J4given
January 5th, 2008, 05:13 AM
I praise the Lord at every single chance for the awesome testimony that we now have. Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia was the verdict on a very cold and dreary January of 2001. I was aware that we were going to have a very serious fight on our hands.
I was still enjoying our Newlywed status when my wife began to feel quite fatigued, and also displayed some other disconcerting symptoms. I was a Christian for nearly 6 years at the time of her diagnosis. She was a relatively new Christian at the time.
I will attempt to summarize a very interesting story as briefly as possible.
We were given the medical facts of a 18% chance of 5 year survival, but there was hope if it would go into remission quickly. Remission occurred, Praise Jesus. She still needed several months of in hospital treatment stay, and that was a tough living arrangement.
I dearly remember many of the discussions during the time. Doctors were very open to any personal study and ideas that I may come up with, and that would be very helpful. A nursing student asked me if my wife normally had the leg appearance (puffy) that she was having. I quickly dug into the medical volumes knowing that she was going through a bad thing. 4 AM is not a good time to involve sleeping doctors. Her blood pressure had dipped to 38/0, and she had a significant fever with zero immune system. That took us to the very first time that this large hospital would have an ICU sterilized for this critical scenario. Septic shock was the new problem, and it carried a verdict that was dismal for an otherwise healthy patient. God brought her through this state, and doctors were amazed. :)
Another discussion happened while she was in remission. She had placed a prayer in her journal that stated that she would do anything to bring any un-saved family member to Christ. She boldly stated that she would even endure Leukemia again. That is precisely what God had in mind! After 18 months of remission she had the disease present again. We had doctors suggesting experimental therapies, BMT's etc. Importantly we had learned to listen to the will of God.
Three more rounds of hospital living took place over the next several months. An occasional week to go home was allowed btw. each treatment. Our prayers were being supplemented with so many other wonderful Christians. My wife told me an interesting thing in the middle of this course of treatment. She said that she was certain that God was telling her that she was going to be healed. I was pleased, but a human part of me was being protective. We had her commit to the final treatment with a few cases of rare pneumonia arising. It was good to be done, and in remission again. The medical data shows that a second remission is extremely rare for this sub-type of the disease. We still believed that God had a purpose.
He had taken me from being a wretch of a man before I met my wife, so he could do amazing things. My old days of being a male Stripper brought some regional fame, but it was a dull happiness compared with the trials that we were overcoming. Popularity and sin were less joy-filled than being a supporter and praying husband for my sick wife; that perplexed a few old friends.
God would soon show the answer to our main prayer. My Mother in law was in the hospital for some trivial assessments. She was a strong advocate for a Spritism faith, even though she had witnessed a few miracles of her daughter's. One night she called for me to pray for her, and she accepted Jesus as her savior. I was amazed, but the celebration had mixed appeal. My wife's Mother passed away the very next morning, and the cause was a total surprise to the hospital. It became evident that our heart wrenching prayer was answered. Mom was in heaven, and she made it there out of very strange situations.
I praise Jesus that my wife is still healthy seven years later. No signs of any disease, and she is an awesome bearer of the testimony. We are so humble about the delicate nature of the whole situation. It is wonderful to know that her Mother is with Jesus, as that was not looking to be the case. We still live every day to the fullest, and try to help many others with similar situations. Some have lost their battles along the way, but I still say that miracles can happen! God is awesome!
I was still enjoying our Newlywed status when my wife began to feel quite fatigued, and also displayed some other disconcerting symptoms. I was a Christian for nearly 6 years at the time of her diagnosis. She was a relatively new Christian at the time.
I will attempt to summarize a very interesting story as briefly as possible.
We were given the medical facts of a 18% chance of 5 year survival, but there was hope if it would go into remission quickly. Remission occurred, Praise Jesus. She still needed several months of in hospital treatment stay, and that was a tough living arrangement.
I dearly remember many of the discussions during the time. Doctors were very open to any personal study and ideas that I may come up with, and that would be very helpful. A nursing student asked me if my wife normally had the leg appearance (puffy) that she was having. I quickly dug into the medical volumes knowing that she was going through a bad thing. 4 AM is not a good time to involve sleeping doctors. Her blood pressure had dipped to 38/0, and she had a significant fever with zero immune system. That took us to the very first time that this large hospital would have an ICU sterilized for this critical scenario. Septic shock was the new problem, and it carried a verdict that was dismal for an otherwise healthy patient. God brought her through this state, and doctors were amazed. :)
Another discussion happened while she was in remission. She had placed a prayer in her journal that stated that she would do anything to bring any un-saved family member to Christ. She boldly stated that she would even endure Leukemia again. That is precisely what God had in mind! After 18 months of remission she had the disease present again. We had doctors suggesting experimental therapies, BMT's etc. Importantly we had learned to listen to the will of God.
Three more rounds of hospital living took place over the next several months. An occasional week to go home was allowed btw. each treatment. Our prayers were being supplemented with so many other wonderful Christians. My wife told me an interesting thing in the middle of this course of treatment. She said that she was certain that God was telling her that she was going to be healed. I was pleased, but a human part of me was being protective. We had her commit to the final treatment with a few cases of rare pneumonia arising. It was good to be done, and in remission again. The medical data shows that a second remission is extremely rare for this sub-type of the disease. We still believed that God had a purpose.
He had taken me from being a wretch of a man before I met my wife, so he could do amazing things. My old days of being a male Stripper brought some regional fame, but it was a dull happiness compared with the trials that we were overcoming. Popularity and sin were less joy-filled than being a supporter and praying husband for my sick wife; that perplexed a few old friends.
God would soon show the answer to our main prayer. My Mother in law was in the hospital for some trivial assessments. She was a strong advocate for a Spritism faith, even though she had witnessed a few miracles of her daughter's. One night she called for me to pray for her, and she accepted Jesus as her savior. I was amazed, but the celebration had mixed appeal. My wife's Mother passed away the very next morning, and the cause was a total surprise to the hospital. It became evident that our heart wrenching prayer was answered. Mom was in heaven, and she made it there out of very strange situations.
I praise Jesus that my wife is still healthy seven years later. No signs of any disease, and she is an awesome bearer of the testimony. We are so humble about the delicate nature of the whole situation. It is wonderful to know that her Mother is with Jesus, as that was not looking to be the case. We still live every day to the fullest, and try to help many others with similar situations. Some have lost their battles along the way, but I still say that miracles can happen! God is awesome!