Ross and I wanted to update you as to where we are on this 8-year journey of living with Squamos Cell Carcinoma (cancer of head and neck). After 6 surgeries, 4 radiation treatments, and 2 chemo treatments, the doctors in Houston have drawn these conclusions: That radiation, though the preferred treatment, is not an option. The risks are greater than the benefits. (One of the cancerous spots even returned in radiated tissue.) Also, it is predicted that, based on prior behavior, this cancer will return. Therefore, the only viable option is chemotheraphy. That can be done here in Dothan. We do not know the regimen or time that will actually begin. So, we, like so many of you, need a miracle of healing. We all see miracles everyday. The doctors are in awe of how well Ross has prospered throughout this journey. They still call him their "poster boy". Ross is feeling well and continues to work everyday. We are in the process of thinking through some future decisions while we continue walking out this journey. Meanwhile, he is in the midst of "tax season" and the next couple of months are my busiest speaking schedule. We are "hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, struck down but not destroyed."We are walking with God together through this and we have learned that guidance in specifics comes out of an intimate love relationship with God. We are pursuing that!
love, margaret
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
RETURN FROM HOUSTON
Ross returned from Houston (3rd trip) recently to remove stitches, receive pathology report, and suggestive further treatment.
Out of the 7 nodes removed, 2 were malignant - one was encapsulated and one was not. What does that mean? One was contained to that spot and one was not therefore enhancing the chance for spreading elsewhere in the head and neck region. Ross receives checkups every 3 months so we feel confident that his situation is being closely monitored. However, for 8 years, we have played the game of "hide and seek" with this cancer. It hides and the doctors seek until that find it. It is removed and treated with radiation and/or chemo. We do not feel that radiation, though it is the preferred treatment, will be an option. We will hear in the next few weeks after the doctors consult with one another.
Though we humans are playing "hide and seek", our God is not playing. Because there is nothing hidden from His sight - all things are naked and opened before Him, and because as our shepherd, He goes before us, Ross and I are choosing to trust Him with whatever lies ahead.
Thank you for your prayer support.
You are soooo appreciated.
love, margaret
Out of the 7 nodes removed, 2 were malignant - one was encapsulated and one was not. What does that mean? One was contained to that spot and one was not therefore enhancing the chance for spreading elsewhere in the head and neck region. Ross receives checkups every 3 months so we feel confident that his situation is being closely monitored. However, for 8 years, we have played the game of "hide and seek" with this cancer. It hides and the doctors seek until that find it. It is removed and treated with radiation and/or chemo. We do not feel that radiation, though it is the preferred treatment, will be an option. We will hear in the next few weeks after the doctors consult with one another.
Though we humans are playing "hide and seek", our God is not playing. Because there is nothing hidden from His sight - all things are naked and opened before Him, and because as our shepherd, He goes before us, Ross and I are choosing to trust Him with whatever lies ahead.
Thank you for your prayer support.
You are soooo appreciated.
love, margaret
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
San Francisco!
"I left my heart in San Francisco" is much more than merely a song to me this week. As I am reflecting about my weekend retreat there, I am humming the tune and thanking God for each of the women who became a part of my life. I surely left of peace of my heart there. It was such a blessing to actually be "among" the women and closely connect with them - heart to heart. God began "a good work and He will be faithful to complete it". I am praying for each one of you and I thank God for my remembrance of you. Your faces are before me!
Ross is returning to Houston today for the pathology report and plans for further treatment. It was so good to see him on my return. This trip was difficult for me to make, yet I went with the peace of God all over me. I think that's how we are instructed in His Word to "step out in faith." It is not always easy nor comfortable but it is the just the way we walk!
God is so trustworthy so step forth my friend!
love, margaret
Ross is returning to Houston today for the pathology report and plans for further treatment. It was so good to see him on my return. This trip was difficult for me to make, yet I went with the peace of God all over me. I think that's how we are instructed in His Word to "step out in faith." It is not always easy nor comfortable but it is the just the way we walk!
God is so trustworthy so step forth my friend!
love, margaret
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Stepping Forth in Faith
Thank you for every prayer you have uttered on behalf of Ross. God is moving us right along on this journey. This bend in our road.
Ross came through the neck dissection well. The surgeon removed the 2 cancerous nodes and a few others that looked worrisome. We will receive the pathology report and the proposed treatment plan in 10 days or so.
Several hours after his surgery yesterday, Ross was eating soft foods and walking around and was experiencing very minimal pain. In fact, when asked for a level of pain, he stated it was a 2! I have higher than that with a headache!
We were dismissed to the motel today and tomorrow he will have the drain removed and we will head back for Alabama.
Please pray for travel safety for us and the ability to focus for myself.
I was to be speaking this weekend in Florida, but God knew that He really had that assignment saved for a young lady I spend time mentoring. It will be a huge opportunity for her and I am so blessed to be able to be a part of that kingdom work!
I will be traveling to California next weekend for a ladies retreat so I would appreciate your praying over that!
Thank you, dear friend, for reading this and sharing your gift of time with me.
love, margaret
Ross came through the neck dissection well. The surgeon removed the 2 cancerous nodes and a few others that looked worrisome. We will receive the pathology report and the proposed treatment plan in 10 days or so.
