Two more days!

Lydia, Connor, Sam, and I are getting excited, and I'm sure Deb and Biz are getting itchy feet. After today's treatment (which may have already happened) there are just two cycles left: Wednesday and Thursday. I don't think they'll be disappointed to leave the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, though as Deb and Biz say goodbye, it will be with much gratitude in our hearts. The Lord has carried us, and especially Biz, through these days and he has used some great people and competent medical professionals in Houston along the way. Although this won't be "the end" of medical attention to address Biz's cancer and the side effects of her treatment, we have (Lord willing) jumped the major hurdle.
On Friday, the girls will say goodbye to the Pogues, and fly home. The Pogues' sacrifice on our behalf is well-noted, and our gratitude could not be greater--imagine having your life disrupted by a second family under your roof. I've always been told that fish and visitors stink after three days (a view which I find disconcertingly inhospitable...), but after two months anyone should be "sainted" or "knighted" or some similar thing.
Deb and Biz will touch down at 3:06pm. The kids and I will meet them at the airport and (imagine this) come straight home. We hope to bring them back to a warm, clean, comfortable home--the one they remember. There have been points over the last two months when Deb would not have recognized the place, but with a little attention over the next couple days we should pass muster. I know that Deb wouldn't care or complain, she'll just be glad to be home. But after all she's had on her plate for the last couple of months (along with an increased appreciation on my part for all that she does), I hope to make the transition an easy one. We'll call it the "Love Language" of house cleaning.
For Biz, the transition will be from "only child" to daughter with siblings. That's where life will become normal again--for all the kids--and thank God for normal.

She would dance if I asked her to dance (not that I would, the time isn't right for dancing yet:), but that should give you an idea what a better day yesturday turned out to be. I know she is still tired, but she's also seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We go home a week from today.
We are so grateful to our hosts, John and Charlsie Pogue, who have been absolutely wonderful to us. Biz has enjoyed countless games of dominoes with John, and Charlsie has spoiled her with shopping trips and visits to Starbucks. They are both extremely caring people who overwhelmingly took us into their hearts and lives. We couldn't have asked for a better stay in Houston. We'll miss them. But we still look forward, with anticipation, to going home. Only seven days to go.

I thought I (Debbie) would be better at updating you on our last few days here in Houston since I am here with Biz. To all of you who have been praying, we are extremely grateful. Yesterday and today have been pain free for Biz. The night before last she was up in the middle of the night for 2 hours because the pain was so severe. We talked to the doctor today and he said that even though pain is a hard thing to predict, it could get worse, and it would be normal if it did. That was a bummer to hear, but I know that the Lord is not subject to "normal", so I am counting on your prayers for Him to do what would be abnormal and even supernatural on Biz's behalf. As I was running this morning I wondered how much pain he has kept her from already. I guess we'll find out when we get to heaven.

Although Biz did not have any pain today, we had a struggle of a different kind tonight. She had a major meltdown over wanting to go home. She has made occasional comments all along about missing friends and not being with her brothers and sister, but tonight she just kept crying, "Why can't we go home today?" For those of you who know me very well, I am not the best comforter. And for those of you who know Biz very well, she's not much of a crier. What a combo. I wasn't sure what to say. The thoughts going through my mind came out of my mouth, though maybe they shouldn't have. I answered her with the facts of how many more treatment sessions we have and how the doctors know what is best, so we can't go home yet. Of course I walked away feeling completely inadequate. Did I say the right thing? Should I have said nothing at all? I did pray with her, and hug her. But I sure would appreciate your prayers that I would be able to provide the comfort and encouragement she needs. We are counting down the days until we are back home on the island.

The Highs and the Lows and the Lord in both

Deb, Biz, and I had a few good days together in Houston before I left them on Friday to return to the island. Since then I've been in a melancholy funk. I don't want to use the word "depressed" because of its technical denotation, but I have been sad. One reason for my sadness is that in the last few days before my departure Biz began experiencing some of the difficulty of radiation. Nothing dramatic, just redness and swelling around her eye, but as the intensity of treatment increases with each successive cycle, all human assessment would conclude that it will become even more difficult for her. I don't want Biz to struggle through this. I have even prayed that the Lord would let me feel the struggle instead of Biz. Perhaps that's the reason for the sadness--part of the struggle. It may be important for Biz to struggle and through that find strength in Christ--the Lord knows best--but I'd ask you to pray for her comfort and peace in Christ.
Another reason for sadness is the toll that this process has taken on our family. When it's all said and done, normal family life will have been disrupted for four months. In many ways this has made us stronger, in some ways it has revealed weaknesses that lay hidden, and in a few ways it has weakened us. Satan is cunning and would love to use the latter two to our harm. But as I studied for yesterday's sermon I was reminded continually:

Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

The Lord's children are precious and honored in his sight. It is clear from the surrounding context of this passage that this status is not a consequence of our merits or effort. Rather, it is because the Lord chose us and called each of us by name--not generically, as if a great call goes out to all mankind and we are free to choose him or not; but specifically, He chose certain ones for himself and his glory and establishes a relationship with them. He formed and created a distinct people for Himself, and He is even willing to sacrifice others for our rescue--even sacrificing His own Son. So our strength and perseverance is not assured by our desire, but by God's desire. We belong to the Lord, and He doesn't like others messing with his stuff. Like a tattered and dirty childhood doll, our value and protection is not the result of our inherent value, but of the value placed upon us and the love invested in us by our Owner.
There is also no abandonment in the fire and in the waters. Fire and waters are assured. The Lord does not say, "If..." He says "When..." But he says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." We're never left alone on the journey. Christ says, "I chose you, and I take very good care of my stuff." So we're not going to lose. We just may need to learn to swim a little bit. Please pray for our faith and perseverance.
For those of you who may be forgetting what Biz looks like, I've pasted a few pictures. They're somewhat dated but you'll get the point. It's a great reminder of the blessing God has given us in our daughter, and of just how much more we'd be willing to endure for her sake.

Transition

Another transition week has come. Deb will arrive in Houston on Tuesday to take over duties here and I'll return on Friday to take over at home. Deb will then stay until the end, returning home, Lord-willing, on Feb. 2. What a great day that will be!
Everything in Houston appears to be going better than expected. Treatments go on as usual, and Biz has had little to no negative side-effects from her treatment. I am surprised, however, at how many times the computers that operate the proton generators shut down/crash. With the millions and millions (billions?) of dollars that go into such a facility, you'd think it'd be more seemless--I guess a computer is the weak link in most areas. When the computers go down here it doesn't usually take very long to get everything back on line, and I guess it gives the world's I.T. guys some job security, I just didn't expect it at what seems to be the apex of modern technology. One more reason to look forward to heaven--no need for computers!

Praises and prayer needs

Wouldn't you know it--I have a cousin in Texas! And he has four horses! We hadn't seen each other for 30 years and, until my dad called to tell me that Dana lives in Caldwell, TX, about 90 miles away, I had no idea (the Lord knows everything, however, even where to place cousins). So, with the mention of horses, it was a relatively easy task to convince Biz that we should go visit Dana and his family, which we did this past weekend. It was my first opportunity to see some of the beauty of the Texas countryside. Though it's nothing like the Northwest, it has a beauty of its own (which was undoubtedly accentuated by the saddle). Dana's son, Phil, is a student at Texas A&M in their computer progamming department so we also got to spend some time messing around with a Wii and playing (very poorly) Guitar Hero. It was a fun and relaxing weekend.
On Monday we had our weekly meeting with Dr. Kornguth. He checked Biz's eye, throat, etc.--those areas that are often affected by radiation--and said that her body is responding remarkably well. Biz has no sores, blisters, redness, or other tell-tale signs of the radiation. Your prayers on her behalf have been powerful and effective.
Please continue in prayer for the rest of our family, too. Here at just beyond the mid-way point, we're all longing for some normal life. We'd do it all over again if circumstances necessitated, but we'd appreciate your prayers for our perseverence.

Happy times

The worst thing about the post-9/11 security at the airports is not the long line that you must wait in to get through the check points, nor fact that they make you remove your shoes when you get there (?!). The worst part is that when you take your wife and kids to the airport you can't walk them to the gate and see that they get away o.k. You just drop them off at the curb. So it was good to get the call from home telling me that they made it safely and according to plan. Deb and the kids arrived home to a warm house and a warm meal thanks to the loving effort of some friends, and Biz and I have begun the daily routine. I must admit that I'm not as good at this routine as Deb, but mine usually includes Starbuck's, so there are SOME advantages to having Dad take over.
We had a happy moment today as Arjun, the 6 year old boy from Seattle that I asked you to pray for, had his last treatment! He came out holding his mask, painted just like Spiderman, with a huge smile on his face. His overall cancer treatment is not finished, so you can still pray for him and his family, but he is done with radiation and experienced very little negative side-effect during the course. I have exchanged addresses with his dad and hope to see them again.
Biz's mask remains unpainted (she's a little too old, and a little too young, for that kind of nonsense). I suggested she paint it to look like me, but she didn't go for it.

