The Dreaded "C-" Word

Cancer.
It's a one-word sentence. It evokes some of our greatest fears. We fear because of what we know about cancer and its effects. We fear even more because of what we don't know about it. We heard the "c-" word today.

Marcia (left), José Carlos´s wife, has been to various doctors over the past year or so. Thyroid problems, for one thing. Then she developed other problems: extreme tiredness (possibly due to the thyroid problem)and an itch that she couldn't get rid of. Allergic reaction to medication was suggested as a possibility; tests showed she has a reaction to the chemicals in the hair dye she was using. But changes in medication, and giving up the hair dye didn't seem to help the itch much.

Last week, she noticed a lump on the lower left side of her neck. When the doctor saw the initial blood test results, she told Marcia to be at the hospital Monday morning. Marcia went prepared to stay, as she told the doctor she didn't want to leave the hospital until they found out the cause of her itch. More tests, blood, urine...today a biopsy and an immediate diagnosis: the "c-" word --- cancer in the blood.

At the moment there are more unknowns than knowns. What she has been told already is that next week she will start chemotherapy. An oncologist will be coming to Funchal this weekend to determine the exact nature of the cancer and the dosage of the treatment. We are all in a state of shock, of course. José Carlos says he starts thinking and then realizes he doesn´t want to think any more. Too many fears loom on the horizon.

At the beginning of the year, I felt the Lord leading me to take on José Carlos as a "special project" to pray for and work with. He is the member most capable of helping in the teaching ministry of the church; his spiritual insight has been very valuable to me. As an architect, he designed our new church building, which all who see praise for its beauty and marvelous use of space. I believe God has a place for him in the building of the spiritual house, too. The other day I told him God brought to my mind Christ's words to Peter, when He warned the apostle of the testing he was to go through, after which he was "to strengthen the brethren." I told José Carlos that I sensed he would be going through a time of testing and that Satan would try to sift him as wheat, "but I'm praying for you," I said. That was before the "c-" word was pronounced. How much more earnestly he and Marcia need our prayers now!


Report on baby Raquel

Roberto and Militina, another key couple who are pillars in the church, have been going through their own period of testing. Raquel, who was a month old this week, will have been in the hospital two weeks on Sunday. We went by the hospital today to see Mili and Raquel. Yesterday there was slight hope that the x-rays would show they could go home, but the doctors say there is still congestion in Raquel's upper right lung, and are still not talking about a possible date for her release. Because Mili has to stay in the hospital with the baby, Roberto is left to take care of Nataniel, their 3-yr. old son, while working full time at his regular job. Roberto is almost to the end of his rope, too. He is physically and emotionally stretched to the limit. Another family to pray for.

Jackie's health

Jackie and Jaime are the third couple in the church who are pillars, and they, too, have been going through severe testing. Part of that is Jackie's health problem, and for those of you who have been following her case, there is nothing more to report. There was some talk of going to Lisbon for tests to rule out or confirm Gaucher's disease, a very rare condition that has been suggested as a possible cause of her problems. She has good days and bad...and the last few days have been bad. Another family to pray for.

And pray for us, of course. Abbie, too, has had more pains recently, making her wonder if it's her heart (arrhythmia acting up), blood pressure (which seems to be under control), or her gall bladder. I know that Isaiah 43 was directed specifically to Israel, but verses 1 and 2 are especially comforting right now, "...when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee...when thou walkest through the fire..."