...for in You I take refuge

 We weren't planning on going to the hospital today.  The laundry had piled up, the house needed straightening, we had schoolwork to catch up on...and we got to most of that.  Then Mom called me with the preliminary pathology report...and when Doug got home from work, we went to Lancaster.

Dr. Reddy came into Dad's room this afternoon and his first question to Mom was, "Are your daughters here?".  She knew then that the news he was about to share with them was not going to be good news.

My dear, sweet Dad does not have lymphoma...nor does he have multiple myeloma.  Some form of carcinoma has invaded our lives.  We're not sure exactly what type of carcinoma it is yet...Dr. Reddy is unfamiliar with it and didn't want to speculate as he didn't want us to Google it and upset ourselves further until he has the actual biopsy results and has sent them for a second opinion.  He told Mom that he's been doing tons of research and that all of his associates are aware of Dad's "case" and are doing the same.  All that we have been told at this point is that the treatment options are very limited and the prognosis is usually not good.  He will more than likely be sending Dad to either U of Penn or Johns Hopkins but we don't know anything for sure yet.  We are so thankful that God knows everything.

While all of this uncertainty is unsettling, we all know that God knows exactly what is going on...in fact, He planned it all.  He knows what the best treatment is, where to go for it, what Dr.'s we should see...  He will direct our paths...and He will never leave our side.

Two important things will take place tomorrow:

1/     At 10am, Dad, Mom, Melissa, Lura & I will meet with Dr. Reddy and he will give us more information and answer any questions that we have. 

2/     Dad will have surgery to implant a titanium rod the whole length of his femur bone on his right leg.  He is anticipating being in excrutiating pain (as he was after his spinal surgery in October).  The doctor said that the pain will not be nearly as bad.  He'll have 2 relatively small incisions and will have a morphine pump to use as he needs it.  Since Dad is an "add-on" for surgery, we do not know what time it will be but I will post a quick update with the time as soon as I know when it is.

On another note, Dr. Kager (Dad's neurosurgeon) told Dad yesterday that the tumor in his brain is in an area that they simply cannot get to.  Today, Dr. Reddy spoke with Dr. Kager and they believe that the tumor on Dad's brainstem is not the same cancer that is showing up elsewhere.  The brain tumor is thought to be a glioma which is a very slow growing type of tumor that at this point, they are not going to worry about.

As you can imagine, we are all in a bit of a state of shock.  2 weeks ago, we thought maybe Dad had had a mild stroke.  Now this.  But God has been so gracious and merciful to us through all of this.  Dad's femur is breaking apart and he does not have any pain.  His mind is clear, there is not one bit of confusion.  He is happy and not anxious.  None of this could happen apart from God.  The peace of God that passes understanding is ours for the asking...He will take away our fears, our anxieties, our sadness, and wipe every tear from our eyes.  What a blessing to have a God who loves us that much and a sweet Savior who was willing to die on a bloody cross so that we could have that relationship with His Father.

Thank you for your prayers, your love, your encouragement, your visits, your offers of help...  Thank you for your blog comments & emails.  Don't think that if I don't respond, I didn't get it.  I've gotten so many and time gets away from me.  I treasure each one and am keeping them all for Dad to read. 

^{Psalm 16
1} Keep me safe, my God,
   for in you I take refuge.
 ² I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
   apart from you I have no good thing.”
³ I say of the holy people who are in the land,
   “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
⁴ Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
   I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
   or take up their names on my lips.
 ⁵ LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
   you make my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
   even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
   nor will you let your faithful^[b] one see decay.
¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.