Through the Bible

P.S. A short note: for the past several years I have made available to our congregation a bible reading plan developed by Dr. James Meeks that takes you through the bible in a year reading Old and New Testament on Mon.-Sat., Psalms on Sundays, and relevant Christmas and Easter passages on those days. If you would like one, I can email it to you, just send me your email address at timdanielsATcenturytel.net (replace AT with @) and I'll send it to you at my next convenience. I am not on my own computer (online) so I have to make use of wi-fi connections when they're available. For those at ICC, I'll ask Kris Brown to print it out for next week's bulletin--just read Gen. 1-14 by next Sunday and Matt. 1-5:16 to keep up.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
The boys are out swimming on a warm day in Houston, one of those beautiful days when even the breeze is warm (to think...we also considered going to Boston). I had decided to come in and get some shorts on (we had breakfast out on the patio) when I found myself sidetracked to this keyboard so that I might give another update.
Yesterday we were well fed with the Word of God. The pastor preached on John 1:1-5, 11 and did a great job. When talking about the fact that "the Word was God" he talked about the folly of many churches that try to make God "relevant" to modern people. "What do you mean by 'make God relevant'?" he said. "Our Lord never needs to be made relevant. He makes us relevant." Amen!! Without Him, we're nothing! He began his sermon, "What Do You Want From God?," with an introduction that touched on the make-up of a modern Christian bookstore, where we can see what most Christians want from God. There are loads of "self-help" books, many Christian fictions to entertain, books on marriage, finances, and health, and a very small section of bibles, most of which are oriented around the interests of readers (a bible for mothers, a bible for businessmen, a bible college students, or teen girls--let's make this relevant--even bibles designed to look like Seventeen magazine) etc. And when it comes to pure contemplation of the glory of God, the exaltation of Christ, or the understanding of His Word, there's just one small bookshelf. What do we want from God? Really made me think.
What do you want from God in 2008? I have a suggestion--The words of Paul from Philippians 3:10-11, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Be sure you desire this when you pray for it, for you do not know what a year may hold in store. I am not suggesting that God is mean or cruel, or that He will refrain from doing His work simply because we don't want it. The Lord will, however, help the hungering soul to feed upon him, and you will need to train your appetite to seek its fill at His table instead of at the trough of modern pulp.
Biz is on a temporary reprieve until Wednesday--the proton generator was shut down on Friday for maintenance. By then, Deb will have gone home (with the kids) after a month away for a two week "visit." So far there have been no side-effects, but the dosage starts low at the beginning and grows with time. Over the next 2 - 3 weeks her discomfort could grow, so please keep praying for her peace and health. We continue in prayer for you all, as well.
Happy New Year!

Back to normal...sort of.

This Christmas has had extra significance for the Daniels, for several reasons. First, we decided to incorporate the ancient English traditon of opening our presents on Boxing Day (for you pugilists, this has nothing to do with trunks, gloves, or the WBF; it is the day after Christmas, the day on which people open their boxes). Our interest was purely utilitarian, however, as Lydia, Connor, Sam, and I (Tim) were en route from Seattle to Houston on Christmas day and didn't arrive at the Pogue's until after 9:30pm. The primary reason for its significance to us was, of course, that we got to celebrate Christmas together after nearly a month apart.
I recognize that many people (I'm thinking especially of soldiers and their families) are apart for greater periods of time and miss many holidays in a row, but I thank the Lord for this blessing of His grace in our home, made possible through the generosity of a number of friends. I mentioned in church on Sunday that this has been another display of God's abundance toward His children--not only are we able to be together but, unbeknownst to us, the tickets to get us here are all round-trip, first-class! Sam is hardly visible in the middle of all that space.
Debbie looks beautiful. Elizabeth looks beautiful. There is nothing of great consequence to report about Biz's treatment--she goes, she reclines, they strap her in, they radiate, they let her out, and she returns to the lounge smiling. She doesn't even have to change into hospital gowns. These first few weeks are quite inconsistent, with several days for Christmas and several for the New Year (shceduled maintenance) without appointments. We've been assured that these gaps will not hinder effectiveness, but we really have no concern about that because we know that the Lord has factored all of this into His plan for Biz. Some change in the treatment schedule has pushed her return date back to February 2nd, however.
Right now we're just enjoying being together. We plan to see National Treasure 2, go mini-golfing, and eat out at a Tex-Mex favorite. I've spent the last couple of days going to treatments, building Star-Wars Legos, and encouraging patience in little boys whose Christmas money is burning a whole in their pockets. Deb has spent hers going to treatments, giving haircuts, and navigating for a husband with so little sense of direction that it's scary.
I guess things are back to normal...sort of.

