Sing your Praise to the Lord!

Hi! Remember that hope I had talked about in my last blog....how I was HOPING for a good year with some good news? Well, ten days into the first year, we received some great news! Chemo was today (January 10). As usual, blood was drawn for labs and then we met with our Nurse Practioner and then Doctor. Our NP did the initial exam. She simply said "Wow.....I don't feel anything." A minute later, the Dr. walked in. Her opinion is the one that really counts. She did the exam and also exclaimed "Wow." She continued the exam and again said "Wow!" She then said "Cindy....there is no longer a measurable mass. I don't feel anything!!" Three weeks ago, we were told the tumor was at 6x6 cm. I was HOPING for a 4x4 and would have been THRILLED with a 4x4....more than half-way with still half the chemo treatments left to go. But....GONE? Inconceivable!! I looked back and forth at both of them.....our NP gave me a hug, the Dr. said "Happy New Year!" and I burst into tears of happiness!! The Dr. explained there still could be cancer cells that she can't feel and the pathology report will tell us more at surgery. (But, we still have two more chemo sessions to hopefully get all those cells!) She told us not all people respond this well and this is the best outcome we could hope for. Hey...there's that word again.....HOPE!!! We were given a wonderful gift of hope! As we waited the next hour to be called for chemo, the phrase "no longer a measurable mass" kept running through my head and I couldn't stop the tears of joy and prayers of thanksgiving! What an incredible answer to prayer!! We can't begin to thank everyone for the way you are lifting us up through all of this!

As you can imagine, chemo went well! Dave was my last-minute chemo buddy because Dad and Mom Van Kampen were planning to take me this time. However we received a phone call about 8:00 pm Wednesday night that Mom had slipped and had a really bad sprain and possible break of her ankle and they were heading to the hospital. When I talked to Dad again later that night, they had cast her foot. Please pray for her that the ankle will heal properly and the pain to be manageable. Anyways, they were yet another hope for me to win at cards. Instead, I was "stuck" (love ya, honey!) with my ruthless husband who yes, beat me again in both games. But, like I told him....it's okay.....I'd much rather win the battle of cancer than win at cards!!

Prayer requests...that's pretty easy this time....THANK YOU, LORD!! Also, again for the side effects to be okay the next few days. My most annoying issue continues to be a gland/throat/mouth problem that lasts about a week. They are trying something that may help...please pray it will give me some relief.

I'd like to end with the passage Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

In HIS Strength,


A very happy Cindy and the VK's