Fighting and Winning by Faith

Harry served our country in the navy and the marines and has experienced war in Lebanon as a medic. However, he has never been on the frontline of a battlefield--neither have I for that matter. We don't know what it's like to experience a full frontal fight with an enemy. Or do we? For the past almost six months, we have been at war as our enemy has waged a full frontal attack against Harry's body. We know that we are fighting a spiritual battle, but even so, the trauma of what we have been going through is equivalent to being on the frontline of a physical battlefield.

Though the battle for Harry's life continues, last week as warring soldiers often do, we experienced victory. My husband woke up one morning feeling much better. After a couple of weeks of eating, he has begun to have more energy. And that same morning, I felt as if a heavy weight was lifted from the house. Everything looked brighter. I believe that God rolled back an oppressive weight that had been on our shoulders. At that moment, I lifted up my hands in praise to our God.

The following day, Harry and I went to the hospital for another chemo treatment. Harry was feeling and looking better than I have seen him look in a long time. His oncologist reported that his red blood cell count was up and he gained two pounds. The one thing that continues to plague him is pain that is caused by the tumor in his hip. Because of that, he does not walk very well.


Harry sporting his haircut

In spite of the pain, Harry is functioning better and even had me to take him to get a haircut and beard trim. He has also been able to concentrate on his books and his Bible, which he has not been able to do for several months. But the biggest victory is that we believe this new chemo is working. We noticed that the tumor that is on his collarbone has begun to change. Since his diagnosis in March, it had grown to the size of an orange. But over the past week, we have watched it reduce to the size of a lemon. We are praying, believing, and trusting that by faith this is an indication of what is going on with the other tumors in his body.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We have a long road ahead of us and the battle is still raging. But we know that because of the sacrifice you are making for us on your knees, we are experiencing victory. Please pray that he gets some relief from the pain in his hip. This prevents him from going to church, which he misses so much. Pray also that the chemo is indeed working throughout his body. The doctor has said that he will be on this treatment indefinitely. But her thinking is still that he will not improve. We want to hear the doctors use the words remission, shrunk, and even healed. By faith, we believe this will happen. Pray also that the side effects will continue to be minimal or not at all. He has some nausea but nothing like before.

We love all who are praying and supporting us. Our prayer for you is that the love that you have shown us will abound more and more and extend to its fullest development to others. That God will be to you what you have been to us, a blessing in so many ways. We know that one of your rewards in heaven will be because of the prayers you are praying for us. Thank you so very much. God bless.

Eating Again



Sunday dinner

What a blessing! For dinner today, Harry requested barbeque chicken, yellow rice with gravy, field peas, salad, and roasted yellow squash. Well, okay. The squash was my idea. The blessing is Harry is eating more, not only today, but he has done so throughout this past week.

Harry began a new chemo regiment last Wednesday. The hope is that it will finish the job of reducing or stopping the cancer. This new treatment includes 11 weeks of chemo infusion plus radiation. With the new chemo, the doctor said that Harry should not experience as many, if any, side effects. This was good news because Harry has suffered so much over the past three months from the treatments.

The first few days following the new treatment, he was a little sick, and we thought that we would face those horrible side effects anyway. But after a day or two, Harry had me cooking some of his old favorites, like stewed tomatoes and grits. (He's from the country, y'all.) And on Tuesday, he even ate a Whopper hamburger plus French fries with no problems. This has been a huge relief for me to see him eating. It's been painful to watch Harry day after day not be able to eat.

In spite of this victory, Harry has been a little disappointed, because he is dealing with pain a little more and does not have enough strength to move around the way he would like. But Harry continues to be strong in his faith and has not lost hope... me either. We both know that God is with us through this journey.


Harry and kids

Yesterday some of the youth ministry kids from our church came by for a visit. They came to pray and read some Scripture passages with Harry. They also took care of a job that I have not been able to get around to doing. They cleaned our front porch and did a very good job. Thank you, guys. May God bless you for opening your hearts to us.

As always, thank you all for your prayers and your support. We will continue to keep you posted. God bless.

Family Strong



Harry and Milo

Last Friday, Harry and I received a visit (for the second time) from his family. Harry's mom, Momma Gloria, his sisters, Wendy, Brenda, and Angie, and his nephew, Shawn, traveled from South Carolina to see their son, brother, and uncle. In tow this time was someone we had not met before--Milo. Wendy brought her dog and companion on the trip. When Milo first entered the house, he went straight to Harry who was laying on the couch. He seemed to sense that Harry was not well and did something that touched everyone's hearts. Milo jumped up on Harry, snuggled close, and then laid his head on Harry's chest. What an amazing Hallmark moment!

The family stayed with us through the Labor Day weekend and blessed Harry (and me) in ways that was so very special. Because of the faithful prayers of all of you who are following this blog, we can feel the presence of Jesus every day. But when Harry's family visits, we see Jesus in action in the things they do and the words of love that they speak.


The family

They made sure that Harry had everything he needed and gave me the gift of time, relieving me of my responsibility as Harry's caregiver for a few days. They cooked meals and cared for him like the angels they are. Wendy at his head, speaking words to strengthen him, Brenda at his feet, helping him to stay strong, Angie at his side, building his body with her wonderful cooking, Momma Gloria at his heart, sending up strong prayers, and Shawn in every corner, serving as Harry's companion and friend. They exemplified 1 Corinthians 13.

Before they left, we formed a circle and prayed for Harry. Wendy prayed a compassionate, tearful prayer of healing. Then Momma Gloria stepped forward, and when she did I could have sworn that I heard the clinking of armor (see Eph. 6:10-18). Momma Gloria boldly rebuked the enemy, quoted Scripture verses, and in strong faith asked and believed God to heal her child. She fought, like a momma bear protecting her cub, through her prayer for the son that she loves and left him covered by the blood of Jesus.

Mom and her son

Harry and I thank God for our family. They are a lesson in unconditional and sacrificial love. Their visit is only a few days, but they leave us strengthened to go another few miles on this journey of faith. Many of you have presented yourselves in the same loving ways. We appreciate you all and thank you for your continued prayers.