Let's Do Lunch Community

Please pray.  I've been in ICU w/Neil since early a.m. Thursday.  He was admitted with severe anemia, dehydration & kidney failure.  They gave him 4 units of blood & 7 liters of fluids.  Once he was stable, they scoped both ends to locate the source of the bleed & found tumor in his small intestine.  Surgical consult is pending today.  That's really all I know.  It's a tumor and they're taking it out.  Finally got that colonoscopy done!

I'm so angry at the doctor who just kept telling him he had that intestinal flu bug that was going around, without even an exam.  I don't know what to say to either one of them.  So...in no particular order, I'm going to pray for forgiveness all around, take a nap & a shower.  Then I need to head back to see if I can catch the surgeon.

Love to all, Gwen

Oh Gwen...

Our prayers are with you for strength and courage....

God bless and keep us posted please

margo

Praying Gwen, for peace, healing and comfort from our Lord.

Trusting Jesus,
Julie

He was admitted with severe anemia, dehydration & kidney failure.  They gave him 4 units of blood & 7 liters of fluids.

Oh Gwennie I am praying so hard.  This is just the exact symptoms my mom had back on Halloween.  Her surgery was a complete success though so Neil shouldnt be worried at all...they have come so far with mastering this surgery.  It was just that she waited way too long to go to the Dr.  She had been suffering with it for almost three years by the time they figured it out and her body was just way too weak to heal itself.  With my husband working out of town and my kids both working and driving and never home I wish so badly that my mom was still here.  I would have given me so much joy to have been able to take care of her.  I'm glad she didnt have to suffer with the cancer though.  I thought I was handling her death pretty good but lately there have been so many deaths and sicknesses Ive heard of and its like I everytime I hear another one it hits me all over again.  I will pray for your family that Neil's treatment and recovery go smoothly so you do not have to worry long about your loved one.  I hated not knowing what to expect next with my mom.  All the LDL angels will be watching over you and praying for your family.  I love you dear. 
God Bless You and your family
Debbie

Gwennie: I am praying here in Texas! I love you!

Debbie wrote: "...and its like I everytime I hear another one it hits me all over again."
Debbie, after Mother died I kept getting hit with that boomerang grief, too. Hang in there, it gets better.

gwen...............i'm so sorry for your trouble.....i just prayed and will continue to pray....when i call my father, i'll ask him to pray also.........
  THIS is the time when it's MOST important to hold onto the Lord and THIS is the time when it's hardest to find Him because of all the emotions and reality that is in our faces.........but, throughout EVERYTHING, remember that GOD is IN CONTROL.....................praying..niki

Gwen - I'm just now getting to this post.  I was shocked to read it!  Yes, of course, we will all keep Neil (and YOU) in our prayers.  It's so horrible "not knowing" everything that is going on.  Did he have the surgery yet?  Maybe so, as it's been almost 5 days since your original post.

Please let us know anything when you can.  Big hugs to you, my friend.

Love,
Carolyn

I too am just getting to all the posts. How tryinga time for you. We'll also be praying for you and your family.

Many many thanks for all your caring, love, support & prayers. 

Once he was stable, Neil had surgery Tuesday, I think it was April 8.  They removed a 15 cm. (very large grapefruit sized) tumor from his colon.  It was cancer, and had spread to the liver.  The largest of the 3 lesions on the liver was 8 cm. (tennis ball size).  After 4 weeks of recovery, he will start 6 months or more chemotherapy to shrink the remaining lesions so they can be surgically removed later.  No prognosis for recovery at this time -- everything is being handled one step at a time.  He will stay in ICU until the bowel starts functioning, but I don't understand how that happens when he is taking nothing by mouth.  He hasn't had anything except ice chips since, I think, last Saturday, when someone in dietary messed up & sent him a tray of regular food.  But I'm sure they know what they are doing.  He has a fantastic team of specialists working together to give him the very best care.

The outpouring of love and support has been astonishing.  I don't have any words........... coworkers and their families, our extended church family, friends and THEIR families, neighbors and THEIR families.  Everyone we know and everyone THEY know has rallied around us.  People took the day off work to wait with me the day of his surgery.  A lady in the ICU waiting room was doing her craft to pass the time and gave Michelle and me the most beautiful handcrafted jewelry.  In addition to being my new best friend, it turns out she is a well-known local artist whose work has raised thousand of dollars for charity.  The church youth group mowed, trimmed, and cleaned up the lawn and bushes at my house. 

