Kyphoplasty next week!

After an MRI last week and a visit with the neurosurgeon today (10-24-05), Debbie has two vertebras that are now candidates for kyphoplasty (this is the outpatient surgical procedure that involves putting a needle into the compressed or collapsed vertebra, using a balloon to raise it back to near normal size, then filling it with a cement to hold the pieces of the vertebra in place). Of course the Hematologist will have to okay it first, but it was his idea to start with, so we are sure that he will naturally defer to the neurosurgeon's recommendation on this which is, "let's do it." Each vertebra takes about an hour, and she will work Deb into her surgical schedule one day next week. Then she will need to take it easy for a couple of months while the other vertebras adjust to the "new shape" (nearly normal shape) of these two vertebra. She doesn't want these two reformed and strengthened vertebras causing any new compression fractures on weak vertebras nearby.

Debbie is greatly encouraged by this news and very hopeful that this will reduce her pain and discomfort in her back and increase her mobility. We are prayerful that her blood work late this week will also bring encouraging news. We appreciate your prayers and encouragement more than you can know. May God bless you.

Duane and Deb

JUST ENOUGH LIGHT FOR THE STEP I'M ON

Saturday, I (Debbie) was blessed to be a part of a group from RHCC that went to Dallas to a conference on prayer by Stormie O'Martian. I'd been blessed by several of her books that I've used to expand my prayer life through the years. Saturday's conference was yet another blessing.....in more ways than one. The fellowship was great, her thoughts were inspirational, and the praise time was dynamic! During the course of the day, the emcee drew names from the 2000 or so attendees, giving away books and baskets. Needless to say, I was shocked when my name was drawn, but very touched by the way God providentially provided this book for me: JUST ENOUGH LIGHT FOR THE STEP I'M ON (Trusting God in the Tough Times) Already I've been blessed by my reading.

Truly, God has been faithful ALL my life to supply the light needed for whatever I've gone through.....but especially over the past four months. There were days that I barely had strength to get out of bed, but He supplied light for that day, and every day since. He is my EVER PRESENT HELP in time of need. He is my ROCK, the GREAT PHYSICIAN and MY DELIVERER. He casts our fear and continues to sustain me. HE IS FAITHFUL!

And speaking of faithful, I want to thank each of you that have been faithful to pray for us as we've walked through this valley. We have felt the strength of your prayers....and we still covet your prayers. I have a handwritten card with 2" letters here at my desk that reminds me daily, "HE IS ABLE!" There is NOTHING too big for my God, and I'm not afraid to ask Him....nor am I afraid to ask you to join me in praying:

1) That my pH be balanced to the proper alkalinity, so cancer cannot survive
2) Complete healing of my back
3) That I will go into complete remission, and the cancer NEVER come back
4) That God will grant me 20+ years of great health in His service (yes,
contrary to what the doctors say!)
5) THAT HE WILL BE GLORIFIED IN ALL THIS, AND SATAN WILL GET NONE OF IT!

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." Jn. 15:7

Humbly receiving His grace and your prayers,

Debbie

Refreshing vacation

Deb and I did what we never dreamed would be possible for her to do just two months ago - left town for a vacation. We went to Harding's lectures (our second alma mater) and heard superb keynote lectures, saw a few friends there, visited my (Duane's) folks in Muskogee, Ok, then visited the Lawsons (one of the original 5 families on our mission team in Brazil) in Fayetteville, AR, then spent three days on Lake Texoma. We really needed that break from the grind of the past 10 months. So that is why the blog has not been updated in a couple of weeks.

Our first alma mater, York College in York, NB, (where Deb and I met, by the way) has been a blessing to us this past month after a student called us, talked, ended up reading our blog, shared it with her supervisor who has shared it with others. The York family is praying for Deb's healing and recuperation and has sent numerous cards, even though most of them do not know or remember us. York gave me two of the greatest years of my life as I grew spiritually by coming to kow Jesus better and as I learned about sacrifice and commitment. Yorkies are a special family and we are blessed to be a part of it still.

Deb goes for an MRI tomorrow to see if her T-12 vertebra is a candidate for Kyphoplasty. Remember to keep praying for complete remission this month and to ask God in faith that this cancer never return in her body, as we go for more blood work the end of the month to determine her progress.

God bless you all, and keep praying!