Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Recuperation

Has it been a week since Ed's brain surgery? We are in that time warp where a day is a week and a week is a day.

Ed's recuperation from surgery has went very well. Every day he gets a little stronger. He still has a swelling on the side of his head, but not as bad as the first days after surgery.


The little girls were a little scared of Ed the first day, but they have quickly warmed up. 

We've had lots of visitors which we all enjoy. It has made Ed's time  on the recliner go faster to have friends to share the time. We have felt so supported by all the prayers, mail, flowers, and meals. I've always been a strong believer in hand-written thank you notes, but I'm so far behind in this flood of generosity that I'm not sure I'll ever get caught up.



The last two days Ed has ventured down to the basement to do some work with his router. With our boys to do the lifting, Ed can feel like he is doing something productive in these days when he isn't working. He still has to rest a lot.

Last night we received the report from the doctor that we were dreading. The pathology report on the tumor shows an aggressive brain cancer. Even though all signs have been pointing this direction, I was still coddling hope that they were wrong and the tests would have a more hopeful diagnosis.

When we were in the hospital last week, a friend gave me a blank journal. I decided to begin recording verses that friends are sharing with us. When I read, I feel like the words cannot penetrate beyond my eyeballs. Spending a few minutes hand lettering a verse on a page helps me embed a little more truth in my heart.



So each day since then I've recorded a few verses in the journal. Many are the verses you all have shared in your emails and comments. I'm not worried about making it look fancy - just a black pen and my own penmanship.

I appreciate you understanding why we ask that you not share your medical advice. But I love when you share the Scriptures that have been meaningful to you in your own hard days.

Please pray that we will have wisdom as we make plans for treatment. Pray that we will trust God and not get discouraged at medical statistics. Pray for grace to bring God glory through it all.

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54 comments :

  1. Praying, praying, praying dear friend.

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  2. I am so sorry to hear this, I am praying for your family. 11 years ago I walked this path, please contact me if you have any questions amatthews1001@gmail.com.

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  3. Thank you for the update..I have been wondering. My entire family is continuing to pray for all of you. I will pass your news onto them. Keep on smiling..it does so much for us to be smiling! Our God can do amazing things!!

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  4. Gina, what wonderful news about Ed's continued recovery! I can't believe he's working in the basement already. God is surely renewing Ed's strength daily. What a blessing your family, friends, & children are. And Ed is truly blessed to have a Godly wife. No matter what the diagnosis is, God is bigger & is in control. Let this episode in your life strengthen your faith in our precious Lord. I am continuing to pray for you all. Your trust & faith in the Lord is daily help to me. God is greater than all our problems. Glory to God for His love & guidance! God bless all of you! (Carol in Phoenix, AZ)

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  5. I could say that I'm glad Ed is recuperating so well.

    I could say that I love the journal idea and wish I had done it two years ago.

    But I just can't get past the word "aggressive." It scares me and breaks my heart.

    The God who removes our fear and binds up our wounds will be with you and your family. He will not abandon you, not now, not ever.

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  6. Hebrews 12:1-3
    Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

    Dear Gina,

    Please remember as you endure this that all the saints in heaven are watching and cheering you on. We saints here on earth are also praying for you.

    Susan

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  7. My heart skipped a beat when I read this post...I'm profoundly sorry about the deep waters your family is facing. I'm also inspired by the grace evident in your lives.

    This might seem strange, but in times of trouble 1 John 1:15 is deeply comforting to me: God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. I guess it's because suffering can make me question the goodness of God, and it helps me to rest my heart on this reassurance that in Him is no darkness at all.

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  8. Romans 8:28 was very helpful to me when my kids faced a similar diagnosis. Also Jeremiah 29:11. Thirty odd years ago one of my kids got leukemia and the other a brain tumour. We were very fortunate in that they responded to treatment and are now healthy adults. It was a very difficult time however. Continuing to pray for you all.

