Previous Update

Biopsy Results: Maligant Tumor (cancer).

As you may have suspected, because of this late update, Sarah's tumor is cancerous. It has been really hard to digest and it has not begun to settle yet. This whole process has happened so fast. It was just last week this time we where in the emergency room trying to get the pain under control and doctors were starting to take Sarah serious about there being something wrong.

At this point we are trying not to think too much about what might be, but looking towards the immediate future and the plans that the wonderful doctors here have for her. We are in the high risk pregnancy ward at Mass General Hospital and they are taking good care of Sarah and the baby. The next steps are the crucial. We really need your prays more now than ever.

Right now this is what you can do for us. Even at this moment Sarah needs to rest. Her body needs to rest so she can be in a good mental / emotional state. Sleep depravation will not help us cope with the current circumstances.

Here is the plan that is unfolding before us. Sarah's is still at great risk of a femural break. Her left hip is in great pain. The doctors are keeping her in bed at all costs, which causes Sarah even more pain as mobility actually seems to help. However, a fracture would be an extreme emergency for Sarah and the baby, so her femor has to hold out. The OB doctors have given Sarah a steriod to help the babies lung develop more rapidly. This comes in two painful doses. The first she recieved tonight and the next will be tomorrow night. Then the doctors are planning on a c-section by Friday morning. From the OB's care Sarah will be passed off the the oncologist / orthopedics where they will do a CT scan of her lungs to see if the tumor has mastisized (spread through-out her body - it shows up in the lungs first). These same doctors have scheduled a partical hip replacement for next Wednesday. This surgery will replace the top portion of Sarah's femur with an artifical ball joint (just the ball - not the socket). After Sarah has recovered from both surgeries (estimated 3 weeks) she will begin a nine month chemotheropy regiment; three week cycles. Despite all this rapidly advancing plans and bad news, we are remaining STILL in God's presence.

I say STILL because last Sunday during our church service Sarah and I both felt we recieved the following word from God: 2 Chronicles 20:14 - 17
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahazeil ... a Levite ... And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear o be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.

These and other verses (promises from God) have been sustaining us. We are really looking for strenghth and peace from God. We want to be in His will despite the outcome. Therefore we are trying to keep it day to day at this point.

Please pray:
- Sarah femur holds for as long as needed.
- God brings the baby up to speed (maturally - steriods to the trick)
- God prepares the baby for the c-section.
- Doctors have wisdom and God given insight into Sarah and baby's health needs.
- Cancer has not spread.
- Doctors can remove all cancer from femur.
- Sarah has quick recovery from surgeries.
- Sarah can breast-feed the baby for as long as possible (one month) before chemotheropy.
- We get to see our kids soon and know what to say and when to say it.
- In all things Sarah and I maintain STILL, trusting that this battle does not belong to us.

We are not to fight but let God be our advocate and defender. Thank you all so much for your prayers. It is so important that you continue to pray.

Thank you.
Bob and Sarah