This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made

Today is a very sad day but it is a day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Yesterday at about 3:00 p.m. Dad's heart just stopped. He fought very hard to get better but the infection was just too bad. Although my heart is saddened and I am going to miss my fishing buddy and my 42 partner very much I know that he is in a better place. Dad had a long road ahead of him with all of the chemo and radiation and I believe God spared him from something that could have been much worse down the road. Dad was a simple man and he wanted a simple funeral so we will be having graveside service at Liberty Cemetery on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. We will have visitation on Saturday from 3-8 p.m. with the family being there from 6-8. We have been so blessed by the many visits, calls, prayers, food and love that you all have given. Our journey ended up being much shorter than I had anticipated but my prayer is that it will all be for God's glory. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers for strength and comfort.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

We Choose Life

It has been a few long and rough days but I will try to fill you in with what has been happening. Monday we were very excited because it had appeared that the kidneys were starting to function however, when they did the blood test it revealed that the kidneys were still not filtering the toxin out of his body. At that point the decision was made to make the move to Scott & White in Temple. Finally after a 3 hour ambulance ride he made it about 9:00 p.m. Mom and I were already here waiting on him. When he got here he really looked worn out, it seemed to be a very hard trip for him. We went on home and arrived back Tuesday morning. He was alert and talking when we got here but seemed to really be restless and irritated (I mean who wouldn't be with all that has been going on with him). At about 10:30 a.m. Dad began to experience excruiating pain in his stomach and chest. His blood pressure and heart rate got high and they were afraid he may be having a heart attack. They ran an EKG and it did not show signs of anything going on with the heart. They decided to go ahead and put him on a ventilator just so his body could relax and not be in so much stress. Once they did his blood pressure and heart rate began to stabilize. He is still breathing on his own they just do not want him to at this point. They started him on dialysis Wednesday for 8 hours and are going to do it for 8 more hours today. We are here now and at this point there has been no change. The doctors have told us that it will be a few days before we would know if the dialysis is making a difference. We are very encouraged that it is. They said that Dad is still fighting and that is a good thing. I told him he better get well because it is time to be catching crappie. We have made a decision that we have to keep thinking positive thoughts and give the devil no place in our thoughts or our words.
Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Ephesians 4:27 nor give place to the devil.
We choose to speak life over Dad. It has been your prayers and love that have gotten us this far so please just keep it going. We are all tired, so please pray that we can keep our stamina and be patient with each other. I have my computer here now, so I should be able to keep you updated. Just keep praying that those kidneys will begin to function and get rid of all the toxins in his body.

God is Still in the Mountain Moving Business

Dad is still in ICU. The main concern at this point is still the kidneys. If there is no change by in the morning he will have to be transported to a facility where he can be put on dialysis. We are going to request that he be moved to Scott & White in Temple. The source of the problem is a bacteria that more than likely started where the feeding tube is and has gotten into his bloodstream. It is a gram negative bacteria called pseudomonas. It attacks people who are immune suppressed. This bacteria attacks the organs. So far it has not affected the lungs which is great. Please pray that the kidneys will start functioning properly. Dad seemed to be more restful today and not complaining of pain as much as yesterday. He had several visitors and seems to be in good spirits. He is getting very good care in Palestine, especially since they all know it's Bradley's PaPa. The Bible instructs us to tell our mountain to move and it will. Right now Dad's mountain is pseudomonas and we are telling to to move, it has no right to be in his body and in the name of Jesus it has to go. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, visits, thoughts and phone calls.

Matthew 17:20
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Cancer May Have Gotten In a Punch But We Are Still In the Ring

Dad had to be put in the hospital today. He was having a pretty good week----Monday he went to Palestine to take the chemo pump back and Wednesday he went to Temple to have the stitches taken out where the feeding tube is. The long trip to Temple really tired him out and on Thursday he started feeling bad and his blood pressure was really low. He had a rough night Thursday night so I took him to Palestine Regional Emergency Room first thing this morning. He was severely dehydrated and in alot of pain. He was admitted into ICU this afternoon. His blood pressure was beginning to get stable and they are giving him fluids and antibiotics. His white blood count is really low and they were concerned about his kidneys not working properly but feel like that is mostly due to the dehydration. Cancer may have got a punch in but we will not give in and by the power and grace of God we will win the battle and we will get the Victory. I will be going back first thing in the morning to check on Dad and will give a status tommorrow afternoon. Please pray that everything will return to normal.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

First Round Almost Down

Sorry I have not updated the blog but we just returned home this morning from visiting Jordan in the Middle East. We surprised her for Mother's Day and we had a great time. The patient is doing extremely well. I missed out on everything, the surgery and the first week of chemo. His surgery was last Friday morning and Mom did just fine driving him home from Temple. He is still sore where they put the feeding tube in, but it is healing up. He had his first in-office treatment on Wednesday and came home with a pump that has been administering medicine on a daily basis. He will return the pump on Monday. He will get 2 weeks off and then get another round. Glory be to God that he has not been sick which has been an answer to prayer. Thank God for the promise that He will always be with us and thank God for prayer warriors who believe in the healing power.

1 Chronicles 28:20
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

God Is Still In The Healing Business

Dad met with the General Surgeon today that will be doing his surgery Friday to insert the medi-port and the feeding tube. He really liked him alot. Chemo should start on Monday (5/11). 2 chemo drugs will be given to him through the medi-port in the treatment room at the clinic and then he will come home with a pump that will administer a third chemo drug throughout the week. He will then get 2 weeks off and repeat the process again. He will do this 3 times. He will more than likely start radiation treatments immediately after he finishes the 3 rounds of chemo which will be about 9 weeks. He will take radiation treatments for 5 days a week and on one of those days he will have chemo and radiation. He will do this about 6 or 7 weeks. Once all the treatments are finished he will be scanned to see if all the cancer is gone. If not then he will probably have surgery to remove the lymph nodes. We know that we are in for a long haul but Dad is very optimistic and has a positive outlook. We believe that God's name is above cancer and that He is still in the healing business and that is what we are believing for - total healing.

Matthew 4:23
[ Jesus Heals a Great Multitude ] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Perserverance Pays Off

Dad continued to be persistent with the VA and they moved his appointment up. He saw a General Surgeon from Scott & White today at the VA hospital in Temple. This doctor could not do Dad's surgery until sometime in June but he has referred him to Dr. Smith who can perform the surgery on Friday, May 8th. This will probably mean that he will be able to start his chemo Monday the 11th. Dad is ready to get started. I think he will feel better about everything once he feels like something is being done about it. When we put things in God's hands, He will work it out. Please continue to keep Dad in your prayers for total healing, his medical team for wisdom, and mom and the rest of us for perseverance. We know God is in control and everything be unto His glory!!!!

James 5:11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.