Thankful... Day Eleven

Today, I am thankful for all the veterans who have served in our nation's armed forces.  You are owed a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. 

 

To my own family members... "Thank you!" Dad and Grandad!

 

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I am linking up with Dawn (another Dawn!) at the Goodlife for 30 Thankful Days.  What are you thankful for?  Feel free to link up and join us or leave your answer here in a comment!

 

 

Blessed, blessed and blessed!

I am rejoicing with my family in the blessing of a good report on my grandfather. Today, he was (finally!) able to undergo surgery for lung cancer. Although the pathology did confirm lung cancer, it was confined to one, very tiny spot. So, the doctors were able to handle the surgery with just a few small incisions and only removed a little portion of that one lobe rather than the entire lobe. Grandad tolerated the surgery so well that he will not need to be in ICU but will be taken directly to a regular room. The doctors are considering him "cured" and he will not require any additional treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy! Thank you to all of you who covered Grandad and his medical staff in your prayers. God is good, and He is faithful!!!

Kat and her cheer squad competed at a national cheer competition this past weekend and placed third overall in their division. This third place win also gave them a bid to the international competitions in April. Kat's team is smaller in number than a lot of the teams but they haven't allowed that to intimidate them. In fact, they use it to their advantage by showing off just how "clean" their performance and skills can be! They will be traveling to Dallas in April to compete at the international competition. Way to go, Kat - I am so very proud of you!

Guess what? I've been blessed, too. The "other" Dawn recently hosted a giveaway in honor of her 100th post and I won! The prize for this giveaway was an super-cute pendant created by artist Cathy Walters. You can see Cathy's gorgeous work in her etsy shop. Thank you, Dawn, for hosting this giveaway - I love your heart and your blog and I'm looking forward to reading hundreds more posts!

Finally, if you notice on my left sidebar, I have a Scripture verse that updates daily. Did you notice today's verse?

He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing. (Job 8:21)

How appropriate!

Belated Birthday Gifts

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we have to wait for and I suppose that's the way it will be for me this birthday.

Grandad's surgery has been postponed... again. His kidney function is better but still not where the surgeon wants it to be and his potassium levels are still elevated. So, the doctor has ordered some changes to his medicine along with dietary changes and encouragement to drink more water.

That just gives us more time to pray for him!

A Call From Grandad and My Birthday Request

Grandad called me tonight! On his cell phone, no less. That's only the second time in my life that he has ever called me. Granny was always the one to call or I would call them. I guess with her gone, he just assumes (correctly!) that I'll continue to call him. Anyway, his call made me smile from ear to ear!

Good news and good news!

He is back at home now and the situation with his kidneys appears to be correcting itself after getting him hydrated. So, they will continue to monitor him for two weeks. If everything continues to look good, they will do the surgery on his lung on January 20th.

January 20th - my birthday!

Guess what I want for my birthday this year?

"And we are confident that [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." (I John 5:14-15)

Prayer Request: Update On Grandad (10:30 AM)

I just spoke to my parents and they said that Grandad's final blood work done in pre-op revealed that his potassium levels were elevated indicating that his kidneys are only functioning at half capacity. So, the cancer surgery has been postponed.

The surgeon has admitted Grandad to the Cleveland Clinic and plans to have a specialist evaluate what is going on with his kidneys. Grandad has had some issues before that were resolved through giving him intravenous fluids and required Grandad to be more aware of keeping himself hydrated. It is hoped that this is the situation and that his surgery on his lung can be rescheduled in a few weeks.

We believe the postponement of today's surgery was an answer to our prayers for wisdom for the physicians. So, thank you for all of you who were praying!

Please continue to pray for Grandad (Charles) with this new turn of events...

• That the situation with his kidneys will be minor and quickly resolved.
  
  
• For his peace of mind as he once again "plays the waiting game." And, for my parents who are now waiting with him.
  
  
• Compassion from the medical personnel who are in contact with Grandad.
  
  
• Continued wisdom for the physicians and medical staff who are on Grandad's team.
  
  
• Rescheduling of the lung surgery... at the right time.
  
  
• Healing.

I'll let you know as soon as I have another update.

Urgent Prayer Requests

It's been a hard year for my grandfather. We lost Granny last January. It was profoundly hard for Grandad - in one devastating event he lost his love, his partner in life and his "job" as he had cared for her during her several years of illness.

Despite the loss, Grandad has done remarkably well this past year. So much so that we were even able to convince him to allow us to purchase a plane ticket for him so that he could spend Christmas here in Texas with my family, my parents, my sister and nephew. We anticipated this holiday together for many months.

Right before Thanksgiving Grandad had some medical tests completed by his doctor and again with some outstanding physicians at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The diagnosis was both good and bad. The bad? Lung cancer. The dreaded "C" word. The good? It was caught very early and despite years of smoking when he was younger (no longer, thankfully!) and his age (85 years in December!), he is expected to make a full recovery following the removal of one lobe of his lung and shouldn't need any follow up treatments like chemo or radiation!

The doctors gave him the "all clear" to travel to Texas for Christmas. We enjoyed his time with us so much and are already talking about a return trip. Soon, we hope.

His surgery scheduled for Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Tomorrow.

Grandad caught a respiratory virus while traveling so we won't know for sure that the surgery will really happen until a final check in the morning. As of right now, though, it appears that it is a go. The surgery will take place sometime in the morning and is anticipated to last about four hours.

Unfortunately, my mom also caught the same bug. She needs to be well to help care for Grandad when he's released from the hospital.

So, here are my prayer requests:

• Wisdom for the doctors and medical staff attending Grandad. Especially for discernment regarding whether or not to proceed tomorrow.
  
  
• Concentration, knowledge and skill as the surgery is performed. Supernatural concentration, knowledge and skill!
  
  
• Compassion toward my grandfather and my family members as they are in the hospital.
  
  
• Healing for Mom before Grandad is released to her care.
  
  
• And, Lord willing, for a complete recovery and healing for Grandad following the surgery.

I'll keep you posted so that you can rejoice in the answers to our prayers.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

I believe!!!