7 May 2008
What Can You Do?
Posted by Nadene under: Nadene's Thoughts; Prayer Requests .
Many people have asked our family along this journey, what they can do to help us. The most important thing that anyone can do for us as a family is pray, pray, pray. Many of you are already doing that, and believe me, it helps more than you know! But we need more! We can never get enough prayer. We know there are many things and many people to pray about because we are all relying on God to sustain our lives. Even if you don’t sit down and spend hours praying for us, when you think of us while you are driving, going to sleep, eating dinner, etc. just shoot up a quick prayer, God knows our needs and although we love specific prayer, we know God works with every prayer said.
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With that, here are some updated prayer requests that you can be on your knees about:
- Blood Transfusions: Mom has continued to need blood transfusions every three weeks. The chemo is continuing to knock these numbers down. Please pray that her blood would replenish itself. Pray also that her body would continue to receive the blood she gets with no reactions, and that she would continue to receive safe blood. (by that I mean good, healthy blood, we know the hospitals run many tests to make sure the blood is safe but we have heard some unsettling stories recently that despite tests some people have received bad blood. Please pray this will not happen to us and that our family will continue to have peace that God chooses the blood she receives.)
- Fatigue: The chemotherapy and simply her disease in general, are causing mom to feel a chronic fatigue. She is constantly tired and seems to have fewer and fewer days where she feels any kind of energy. Please pray that God will give her rest in the evenings that would renew her sense of “awakeness” (is that a word? Oh well, you know what I mean). Please pray also that she would find a balance between sleeping and resting when she really needs to, and being awake to do the things she wants to do.
- Breathing: Mom has been having more trouble keeping her breath lately. She simply walks the length of our home and is winded. She did a “walking test” on Monday (5/5) that tested her oxygen level both sitting and walking around. The Dr. Concluded that she does qualify for oxygen. She will be using the oxygen when she is walking longer distances and when she is moving around more. Please pray that the process of getting the oxygen is smooth and that it will help her breathe “normally” again. (I put “normally” in quotes because who knows what normal is anyway? haha) Mom was also given an inhalor that the Dr. thinks may help her. So please pray that we will figure out what works for her so she can breathe better.
- The Rest of us in the Family: God seems to be allowing Satan to attack our family and putting us through many trials not only with mom’s condition but in our individual lives as well. Please pray that we will stand the test. That we will rise up under our trials and live to show the world that our God is real and that He never leaves us or forsakes us. Pray that our family would continually be strengthened not only physically, but spiritually. In all reality, the spiritual outlasts the physical and it is by far the most important thing! Please lift us up in prayer through these trials and tribulations.
Praises:
- YOU!!!! I thank God for all of the many many people who pray for us, and continue to offer their help in various ways. Say a little prayer thanking God that He chose you to be His hands and feet of service to our family.
- There are some women in my mom’s Bible study that we need to praise God for. They have set up meals to be brought to our home on Mondays and Fridays (the days that are hardest for us to cook!) Praise God for these women’s hearts of service and praise God for their delicious food!!! We are extremely grateful!
- There are many little things that are too many to list here that God has orchestrated and set in place for us both in mom’s specific situation and in our lives individually. I want you to take time to thank God that He is in the little things of our lives (and yours!). It gives our spirits a little lifting when we can see those little blessings from God throughout the day.
We also would like you to say a special prayer for our dear friends The Coco Family. One year ago today they lost their beautiful 23 year-old daughter, Alese Coco to Hodgkin’s Disease. The Coco Family has been a source of inspiration to us as well as a constant stream of tireless help for our family, despite their incredible loss. Today also marks the launch of Fight2Win.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research to fight and win the battle against Hodgkin’s Disease.
Thank you again, all for your support in prayer. I don’t know where we would be without your prayers and intercession. We are eternally grateful for your effforts.