Problem resolved

At Biz's next treatment, it seemed that anyone who is involved in her care at any level was present. The long story made short: they had used the wrong headrest. A foam rubber headrest is set into the bed before the patient lays on it, and this headrest comes in a variety of sizes and shapes depending upon how high they want your head and whether they want your chin tipped back or forward, etc. With a larger headrest its easy to see how an otherwise fine mask can suddenly become very tight. So, with the right headrest in place, yesterday's treatment went much better. The physicist then did whatever physicists do, and assured Deb and the doctor that even with the glitch, the radiation was applied to the right areas.
The rest of us are doing well. I have yet to get Lydia to school on time...it's much easier when I don't have the boys in tow. We're only late by a minute or two, but this has been a cause of some consternation. May God pour out grace upon all you single parents. Lydia is also in the middle of semester exams, so prayer for her focus and her studies would certainly be helpful. Sam tells me every day how many more days there are until Christmas--when we'll get to see Mom and Biz. Connor is helping with everything, without even being asked.

I've Got Tough Girls

Deb woke up about 2am this morning, angry. She had been feeling sadness over Biz's painful mask experience yesterday, but now she was mad because Biz, who is a stoic when it comes to pain, had been objecting all along that the mask was "uncomfortable" and no one had taken her words seriously. So this morning, after a few phone calls to other doctors and friends, Deb decided it was time to come to Biz's defense. I cannot do justice to the story, but suffice it to say that in the course of conversation Deb would not allow the doctor to use his preferred term, "discomfort," a word he tried to use at least 4 times to describe Biz's experience. Deb told him that comfort is not the issue at this point; Biz has bruises on her face and couldn't see clearly for ten minutes or more after they removed the mask. Deb assures me that she was very civil and self-controlled, but the doctor now knows that she will not be satisfied until she is satisfied that things are being done properly. She assured the doctor that Biz will endure whatever she must if he tells her she must; so because of the trust Biz is extending to him, he had better be sure that what she endures is only what is necessary and appropriate.
While I don't know anyone sweeter, I also know that my wife has no problem standing on principle and continuing to stand until the appropriate changes have been made (I guess that's why our kids are so well behaved...). But by her assessment, Deb has never had to exercise such insistence and resolve as she did today. Please pray for her strength. We want what's best for Biz--that's why we're separated by a couple months and couple thousand miles. Pray that she will advocate well for Biz even though she must do so alone. Pray that she won't be warn down if the Lord wants her to be a rock, nor that she'll become an irritant if unwarranted (this was her specific request). Pray that only appropriate changes would be made and that, if necessary, the doctor would recognize the need to start from scratch with a new mask and a new computer model. Today they plan to try a shim but, since precision is our reason for being at M.D. Anderson, "good enough" is not good enough as far as we are concerned.
We prayed together at the end of our phone call, and the Lord brought us peace--and a game plan--but often the game plan is just my own and the Lord already has it all worked out. I trust that a better report will come this evening. This may all be just a part of the Lord's answer to our prayers for Biz's protection.

A New Superhero?

Cycle one has ended and true to form (and by God's grace) Biz made it through with flying colors--this too, as so often in Biz's life, by overcoming extra adversity. Deb's post-treatment phone call brought the news, beginning with her declaration, "Once again, Biz is my new hero!" and not just because she has the mask. It turns out that her mask was too tight! After her treatment, the pressure from the mask against Biz's face had bruised her lower lip and made her unable to see clearly for ten minutes or so. The technician took one look at the waffle print all over Biz's face and said, "We need to make you a new mask." So thanks for praying. Not only did the Lord give her strength and peace, he brought the hope of a better day tomorrow--literally. Nothing is too small (or great) for the Lord?