Niki - remember how we agreed to pray for the restoration of each other's children & family relationships?  Well, all 5 of our kids got a serious wake-up call & are doing everything they can to gather around & support their dad and me.  It proves the old adage that you should be careful what you pray for -- you just might get it in a way you never wanted or expected!  I am kidding a little bit, but this is a very strange way to effect a family reunion.  Now I'm praying that through this experience, the kids will come to their ABBA Father as eagerly as they came to their dad.

The most beautiful thing about God's grace -- He opened His arms and we just walked right into His presence and stayed there.  We have an amazing peace that rises up & overtakes any situation that starts to upset us.  Our pastor told us he has counseled dozens of people in Neil's situation that are so desperate for redemption, they beg him to tell them what to do to get right with God so He will save them. Then the pastor looked straight at Neil & said, "I don't need to tell you what to do.  You and Gwen are already there."  That's the only time we broke down and sobbed.  We are so unworthy of His slightest notice, but He STILL loves us enough that He sacrificed His own Son to save and redeem us. 

Looks like I found some words........

Love to all,
Gwen

We love you Gwennie; and are praying!

Oh Gwennie We do Love you.  I cant help but want to pray for you and your family at this time.  Thank you so much for keeping us updated.  You must be exhausted.  Thank goodness your so special that you can recognize all the blessings you have in the midst of all this tragedy.  I am so amazed by your strong faith and how even under these circumstances you find a way to love and encourage us when it should be you that is in need of support.  Your family is so lucky to have you.  You certainly show me the meaning of being a christian everytime I read one of your posts on these boards.  Please continue to stop on these boards when you can.  We are always here for you.  We love you dear.
Love and God Bless
Debbie

PRAISE GOD, gwen......your post brought tears to my eyes...i see God's hand so clearly in your circumstances....i will pray for a COMPLETE healing for neil as he moves past everything that has happened onto the road to recovery..............
  it's WONDERFUL to be reminded that GOD IS IN CONTROL.............in His love,niki

Gwen,
I'm praying for Neil from Kentucky.  With our God, nothing is impossible!  Just free-fall into His arms and stay there in the Shadow of His Wings.  As the others have said, your are an inspiration to our faith.  God bless you and your whole family.
Pat

I too, will be praying for your husband and family.  I agree with Debbie that its good to see your strong faith through this.  I pray that God will work good through this situation for your kids. 

Gwen: I am reminded of a song our friends the Johnson Family Quartet sings (the mom wrote it after hurricane Katrina). It's called "Jesus is Still Master".
Here is the song:
Chorus:
Jesus is still Master of the wind and of the waves
Jesus is still Master and the storm is still his slave
He gives nature all it's power and He takes it all away
Jesus is still Master of the wind and of the waves!
Verse 1:
While the rains came pouring down
Noah trusted in God's word
A rainbow showed His faithfulness
God's people He preserved
God's people He preserved.
Chorus:
Verse 2:
The boat was tossed by the raging storm
As Jesus Slept below
His disciples cried in fear
But He calmed the storm we know
Jesus calmed the storm we know
Chorus:
Verse 3:
What are the storms you face?
What fear enslaves your soul?
Have faith in HIS rich grace for HE longs to make you whole,
for HE longs to make you whole.
Chorus

SO long note short...no matter what the storm you have (Neil and the cancer), Jesus is still the MASTER and he'll take care of you and His grace is sufficient for you!
Praying for a complete and whole recovery

Sister V;
Thank you so much for sharing this! It hit my heart.
NJ

You're so welcome. I love this song. It is just sooo beautiful!

Gwen - It just about broke my heart to read your post.  No WONDER the poor man was in pain!  You, Neil, and your family will continue to be in my prayers. 

It's wonderful to hear the the youth group did your yard work - and that leaves you free from just one more daily concern.  It's hard for some people to know what to do - how to help - when something like this happens.  The fact that SOMEONE thought to do this warms my soul, as I'm sure it does yours.

And your new friend!  There are no coincidences as has been said many times on this board... We happened to be at the store today to get a clasp for John's new pocket watch.  The beading section - WOW!!  I was like a kid in a candy store (oops, did I say that?).... Anyway, I'd love to see a picture of the things that your new friend made.

Please keep us updated...

Hugs to you,
Love,
Carolyn

that's GREAT, v.....there's NOTHING like being reminded of God's sovereignty...thank you.......
  i'm working tomorrow so i won't be in church...may you ALL be blessed in your worship tomorrow............niki