Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Fourtyseventh Day After Surgery

Yesterday I awoke to Debbie's voice singing praises to God. This prepared her for a rather traumatic day. She has been losing her hair so she decided to have her head shaved and yesterday was the day.

Only William and I looked on as her head was shaved. There was not one other person in the shop. The lady that shaved her head was so compassionate. There were tears and hugs.

Within a few hours Debbie had new hair. The Lord through our family provided just the right look.

Debbie had more energy yesterday then she has had in weeks. She did not stop until late in the evening and then she rested well. Today, she is having her second treatment.

Many are praying and we are so grateful.

Debbie amazes me. It has never been unusual for me to be awakened by her singing praises to God. Her relationship to the Lord has always inspired me. But what amazes me even more is that she keeps singing in spite of her circumstances.

I am so blessed to be married to such a one. Thank you for your prayers.

Friday, November 24, 2006

The Fourtyfourth Day After Surgery

Debbie has had three very good days in a row. She felt well enough to attend our son's mock trial on Wednesday. Josh and Jill are in the third year of law school at Oklahoma City University. We are so proud of them and our grand babies. Debbie also felt well enough to attend our thanksgiving celebration at the Mullets. Darla and Mike are my neice and nephew.
Thank you for your prayers. God is renewing Debbie's strength.

Her next treatment is this coming Tuesday. This will be her second treatment.

Please pray once again for the chemo therapy to destroy the all the cancer cells and that her good cells would be protected and strenghtened. Also pray specifically that the chemotherapy and her immune system would destroy the stem cells of the cancer cells.

We hope that you and yours have had a wonderful thanksgiving and holiday filled with the love that only Christ can supply!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

The Thirtyninth Day After Surgery

My precious wife is eating some solid foods and everything is processing.

Her greatest challenge with her digestion is occasional nausea. This is one of the normal side affects of Chemotherapy. Please pray for her stomach to be at peace.

Pray for her strength to be renewed this week as she prepares for her second treatment on Monday, November 27. She also needs to gain some weight.

With many tears Debbie tells me to tell all of you thank you for your love and prayers. She says with determination, "Please tell them Jerry." She is deeply moved with the knowledge that you are standing with her at such a time this.

Friday, November 17, 2006

The Thirtyseventh Day After Surgery

Debbie came home from the hospital on Tuesday evening. It was a long seven days. The things that we accomplished were the insertion of the stint in her ureter and the first chemotherapy treatment last Saturday evening.

When we left the hospital Debbie was still having a hard time ingesting food and eliminating food. When we left she had not eliminated food on her own in seven days. She was bloated and in a great deal of pain. There was very little sound of digestion in her stomach.

On Thursday evening we started Debbie on a clear liquid died. We also started rotating Debbie from one side to the other and even had her lay on her stomach. Yesterday morning somewhere between 3:00am-4:00am, she started eliminating food without any assistance for the first time in nine days. Debbie and I had a praise service. Thank you for your prayers and we thank God especially for those that He used to give us wise counsel about her needs.

Debbie has not had any pain medication since Wednesday night. She still battles nausia which could be a symptom from the chemotherapy or from the disease. Pray for peace and healing for Debbie's stomach so that she can begin to eat foods with more substance than broth and juice.

God has sent so many people to us just when we needed some direction or a word of encouragement. We cannot thank all of you personally at this time so please accept this as our sincere appreciation for your love for us.

Debbie woke up singing this morning. My heart was filled with joy as I listened to her express her love for the Lord.

Remember you can write Debbie at jerrywellsfam@sbcglobal.net

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Thirtyfourth Day After Surgery

Debbie received a stint in her right ureter yesterday and the procedure went well. It alleviated some pressure and some pain and is helping her right kidney function better.

The feeding tube was removed and she started on a liquid diet. It is still a challenge to digest and eliminate food. This is her greatest physical need at this time.

The doctor's goal is to keep Debbie healthy enough to allow the Chemotherapy Treatments to reduce the size of the tumors or send them into remission. Chemotherapy works well for most Ovarian Cancer patients. Reoccurence is common at some point but partial or complete remission does give many patients more time and a small percentage are cured. Many Ovarian Cancer patients are never cured but they live for many years managing the disease with further treatment. We have reports from several of these cases who are very satisfied with the quality of their life. If you know of others please send Debbie their stories. Such stories are very encouraging to her.

