Hello Everyone,
According to the doctor, yesterday and today should have been the hardest days following chemo. So far Cliff has been feeling great. He is probably tired of me asking him how he feels, but other than that he is doing really well. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Love,
Beth
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hello,
Cliff seemed to tolerate his chemo well today and, after 5 hours of chemo, decided to put in a few hours at work this afternoon. The doctor warned Cliff that fatigue and nausea will get progressively worse with each treatment. However, we are praying that he will have minimal to no side-effects.
Please keep praying for my friend, Carolyn, too. She was unable to receive her full dose of chemo today due to low platelets. Her lymph nodes have started growing in size again. Her doctor feels the cancer is not responding well to the chemo and he is sending her to have a stem cell work up. Her first appointment is on Wednesday. Like Cliff, she has an amazing attitude and appreciates your prayers.
WE THANK GOD FOR EACH ONE OF YOU!
Love,
Beth
Cliff seemed to tolerate his chemo well today and, after 5 hours of chemo, decided to put in a few hours at work this afternoon. The doctor warned Cliff that fatigue and nausea will get progressively worse with each treatment. However, we are praying that he will have minimal to no side-effects.
Please keep praying for my friend, Carolyn, too. She was unable to receive her full dose of chemo today due to low platelets. Her lymph nodes have started growing in size again. Her doctor feels the cancer is not responding well to the chemo and he is sending her to have a stem cell work up. Her first appointment is on Wednesday. Like Cliff, she has an amazing attitude and appreciates your prayers.
WE THANK GOD FOR EACH ONE OF YOU!
Love,
Beth
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Dear Friends,
Last Wednesday, Cliff decided to get a #1 buzz cut. As he contemplated his "new do" he remarked, "I really do have a nicely shaped head." In the midst of this trial, he continues to have an amazing attitude. He is definitely looking at the glass half-full!
"Let us sing even when we do not feel like it, for in this way we give wings to heavy feet and turn weariness into strength." (John Henry Jowett)
Tomorrow is Cliff's next chemo treatment. Please pray he tolerates this treatment as well as the previous chemo treatment. As a matter of fact, while Cliff is receiving his chemo....my friend Carolyn will be receiving her next chemo treatment, too. Carolyn has struggled to keep her blood levels stable and has required several pints of blood. Like our family, Carolyn and her family are blessed by your prayers.
Thanks for your continued support.
Love,
Beth
Last Wednesday, Cliff decided to get a #1 buzz cut. As he contemplated his "new do" he remarked, "I really do have a nicely shaped head." In the midst of this trial, he continues to have an amazing attitude. He is definitely looking at the glass half-full!
"Let us sing even when we do not feel like it, for in this way we give wings to heavy feet and turn weariness into strength." (John Henry Jowett)
Tomorrow is Cliff's next chemo treatment. Please pray he tolerates this treatment as well as the previous chemo treatment. As a matter of fact, while Cliff is receiving his chemo....my friend Carolyn will be receiving her next chemo treatment, too. Carolyn has struggled to keep her blood levels stable and has required several pints of blood. Like our family, Carolyn and her family are blessed by your prayers.
Thanks for your continued support.
Love,
Beth
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dear Friends,
I had hoped to post a new blog at least once a week, however last week I found myself recovering from oral surgery and was a bit out of commission. I am greatly improved!
Paul, our son, safely arrived in Ireland a week ago for his semester abroad. Thank you for your prayers.
Cliff saw his oncologist last week and his blood work was perfect! His doctor was pleased with his progress. The only side effect has been hair loss, and he is still a very handsome man without hair. He has been wearing a knit cap "stitched with prayer" from my cousin and an FBI cap from my brother. His new hats have been such an encouragement to him.
