16 June 2008
An Unexpected Turn Of Events
Posted by admin under: Medical Update; Prayer Requests .
Dear Friends-
First and foremost we would like to thank all of you who have come alongside of us as we battle Deborah’s cancer. God has used you all in ways that have been so comforting and helpful and we will be eternally grateful for your love and support.
Second, we would like to thank Dr. Jilani, Deborah’s Oncologist, for his hard work but most of all his honesty and kindness to our entire family. Dr. Jilani is probably the best Physician Deborah has ever had and we thank God for putting him in our lives.
That being said, it is with a sad heart that we bring you this latest update regarding Deborah’s condition. After careful prayer and consideration of all available treatments, Deborah and Dr. Jilani decided to permanently discontinue chemotherapy treatment for her Ovarian Cancer. Deborah was placed on Hospice care last Wednesday in order to provide comfort for her symptoms. Our goal with Hospice Care is to provide quality end-of-life care and comfort for Deborah because she is no longer able to care for herself. We as a family have decided to care for her at home where she will receive loving care from us, our relatives and friends in cooperation with the Hospice nurses and doctors.
Although we as a family were hoping for a different outcome, we realize that Deborah has already beaten the statistics for women her age who are diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. We truly believe that it is by God’s Grace alone that He has brought her safe this far and we are all confident that it will be by God’s Grace He will lead her home to be with Him. What is most important to Deborah is that we as a family take every opportunity we can to reach one more person for Christ, despite these circumstances.
We are reminded of the men and women of the Bible who, despite the odds against them, relied on God’s Grace and Strength in order to bring glory to Christ and they serve as an inspiration and a guide to Deborah. The greatest guide of all during this time is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has still has the power to heal and the desire to give comfort to those who are sick.
As you read this, you may be wondering how you can get involved and be a part of what God is doing in the life of Deborah and her family. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- If you’d like to help by signing up to bring a meal, please contact Judi Storey at 310-643-9564. For now we need meals delivered everyday and Judi is ready and willing to let you know what to make and when to bring it.
- If you’d like to help with light house work please contact Nadene Ames at 661-618-5095. Nadene will be coordinating a weekly list of things that will need to get done in order for us as a family to spend more time caring for Deborah.
- If you’d like to provide encouragement to Deborah or to us as a family we recommend that you first post a comment here on the website or send a card or letter personally to Deborah.
- If you’d like to visit, please contact Cliff Jr. at xxx-xxx-xxxx to schedule an appointment. Right now visiting hours are Tuesday-Friday 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm. Visits are limited to 15-20 minutes only if Deborah is feeling up to it.
Perhaps the best way you can help is to pray for all of us as a family. Here are a few specific prayer requests:
- Please pray that God would allow the various medications will provide comfort and ease Deborah’s symptoms.
- Please pray that God would provide us as a family with strength and patience to care for Deborah each day.
- Please pray that God will provide us with peace about the decision that was made and the sudden onset of symptoms.
- Please pray that God would grant strength and patience to our relatives and family that will also be playing a role in Deborah’s care.
- Please pray that God will give wisdom to the doctors and nurses that will be caring for Deborah.
- Please pray that God would continue to provide our family with opportunities to share Christ with all who meet us as a result of Deborah’s illness.
If you have any questions please feel free to email webmaster@deborahames.org or feel free to leave a comment, prayer or scripture of encouragement on this website. We will be reading them to Deborah everyday. We will also be posting updates more frequently so that those of you who are further away are able to keep in touch with what is going on in the life of our family.
In Christ,
The Ames Family
Cliff Ames Sr., Deborah Ames, Cliff Ames Jr. and Nadene Ames
8 Comments so far...
Collin Pittier Says:
17 June 2008 at 12:50 am.
Cliff Jr,
My heart goes out to you and your family as you deal with broken hearts alongside God’s mercy and grace. I’m amazed and encouraged by your attitude through all this. You are a great young man, Cliff, and you have much to offer the world – and I’m sure your entire family is the same. My heart is broken alongside yours. Your family will certainly be in my prayers.