So, this is the Doctor's goal. We have been told that it normally takes anywhere from one week to six weeks for the treatments to begin to reduce the size of the tumors. We are obviously praying for the one week and would ask you to join us. Her first treatment was Saturday, November 11. We are also praying for her bowels to heal so she can digest and eliminate food. Debbie has been standing on these verses...
Prov 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.KJV

We have found the grace to endure by spending much time praising the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength. And our commitment is to praise Him in health and in sickness, in life and in death. May you join us in praise as well as prayer. Debbie's current favorite request is On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand. We will be singing this song today and we hope that you will stand on the Rock with us wherever you are and whatever circumstances you are facing.
Ps 104:33
33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.KJV

Monday, November 13, 2006

The Thirtythird Day After Surgery

Debbie rested well through the night. Today a stint will be place into her ureter which is the tube that connects our bladder to our kidneys. Debbie will have one placed just below her right kidney. There is a restriction that the doctors believe is being caused by a tumor. Her right kidney is under alot of stress as a result. This procedure should relieve that stress and much of the pain that she has been experiencing in her right side.

The Chemotherapy Treatments began Saturday night. I will update this blog each time Debbie has a treatment scheduled so you can pray for God's blessing on the treatment and protection for the good cells in Debbie's body.

The greatest side affect that Debbie felt yesterday was more fatique in the afternoon.

Debbie did eat on her own yesterday for the first time in about five days. She seemed to tolerate the soup well without any nausea.

Please pray specifically for Debbie's kidneys and bowels to function normally. Pray for the health of these vital organs as well as the health of her lungs and liver. Pray for her bones to be strenghthened to resist this disease.

Pray for Debbie and our family to receive the Lord's strength to face each new circumstance. Debbie and I discovered long ago that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We made a commitment long ago to praise the Lord in spite of our circumstances. We discovered that when we choose to praise Him for who He is and what He has done, we are strengthened with His joy. We also see our circumstances from His perspective. And this brings us great peace. Pray for our family to walk in this truth each day no matter what happens.

Ps 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.KJV

Saturday, November 11, 2006

The Thirtyfirst Day After Surgery

Debbie had a great night sleep and a very good day. She has received food through her feeding tube since last night at 10:00pm. She is tolerating the food and has had more energy. She has already taken three five minute walks today.

She begins her chemotherapy treatments this afternoon. Please pray for this first treatment to reach it's mark fast and do it's work to the cancer cells. Most treatments take two or more weeks to see any progress. Pray that Debbie's treatment will work faster than normal.

As cancer advances it creates various complications. Pray that the Lord will protect Debbie's vital organs from these complications until the treatment can reduce and eliminate the tumors.

Pray that Debbie will be able to eat on her own in the very near future. Pray that any obstruction to her bowel would be removed.

Friday, November 10, 2006

The 30th Day After Surgery

Debbie slept well through the night. We praise the Lord for this rest.

They starting feeding her last night at about 8:00pm. They started with one ounce per hour. She has had no complications from this process and no increase in pain. We praise the Lord for this blessing of food.

This morning ladies from our church are cleaning our house for us. It is very humbling to receive so many gifts from people. The e-mails are such a blessing to Debbie. JHMI brought snacks for this time in the hospital. Prayer, prayer, and more prayers are being offered for us. We praise the Lord for the body of Christ.

The Lord's presence is very real to us. The Lord has sent His Word to us through our devotions and through the devotions of others. Yesterday morning Debbie woke up to find one of the resident doctors on his knees beside her bed praying for her healing. We see the Lord in the doctors and the nurses. The Lord's presence is very real.

Today someone dear to us sent us these words.

"I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
Come drifting home with broken masts and sails;
I will believe the Hand which never fails,
From seeming evil worketh good for me.
and though I weep because those sails are tattered,
Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered:
'I trust in Thee.'

"I will not doubt, though all my prayers return
Unanswered from the still, white realm above;
I will believe it is an all-wise love
Which has refused these things for which I yearn;
And though at times I cannot keep from grieving,
Yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing
Undimmed shall burn.

"I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees about a hive.
I will believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses.
I yet shall see through my severest losses
The greater gain.

"I will not doubt. Well anchored is this faith,
Like some staunch ship, my soul braves every gale;
So strong its courage that it will not quail
To breast the mighty unknown sea of death.
Oh, may I cry, though body parts with spirit,
'I do not doubt, so listening worlds may hear it,
With my last breath."


"In fierce storms," said an old seaman, "we must do one thing; there is only one
way: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there."

This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you; and then you can do but one thing; there is only one way.

Reason cannot help you; past experiences give you no light. Even prayer fetches no consolation. Only a single course is left. You must put your soul in one position and keep it there.

You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may-winds, waves, coss-seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers-no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm, and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness, His covenant engagement, His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.
-Richard Fuller

Thursday, November 09, 2006

One Other Request Today

They will first try to feed Debbie through a thin tube through her nose. The other option is intraveneous.

