Good News / Hard News

Our primary prayer on my brother's behalf has been graciously answered. Jeffrey recently assured my parents that he is at peace with Christ and he wanted all his siblings to know. Thanks be to God.

The week following Christmas was an eventful one during which Jeffrey was hospitalized and received a great deal of new information.

1 - First of all, the cancer is so pervasive in both hips that the replacements they hoped would ease his pain are not an option.

2 - Because the hips cannot be replaced, they hospitalized him for 3 days to try and get his pain under control. The morphine has been replaced by Lidocaine patches, and a combination of other pain killers. Though he received substantial relief while in the hospital, the last few days at home have been tough.

3 - He "graduated" from a cane to a wheeled walker, which is his constant companion. Knowing him, he'll avoid the wheelchair as long as he possibly can.

4 - The chemo has been largely ineffective and will be discontinued in favor of a new, experimental drug whose side effects are significant, but which sometimes works where chemo has failed.

5 - For the first time since his diagnosis in late August, Jeffrey asked for a prognosis. He was told he has about 3 months of life left. Those 12 weeks have quickly dwindled to 11. Though it seems morbid, it's impossible not to count. He gave me this news on Sunday and in response to my tears, I saw him cry for the first time. It's heartbreaking. Although I think he has known his day was drawing near (based on the sentimental and lasting gifts he bought his wife and children for Christmas), there's something powerful about a definitive time-frame being set forth.

As you might expect, we are all overwhelmed at times by a full range of emotions. The sense of sadness grows as the decay of death becomes daily more visible, yet we can't help but be thankful that he has expressed his trust in Christ.

We covet your prayers.

For Jeffrey: That he would continue to bear up under severe pain; that the docs will find the right combination and dosages that will offer him some relief; that he would find increasing peace and rest rather than despair in the face of death; that he would trust the Lord for his boys' futures; that the Lord might see fit to heal him through the Tarceva or through extraordinary means.

For his wife, Dawnn: That she would have the physical, mental and emotional strength to continue her loving and faithful care of Jeff; that she would have wisdom and patience with the children.

For my parents: That they may find consolation in their deep grief; that they would be a blessing and a source of strength and comfort for Jeffrey & Dawnn; that they would hold fast to Christ and continue to champion his faithfulness as they have through various other trials.