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Tuesday, March 13, 2018

More Than Can Be Numbered

We are thanking God for his blessing of presence and peace this week. I don't know how anyone can walk through the doors of a hospital and sign consent forms for brain surgery without knowing that God is with us. 

So many of you have assured us of you prayers. Thank you.

Backtracking a few days...

On Saturday Ed had a severe headache and nausea. This was his first bad headache since his surgery last May. We were able to get the pain under control by afternoon. This was confirmation that the scheduled surgery on Tuesday had been the right decision. 

Ed felt great Sunday and we were able to enjoy the last day of our church's revival services. These services had made our week extra busy, but the messages from God's Word made the effort of attending worthwhile. 


On Monday Ed again felt good and was able to drive to the hospital. The day was filled with tests and appointments. Ed said we must have talked to half the doctors in the hospital. We are so grateful for compassionate, knowledgeable staff members. In the evening we took Scrabble out to the lovely lobby area which was strangely quiet at that time of day. Ed proved he can still beat me in Scrabble even with a brain tumor - but only by one point.


Ed was assigned to a double room which meant there was no room for me to spend the night here with him. I dreaded finding a hotel for the night and had worried about it far too much. I felt like I was given a huge wrapped present when I found out that there was an opening for me at the family lodge. I had reserved a room at the lodge for later in the week, but had been told it was filled to capacity for the first part of the week. The lodge is a beautiful building - imagine dark paneling, inlaid wood flooring, and stuffed chairs pulled up to a gas fireplace. It is located right across the street, only a five-minute walk from Ed's room. What a gift.

But beautiful surroundings can't turn off a brain. I'm afraid I didn't get many hours of sleep despite the comfy bed.

Ed's surgery was scheduled for 8:00 this morning. Ed had requested to have an inter-operative MRI. After the surgeon removed the tumor they did an MRI right in the operating room to check for any remaining tumor spots. The surgeon felt that the surgery went well. 

The moment of first seeing Ed when he is waking up from anesthesia is scary. Will he remember me? Will he be able to move his left side? What if the surgery leaves him permanently disabled? What a relief to walk into his room, pick up his left hand, feel him squeeze my fingers, and know that he is okay. 

Recovery from brain surgery is a long road. Battling an aggressive brain cancer is an even harder journey. We can't see over the next hill or around the next bend. But we are so grateful for those of you who are walking with us by prayer. 

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." (Psalm 4:5)

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." (Psalm 139:17-18)

33 comments:

  1. So thankful all went well thus far! Praise the Lord! "One day at a time", is something that I have to remind myself of many times! My brain wouldn't have been "turned off" the evening before surgery, either. Praying for you all! Thanks for the update.

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  2. Dear Gina I am praying for you and ed daily hobos he feeling this evening I know with surgery today probably too soon to tell email me anytime hugs sweetie

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  3. What a beautiful blessing from God, Gina. I'm rejoicing with you on having a room without having to get a hotel room. I'm praising the Lord that Ed came through his surgery without any complications. I'm still praying the Lord will give you both the strength you need and that He will give His healing touch to Ed.

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  4. Gina, thank you for keeping us informed. You and Ed and your family are being prayed for in Hawaii. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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  5. Checking in to say there are prayers ascending from the Midwestern USA.

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  6. Thank you for the update! We have been and are praying for your husband!!

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  7. We have been praying for your family every day. May the Lord continue to give you little, daily reassurances of His love and care.

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  8. Praise God, Gina. I was praying for Ed this morning and was wondering how the op went. Thanks for the update.

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  9. Dear Gina. Lifting praises that God was able to bless you with having a room close by Ed last night. I am also praising Him that Ed came through the surgery well and I’m believing that He will continue to bless you and your family. My prayers are with you all. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how the surgery went today.
    Blessings, Betsy

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  10. Gina, thank you for taking the time to update us when you have so much else going on. I was also heartened to see on your brother's Instagram that Parker is doing better. I will keep praying for you, for Ed, for Parker, and for everyone in your families. God's blessings be on all of you.