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  9. Gods blessing as you continue to create memories as a family that you all will treasure! His peace is our peace! Rest in Him! --Faith H

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  10. My heart is aching right now, literally. Beings my children are similar ages as yours are, my mind cannot comprehend how it would be, were I in your shoes, but...so thankful for an all-wise, all-knowing, all-loving God!
    2 verses that came to mind were:
    "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Psalms 61:2
    And the simple, child-like verse:
    "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." Psalms 56:3
    Love and prayers...Lois Johnson

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  11. Gina, although we have never met, I wish I could give you a great big hug and a cup of tea! You and Ed are still in my prayers. It is good to know that you wont walk this journey alone...our Savior walks with you. What a comfort.
    Still praying
    Gaylene Long, Bastrop Texas

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  12. A journal is a wonderful idea! The Bible says we need to keep the Word of God in our eyes, in our ears and in our mouth. When every available sense is filled with God's promises, it crowds out the doubt and fear that Satan tries to plant!

    God is so good - never doubt, only believe!

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  13. The Holy Spirit impressed on my heart to pray for you and your family this afternoon before I saw this update. One of many verses that has been a comfort and encouragement to me during this time of my husband going through surgery, chemo and this summer, another surgery is Psalm 27: 13: "I would have despaired had I not expected to see the goodness of the LORD."
    The journal idea for writing Scripture is a wonderful one. I may have to do that too.
    I so understand being in a time warp. It's easy to forget that the world does go on while we're in the midst of chemo treatments and doctor appointments. I just realized the other day that Memorial Day is almost here with summer on the horizon and here I am, feeling like it's still February/March. ;-)

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  14. Wonderful to see ED recouperating so well!! Nothing like a beautiful baby on the lap to bring the cheer that heals! Ed looks GOOD! Prayers for you, for ED and family continue. This trial is surely for His Glory.

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  15. Praying for you! I have also requested prayer for your family at my church.
    Please know prayed are going up for you all from TN.
    I am so very sorry for this diagnosis. My aunt was diagnosed with the same back in Novemeber. As I look around I see most everyone I know or someone in their family is affected by the ugly "C" word. My brother has been in remission for leukemia for several years now. I can't help but pray even so Lord Jesus come quickly!!!!
    My heart aches for your family! I'm so thankful we know the great physician. I'm thankful he cares and knows right where we are! I'm praying for wisdom for your doctors peace for you all and healing for your husband.
    Joy

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  16. I will keep praying for you. You and your family come to mind at different times during my day since I heard about Ed. I am so sorry to hear the pathology news.

    Psalm 46(KJV)

    46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

    2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

    3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

    4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

    5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

    6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

    7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

    8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

    9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

    10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

    11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

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  17. Gina, I am a long time reader and never commented �� My father, who is 65, was diagnou with a stage IV gliomastoma very aggressive form of brain cancer last November- his birthday month. I recognize that Ed is SO much younger. I am 40 & have a 4 year old & for 18 month old of my own. I just want you to know that others are out here & we pray for you/
    Love, Genevieve ❤️

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  18. Prayers continue to ascend.
    "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Numbers 6:24-26

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  19. Praying for you and Ed and the family. Belief is that wonderful thing that gets us through when our faith is pushed to the limits. You have got this!!

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  20. I know you have so many comments coming in right now. It is almost impossible to read them all but I wanted to tell you something just in case you did read this. As you know, I have recently been down the road you are now on. I wanted to share with you something the Lord showed me on a Mexican restaurant sign (I know, God works in mysterious ways, right). I was going down the road, crying my heart out to the Lord when I saw this sign. Now I ask you read it all the way through because the first part of it is very familar to most of us but the last part is not-or at least not to me. WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR, SERVE HIM IN THE HALLWAY. For me, this little sentence was exactly what I needed to hear. It took the focus off me and my heartbreak and put it back on God. There are so many things I could say to you right now but I'm sure most of it you all ready know. I have read your blog for many years and I believe you and Ed are dedicated Christians. Three things I learned during my walk with cancer-1) Our God is who He says He is 2) Our God loves us and 3)Our God surrounds us and absorbs so much of our difficulties and hardships, our fears. So that, by the time they get to us they are do-able. If He didn't, we would never be able to endure them. You are all in my prayers.

