Update from July 9, 2019
Proverbs 25:25 says, “Good news from far away is like cold water to a thirsty soul.” That perfectly describes Ken and me today.
We were prepared to gladly take whatever from the hand of God, even if it were from his left hand. But the Lord was gracious and heard the desire of our hearts – last Friday’s PET scan shows that my second tumor that was removed last November… did not metastasize! Given the aggressive nature of that reoccurring cancer, this news is quite miraculous.
So, THANK you for lifting us up before the Lord Jesus. For now, we have been spared of more cancer battles. We humbly realize that may well change in the future; but for today, for now, we are rejoicing in those wonderful words from my medical oncologist: “all clear!” Onward and upward…
Update April 23, 2019
Recently Ken and Joni asked for all of us to be pray for her bout with cancer again. This was her second go around and at first things looked very serious and gloomy for her. We rejoice with her, Ken, and all the good folks at Joni and Friends as she has finished all her treatments. Further, the hospital released her where they were doing some additional work with her lungs. What great news to celebrate together of God’s kindness to her and to all of us that enjoy her ministry to us.
Below you will find her most recent post from Facebook as well as a few key links from her health update. Initially I passed the information along and asked you to pray for her. Thank you friends for your ministry in prayer.
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Here is the most recent Facebook update.
Today was my first full day back at the headquarters of Joni and Friends, and I loved the chance to get back to…
Posted by Joni Eareckson Tada on Tuesday, April 23, 2019
“My Lungs Are Okay”
In addition to that sweet note from her, she also shared the following 4 minute update on her lungs.
Here is part of the written transcript:
You know that I’ve shared with you about my battle against this reoccurring cancer, and it has not been easy: surgery on that second tumor, anti-cancer drugs, awful side effects, and then 35 rounds of radiation on my fragile lungs. I confess I was worried, and more than a little anxious. It, it wasn’t that I didn’t trust God for allowing my cancer to come back;I just didn’t get the part about 35 sessions of radiation!I mean lungs are a fragile part of everyone’s body.I looked it up and together, (get this)the lungs contain almost 1,500 miles of airways which, if all that tissue ware laid flat, it’d be the same as half a tennis court.The lungs contain nearly 500 million little alveoli – alveoli are those tiny little air sacs through which, when you inhale, oxygen passes into the blood.And radiation, I learned, can damage those fragile air sacs, causing them to slightly thicken which, in turn, prevents the exchange of oxygen so that you can exhale all the bad stuff.I thought for sure my breathing would weaken, my lungs would be damaged, my days of, well, frankly even speaking to you over this station, I was afraid,it’d be finished.But last month when I completed that last round of radiation, honestly, it felt like my resurrection!
All had been doubtful up until that last session under the x-ray machine. But when the radiologist saw my final scans, smiling and giving me the double thumbs-up, I took it to mean that my lungs did not suffer undue damage. And that was a breath of fresh air.
For any additional cancer updates and to read her past story, you can check it out here.
May God Receive the Glory
Joni, Ken, and her organization Joni and Friends serves individuals with disabilities all over the world. Their mission states, “Joni and Friends is committed to bringing the Gospel and practical assistance to those impacted by disability around the globe.” They go on to describe their ministry in this way, “For the past 40 years, it has been our mission to present the hope of the Gospel to people affected by disability and their families through our programs and outreaches around the world. We energize the church, moving people from lack of awareness to including everyone into the fabric of worship, fellowship, and outreach. We also train and mentor people with disability to exercise their gifts of leadership and service in their churches and communities.”
Today, we praise God for what has been done over the past forty years and what continues to be done through their efforts today. We further rejoice in their commitment to biblical counseling. Many have been working diligently on a new disability-themed LifeLine Mini-Books series by Shepherd Press. The first two have recently become available. If you serve those with disabilities or know of someone who could be helped by them, I recommend both to you.
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