Several hours after his surgery yesterday, Ross was eating soft foods and walking around and was experiencing very minimal pain. In fact, when asked for a level of pain, he stated it was a 2! I have higher than that with a headache!
We were dismissed to the motel today and tomorrow he will have the drain removed and we will head back for Alabama.
Please pray for travel safety for us and the ability to focus for myself.
I was to be speaking this weekend in Florida, but God knew that He really had that assignment saved for a young lady I spend time mentoring. It will be a huge opportunity for her and I am so blessed to be able to be a part of that kingdom work!
I will be traveling to California next weekend for a ladies retreat so I would appreciate your praying over that!
Thank you, dear friend, for reading this and sharing your gift of time with me.
love, margaret
Sunday, January 20, 2008
REPORT FROM HOUSTON
Dear Friends,
Ross and I were in Houston for our 3 month checkup and were surprised to learn that Ross has developed 2 spots that were biopsied and determined to be Squamos cells. We are returning to Houston tomorrow and are scheduled for surgery to remove the tumors on Wednesday. We are not sure whether follow up treatment will be required and what that treatment will be. This battle with head and neck cancer has been raging for 8 years now.
I will continue to post a report after Tuesday. Thank you for continued prayer support and for believing that God is able to heal Ross.
We are encouraged knowing that this diagnosis was not a surprise to God - did not catch him off guard.
I have teaching the last 3 weeks from chapter 3 of Genesis and God has been so faithful to prepare me for the journey ahead straight from His Word. He is my defender and I am so thankful that I am on His side and He is on mine!
love, margaret
Ross and I were in Houston for our 3 month checkup and were surprised to learn that Ross has developed 2 spots that were biopsied and determined to be Squamos cells. We are returning to Houston tomorrow and are scheduled for surgery to remove the tumors on Wednesday. We are not sure whether follow up treatment will be required and what that treatment will be. This battle with head and neck cancer has been raging for 8 years now.
I will continue to post a report after Tuesday. Thank you for continued prayer support and for believing that God is able to heal Ross.
We are encouraged knowing that this diagnosis was not a surprise to God - did not catch him off guard.
I have teaching the last 3 weeks from chapter 3 of Genesis and God has been so faithful to prepare me for the journey ahead straight from His Word. He is my defender and I am so thankful that I am on His side and He is on mine!
love, margaret
Monday, December 17, 2007
My Christmas message to you!
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of sharing the thoughts below with the ladies in Valdosta Georgia. What a beautiful evening we shared together celebrating the coming of our Savior into this world. Thank you ladies for your love and fellowship and especially for your listening ears. I was so blessed by you!
Allow me to share this Christmas thought with you:
"I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" the angel in Luke 2 exclaimed! And, my friend, listen to the news the angel brings: "For there is born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Though these are the most familiar words in the Christmas story - seen on billboards and Christmas cards - I would like to ask you this? Have you received them as YOUR words? Have you received Jesus as your Savior? Not just to save you from the eternal consequences of your sins, but to save you to live your life to the fullest extent in the day to day. In Luke 4, Jesus says that He has come to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, recover the sight of the blind, and set at liberty those who are oppressed." Would that be you? If so, why not open up your heart and receive your Savior today! Appropriate the good tidings of great joy for yourself for unto YOU this day a Savior is born!
Merry Christmas to you, my friend!
love, margaret
Allow me to share this Christmas thought with you:
"I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" the angel in Luke 2 exclaimed! And, my friend, listen to the news the angel brings: "For there is born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Though these are the most familiar words in the Christmas story - seen on billboards and Christmas cards - I would like to ask you this? Have you received them as YOUR words? Have you received Jesus as your Savior? Not just to save you from the eternal consequences of your sins, but to save you to live your life to the fullest extent in the day to day. In Luke 4, Jesus says that He has come to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, recover the sight of the blind, and set at liberty those who are oppressed." Would that be you? If so, why not open up your heart and receive your Savior today! Appropriate the good tidings of great joy for yourself for unto YOU this day a Savior is born!
Merry Christmas to you, my friend!
love, margaret
Monday, November 26, 2007
AUTHOR'S RECEPTION AND NATIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM
Dear Friends,
What a joy to revisit the other LifeWay authors and to be a part of the author's reception, which served as an opening for the National Women's Forum in Nashville. Nearly 900 women from all over the U.S. and other countries converged to share what God is doing among them, personally and corporately among their women. I know of no other training offered anywhere that offers women the height and depth and breadth that the women's forum does. Many women came alone and most in small groups from churches everywhere. I got to see some old friends and make tons of new ones. It is so easy to do that when the Spirit unites us as women in the body of Christ. Please plan to join us next year for this happening!
You will be blessed from your head to your toes and will leave with a renewed heart!
love, margaret
What a joy to revisit the other LifeWay authors and to be a part of the author's reception, which served as an opening for the National Women's Forum in Nashville. Nearly 900 women from all over the U.S. and other countries converged to share what God is doing among them, personally and corporately among their women. I know of no other training offered anywhere that offers women the height and depth and breadth that the women's forum does. Many women came alone and most in small groups from churches everywhere. I got to see some old friends and make tons of new ones. It is so easy to do that when the Spirit unites us as women in the body of Christ. Please plan to join us next year for this happening!
You will be blessed from your head to your toes and will leave with a renewed heart!
love, margaret
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