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  21. All will be well and all will be well and all manner of things will be well
    Siobhan

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  22. During some of my darkest nights I would just repeat to myself... "Underneath are the everlasting arms." I pray that you would be able to feel the everlasting arms supporting you. I very well know the feeling of wishing everything could be normal again, then coming to the shocking realization that probably most people go through such times at one time or other...

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  23. Thank you for this update Gina- I have been thinking of and praying for your family this week. I am Catholic and I have found your faith and family life wonderfully inspiring to read these past years.
    Here is one of my favorite verses.
    "Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is with you and he will never leave you nor forsake you"

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  24. Many prayers to your family from the Maine church families.

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  25. I have been reading your blog for a long time and never commented. Our lives are very different from yours, so different we could be in different countries (we aren't) but I enjoy so much your writing about your children and your life. I have been checking back frequently because I was hoping you would have better news from the doctor, and I am so sad to hear the diagnosis. I am not much of a Bible person so I don't have a verse for you, but know that you have touched lives and that we are really hoping for the best for Ed and for your family.

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  26. There can be difficulty in concentration during times of deep distress. I know. Sometimes I would open a Bible and random verses would just meet my need. Here is one verse that stood out to me during a very difficult time of our child's failing health:
    "Ps 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." You need hope to cope...Jesus will never disappoint a simple trust in Him - whatever His will is! God bless....Esther W.

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  27. Gina, I am halfway around the globe in Singapore but I love reading your blog and learning from you. You are one of the best wife and mum I know!


    My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 38. I was 12, like your oldest daughter perhaps. His surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy brought him closer to God, as God showed Himself real to my father. And as a young girl, I witnessed dad's life transformation. So as I pray for God's gracious healing hand, I also pray that God will help you and your children learn every lesson He has tailored for your family through this trial. May you find rest in the hardest moments simply by being caught in His everlasting arms.

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  28. Prayers for you and your family are going up to God from a small church in Pensacola, Florida. God is faithful and we thank Him that He will continue to guide you and Ed with His wisdom! Melissa F.

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  29. Ed, Gina, and family,

    I found this when reading about another family's trials. . . "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (Psalm 94:19)

    You are in my thoughts and prayers. A number of years ago I had contacted you about sourdough, only to find out you live near my mom. Maybe someday we'll connect in real-life!

    Because of grace,

    Laura Musser

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  30. You can tell Ed that even in his recliner he is working; I hope you both sense the lives you are sowing into by sharing this experience and God's faithfulness through it. I also love your journal idea and I just went through the comments and wrote down all the verses so I can start my own list. Thank you! - Suz

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  31. Lifting you, Ed and your entire family up in prayer.

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  32. I am praying for your family, and I also want to send you a gift. Would you please email me privately? nicole.gray@stanlycountyschools.org

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  33. Praying Psalm 91:4 for you as your receive this hard news, we all were hoping wouldn't be. "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Randy & Eunice

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  34. I am another that has never commented on your blog, but have followed it for a few years , blessed by your posts on faith and family. A verse for your family: Isa 54:10 " Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Praying...

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  35. Dear Ed, Gina, and children,

    "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
    (Deuteronomy 31:8-10)

    May you all find peaceful rest in God's promises. I pray that you may trust Him in His perfect plan for your lives...looking unto Him who is the author and finisher of your faith!

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  36. Dear Mrs. Gina,

    First of all I want to let you know that our family and church is praying for you and Bro. Ed.

    I also want to spend a moment writing to your oldest daughter.

