dan and Ashley the strength to get through this obstacle before them.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
Words to bank on:
Psalm 62
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
from Ashley........
Fried tumors!
I am happy to report that Dan is right now waking up from (possibly) his last necessary cancer treatment. The last of his visible tumors have been fried today...and hopefully, they'll never come back!
We got to the hospital about half an hour early, but they couldn't start the procedure until 3 hours later because Dan's platelets were a bit low. After finally deciding to give him a unit of platelets, they took him at 1030.
3 hours later, his fantastic doctor (our favorite over the past 4 years) came out to give us great news. The pre-procedure CT showed no new tumors and showed that the old tumors looked smaller than before. Then, they ablated a few areas ("microwave on a stick", as Dan says). The doctor admitted to us that he thinks the tumors were already dead, but he wanted to cook them anyway--for good measure. Biopsies from the site will tell us if there was any living cancer in them later. The doctor was overall very happy with the procedure. Little bleeding, no complications seen yet. Dan is waking up right now, so he's not even in the recovery area. In a couple hours or so, we'll be able to see him in his hospital room where he'll stay overnight for observation.
As long as Dan can eat, drink and have good pain control tonight, we should be able to leave in the morning. We'll be on the watch for signs of bleeding or infection for a little while. Then, we'll take a couple days to recuperate in NorCal, then drive home to La Habra.
As for future cancer treatments--there are NONE scheduled. After Dan's hip gets replaced, he can begin to work toward life without cancer. Check-up scans will happen every 3-6 months and the possibility will always remain that something could return. I will personally always be a little scared and worried. Yet, it feels like a new stage of life can begin. Please pray with us that Dan can officially and forever become a cancer survivor, instead of a cancer patient!
It's hard to believe that 4 years ago this time, Dan hadn't even started chemo. In fact, my mother-in-law and I were probably playing cards waiting for Dan to come out of a scan that would tell us fairly terrible news. Fast forward to now: Dan has his Bachelor's degree, has a wife, almost has his teacher's credential, has a cat and is planning for whatever God has in store for him and for us. God has certainly been faithful to His children.
I can say simply now, that the doctors did not think Dan had a fighting chance shortly after his diagnosis. Yet, after 10 rounds of chemo, SIRSpheres, a couple embolizations, a Whipple surgery, a bowel obstruction surgery, and 2 ablations...Dan is very close to being cancer-free.
We can obviously be thankful for the doctors and nurses. We can give some credit to Dan himself for being so incredibly, crazily courageous and strong. However, we would be completely wrong to not give all praise and glory and thankfulness to the One who orchestrated every good gift in the midst of this trial: our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His provision and protection, I know that Dan would not be alive today. What a wonderful God we worship!
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. Continue to give glory to God for all He has done.
Updates will continue...though, I hope they won't involve too many more stories from the hospital!
Posted by Dan and Ashley at 2:05 PM
I am happy to report that Dan is right now waking up from (possibly) his last necessary cancer treatment. The last of his visible tumors have been fried today...and hopefully, they'll never come back!
We got to the hospital about half an hour early, but they couldn't start the procedure until 3 hours later because Dan's platelets were a bit low. After finally deciding to give him a unit of platelets, they took him at 1030.
3 hours later, his fantastic doctor (our favorite over the past 4 years) came out to give us great news. The pre-procedure CT showed no new tumors and showed that the old tumors looked smaller than before. Then, they ablated a few areas ("microwave on a stick", as Dan says). The doctor admitted to us that he thinks the tumors were already dead, but he wanted to cook them anyway--for good measure. Biopsies from the site will tell us if there was any living cancer in them later. The doctor was overall very happy with the procedure. Little bleeding, no complications seen yet. Dan is waking up right now, so he's not even in the recovery area. In a couple hours or so, we'll be able to see him in his hospital room where he'll stay overnight for observation.
As long as Dan can eat, drink and have good pain control tonight, we should be able to leave in the morning. We'll be on the watch for signs of bleeding or infection for a little while. Then, we'll take a couple days to recuperate in NorCal, then drive home to La Habra.
As for future cancer treatments--there are NONE scheduled. After Dan's hip gets replaced, he can begin to work toward life without cancer. Check-up scans will happen every 3-6 months and the possibility will always remain that something could return. I will personally always be a little scared and worried. Yet, it feels like a new stage of life can begin. Please pray with us that Dan can officially and forever become a cancer survivor, instead of a cancer patient!