We understand there are lessons we can only learn "in the shadow" of God's hand. As we walk this dark path, we understand that God is holding us even closer. Here is an exerpt from a devotional that was especially encouraging to us last week:
"In the shadow of his hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver." (Isaiah 49:2) In some realms of nature, shadows or darkness are the places of greatest growth. The beautiful Indian corn never grows more rapidly than in the darkness of a warm summer night. The starry beauty of the sky cannot be seen at its peak until the shadows of night slip over the sky. Lands with fog, clouds, and shade are lush with greenery. And there are beautiful flowers that bloom in the shade that will never bloom in the sun. The evening primrose will not open in the noonday sun but only reveals its beauty as the shadows of the evening grow longer.
The author concluded that the quiver is always tied to the warrior and is within easy reach of his hand. How thankful we are that during the tough times, God keeps us close.
Again, we are blessed by your prayers, meals, cards, emails, phone calls, and visits. Thank you for loving our family!
Love,
Beth
I had hoped to post a new blog at least once a week, however last week I found myself recovering from oral surgery and was a bit out of commission. I am greatly improved!
Paul, our son, safely arrived in Ireland a week ago for his semester abroad. Thank you for your prayers.
Cliff saw his oncologist last week and his blood work was perfect! His doctor was pleased with his progress. The only side effect has been hair loss, and he is still a very handsome man without hair. He has been wearing a knit cap "stitched with prayer" from my cousin and an FBI cap from my brother. His new hats have been such an encouragement to him.
We understand there are lessons we can only learn "in the shadow" of God's hand. As we walk this dark path, we understand that God is holding us even closer. Here is an exerpt from a devotional that was especially encouraging to us last week:
"In the shadow of his hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver." (Isaiah 49:2) In some realms of nature, shadows or darkness are the places of greatest growth. The beautiful Indian corn never grows more rapidly than in the darkness of a warm summer night. The starry beauty of the sky cannot be seen at its peak until the shadows of night slip over the sky. Lands with fog, clouds, and shade are lush with greenery. And there are beautiful flowers that bloom in the shade that will never bloom in the sun. The evening primrose will not open in the noonday sun but only reveals its beauty as the shadows of the evening grow longer.
The author concluded that the quiver is always tied to the warrior and is within easy reach of his hand. How thankful we are that during the tough times, God keeps us close.
Again, we are blessed by your prayers, meals, cards, emails, phone calls, and visits. Thank you for loving our family!
Love,
Beth
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Cliff's update
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday we picked our oldest son up from college in Indiana and tomorrow we will put him on a plane for a semester abroad in Ireland. Please pray for Cliff and Paul to have some good father-son time before he leaves. They are very close and Paul is concerned about his father. Please pray that Paul will be able to have a successful semester without being too distracted with Cliff's illness.
My friend, Carolyn, was discharged from the hospital today. She found out her lymphoma is stage 4 and she will be getting a stem cell transplant asap. Her hematocrit keeps falling and she has already had 4 units of blood this week. The doctors are also struggling to keep her lymphedema in her legs under control. She has a long road ahead. Please keep praying for her, too. She is truly touched that all of you....people she has never met....are praying for her.
You all are a blessing to us!
Love,
Beth
Yesterday we picked our oldest son up from college in Indiana and tomorrow we will put him on a plane for a semester abroad in Ireland. Please pray for Cliff and Paul to have some good father-son time before he leaves. They are very close and Paul is concerned about his father. Please pray that Paul will be able to have a successful semester without being too distracted with Cliff's illness.
My friend, Carolyn, was discharged from the hospital today. She found out her lymphoma is stage 4 and she will be getting a stem cell transplant asap. Her hematocrit keeps falling and she has already had 4 units of blood this week. The doctors are also struggling to keep her lymphedema in her legs under control. She has a long road ahead. Please keep praying for her, too. She is truly touched that all of you....people she has never met....are praying for her.
You all are a blessing to us!
Love,
Beth
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Good Morning,
As I look out over the beautiful, snow-covered landscape, I am reminded that God's mercies are new every morning. Cliff feels pretty much back to normal. He will have his next chemo treatment in 3 weeks.
