Thursday evening, July 31

We’re home. We spent last night at the home-care’s inpatient facility, and they were able to install a PICC line. This is a semi-permanent line installed in his upper arm for easy access for IV’s, etc. So, he's getting IV fluids now at home. It can also be used for medications and such.

He's feeling better with the hydration, but has been a little nauseated since we've been home.

We cannot adequately express our thanks for the way you are taking care of us. It's a beautiful picture of how the Body of Christ functions as a loving family. God is using our brothers and sisters in Christ to carry us through this with amazing love and generosity. We're so thankful.

Please continue to be in prayer for the treatments we'll start Monday in Houston. We leave Sunday.

We continue to rest in His loving, sovereign arms.

Wednesday, July 30. 3:30PM

Well, I think Steve's fairly de-hydrated, and the home-care recommends we check into their inpatient facility for IV fluids. So, we're heading there now. Don't know how long we'll be there. Hopefully just for tonight.

Wanted to let everyone know so you'll know how to pray.

More soon...

Tuesday, July 29 - Please Pray.

We've been rather discouraged the last few days with the way Steve's feeling. He's not able to eat, and getting very weak. It's been made clear to us that we need to be more aggressive with our treatments. The detox and other things aren't going to work quickly enough for this fast-moving type of cancer.

We asked this morning for discernment, and we've now made an appointment with an alternative clinic in Houston. We have to get all our medical records today, and we can begin treatments on Monday in Houston. Looks like we'll be there for about two weeks.

Please pray that the details of gathering all these records will be smooth and fast. Please pray for Steve's comfort between now and Monday. And, that the Lord will use this treatment to miraculously heal Steve. I feel very hopeful. Steve said he feels too bad right now to feel hopeful.

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1

Monday, July 28

Another day of nausea. He's not been able to eat anything solid. He just now took an anti-nausea med, and is sleeping. We're thinking that it's part of the detox he's going through because of these alternative treatments. We've slowed that down, though. Mainly because he keeps losing whatever he swallows. Please pray he'll be able to eat. He needs strength.

We serve a mighty God. We're praying for a miracle.

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness." Psalm 41:1-3

Sunday, July 27

It wasn't such a good night, or morning so far. Steve's pain is intense, and he's nauseated. About 4 this morning, he took an extra pain pill. That helped some with the pain for a while. But, he hates taking so much medication. If he tries to read or have a conversation, he zombies out, or gets sleepy. He hates that. It's very frustrating.

Please join me in praying for his comfort, but also for him mentally. It is so hard to not be able to concentrate on the things that usually bring him joy.

Pray, pray, pray for him.

Mission Field?

Six or seven years ago, we went on our first mission trip together. It changed us forever. Steve's been to China, and together, we've been to Mexico and Cairo multiple times. Four years ago, we moved into a little-bitty house in anticipation that the Lord was going to put us on a foreign mission field. We didn't want to be tied to material things, so that when God said, "Go", we'd be ready. One of our favorite verses is Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" "

And we have prayed and prayed for Him to send us.

It dawned on us just a few days ago that cancer is now our mission field. There will be others that we can "comfort in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (II Corinthians 1:4). We certainly wouldn't have picked this one. If we're honest, I think we wanted something "glorious."

So, when the mission field is ugly and painful and full of question marks, do we still say, "Here we are. Send us!"? I'm sure there will be days when we scream "NO!!". But in our heart-of-hearts, we say, "Yes. You're the Potter." We don't like it, but we trust Him.

from "Streams in the Desert"

I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see -
Better in darkness just to feel Your hand,
And follow Thee.

Friday night, July 25

Apparently, the detox has begun. Steve's feeling some different types of pain, and he's very tired. Please pray that he'll be able to sleep well tonight. As we've said, we are very hopeful. Maybe for next year's wedding anniversary we'll be on an Alaskan cruise, cancer-free.

The day before we went in for the endoscope (was that 100 years ago, or just a week?), the Lord seemed to be leading me to look at only five minutes at a time. When I try to look too far ahead, I become fearful. I become fearful that I'll lose Steve. I am so blessed to be his wife. How many times have I taken this blessing for granted?

It can easily become a downward spiral if we don't fix our eyes on the Lord, and stay in this very moment. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18)

Lord, increase our faith, so we can hold on in the storm, trusting You and Your ways. Please heal Steve and give us many more years here together. Yet, not my will, but Yours be done.

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

Thursday night, July 24

Steve had a fairly good day today. We got some helpful advise about keeping that pain med on schedule whether he thinks he needs it or not. That seems to be working better for him.

Some friends who have come by comment about how good he looks. When the pain is under control, he does look pretty good. Thinner, weaker, but still his cheerful, smiling self. Of course, they haven't seen him without the meds. That's a different story.