    Dear Lady,
    It was about 4-5 years ago when my own dear daddy was diagnosed with cancer. I am not one to cry easily. and when I heard the news I was shocked. I was stunned. We also decided to ask others not to offer medical advice as it was too overwhelming for us. As I watched my father get weaker and weaker and them almost stop eating, I would go out and hide myself to cry alone. I found great comfort in the arms of Jesus, knowing that He would see me through. It would hurt when people called just to see if my dad had already passed away, and the emotional strain on our family was heavy. My father asked for anointing and it was granted Him. We could only watch and pray. As one of the oldest children so much responsibility came crashing down on me, things that mama always took care of now became my jobs. But He giveth more grace. I wrote many songs and poems during that time, themes about how the Lord strengthened me. At times I wondered why the Lord would bring us through something like this, now I know why. The Lord found it in His plan to heal my Dad, and after his healing we are able to relate better with families of cancer patients, we send notes and cards to them because we´ve been there, we understand the load, the pain, the tears, the questions, the unknown, the uncertainty of seeing daddy tomorrow. I remember going to bed at night knowing that I might not see my daddy by morning. I just want to let you know that I pray for you, may you be strong and may this trail strengthen your faith and may you embrace the ways of the Lord because of this. Don´t loose hope, whatever the Lord chooses is best. You may no understand now, but you will understand completely in the place where there will be no more pain.

    I encourage you to encourage your mother every day, pray for her, hug her often, and be there during the times she most needs you. Cherish every moment. You will never regret it.

    I will be praying for you.

    Blessings to the family.

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  37. Oh, Gina, you are bringing God glory by your faith, by the fact that you are holding onto God's promises when the world rocks around you, by the fact that you have TRUTH to hold onto. Thank you for the example and inspiration you have been to me. May God be very near in Ed's continued recuperation now, and in the tough decisions and treatment ahead. I and my church will be praying for you.

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  38. Oh Gina, I am so sorry to hear this diagnosis. I will be praying for you and Ed and your family from here in New Zealand xx

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  39. This is a hard road you're being asked to walk. I'm praying for you and your family as God brings you to mind. Along with a journal, you might want to keep a book of miracles. I've been planning to to do this for our family, after hearing another friend telling me about hers. We miss so many small miracles because we're consumed with the hard things. But recording the miracles strengthens our faith when we look back over our days. (And I know you need a BIG miracle right now and you're smack in the middle of HARD.)

    "My flesh and my heart faileth: but GOD is the STRENGTH of my heart, and my portion forever. Ps. 73:26

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  40. Gina, he looks so good on these pictures. Just can't help but wonder why life couldn't go back to normale now. :( We are thinking of you constantly and praying for healing and PEACE that passes all understanding.
    Bethann

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  41. Gina I recently had some minor surgery on my face and it was nothing compared to what Ed has faced but while the doctor was doing her work I found Psalm 121 very comforting and repeated it over and over in my mind until she was finished. I will continue to pray for a good report eventually for Ed and for strength for your family.

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  42. 1 Corinthians 12 with prayers from Marion

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  43. "Though I have fallen, I rise again:
    Though I sit in darkness, the LORD is my light"
    Micah 7:8
    By the way, in the original Hebrew, the speaker is female. Please know that a loving Jewish temple in California is praying for your husband, you, and your whole family. You are supported and loved by arms, hands and hearts around the country.

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  44. Praying for you all everyday here in England. God is our refuge and strength our ever present help in trouble.

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  45. Gina, I have Ed and the rest of you on my prayer wall so I can remember to pray daily for you all.

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  46. Bless you for sharing this with all of us. I have a feeling there are many others, like me, who have been encouraged and strengthened by following along here and also reading through these comments! When your faith is small and you wonder if God really does care, remember this verse from Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." NLT He cares. Not even one tiny tear is going by unnoticed! Much peace and grace to you all.

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  47. Psalm 91 especially verses 14 through 16

    14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

    15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

    16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

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  48. Was asking God for some scripture just for you and your family, and was struck by this, to find it was also shared with you already by one of your Anonymous subscribers:
    Ps 91: verses 14,15,16
    Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.
    With long life I will satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
    I will continue to pray this with you and your subscribers. Hugs

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  49. dear Gina and Ed, this news makes me sad. I have been praying for you and I will continue to pray and this time, I will also ask God for a verse for your comfort. Hugs and love to you. . .

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  50. I'm still praying for you in Hawaii. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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  51. We are lifting you all in prayer to our Heavenly Father. In His Love, Jamie

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  52. This comment has been removed by the author.

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