So here we are on day 1 toward recovery in room 116 at the purple tower of Kennestone in "short stay" - wish that meant that we wouldn't be here long but what that really means is they were out of beds and had to put us here! The doctor said we are still looking at a week's stay.
He has had some side effects from the epidural block so he hasn't been up yet - his leg is numb so they changed the meds and we are waiting to see if it works so we can get him up and walking.
He looks really good, not like someone who had major surgery yesterday! He still cannot drink or even have ice chips but he's in great spirits and has been enjoying me reading him emails, texts and posts from Facebook.
Thank you for all the love and support - we definitely feel it!
We don't have good cell coverage in our room so if you call or text and do not get a timely response that is why.
Praising the Lord,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 37:3-7
Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Surgery Over - All Went Well - Praise the Lord
Friends and Family,
THANK YOU so much for your prayers - we just spoke with the doctor and everything went very well! He got all the cancer out with good margins and was able to reattach the colon - he said everything else looked good - now we are just waiting to go back to recovery to see him.
I am so thankful that he didn't have to have a colostomy - he will be so relieved!
I will update more tomorrow and post how he is doing.
Thanks again for all the messages and prayers - we are truly blessed with good friends and with many many prayer warriors -
I've been told it is hard to leave a message on this blog - if you want to send Mark a message you can email leetidwell7@gmail.com and I will read it to him. You can also text me at 678-778-7254.
With Much Gratitude to our Lord,
Lee
"It is good to give thanks unto the Lord"!
THANK YOU so much for your prayers - we just spoke with the doctor and everything went very well! He got all the cancer out with good margins and was able to reattach the colon - he said everything else looked good - now we are just waiting to go back to recovery to see him.
I am so thankful that he didn't have to have a colostomy - he will be so relieved!
I will update more tomorrow and post how he is doing.
Thanks again for all the messages and prayers - we are truly blessed with good friends and with many many prayer warriors -
I've been told it is hard to leave a message on this blog - if you want to send Mark a message you can email leetidwell7@gmail.com and I will read it to him. You can also text me at 678-778-7254.
With Much Gratitude to our Lord,
Lee
"It is good to give thanks unto the Lord"!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Surgery Scheduled for February 8
We found out today that Mark's surgery will be February 8th.
He will use the next 3 weeks to do a lot of natural treatments and eat a strict diet as well as get a lot of exercise in in order to get himself prepared for surgery.
He will also use the time to get things done for FCA.
While we would have like the surgery to be done sooner we know that it is God's timing and not ours. We feel a perfect peace about the timing and about the surgeon.
We are praying that the tumor may shrink in size or that God will choose to heal him before the surgery - wouldn't it be great for the doctors to find nothing??
Please continue to join us in praying for healing in Mark's body.
Thank you so much -
Much Love,
Lee
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
He will use the next 3 weeks to do a lot of natural treatments and eat a strict diet as well as get a lot of exercise in in order to get himself prepared for surgery.
He will also use the time to get things done for FCA.
While we would have like the surgery to be done sooner we know that it is God's timing and not ours. We feel a perfect peace about the timing and about the surgeon.
We are praying that the tumor may shrink in size or that God will choose to heal him before the surgery - wouldn't it be great for the doctors to find nothing??
Please continue to join us in praying for healing in Mark's body.
Thank you so much -
Much Love,
Lee
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
New Plan for Surgery - Waiting on Date
Friends and Family,
Thru what we feel is divine intervention we have met with a new surgeon who is a surgical oncologist and feel like it is the right move to have him perform Mark's surgery.
Originally we had a surgery date for today and then the 25th and now we don't know - we were just able to meet with new doctor yesterday and they told us it could be up to 3 weeks to get on the surgery schedule.
Thankfully, this cancer is slow growing so there isn't an urgency to get it done this week - we do, however want to get it done as soon as possible.
We are praying that we could possibly get a date for next week or the first week in February.
We have such a peace about this change and after we made the decision got a couple more confirmations that this indeed was the way to go.
I will post as soon as I have a surgery date.
Thanks so much for your prayers - we feel them - we are encouraged by them and we covet them.
Love,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Thru what we feel is divine intervention we have met with a new surgeon who is a surgical oncologist and feel like it is the right move to have him perform Mark's surgery.
Originally we had a surgery date for today and then the 25th and now we don't know - we were just able to meet with new doctor yesterday and they told us it could be up to 3 weeks to get on the surgery schedule.
Thankfully, this cancer is slow growing so there isn't an urgency to get it done this week - we do, however want to get it done as soon as possible.
We are praying that we could possibly get a date for next week or the first week in February.