-Collin
Tricia Hulet Says:
17 June 2008 at 9:16 am.
Dear Ames Family,
Dave and I will be praying for you all. I am so grateful, Deborah, to have had the pleasure of meeting you at the show – the one we prayed so much for during our time together as a cast. Thank you all for letting us be a part of your lives through Cliff, as you go through this difficult time.
Dave & Tricia Hulet
Sarah Sudbury Says:
17 June 2008 at 9:41 am.
Dear Ames Family,
I am so sorry for all of the heartache you have all gone through. I admire your strength and your constant faith for the One that has this whole situation in His hands. God is with each and every one of you and will never leave your side. I am so encouraged by your true love for God and the fact that you have relied on Him to handle every step of the way. We all know that it is not an easy thing to do. I praise Him for bringing the Doctors and Nurses that have helped Deborah during this process. I love you guys so much and will continue to pray for God’s mercy and healing. You are an absolute inspiration to so many people. I am certain that lives have been absolutely changed because of your entire families love for each other and for our Father. The trust that you have put in Him is evident to everyone around you. You can guarantee on a few more people making Heaven their home because of your trust and love for God.
Cliff Jr., you are one of the most amazing person I have ever met. Your kindness speaks volumes and I have been touched by your courage and honesty throughout this whole process. I know many others feel the same way and I know that God is going to bless you beyond measure for giving it all to God and leaving no detail to your own strength. You are such a talented and wonderful person. You have certainly touched the lives around you and I know that you have so many people praying for your family.
May God bless you and continue to encourage you and embrace you through this time.
Love,
Sarah Sudbury
Emily Brantley Says:
17 June 2008 at 11:07 am.
To the Ames Family and especially my dear friends Cliff & Nadene,
Praise God for your faith during this difficult time! I am so thankful that all of you have the knowledge of Christ’s mercy and know that the end is not really the end. I am continually praying for you, that you will be able to function with the strength of the Lord flowing through you and comforting you. You are so precious in His eyes and He will be faithful to get you through this time.
With All My Love,
~*Emily*~
Kyle Says:
17 June 2008 at 1:57 pm.
Hey Man, I will be praying for you all, stay focused on Him who eternal life through death!
~Kyle
John Ramillano Says:
17 June 2008 at 4:05 pm.
Dear Ames Family,
Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I’m so honored to know such a wonderful family who loves God though thick and thin. God couldn’t be so awesome for giving Mrs. Ames the best people around her. I will be constantly praying for your your family and Deborah.
Cliff Jr, I’m so blessed to know such of your character. I know that you’re a soldier of God and you always seem to give off a joyful vibe to those around. I look up to you brother, for letting God do his thing. He’s amazing as we all know, and he will always be with your family especially through this tide. I am both encourage and inspired by your faith in God. God is good, all the time!
Sincerely, John Ram
Ron and Marja Way Says:
18 June 2008 at 6:56 am.
Dear Deborah, Cliff, Cliff and Nadene:
Marja and I have been in Atlanta for the last month, following your journey from afar and lifting you up in prayer each day. We were saddened to read of the sudden turn of events. We love you and want to express how much each of you have meant to us. You are all dear to our hearts and have been a source of Godly inspiration. Although we won’t be back in town until the end of June, we feel close to you in spirit through God’s love and care. May God bless and keep you in His caring hands dear Deborah. Thank you Cliff Sr., Cliff Jr. and Nadene for sharing your dear Mom and Wife with us for so many years. You are all a very special gift to us. We Love You.
Warmly,
Ron and Marja
Sharyn Howard Says:
18 June 2008 at 1:31 pm.
Cliff, Deborah, Clifford and Nadene, We are so sorry to hear that Deborah is doing so poorly. We are praying for you all. Remember that if we really understood what heaven was like, we would all be eager to get there! Deborah, soon you will have a new body with NO pain! We will miss you, but I don’t believe you will miss us much – you will be in the presence of our Wonderful Lord!! Your family has been an inspiration thru all of this trial – may you all meet many people in heaven whom you have affected during this time!
Sharyn and Dave