The Prayers of the Righteous Availeth Much -- Especially in Devastating Circumstances

I had my appointment with my oncologist surgeon yesterday. There was lots of good news. First of all, I would need no further surgery from him. He fully expected after what the MRI showed to find my  breast riddled with tumors, and he feared he would have to go back in and remove a whole bunch more lymph nodes. He was pleasantly surprised to see there were only the four small spots he had biopsied and the lymph involvement was very slight. He consulted with the radiologist and they felt I do need radiation, but the decision about chemotherapy will be left up to the oncologist. However, my surgeon seemed to indicate chemo was probably not going to be necessary.

He said I have great hormone receptors, which I don’t quite understand, but it means that my body will respond exceedingly well to a great medicine they can give me that is highly effective at killing any potential lingering cancer. I would stay on that for 5 to 10 years. It has very few side effects, and he felt very confident that between that and radiation, things look pretty good for me. He said I was healing beautifully and in fact canceled the appointment to see him again in a couple of weeks saying I could wait to see him in six months.

Armed with all this good news, Amy and I walked along the nearby wonderful Greenway to a local Italian restaurant for lunch. We had one of the best lunches I have had in a long time. Then we took a long, long walk along the Greenway all the way to the end. I admit we were both pretty hot and tired when we finally made it back to the medical center, but a cup of Caribou iced coffee and air-conditioning healed all our woes.

Finally, the sad moment came when I had to return Amy to the airport and send her on her way back home. I could not have done this without Amy. Certainly, without her it was unlikely that the past ten days which should’ve been the worst of my life, were instead  a victory, even a joy, filled with trusting in God and being ever grateful for what He has given me, particularly in the sibling department.

If indeed I do not need  chemo, the worst of this ordeal is over. I still have a long road, but I’ve learned that I can do almost anything when I’m surrounded by prayer, family, and the love of God. I believe that there was a breast riddled with cancer, just like the MRI showed, and just like the surgeon feared. However, I believe the prayers of hundreds of my friends and family produced a miracle. Thank you all. I am blessed.    

  

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Philippians 4:6 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

John 15:7 

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Mark 11:24 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing,

Romans 8:26 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.