Monday, April 14, 2008
Questions answered
Some question were answered today for us. The doctor said if Dad's cancer would have been caught earlier it wouldn't have made much difference. He still would have to go through the same treatment. We've also been told that this cancer is not genetic, it's simply something you acquire. When he gets done with this 4 day cycle of chemotherapy, they will wait to see how his blood levels hold before they start another cycle. To our understanding, there will be 8 cycles of chemotherapy. The doctor was happy with how healthy Dad looked and he also start a few different antibiotics to help protect him while his immune system is low. His hematocrit level was at 25, it should be in the high 30's to low 40's, so they gave him whole blood today. His spirits seem to be high, for that reason we want to thank everyone for your love and support.
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Dear Mark, Claudia and family,
We just want you to know that our earnest prayers are with you as you face this challenge of cancer. We understand a great deal of what you are going through and know that as you remain close to the Lord that He will comfort you and see you all through this experience. Last year Sister Bonnie D. Parkins taught us that we should express gratitude for everything we are given---even those blessings we "don't enjoy." This divine counsel opened windows of comfort and a measure of understanding to our family at a time we badly needed it. As Don Ray responded to the many who would inquire as to how we were doing, "We've never had anything so hard, and yet we have never felt so blessed." It almost sounds like a contradiction, yet in reality it is not. The reason being, we have a knowledge that life continues on after this mortal death and that everything we are "allowed" to go through in this mortal sphere shall be for our good. (D&C 122:7) Our daughter, Jeanice, shared with us a special quote that has become profoundly significant to us over the past 18 months. Let me share that with you now.
"Little people like you and me, if our prayers are sometimes granted, beyond all hope and probability, had better not draw hasty conclusions to our own advantage. If we were stronger, we might be less tenderly treated. If we were braver, we might be sent, with far less help, to defend far more desperate posts in the great battle."
C.S. Lewis
Our prayers continue that you might be healed and that your family will be strengthened and comforted---but we always close with "Thy will be done" for we know that Heavenly Father loves each of us perfectly and will allow us only that which is for our eternal growth and blessing. I will close with an expression that graces many of our homes since Joshua's battle with cancer---which he WON because he endured "faithful" to the end.
"Faith is not what you demonstrate to get what you want. It is what you demonstrate no matter what you get, no matter how long, no matter how hard."
Our love and prayers are with you all. We know God will bless you through the atonement of his son, Jesus Christ. Somehow He has suffered for all our sins, sorrows, sicknesses and afflictions, and he meant it when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt.12:28-30) Truly this "yoke" joins us together and allows him to help us carry our burden when it seems impossible to go another step. He is the one person who understands what we are going through and what we need. And because of his grace (enabling power), if we ask in faith and trust him, he will give us exactly what is for our best good. We offer this expression of love, faith and encouragement from the depths of our hearts.
Sharon and Don Ray
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