Sunday, August 31, 2008

Resting in Papa's Hands....

I have been re-reading The Shack over the past week, when our family was shocked with the news that my brother's wife had a brain tumor. The surgery today was long but successful ... but the prognosis is grim, at best. This kind of tumor is called an astrocytoma -- and there is no cure, because even when surgically removed, it almost always returns.

I've spent a lot of time today reading about this horrific type of cancer on the web ... and talking with Papa about how fond I know they are of my sister-in-law, my brother, and their three daughters. And even though I have been praying as aggressively as I know the surgeons went after as much of that tumor as they could reach, I have been asking that Sarayu has been wrapping her loving arms around the entire family. I have been asking that the family be acutely aware of Papa's love, Sarayu's power and Jesus's presence with each of them as they walk through this shadowy valley.

If you find the Spirit prompting you to pray for this precious family, know that you have my gratitude. In the meantime, I'm entrusting the entire situation to Papa....

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Peggy, I dare not click on that link to learn more. I can discern enough from the name that it must be pernicious and vile. Please know that I will be holding you and your brother's family in prayer.

AbiSomeone said...

...90 days at worst; maybe 3% make it to 5 years. I didn't mention that one of her brothers died of this same kind of brain tumor not too long ago.

Thank you for your prayers.

Anonymous said...

Peggy,

Be assured that I will be praying for your brother and his family. May PaPa do accomplish a miracle in this difficult time and may they know His presence, peace and protection.

Anonymous said...

I came to your blog as a result of the comment you made at Jesus Creed. I appreciated your insight and wanted so know a bit more about you. Please know that I have lifted you and your family up to God in prayer.

Blessings in Christ,
-bill
a spiritual oasis

AbiSomeone said...

Sonja and Rob and Bill, thanks so much for your prayers.

The pathology report came back as stage iv, which is the worst. The situation is especially challenging because of the location of the tumor at the cerebellum and the pons. The 75% that was in the cerebellum was successfully removed, but the 25% in the pons is untouchable.

And in addition to one of her brothers, her father also died of brain cancer. Although they say there is no genetic correlation, it sure seems beyond coincidence to me!

All this is a constant reminder to live in the moment ... each and every moment that you have!

Blessings....

Janet Woodlock said...

Oh how... awful.

My sister has (medically speaking) incurable cancer... this really shifts things from the realm of
"Of course we will all die some day" to... "Oh... I really will die".

This might sound like clutching at straws (which one sometimes resorts to when medically speaking there's so little hope) but you might want to look at Phillip Day's book "Cancer: why we're still dying to know the truth". (explores natural cancer treatment) My sister met someone the other day who (it appears) cured herself of a cancer by eating apricot kernels, of all things, so she's going to give it a go too. (You have to build up your tolerance slowly she claims... anyway...)

Thoughts and prayers with the family.

Diane said...

Hi Peggy,

My prayers too are with your brother and his family. This is certainly the time to lean into the loving trinity of The Shack ...

Take care friend!

AbiSomeone said...

Janet and Diane,

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We're just into a time of waiting, as they ponder the options for treatment.

Thank you all for joining me in prayers for God's wisdom and discernment as well as peace and assurance of the fact that God is especially fond of each one....