Health Update, 28 Sept 2009
On Friday, September 25, Marilyn and I met with Dr. Mary Bretscher. We found her to be a very articulate, clear, and compassionate doctor. She asked us what we knew about what I was facing and she confirmed what we told her:
- I have carcinoid tumors that are, at present, incurable
- Only the symptoms can be treated
- The cancer spreads very slowly and will move to other organs or parts of the body beyond where it is located now, namely in the mesentery and in the liver
- There is the need to find suitable treatment to manage the current symptoms
- There is the need to monitor closely how I feel in the days ahead.
What especially impressed us is her desire to view my situation from a personal treatment perspective rather than group me in with others who show the same symptoms or make me a statistic. Accordingly, I will be meeting with her on a monthly basis. At those meetings she will be analyzing the effectiveness of the monthly injections (the first month was not all that effective after all, so the dosage will have to be increased) as well as making a decision on how to treat the severe spasms I experience on a fairly regular basis. The spasms are caused by the movement of the tumor that is located at the base of the mystentery and remains inoperable. She is very concerned about the level of pain, so options will have to be explored, all the way from trying different medications to possible surgery to create a by-pass of blood vessles near the mysentery so that blood can regularly flow to other parts of the body.
How can you shape your prayers? Pray first of all that we will continue to trust in the Lord and that he will be honored in all that is done. Pray for our children and ask God to bless them with strength and patience. Pray that the cancer will indeed be slow-growing. Pray that the injections will contain just the right amount of dosage so that some nasty symptoms can be dealt with. And pray that the spasms will be brought under control. Those are the most troubling at this point. (Even as I type this note to you, the spasms are present, so I am on medication daily to alleviate the pain and the pressure.) If you can think of anything we have missed with regard to bringing the matter before God, please share it with us.
We are blessed to have you on this journey. Your friendship, concern, and prayers are deeply appreciated.
Bob and Marilyn
Related posts:
Dr. Lowery,
You asked if there “anything we have missed” about which we could pray:
I pray that you and Mrs. Lowery will be seen by your daughter and son and their families as the progenitor of a godly line, as Abraham and Sarah, that will extend into the return of The Lord Jesus. As I pray for my children and grandchildren, I join you in praying “Every Child of Every Generation: Faithful to The Lord Jesus by His grace and for His glory. Amen.”
James, my wife and I both come from families that are by-and-large not Christians. It has been our desire to start a new branch on our respective family trees, a branch that draws its life from the true vine, if I may mix metaphors! We are blessed by having children and their spouses who are deeply devoted to the Lord. We see Grace and Truth bearing fruit in the lives of our grandchildren as well. We are blessed. Your prayer: “Every child of every generation: faithful to the Lord Jesus by his grace and for his glory. Amen” is both a word of comfort and a word of challenge. May this be said about all who visit this site.
Bob,
We will continue to pray for you, Marilyn, Rachel, Brian, and the rest. Thanks for all you do for the Kingdom. I will continue to pray that your legacy will be felt at home, in the Seminary, and in the Kingdom.
Thanks for the updates
Dear Bob and Marilyn,
Van and I are praying for you, that your symptoms may ease. God is faithful, as you well know. Bob, you have been a blessing to so many people. People you are even not aware of. I have a cousin that goes to Lincoln Christian Church. He has been a Christian for many years, but not a faithful one. Alan always has known the truth, but just has not chosen to do anything about it. Well, praise God he and his wife are on the right track. Alan will call me and tell me about all the wonderful things he is learning and people he is meeting at the church. I always have to laugh cause the majority of the people he mentions are the very ones that I had as professors! When Alan mentioned you, I told him that Van and I had been students with you at LCC. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way! Alan is indeed being blessed by you and these other learned men and women. He is always asking them if they know Patty and Van Haas! He always tells me, “everyone knows you!” I just want to say that Alan took your class on Revelation, Dancing With The Lamb, at Jefferson Street. He was really blessed by it. Now I am being blessed, Bob, cause Alan has sent all the material to me. You are indeed blessed by God, Bob. May God continue to work in your life and the lives of your family members. It is such a comfort to know that we have a God that cares all about us, and will do what is best for us, no matter what that may be. WE CAN TRUST HIM. What a blessing!
I love the idea of Dancing Before The Lamb! That is what I feel like doing! You are so right! I loved what you said about Jesus. He did not slouch out of the tomb, stroll, or shuffle! He Danced!!!! I wait for the day when we
can all Dance with Jesus! God bless!
In Christian Love,
Patty and Van Haas