Today is the (next) big day

Many days in the course of Biz's treatment have been "big" days, and this day is no exception. Today is the first of Biz's radiation treatments.
In all she has 28 individual "cycles," as they call them, which means 28 days of radiation treatments--5 days a week, minus a couple days for Christmas and New Year's Day. If all goes according to schedule, which I surmise is not assured, Biz's last treatment will be on January 30th. Conversations with doctors in the next few days will help us determine how close to that date we should schedule Deb and Biz's return flight.
Deb will be making the daily trek to M.D. Anderson during rush hour traffic because Biz's treatment time is 5:00pm each day. The appointment time is actually a blessing, from our perspective, as it allows Biz time each day to do her school work, plus a relatively free block of the day for Deb and Biz should they need or want to do other things. But please pray for safe and timely travel each day on the madness that Houston calls a highway.
Pray today for peace as Biz did not much appreciate having her head clamped down to the treatment bed when they made her mask. It's imperative that she remain calm and still for the duration of the cycle, and if she has any claustrophobic feelings that will make it more difficult.
"Lord Jesus, thank You for being with Elizabeth everyday--including this day. I pray that today, from the riches of Your grace, you would strengthen Biz by Your Spirit to accomplish the task before her. Please give her a sense of Your presence with her in the treatment room. I pray that You would keep her heart at rest even as You protect the healthy tissues and organs of her body during her radiation treatments. May this all work together for her good, her healing, and the honor of Your name. Amen."

Joyful suffering

One of the minor sufferings that life calls some of us to endure: my kids haven't seen their mom for eleven days and won't for another dozen. This makes life a little rough around the edges that are normally smoothed by her, and makes the table feel emptier than just one person's absence. They also miss their sister. Each of the kids brings a different personality to the family and its hard to adjust when one part is missing.
Nevertheless, I'm enjoying the concentrated time with the other three. I get to home school the boys on some days (with help from friends on other days), and review homework with Lydia in the evenings and on weekends. We're also spending available evenings together watching the memorable Christmas movies, A Christmas Story being my personal favorite. We're being supplied with excellent meals from friends and neighbors so, all things considered, the suffering is minimized.
Telephone reports from Houston have been positive. Biz has spent the last two days (except for morning appointments) working for Charlsie Pogue at her office. If any of you have had Biz working for you, you know that she excels as a helper--very conscientious and proactive. The opportunity (and the money she's making) has been a boost. It's been many days since she passed the "tired of appointments" threshold, so now she just accepts them. I once asked a young Israeli if he was taking English classes because his school required it, or because he wanted to. He said, "Oh no, I want to. If I didn't, they'd make me." Preference has no bearing upon the subject at this point.
Deb and Biz attended a little church in Houston on Sunday, Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, only about 500 people. Compared to some of the mega-churches available in the area (even some good ones) it was an intimate setting. I was able to listen to the sermons on the internet and think the pastor does a great job (biblically-centered and doctrinally-faithful, and interesting to boot). Some people in the congregation reached out to the girls and plan to have them over to make Christmas cookies. It seems that CEPC may be a good respite for the extended stay.
I'm continually asked--and I do not mind at all--if there is anything people can do to help. Aside from being terrible at delegation (and asking), I really can't think of any physical need we have. Only prayer. Thanks to the generosity of MANY, and especially to the Lord who worked in each one's heart, I have even been able to write checks as the hospital bills come due. This was one of my early prayer requests, and the Lord has provided.
Treatment begins on Monday.
Counting down the days until we're together.
Considering each trial pure joy because we see our Savior in it.

Infinite Love

Yesterday I had a revelation...God's love is infinite. You'd think that, as a pastor, I'd already have known this, but in my case it has taken tapping His reservoir of supply to recognize this. I, of course, understood it theoretically and theologically, but my theory and theology had not been tested to the point that it also became practical. The obstacle has not been the Lord's abundant supply. Those of you who have followed our journey have seen His loving response to our needs. The real obstacle has been my reluctance to accept it.
Last night during our church prayer meeting I was listening to someone pray for my daughter and I sensed that I was becoming hesitant to ask God for some things. It was as if I was afraid of reaching the limits of grace available to me, as if to say, "Boy, God sure has done a lot for us so far. I shouldn't impose upon Him any more than absolutely necessary." What a crock! I never deserved any measure of grace! It has all come as an expression of love.
Within my heart there are always remnants of an old way of life--the way of life that wants to obligate God. I had been tempted to consider God's grace just an appropriate response obligated by the severity of our need. We've all seen people respond in this way--the more severe the need, the greater the sense of obligation to meet it. Picture an infomercial about starving children in Africa and you'll understand what I mean. When you watch it you're not really compelled by love for them, but by the severity of their need and the level of guilt you may experience at your failure to help. And when you've "done your part," the obligation has been met. This is the sense of obligation that I had been inferring upon the Lord's abundant goodness. We were the starving Africans and he was the wealthy American obligated to respond to the need. And it was getting to the point where He'd done his part.
So there, in the midst of prayer, the Lord impressed upon my heart to continue seeking Him in all things and at all times, because the reservoir is limitless. He never was obligated. He only acts toward us out of His love for us. Every bit of mercy that He shows us is an expression of limitless love. The Lord gives and gives and provokes us to seek more. He does not become burdened by our constant asking, but delights in opportunities to prove that His love is without end and the riches of His grace are free flowing and liberal.
The simple fact is that we can't impose upon the Lord or obligate Him. We can, in our pride, lower our expectations of the Lord, but He will reveal His love anyway. So...pray with me and don't slacken in your requests because our need will never exceed infinite love.
A brief update: I left Debbie and Biz in Houston on Saturday to come be with the Lydia, Connor, and Sam. Deb will have to help Biz (with the Lord's enabling) through her first and early treatments on her own. Then we (me and the other kids) will travel to Houston on Christmas Day to be with them for a week and then Deb and I will swap duties. It's hard being apart, but it is for the good.

