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
