Pam cancer sequel chap. 3

This update about Pam begins with a plea for a friend of ours, Randy. Maybe you know him, maybe you don't, but he is an incredible friend and encourager to us and he is suffering greatly right now, so I am asking for prayer on his behalf (like right now). Pray for healing, comfort and peace. Thank you.

Today Pam met with her surgeon. She added a third test to next week for Pam (chest wall ultrasound to go with the bone scan and chest CT already scheduled). The fun of taking the tests will be forgotten as soon as they are complete and the waiting begins for the results (these tests really need to come back negative). On Dec. 8th Pam will have surgery to remove the tumors. If all goes well she will be in and out on the same day. Pam will have some limitations following her surgery for a few weeks. No driving or lifting. I am adding no shopping to the restriction list as well. It is for her own good. Then more waiting as the tumors are dissected. By Dec. 12th the pathology reports will be ready and Pam will get her first clue as to what type of treatment her oncologist will recommend. These are all big days for her and your prayers will be cherished.

This blog...why? People seem to have real concern for Pam and this is the easiest way to communicate how she is doing and ask for prayer from many people at once. Those who want to know how she is doing and how they can pray, can simply check here anytime. I have no idea how often I will post. Hopefully I will be done soon. Praying she doesn't have a repeat of her long drawn out experiences from 3 & 4 years ago. Personally I follow blogs of a few friends who are battling cancer & serious illnesses like Randy, Don, Lexi, Lanie, Rachel & Chris. I want to know how they are and I love to pray for them. So I am offering the same for my Pam.

Don't be confused, having cancer is not always as glamorous as these fancy blogs make it seem. Yes, you hobknob with wealthy, well-educated doctors. You have fabulously expensive machines devoted to you nearly every week. You get to taste some pretty exotic and expensive drugs that take you to far away lands and almost back again. You learn so many new vocabulary words you begin thinking you are smarter than you actually are because you suddenly know when to use the word metastatic instead of metastasize. (OK, even me, someone with a 95 IQ...not to brag, but that is nearly a perfect 100...has difficultly with some of the terminology, so don't be afraid to ask). Anyway, this blog is here and I hope you find the information helpful.

Pam and I help out a little at church with the kids ministry on Saturday evenings. Four years ago we were doing the same when Kevin Elder was teaching. He had the couple dozen kids come around Pam and pray over her. It is a memory we'll never forget and a moment we didn't think would happen again. Well last Saturday evening it did, on a big scale. Rick Rogy was teaching and gathered together the 55 2nd-3rd graders, the 46 4th-5th graders and a dozen or so adult leaders and they all prayed. Comforting, encouraging, uplifting...a wonderful moment in the middle of a rotten couple of weeks.