We have such a peace about this change and after we made the decision got a couple more confirmations that this indeed was the way to go.
I will post as soon as I have a surgery date.
Thanks so much for your prayers - we feel them - we are encouraged by them and we covet them.
Love,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Cancer Has Returned - We Covet Your Prayers
Dear Friends and Family,
Wow! It's been a long time since I've been on this blog but it is encouraging to look back and see all the things that we learned and how God was with us each step of the way.
For my first post I am just going to paste from the email that Mark sent out - so below are his words about our current situation.
Dear Friend,
I had scans done about 3 wks ago and no sign of cancer was seen. In the meantime, I had been having some similar symptoms experienced w/the initial diagnosis over 2 ½ years ago. This lead to a colonoscopy last Thursday and more cancer was detected in the colon…the CT’s don’t always reveal this. The good news is that it was smaller than the original spot. The “bad” news is that there are more complications this time. Surgery is a must and this will make the 5th time in the abdominal area. Scar tissue will be an issue, as well as the previous hernia procedure, along w/uncertainty of enough margins in the colon to save it…the cancer is very low in the colon and it may be a precarious issue.
The good news: God was not surprised by this…we were, but hey, what’s new?:) Our take is that He is not done w/me yet, but has some more things to reveal through all this. We have known all along that He is not done w/me…Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” We claim that and encourage you as well with whatever your life holds.
Surgery will be slated for either the 17th or 26th; we are asking for the 26th now so that a number of things can be done between now and then…both in our family’s lives and the FCA ministry. Among other items…we are getting ready to be proud G-parents (awkward for me to say “grand”) this week of a baby girl.
How you can help:
1. Pray like never before…we are asking for there to be total healing…how about they open me up and…nothing?
2. Pray for the very best scenario if there is cancer
3. Prayer for speedy recovery
4. Pray for the ministry of FCA; I am virtually alone (1 other part-time) as a staff member in our area and naturally, things normally accomplished will potentially fall behind; also, though, I want to realize God is in charge and runs it, not me…but wewill need others’ help in carrying on.
5. As I am out, I fear the support of the ministry will tend to go in neutral. We need help and are in the midst of bringing on new staff and getting funding, so naturally, I worry about the time lost in moving forward with this. Pray for my “trusting Him”issues.
6. Pray for my family…especially Lee; she works fulltime coupled w/normal household affairs, along w/a new grandbaby, wedding planning for our daughter in April and a wedding for our son in June. I am more concerned with the heavy weight on her shoulders. She has also been experiencing a slipped disc and sciatic issues. She has been quite a warrior and will continue to be…but the pressure will, at times, feel very unbearable I know. My heart and love go out to her.
Thank you for your friendship and support. We covet your blanket of prayer during these days. We look forward to the next step in the journey.
Mark
Wow! It's been a long time since I've been on this blog but it is encouraging to look back and see all the things that we learned and how God was with us each step of the way.
For my first post I am just going to paste from the email that Mark sent out - so below are his words about our current situation.
Dear Friend,
I had scans done about 3 wks ago and no sign of cancer was seen. In the meantime, I had been having some similar symptoms experienced w/the initial diagnosis over 2 ½ years ago. This lead to a colonoscopy last Thursday and more cancer was detected in the colon…the CT’s don’t always reveal this. The good news is that it was smaller than the original spot. The “bad” news is that there are more complications this time. Surgery is a must and this will make the 5th time in the abdominal area. Scar tissue will be an issue, as well as the previous hernia procedure, along w/uncertainty of enough margins in the colon to save it…the cancer is very low in the colon and it may be a precarious issue.
The good news: God was not surprised by this…we were, but hey, what’s new?:) Our take is that He is not done w/me yet, but has some more things to reveal through all this. We have known all along that He is not done w/me…Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” We claim that and encourage you as well with whatever your life holds.
Surgery will be slated for either the 17th or 26th; we are asking for the 26th now so that a number of things can be done between now and then…both in our family’s lives and the FCA ministry. Among other items…we are getting ready to be proud G-parents (awkward for me to say “grand”) this week of a baby girl.
How you can help:
1. Pray like never before…we are asking for there to be total healing…how about they open me up and…nothing?
2. Pray for the very best scenario if there is cancer
3. Prayer for speedy recovery
4. Pray for the ministry of FCA; I am virtually alone (1 other part-time) as a staff member in our area and naturally, things normally accomplished will potentially fall behind; also, though, I want to realize God is in charge and runs it, not me…but wewill need others’ help in carrying on.
5. As I am out, I fear the support of the ministry will tend to go in neutral. We need help and are in the midst of bringing on new staff and getting funding, so naturally, I worry about the time lost in moving forward with this. Pray for my “trusting Him”issues.