It's hard to believe that 4 years ago this time, Dan hadn't even started chemo. In fact, my mother-in-law and I were probably playing cards waiting for Dan to come out of a scan that would tell us fairly terrible news. Fast forward to now: Dan has his Bachelor's degree, has a wife, almost has his teacher's credential, has a cat and is planning for whatever God has in store for him and for us. God has certainly been faithful to His children.
I can say simply now, that the doctors did not think Dan had a fighting chance shortly after his diagnosis. Yet, after 10 rounds of chemo, SIRSpheres, a couple embolizations, a Whipple surgery, a bowel obstruction surgery, and 2 ablations...Dan is very close to being cancer-free.
We can obviously be thankful for the doctors and nurses. We can give some credit to Dan himself for being so incredibly, crazily courageous and strong. However, we would be completely wrong to not give all praise and glory and thankfulness to the One who orchestrated every good gift in the midst of this trial: our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His provision and protection, I know that Dan would not be alive today. What a wonderful God we worship!
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. Continue to give glory to God for all He has done.
Updates will continue...though, I hope they won't involve too many more stories from the hospital!
Posted by Dan and Ashley at 2:05 PM
results
Dan came through the procedure well and the doctor ablated 2 sites, one that had been previously infarcted but not "cooked" by the last procedure and the 4th and last tumor site that he had planned to do. Everything looked good. No new tumors were seen!!!! His platelet count was a bit low so he was given some platelets. This was not a big concern for today but will be an issue for his hip replacement when the bleeding is more of a problem. SO thanksgiving for today and prayers for the next and final, Lord willing, procedure of the hip surgery on July 28. We are so thankful for all your love and support and prayers.
Isaiah 44:6-8
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”
Isaiah 44:6-8
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
4 years ago
Dear Ones,
I have just spent about an hour reading blogs from 4 years ago. Had to stop because it is getting late! 4 years ago we received a "bad report" that Dan had cancer in his liver and pancreas. I had been studying the book of Isaiah and remembered that King Hezekiah had received a bad report and brought that to the Lord in His Temple and pleaded with Him to act on Judah's behalf, so Dan and I too took that bad report of cancer and pleaded with the Lord for His mercy and healing. (It was 2:30 am and the doctor came in the room and woke us up and gave us the results of his CT scan) Now 4 years later I am in a study with a friend and we are going over Isaiah and lo and behold we are just approaching the same chapter about King Hezekiah. So it is time to say thank you Lord for all you have done in these past 4 years. Next week Dan will have his last (hopefully) treatment on a tumor remnant (microwave on a stick). I can only sing praises and worship the King of Kings. Dan has been through a great deal of pain and suffering these past 4 years but there has been a great many blessings also. The Lord continues to use his ordeal to speak to hearts about the love, goodness and power of the Lord. May He speak to you today and may your heart be open to hear His still small voice calling out to you.
I have just spent about an hour reading blogs from 4 years ago. Had to stop because it is getting late! 4 years ago we received a "bad report" that Dan had cancer in his liver and pancreas. I had been studying the book of Isaiah and remembered that King Hezekiah had received a bad report and brought that to the Lord in His Temple and pleaded with Him to act on Judah's behalf, so Dan and I too took that bad report of cancer and pleaded with the Lord for His mercy and healing. (It was 2:30 am and the doctor came in the room and woke us up and gave us the results of his CT scan) Now 4 years later I am in a study with a friend and we are going over Isaiah and lo and behold we are just approaching the same chapter about King Hezekiah. So it is time to say thank you Lord for all you have done in these past 4 years. Next week Dan will have his last (hopefully) treatment on a tumor remnant (microwave on a stick). I can only sing praises and worship the King of Kings. Dan has been through a great deal of pain and suffering these past 4 years but there has been a great many blessings also. The Lord continues to use his ordeal to speak to hearts about the love, goodness and power of the Lord. May He speak to you today and may your heart be open to hear His still small voice calling out to you.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
No job, YET!
Dan heard back from the job we all thought would be perfect - the answer was no:(((((
But we keep praying and he keeps looking and applying, then we'll see what happens!
Thanks for your love and support and prayers on his behalf.
Psalm 5
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
But we keep praying and he keeps looking and applying, then we'll see what happens!
Thanks for your love and support and prayers on his behalf.
Psalm 5
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
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