Home-care delivered the wheelchair today. Andy's having fun with that. We're a little concerned about our toes being run over as he does wheelies in the living room. He is such a joy to have around.

I realized this morning that the shock is starting to wear off. And, I realized that this is our new life. Living with and fighting cancer. It's not going away until the Lord heals him. Medicine charts, visiting nurses, lots of veggies, and the myriad of other things.

Last Monday, our life was going a certain direction. And, in a matter of a few tests, and a few conversations with doctors, our life has changed forever. We turned a corner we weren't anticipating. It wasn't a surprise to God, though.

There is such a peace in knowing that this world is not our home. Our treasures are in heaven. Because the control we think we have over our lives is just an illusion. Nothing brings more peace than knowing the God Who is in control. And knowing that He is good. And knowing that His ways, which are higher than ours, are best.

Please keep praying that we will be faithful to this calling, even as the weeks will turn into months. As Rick said on the phone this morning, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

"...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Wednesday night, July 23

It's been quite a day. This morning, the home-care nurse came to explain what they do. That was difficult. All the pictures in their brochures are of old people. Steve's 41. I felt like I was listening to her from outside of my body somewhere.

Practically speaking, though, they will provide some very helpful services until the time that Steve is healed (however God chooses to do that). Tomorrow, they will be bringing a wheelchair. That'll be useful if he's up to going to church, or an outing. He gets tired so easily. Just taking a shower wears him out.

This afternoon, Steve's pain was very bad. I think we waited too long between pain meds. Once that kicked in, he did better.

We are very hopeful about some of the alternative things we're doing. Steve's uncle is a Doctor of Eastern Medicine, and is putting lots of time into designing Steve's treatment plan. His parents are sifting through the abundance of information and spending all their time researching.

But our real hope is in the Lord.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2

Wednesday, July 23

We had a powerful time of prayer last night. And, we're anticipating miracles.

Several people have said things about us being strong through this. Please know that in ourselves, we are so weak. Any strength or faith we have is a gracious gift of God, because of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, please don't say, "Steve and Sheri are strong", unless you follow it with, "And isn't God GOOD to give them that strength!"

Tuesday, 5:45 PM

We continue to be amazed at how the body of Christ is responding to us with so much love. Give Him all the glory. We are blessed.

Look what else God has done - two of the pastors from Egypt "just happened" to be in town this week for something. They are coming to our house this evening to pray over Steve. Wow.

Our visits with Kenny are so encouraging. We just can't praise God enough for all He's doing in this. Yes, we're weary and shell-shocked. No, we don't like this; we HATE the cancer. But, we see God's hand moving all around us.

Pray that tonight, as the pastors pray over Steve, that God would graciously, miraculously HEAL.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Monday evening - home

It feels good to be home. We got here around 1. The peace and quiet is nice. Just letting everything soak in. Grieving. Praying. Crying. Laughing. Being together.
More later.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Monday morning, July 21

Well, looks like we'll be going home this morning. Steve slept fairly well, but woke up at 5 with pain. We seem to have the right meds for that, though.

To be real honest, we’re both a little nervous about going home. I’m concerned about managing pain. They have referred us to hospice care (I HATE that word, so will refer to it as home-care from now on). Anyway, the home-care will be available 24/7 to come to the house and help with that. I think the nervous part is that we know we have a battle ahead, and don’t know exactly what to expect.

Praise! Our precious Kenny Marchetti is flying in from New York to see Steve today. That’s a huge encouragement to us. We look forward to praying and talking with him.

We’re also encouraged by some of the alternative methods we’re learning about. Some of which we’ll be able to get started as soon as we get home today.

Please continue to lift us up. Pray that we’ll adjust well to being home, and be able to manage the pain. Pray also for healing (God CAN do that!), and for Charlie and Andy. Pray that we’ll be faithful to this calling.

Thanks for all the calls, visits, emails, and texts. Sorry that we can’t reply to all, but each one is an encouragement. I’m hoping that Steve will rest well at home. So, as much as we love to see everyone, please call first to make sure Steve’s up to a visit.

We rest in God’s sovereignty, and know He is good.

Sunday Morning, July 20

Steve had a pretty good night. It looks like we've found the right pain medicine to keep him comfortable. He got a relatively good night's sleep. The meds are making him very dizzy, though, and he's sleeping now.

We were SO encouraged to hear the report about the prayer meeting yesterday. Sounds like it was very God-centered. Praise Him! We are also encouraged about some of the alternative methods being researched.

Steve had some dreams last night that left him with the impression the Enemy has a big target on him. I don't just mean the cancer. It's because of the good things that are happening around us because of his cancer. So, as you pray, please remember to lift us up against the spiritual attacks that are eminent.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) Please pray for us to be fully armored.

Praise Him from Whom all blessings flow!

"Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
II Corinthians 1:9-11

Saturday, July 19

Thanks for tuning in to our new blog. Thought this might be easier than all the emails. We'll try to update it regularly.

For those who have just heard our news, I'll start at the very beginning. So, this one will be long. For the past 4 months or so, Steve's been having a lot of stomach pains. He'd get full quickly when eating, and was losing weight (without trying). The pains were worse at night, and he wasn't able to sleep much.

Let me go back just a little further. When Steve was 10, he got ulcerative colitis, and he suffered with that until he was 30. He was encouraged by the Doctors to get his colon removed, but didn't want to do that. He was single at the time, and just couldn't imagine living with an illiostomy. At the age of 30, he felt that the Lord was telling him that He had work for him to do, but he couldn't do it being sick all the time. So, in obedience, he had the surgery. Because of the "pre-existing condition", we've been unable to get health insurance for him.

Fast forward again to now. In late June, the pains were bad enough to go to a clinic, which prescribed antacids for probable acid reflux. No relief from the pain, in fact it got worse. He couldn't eat at all, and was getting no sleep. Saturday morning, July 5 at about 4:30 am, I took him to Parkland ER. (Some interesting people-watching stories there. But I digress...) Saturday night they sent us home, and that night he began vomiting. We went back to Parkland ER early Sunday morning, and were admitted about 24 hours later (on our wedding anniversary). There we stayed until Tuesday night, and again, the diagnosis was acid reflux.

The pains continued to get worse. By this time he'd lost over 40 pounds. Thursday the 10th, he decided to contact a Dr. from our church. Just as he was sending an email to Dr. Rodriguez, Rick Burge (a pastor from our church) called and said he had contacted Dr. Rodriguez to see if he could see Steve soon. God seemed to be speaking to them both at the same time. Dr. Rodriguez graciously saw Steve that same day. After that exam, he scheduled an endoscope for the following Tuesday, July 15.

Steve had a pretty miserable weekend (understatement), and just hung in there until Tuesday. By this time, he'd been without eating for about 2 weeks, and was very weak. The endoscopy showed 3 significant ulcers as well as a growth on his lower esophagus. They biopsied all four areas, and sent us to Baylor for admittance, and for a CT scan.

Wednesday, July 16. Dr. Rodriguez had to give us the news that the biopsy showed malignancy, and the CT scan showed that it was also in his lymph system and possibly spine. A total shock. He called an oncologist to meet with us the following day.

Thursday was a day of waiting for the oncologist to come, and letting the news sink in. He came in the early evening, confirmed what Dr. Rodriguez had said, and told us we'd be having a bone scan the next day.

Friday - bone scan around noon. Just a few hours later, the oncologist came with the results. The cancer has metastasized to the spine, pelvis, ribs and femurs. Technically speaking, what Steve has is in-operable, Stage 4 cancer. He said we could start chemo right away, but admitted that it would only extend our time by a few months. It wouldn't cure it. We've decided against that. We're researching alternative treatments.

Steve's comment at this point was, "Wow, being that it's incurable, God's going to get all the more glory through this."

I think that brings us up to today. Our precious friends at church are having a prayer meeting for Steve at 5:00 today. If I wasn't so sleepy, I'd tell you about all the incredible things they've done... but it's too many to even say. More on that in another day's post.

We are surrounded by a loving group of family and friends. Right now, we feel like we could ask for anything, and someone would swim through shark-infested waters to get it for us. This is the way the Body of Christ is supposed to function. We are the blessed recipients of all this love. Jesus said, "They will know you are my disciples if you love one another." May He bless each and every one of you for being obedient to that.

This is the letter Steve wrote to be read at the prayer meeting this afternoon:

The strongest desire that Sheri and I have had for quite a while, is for not only our lives, but the lives of the entire Church be totally God-centered. We know that a life that is totally centered on God is one that will be used to bring Him glory, and there is no greater purpose in life than to bring God glory.

We have been given this opportunity to help us calibrate our lives. And from the outpouring of love and generosity from our brothers and sisters in Christ, it appears that He is not just limiting this growth to us. We have a tremendous desire for every member of the Body to have a totally God-centered life and a vision of what great things God can do with a church that is full of God-centered people.

We are humbled that you are gathering to pray for us, just as we have been humbled with all the love, prayers and financial help we’ve received. Jesus said that “They will know you are My disciples if you love one another.” The Body of Christ is Alive and Well, and pouring that God-given love on us. Give Him all the glory for that.

Rest assured that our faith is strong, by His grace. And we know that God’s mighty hand is carrying us along this journey. Please pray that we will remain faithful throughout this trial. We have a battle ahead. The Word is sustaining us.

“Thank you” is inadequate. Forgive us for not replying to all the emails and messages, but we are reading them all, and are encouraged by them. We will be joining you in prayer and worship from where we are. May His perfect will be done.


“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
II Corinthians 4: 16-18