Oh...did I forget to mention...

Biz's PET Scan came back negative. That means there was no evidence of her cancer having spread to her lymph nodes (or anywhere else, for that matter). It also means that radiation will not have to be directed to anywhere beyond Biz's sinuses. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Big place

University of Texas Medical complex, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a city by comparison with the University of Washington and Children's Hospital. We park at one building, sometimes take shuttle buses to other buildings, and even take 8 passenger golf cart shuttles to different parts of buildings. This gives the feeling of being on the very cutting edge of cancer research and treatment. People we spoke with beforehand said this was the finest cancer center in the world, which I did not believe could be better than the UW, but if it isn't, it must be the largest. This is not always a positive fact because it loses its personal touch--whereas at Children's Hospital a CT Scan was an individual event, here Biz was called into a group of about 7 women (all but her in their later 40's and up), led together to a dressing room, and then led together to the diagnostic imaging center. Looking at the women's faces, it all had a vague Auschwitz feel to it. Nevertheless, they were all getting excellent care.
Today Biz is having a PET Scan. It still remains for next week to take a field of vision test, an audiology test, and one or two more physician consultations. These have become routine for us, far different from our initial experiences when all was new. But please continue to pray for the doctors to see what they need to see and to have thoughts about treatment that are guided by the Lord. Please also pray for Biz's "human interaction." She's been spending a lot of time with adults lately and has only two little dogs for playmates. She could use a friend her age.

The conclusion of the story…

A blown alternator, and a chance to spend some time with Umesh, Nayana, and Arjun, who saw our car being prepared for towing so they offered us a ride home. Remember to pray for them. Every circumstance of our lives is orchestrated by the Lord.

Please pray about this, also: during our pre-treatment appointments we’ve been told that nausea will accompany the radiation, which becomes progressively more intense. However, in talking with people undergoing treatment there is a high percentage that experiences no nausea at all. Please pray that Biz would have no illness or loss of appetite during her treatment.

A day without appointments or test, for which Biz gave thanks when we prayed at breakfast...

The Exploder

The Pogues have an extra vehicle that they have graciously allowed us to use, a Ford Explorer that Charlsie has affectionately dubbed, "The Exploder." This morning Biz and I took the Exploder to a 9:00am appointment, braving Houston's Rush Hour traffic. We were listening to a message by R.C. Sproul when, suddenly, the volume grew louder and louder until...silence. On the dash, the anti-lock brake light came on, which began to concern me but as none of this seemed to affect the operation of the vehicle I just assumed that the radio blew out and that the light was always on, I had just failed to notice. Shortly after that, Biz pointed out that the tachometer read 0-rpms. Next the clock and compass began blinking, faster and faster, until they too disappeared from the screen. By this point, the car was running roughly and the speedometer had also stopped working, but as we were by now just two intersections from the hospital we prayed, "Lord, please just help us get to the hospital." As we were pulling into the parking lot Biz said, "Wouldn't it be funny if it stopped working right here..." which is exactly what happened. When we had pulled into our parking space it stopped running. I hadn't even put my foot on the brake to stop the car when the Exploder said "I'm done." I turned the key...no response.
This is a story in process. Biz and I are now sitting in the waiting room contemplating whether to get a taxi home. I don't have the Pogue's phone number with me, so...
At least we're on time for our appointment, and the vehicle is not sitting in the middle of a city street.