6. Pray for my family…especially Lee; she works fulltime coupled w/normal household affairs, along w/a new grandbaby, wedding planning for our daughter in April and a wedding for our son in June. I am more concerned with the heavy weight on her shoulders. She has also been experiencing a slipped disc and sciatic issues. She has been quite a warrior and will continue to be…but the pressure will, at times, feel very unbearable I know. My heart and love go out to her.
Thank you for your friendship and support. We covet your blanket of prayer during these days. We look forward to the next step in the journey.
Mark
Friday, August 19, 2011
Another Milestone
Our oncologist was beaming as she came in to tell us that Mark’s scans were perfect! Well, to qualify – perfect for him – he has so much scarring and has been cut on so much that the report is rather long!!
We don’t have to go back until December!
Every time he goes back in for a scan and it is clear is just a bigger victory every time – the longer time elapses without any hint of cancer the better his prognosis becomes.
We are just praising the Lord and giving Him all the glory for this good report!! We praise God for this miracle and for being the ultimate Healer!
Thanks so much for your prayers and support! Please join us in giving Him all the honor, glory and praise!
Love,
Mark and Lee
I John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us.
Lamentations 3:22-23
The Lord's mercies...are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
We don’t have to go back until December!
Every time he goes back in for a scan and it is clear is just a bigger victory every time – the longer time elapses without any hint of cancer the better his prognosis becomes.
We are just praising the Lord and giving Him all the glory for this good report!! We praise God for this miracle and for being the ultimate Healer!
Thanks so much for your prayers and support! Please join us in giving Him all the honor, glory and praise!
Love,
Mark and Lee
I John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us.
Lamentations 3:22-23
The Lord's mercies...are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Upcoming Scans
Friends and Family,
I realized that I haven't updated this blog in quite some time! We have been very busy and Mark the busiest.
I am so thankful to say that Mark is continuing to do well and God has restored and healed him in such a marvelous way that we just continue to give thanks.
When I contrast last summer to this there just isn't hardly any comparing in regards to what Mark has been able to do physically. He is back playing tennis - a lot! And physically he doesn't look like he's ever even had one surgery!
One day we had the opportunity to get on a wave runner on the lake and we did! As I hung on to him for dear life (he drives very fast!) I was reminded that last year this would not have been possible and it just caused me to stop and thank our wonderful Lord for all that He has done for us!
Mark has been able to go to FCA camp at St. Simons for a week and then he was very blessed to be able to go to the Dominican Republic for a baseball mission trip thru FCA for a week.
Even though we know that God has miraculously healed Mark, our oncologist insists that he come in every 3-4 months for scans to make sure everything is good.
To be honest, I dread the scans because it causes me to have fear when before I was going along, praising God for healing and not worried - I'm not sure exactly what it is but when the time for scans come I get anxious. I realize this is not the way that God would have His child be so I pray that I will just give it all to Him and not worry!
The next set of scans is scheduled for August 11th and then we have an appointment to find out the results on the 18th.
Please pray for continued good results and for me to trust God and not allow fear into the equation.
I will be posting after our doctor appointment - thank you for your prayers!!!
Lee
I realized that I haven't updated this blog in quite some time! We have been very busy and Mark the busiest.
I am so thankful to say that Mark is continuing to do well and God has restored and healed him in such a marvelous way that we just continue to give thanks.
When I contrast last summer to this there just isn't hardly any comparing in regards to what Mark has been able to do physically. He is back playing tennis - a lot! And physically he doesn't look like he's ever even had one surgery!
One day we had the opportunity to get on a wave runner on the lake and we did! As I hung on to him for dear life (he drives very fast!) I was reminded that last year this would not have been possible and it just caused me to stop and thank our wonderful Lord for all that He has done for us!
Mark has been able to go to FCA camp at St. Simons for a week and then he was very blessed to be able to go to the Dominican Republic for a baseball mission trip thru FCA for a week.
Even though we know that God has miraculously healed Mark, our oncologist insists that he come in every 3-4 months for scans to make sure everything is good.
To be honest, I dread the scans because it causes me to have fear when before I was going along, praising God for healing and not worried - I'm not sure exactly what it is but when the time for scans come I get anxious. I realize this is not the way that God would have His child be so I pray that I will just give it all to Him and not worry!
The next set of scans is scheduled for August 11th and then we have an appointment to find out the results on the 18th.
Please pray for continued good results and for me to trust God and not allow fear into the equation.
I will be posting after our doctor appointment - thank you for your prayers!!!
Lee
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