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