Please pray that her intestines will receive this food without causing her pain. Pray that God will bless the food that she receives and richly nourish her body with it.

This would be the best way to nourish her until she can eat on her own.

Another Report On The 29th Day After Surgery

We met with our doctor this afternoon. Doctor Mannel expressed that he was surprised by how rapidly the cancer has progressed. He is making this determination based on a CAT Scan that was done yesterday and the images in the lungs and in the abdomen.

He said that any surgery at this point is out of the question based on the overall progression of the cancer in the lungs and in the abdomen. Because of the rapid progression he believes that Chemo is Debbie's only hope of survival.

We have decided to start the Chemotherapy Treatments. Debbie will be fed through a tube in her nose since her bowel is not completely impaired. They will drip food in slowly while she is in the hospital to see if she can tolerate it. If she cannot, they will feed her intraveously. She will be able to drink liquids as long as she can tolerate it.

Dr. Mannel said that it will take a minimum of two weeks to know if the chemo is working.

Chemotherapy is a poison to our bodies. It poisons the body as it kills the cancer cells. It sounds unreasonable to ask God to bless a poison but that is what we would ask you to do as you cry out to Him for Debbie. Please pray that He will annoint the poison to kill the cancer cells. And pray that He will strenghten Debbie's healthy cells to survive the Chemotherapy.

This is one of the verses that Debbie is standing on during this time.
Prov 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.KJV

I want to make sure that Debbie gets all the rest that she needs. I would ask that visits be limited to e-mails at this time. I read them to Debbie daily if you would like to send her a note at jerrywellsfam@sbcglobal.net

The Twentyninth Day After Surgery

There is not a diagnosis this morning other than the CAT scan shows an abmnormalty in the small intestine. Debbie will have another test done this morning to try to determine if the abnormalty is cancer or something else.

Debbie did eat last night. She had some soup and some crackers and a small portion of a baked potatoe. Within about three hours, she was in great pain. She finally got some relief from the pain and rested through the night.

We received the following message in an e-mail this morning. It's arrival was very timely.

Troubles produce patience. And patience produces character.Romans 5:3-4 Romans 5:3-4 NCV
Storms come for a reason. They also come for a season. Discover the reason and grow wiser. Outlast the season and grow stronger - but never quit!
Chuck Swindoll writes: "Somebody needs to address the other side of Christian life, if for no other reason than to uphold reality. We need to be told that difficulty and pressure are par for the course. No amount of Biblical input, deeper life conferences or super-victory seminars will exempt you from struggle. God promises no bubble of protection.
Ask guys like Job, Joseph, Daniel and Paul, and you'll become acquainted with an ancient word that has almost disappeared in this generation of splashy, always-grinning, a-miracle-a-day Spirituality - perseverance! I know of no better partner to dance with when you're doing the three-steps-forward and two-steps-back number. It's in the tough times that true character is forged, the life of Christ is reproduced in us, and our flimsy theology is exchanged for a set of convictions that enable us to handle things rather than trying to escape them.
It's when the bottom falls out and life tries to pound you into a corner of doubt and unbelief that you need what perseverance produces:
(a) A willingness to accept whatever comes, knowing that by God's grace you'll win and come out stronger.
(b) A determination to stand firm while those around you are falling or running away.
(c) Insight to see the character-developing hand of God in it all. Without that, we stumble and fall and God is grieved. With it, we survive and conquer and God is glorified." Can you think of one quitter, just one, who ever accomplished anything worthwhile?

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Twentyeighth Day After Surgery

Debbie is back in the hospital at OU Medical Center. She got dehydrated because of the problems with her digestive system. They are running some tests to determine what is causing the severe pain in her abdomen. And during the last week, her nausea has gotten worse.

Thank you for your standing with us in prayer.

Monday, November 06, 2006

The Twentysixth Day After Surgery

We have an appointment with the Doctor again tomorrow to discuss his protocol for further treatment using conventional medicine. Please pray that God will give us wisdom.

Debbie has had a hard week with her digestive system. She is feeling much better today. Pray for her system to function normally.

Our daugher Mercy celebrated her 15th birthday yesterday. We celebrated with family. Please pray for our children to experience God's peace and hope during this difficult time.

Our new grandson Caedmon is doing great along with Mom. Please pray that Debbie will live to see all of her children's children.

The Lord touched all of our hearts in our worship service yesterday. The alter was full of people in response to the invitation. Pray for our church family as they walk with us through this difficult time.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.KJV

Prayerfully,


Jerry