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  11. Thank you Jesus for your healing touch on Ed! Thank you Jesus for giving the surgeons the wisdom, the skills, and the courage to perform the operation completely and with good report! Thank you Jesus for being with Gina and comforting her with a wonderful room so close to Ed. Thank you Jesus for holding up their faith in you! Jesus, we know you will be with Ed and Gina and their families throughout Ed's recovery. Jesus, we know they are giving you first praise for all you have done for them. Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! God bless you all!

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  12. Thanks for the update Gina. I thought and prayed for you both especially around the day of the surgery. I will continue to lift you in prayer before the Almighty God. God bless!

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  13. Continued prayers for your family!

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  14. So glad you feel God's comfort through this. The team here in Iraq is praying for you.

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  15. Thankful for this testimony of God's provision. Thankful Ed woke up knowing you and able to move. Dear Lord, we cannot take another step in this life without your tender care. So glad You are nearer than our next breath, holding our hand, going before us.
    Praying on!

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  16. Praise the Lord..he truly is caring for you!! I am still praying. Thank you for the update!

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  17. Thanks for the update Gina. How comforting for you to feel the tender provision of comfort from God during this time. Take care and rest in His promises!

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  18. So happy to hear the surgery went well! May the Lord continue to strengthen and uphold you as you walk this difficult road. Continued prayers for your family!

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  19. Praying for a complete and speedy recovery. My good friend
    has the same cancer, he has had 2 surgeries in 2 years with chemo and radiation. Today he is feeling wonderful. There is hope for better days. Continued prayers!

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  20. So glad the surgery went well. Continue to pray for your family!

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  21. Was just praying for you earlier today. Praying for healing and strength! Peace for you as you walk this road. Thankful for God's provision and care with the room!
    Just looked through pictures from Grenada yesterday. Blast from the past, thankful for those fun memories!
    Little Chick- (doesnt seem to fit so well now)

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  22. Ed and Gina- we pray often for you; mealtimes; devotional times... trusting that God will hold you up in His Everlasting Arms

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  23. Continued prayers and Thanksgiving for you all! A sister in our Lord Jesus Christ from WA State

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  24. Thank you Gina for every update. Y’all lay on our minds and in our prayers. Please let Ed know he’s a mighty popular guy in our prayer closets... and u r too!

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  25. So glad to hear of Ed's successful surgery, and love that God provided you with that special room. Continuing to pray for your precious family. One day at a time. Elaine

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  26. It is wonderful to know that Ed's surgery went well. One step taken and many more to come I'm sure. But your faith is wonderful to behold and I know that will stand you in good stead through the rest of the way.

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  27. Keeping you all close in prayer. God bless Sue

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  28. Thank you so much for the update, Gina, and rejoicing at the blessings of answered prayer so far! :-) What a special gift from our Abba Father that you were able to stay close to Ed in the big city. Also, that he recognized you and squeezed your hand. Continuing to pray for grace for each moment of this winding journey. We love you!! Randy & Eunice

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  29. Dear Gina, I don't know you personally but I have been following your journey via your blog for a while now. Your faith inspires, encourages and teaches me. I am praying for Ed's health and your lovely family during this difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to write your blog with such trust and deep joy in our Lord.
    Jan from Australia

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  30. Thank you so much for your update. It has brought tears of joy to my heart. Praise God for the surgery! Your journey is an encouragement to me. Your faith is an inspiration. May God heal Ed of this tumor and continue to comfort you.

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  31. I am praying for you and Ed, and your family. Thankful for God's provision over you, even in this very difficult time in your life. You are a wonderful witness to those around you of a woman who loves and fears the Lord.

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  32. Hi Gina & Ed, I am praising our wonderful God for small miracles, no headaches the last 2 days, feasting on God's word, an opening at the lodge, and wonderful medical staff and advances in cancer treatments. After going through cancer with my husband and father I know the fears and joys that you are going through. Praying for your family daily. Love you.

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  33. Praying for you. "Blessed is the man [and woman] that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7 That is what I see in you, and it inspires me to trust also.

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