WE HAVE A DATE!!! On Wednesday, I received a call that asked if it would be possible to schedule my first stem cell infusion for October 18th, at 2:00! The calendar has been filled in and we are ready to take another step in this adventure. We have a Bible study at church that Tuesday night, but I will try to post something as soon as I can.
I think it is very appropriate that October 18th is the date for the first round. My brother was born on October 18th and his favorite number was 18. Terry had juvenile diabetes. When he was 38, he had a massive heart attack and died at the job site. Since he is with Jesus, every day gets to be his favorite now. That makes this October 18th an even more special day of hoping, rejoicing, and remembering.
I think it is very appropriate that October 18th is the date for the first round. My brother was born on October 18th and his favorite number was 18. Terry had juvenile diabetes. When he was 38, he had a massive heart attack and died at the job site. Since he is with Jesus, every day gets to be his favorite now. That makes this October 18th an even more special day of hoping, rejoicing, and remembering.
I will have two additional infusions in the coming weeks. They will be performed in the doctor’s office through an IV. We’ll know more, after this first one, about timing, procedure, and protocol.
Once again, there are no guarantees, but there is hope that this procedure will help make a difference for my health. My prayer is that God will use this procedure, the doctors, lab technicians, and me to bring glory to Himself and offer hope for healing to others who need it, too.
Even though I knew what I wanted to write for the blog this week, I didn’t have a scripture in mind. Friday morning, some of the scriptures I read, from The Message paraphrase, were in Isaiah 38. These verses are when Hezekiah, king of Judah, asked God to heal him and lengthen his life. God’s confirming sign, that he would do what he promised, was to reverse the shadow ten notches on the dial. Hezekiah wrote these words after recovering from his sickness.
Isaiah 38:16-19 The Message
16-19O Master, these are the conditions in which people live,
and yes, in these very conditions my spirit is still alive—
fully recovered with a fresh infusion of life!
It seems it was good for me
to go through all those troubles.
Throughout them all you held tight to my lifeline.
You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing.
But my sins you let go of,
threw them over your shoulder—good riddance!
The dead don't thank you,
and choirs don't sing praises from the morgue.
Those buried six feet under
don't witness to your faithful ways.
It's the living—live men, live women—who thank you,
just as I'm doing right now.
Parents give their children
full reports on your faithful ways.
and yes, in these very conditions my spirit is still alive—
fully recovered with a fresh infusion of life!
It seems it was good for me
to go through all those troubles.
Throughout them all you held tight to my lifeline.
You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing.
But my sins you let go of,
threw them over your shoulder—good riddance!
The dead don't thank you,
and choirs don't sing praises from the morgue.
Those buried six feet under
don't witness to your faithful ways.
It's the living—live men, live women—who thank you,
just as I'm doing right now.
Parents give their children
full reports on your faithful ways.
And our children have been given full reports of God’s continued faithfulness.
Excited for you and praying it goes well. I'll be in Dallas that day and will remember to pray.
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