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.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
2 Years Ago Today
Wow! Has it really been two years?? Has it only been two years??
Yes, March 16, 2009 was the day that changed our lives - the day the doctor told us that Mark had cancer in his colon.
2 years, 3 major surgeries, 4 minor surgeries,20 nights in the hospital, 7 visits to the ER, stage 4 cancer, 12 rounds of chemo, numerous scans, shots, tests and 1000's of prayers and here we are!
How thankful we are to our Lord and Savior that today Mark is cancer free and hasn't missed a beat!
We never dreamed that day what the next two years was going to hold and you know what? We wouldn't trade it for anything! God had taught us so much and we have grown closer to Him in ways we didn't know were possible. The many people we have met on this journey and the countless ways that people have blessed us and helped to carry us though is something we never expected nor will we ever forget!
We will never forget the prayers and the words of encouragement from so many and the acts of service to us too numerous to list!
As most people know that I (Lee) am the one who writes this blog. I would just like to take this opportunity to first of all thank the Lord for healing my husband and allowing us more time together here on earth! I praise His name for ALL that He has done for us.
Secondly, I want to thank my wonderful, awesome husband who hasn't complained one time or felt sorry for himself or anything negative. He is an inspiration to me personally as I saw him look to God for strength and then to have a totally positive attitude and outlook on everything that came our way. He was humbled at the outpouring of love and support and was grateful for every day. If you talk to him you know that he looks on each and every day as a gift from God and considers each day what he is to do with that gift. Mark loves to laugh and laugh he did these past two years - I can't tell you the amount of times we would be sitting in the hospital or doctors office laughing! When things would start getting a bit too serious he made sure to squelch it with a joke or saying something funny to ease any tension that may be there. Anyone that came to visit that may have felt uneasy because of the seriousness of our situation, was immediately put at ease by Mark's demeanor and attitude.
Over the past two years I could hardly keep him slowed down - he wanted to get out to the schools and coaches and minister for the Lord through FCA - there were days that I would have to take off work to drive him because he wasn't up to driving but he wasn't going to sit home either - so off we would go! I do admire the tenacity and the drive that he displayed through all of this.
I look back and see how good he looked, and how strong he was through the whole ordeal, but I now look at him and see a miracle! No one would ever know that he's been though all of this - he is healthy and working out, playing tennis (I even saw him arm wrestling with Cameron!) - it is so awesome to see him coaching baseball again and going as strong as ever.
The most important thing I see in him though, is the fact that he learned to truly trust God and to allow the Holy Spirit to work though him - he isn't the same man today that he was two years ago - God has molded, sculpted and pruned him into an even better man than I could have imagined and that is what I am most thankful for today.
We pray daily that God will show us where He wants to use us and that we can take what we have learned and not only apply it to our own lives but to help others in any way He leads us to.
We are forever changed and forever thankful!
Praising God from whom All Blessings Flow,
Lee
Psalm 40:5 - Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou has done...they are more than can be numbered.
Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Psalm 121:1 I will left up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Lamentations 3:22-23 The Lord's mercies...are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness!!
Yes, March 16, 2009 was the day that changed our lives - the day the doctor told us that Mark had cancer in his colon.
2 years, 3 major surgeries, 4 minor surgeries,20 nights in the hospital, 7 visits to the ER, stage 4 cancer, 12 rounds of chemo, numerous scans, shots, tests and 1000's of prayers and here we are!
How thankful we are to our Lord and Savior that today Mark is cancer free and hasn't missed a beat!
We never dreamed that day what the next two years was going to hold and you know what? We wouldn't trade it for anything! God had taught us so much and we have grown closer to Him in ways we didn't know were possible. The many people we have met on this journey and the countless ways that people have blessed us and helped to carry us though is something we never expected nor will we ever forget!
We will never forget the prayers and the words of encouragement from so many and the acts of service to us too numerous to list!
As most people know that I (Lee) am the one who writes this blog. I would just like to take this opportunity to first of all thank the Lord for healing my husband and allowing us more time together here on earth! I praise His name for ALL that He has done for us.