My friend, Carolyn, received her diagnosis yesterday. She has a very aggressive form of lymphoma. There are many different kinds of lymphoma and her type needs immediate treatment. She will begin chemo today. Please pray for her strength, faith, and that she will tolerate the chemo well. Please, also, pray for her wonderful family....they are hurting.
Thank you for your continued faithful prayers for Cliff and Carolyn.
Love,
Beth
As I look out over the beautiful, snow-covered landscape, I am reminded that God's mercies are new every morning. Cliff feels pretty much back to normal. He will have his next chemo treatment in 3 weeks.
My friend, Carolyn, received her diagnosis yesterday. She has a very aggressive form of lymphoma. There are many different kinds of lymphoma and her type needs immediate treatment. She will begin chemo today. Please pray for her strength, faith, and that she will tolerate the chemo well. Please, also, pray for her wonderful family....they are hurting.
Thank you for your continued faithful prayers for Cliff and Carolyn.
Love,
Beth
Monday, January 26, 2009
Cliff's update
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continued, faithful prayers. We appreciate all of you as you follow Cliff's blog and support us in so many ways. Cliff's chemo went far better than the nurses or doctor expected. Then, over the weekend Cliff had NO side effects. He looks great and feels great. Because he faired so well, he even remarked to me "I can't believe I just had chemo." We understand that the second and third chemo treatments may hold some adverse effects, so Cliff is by no means expecting to skate through this process as smoothly as he did this past weekend. Please continue to pray for minimal side effects. Also, please pray that the chemo is destroying all the bad cells and his good nutrition is helping to create new, healthy cells.
We don't always understand God's Hand, but we TRUST His Hand. This past weekend we received a call that one of my dearest friends from college was in the hospital. She was undergoing a battery of tests. We just received news today that she has lymphoma. As you pray for Cliff, please pray, too, for my sweet friend, Carolyn. Please pray for her to receive that "perfect peace that passes all understanding." And, please pray that Cliff and I can be an encouragement to her. I asked permission to place her on this blog. I told her we have faithful prayer warriors all over the globe praying for us....and that I knew they would pray for her, too.
My heart is so heavy for Carolyn. As I was praying for her over the weekend, I was reminded of the verses from the song, "When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the Name of the Lord!" The darkness, fear, and anxiety that cancer brings can be overwhelming. Please pray that God will lift that darkness and encourage Carolyn.
Love,
Beth
Thank you for your continued, faithful prayers. We appreciate all of you as you follow Cliff's blog and support us in so many ways. Cliff's chemo went far better than the nurses or doctor expected. Then, over the weekend Cliff had NO side effects. He looks great and feels great. Because he faired so well, he even remarked to me "I can't believe I just had chemo." We understand that the second and third chemo treatments may hold some adverse effects, so Cliff is by no means expecting to skate through this process as smoothly as he did this past weekend. Please continue to pray for minimal side effects. Also, please pray that the chemo is destroying all the bad cells and his good nutrition is helping to create new, healthy cells.
We don't always understand God's Hand, but we TRUST His Hand. This past weekend we received a call that one of my dearest friends from college was in the hospital. She was undergoing a battery of tests. We just received news today that she has lymphoma. As you pray for Cliff, please pray, too, for my sweet friend, Carolyn. Please pray for her to receive that "perfect peace that passes all understanding." And, please pray that Cliff and I can be an encouragement to her. I asked permission to place her on this blog. I told her we have faithful prayer warriors all over the globe praying for us....and that I knew they would pray for her, too.
My heart is so heavy for Carolyn. As I was praying for her over the weekend, I was reminded of the verses from the song, "When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the Name of the Lord!" The darkness, fear, and anxiety that cancer brings can be overwhelming. Please pray that God will lift that darkness and encourage Carolyn.
Love,
Beth
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