Secondly, I want to thank my wonderful, awesome husband who hasn't complained one time or felt sorry for himself or anything negative. He is an inspiration to me personally as I saw him look to God for strength and then to have a totally positive attitude and outlook on everything that came our way. He was humbled at the outpouring of love and support and was grateful for every day. If you talk to him you know that he looks on each and every day as a gift from God and considers each day what he is to do with that gift. Mark loves to laugh and laugh he did these past two years - I can't tell you the amount of times we would be sitting in the hospital or doctors office laughing! When things would start getting a bit too serious he made sure to squelch it with a joke or saying something funny to ease any tension that may be there. Anyone that came to visit that may have felt uneasy because of the seriousness of our situation, was immediately put at ease by Mark's demeanor and attitude.
Over the past two years I could hardly keep him slowed down - he wanted to get out to the schools and coaches and minister for the Lord through FCA - there were days that I would have to take off work to drive him because he wasn't up to driving but he wasn't going to sit home either - so off we would go! I do admire the tenacity and the drive that he displayed through all of this.
I look back and see how good he looked, and how strong he was through the whole ordeal, but I now look at him and see a miracle! No one would ever know that he's been though all of this - he is healthy and working out, playing tennis (I even saw him arm wrestling with Cameron!) - it is so awesome to see him coaching baseball again and going as strong as ever.
The most important thing I see in him though, is the fact that he learned to truly trust God and to allow the Holy Spirit to work though him - he isn't the same man today that he was two years ago - God has molded, sculpted and pruned him into an even better man than I could have imagined and that is what I am most thankful for today.
We pray daily that God will show us where He wants to use us and that we can take what we have learned and not only apply it to our own lives but to help others in any way He leads us to.
We are forever changed and forever thankful!
Praising God from whom All Blessings Flow,
Lee
Psalm 40:5 - Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou has done...they are more than can be numbered.
Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Psalm 121:1 I will left up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Lamentations 3:22-23 The Lord's mercies...are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving! We know what we're thankful for...
Dear Friends and Family,
I am beyond happy to say that Mark is officially cancer free!!!! Did you hear the shout about 4:00 today from Marietta, GA?? I'm not surprised if you did - I told the kids that NED - "No Evidence of Disease" are my new favorite letters! What a wonderful thing to hear prior to leaving for Thanksgiving.
To be honest, neither of us were surprised. Mark had total faith that God had healed him. Last night I went to bed praying for a good report and a word from God...I fell asleep praying and then I woke up in the middle of night as I rolled over toward Mark and the words from the song "God of this City" were as clear as a bell as I heard "greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done..." and then I just knew that God wasn't finished with us yet and that God had taken away the cancer!
No matter how, why, when are where we are just praising God for ALL He has done and for the miraculous healing that we have experienced!!
This morning the verses that I read were Exodus 14:13-14 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
THANK YOU for all your prayers!!!
Next steps - routine colonoscopy to be done December 3 - it had to be rescheduled from last week - then the port will come out December 8 and then we don't have to go back to Cancer Center for 3 months!
In January we are prayerfully considering going on the Hallelujah diet to be proactive in keeping the cancer cells away. We both believe nutrition is a huge part of the puzzle.
We wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Much love and appreciation,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 121:5-8
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.Know that the LORD is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
I am beyond happy to say that Mark is officially cancer free!!!! Did you hear the shout about 4:00 today from Marietta, GA?? I'm not surprised if you did - I told the kids that NED - "No Evidence of Disease" are my new favorite letters! What a wonderful thing to hear prior to leaving for Thanksgiving.
To be honest, neither of us were surprised. Mark had total faith that God had healed him. Last night I went to bed praying for a good report and a word from God...I fell asleep praying and then I woke up in the middle of night as I rolled over toward Mark and the words from the song "God of this City" were as clear as a bell as I heard "greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done..." and then I just knew that God wasn't finished with us yet and that God had taken away the cancer!
No matter how, why, when are where we are just praising God for ALL He has done and for the miraculous healing that we have experienced!!
This morning the verses that I read were Exodus 14:13-14 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
THANK YOU for all your prayers!!!
Next steps - routine colonoscopy to be done December 3 - it had to be rescheduled from last week - then the port will come out December 8 and then we don't have to go back to Cancer Center for 3 months!
In January we are prayerfully considering going on the Hallelujah diet to be proactive in keeping the cancer cells away. We both believe nutrition is a huge part of the puzzle.
We wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Much love and appreciation,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 121:5-8
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.Know that the LORD is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
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