(Update from Debbie // July 18 2021)

Debbie has had a rough 10 days. She is currently in the hospital after spending several pain filled long hours in the ER on Saturday.

She called me by phone a few minutes ago from her hospital room to ask me to send a brief update.

The results from her last scan done earlier this past week confirmed new cancer growth and so Debbie’s pain levels have been high. She is currently in the hospital until Monday or so as her team wants to come up with an updated at-home pain management plan. Please pray as the doctors and Debbie work together to come up with an effective at home plan.

This blog update is sent on Debbie’s behalf.

His grace and peace to all of us, 

Patrick (and Debbie)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25, NIV)

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

     It has been a rough few weeks and I am not doing well. I have increased stomach & back pain as well as some nausea.  It is more difficult to eat anything which sounds good and that actually sits well with me. Watermelon and smoothies are my current “go to”.

I have found Psalm 121 very reassuring, as I know the Lord is with me and I sense His peace and presence in the midst of it all. It reminds me that this world is not my home and the Lord has me looking to Him and my future assurance of eternity with Him. It is impossible to go through this cancer journey and not think of the future.  I know because of my decision to receive Jesus’ free gift of eternal life through His death on the cross that my future resting place is 100% percent guaranteed.  No guess work, no being good enough, but all about putting faith in the finished work of Jesus. The Apostle John makes this very clear, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12) You can’t make it any clearer than that!

     Yesterday (Tuesday) was my appointment day, but treatment was withheld, as I asked that they evaluate the current treatment to see if it is really working. Also, that they would suggest some new options of treatment. I will be meeting with my doctors next week to discuss possible next steps and would very much appreciate your prayers for God’s leading, guidance & divine intervention.  This week I am praying that God would speak to Dr. Martins and the team and put into his mind what is the best treatment for me. 

     In the zig zags of life, I know God is here orchestrating details beyond my awareness and comprehension. I trust Him.  I have seen Him at work and know that I am in good hands.

As the Lord brings me to mind would you please pray for: 

>> My pain and nausea levels.

>> For my Dr. Martins and his team.

>> My next steps in treatment.

>> My healing. 

>> My continued peace, hope + faith.

>> My energy levels.

>> For our family as we enjoy family time together this summer.

>> That the borders would open to cross into Canada, so that we can go visit family and friends, as I have not seen my mom in person since February of 2019!

Praying for many of you.  

Debbie & Patrick

God’s Guidance — Numbers 9:15-23 (June 8th, 2021)

Isn’t it a blessing that God goes before us and leads and guides us? We serve a God who wants relationship with us; an intimate relationship.  I am reading a book by SD Gordon called, “Quiet Talks on Power”. His mention of how God led the Israelites through the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night really spoke to my heart. Speaking to the reference in Numbers, Gordon states:

It seems almost at first reading as though there was a decidedly needless repetition.   You seem to understand the thing easily enough without that. But as one reads it again, slowly, it begins to dawn upon the mind that the purpose is to put marked emphasis on this feature of their new life in the wilderness.  The people would rise in the morning and probably the first thing done was to look out toward the cloud to learn if there was to be any change that day.  And so during the day there would come to be an instinctive habit of watching that cloud. They might remain in a new camping place for months, a few weeks, or only a few days. They never knew a day ahead. They lived literally a day at a time… It was equally so in their movements and all of their new life… The time of going, and the direction, and the pace were regulated by the presence of their Friend in that cloud. Their life was a life of obedience to the will of their wise, loving Companion. (Quiet Talks on Power, pp 99)

This concept of walking with God moment by moment really takes one’s whole life to figure out but it really sums up well the cancer journey.  From one moment to the next I just don’t know what to expect from this new life in the “wilderness”.  This life challenge forces me to keep looking to the Lord and His provision and His leading. Not focusing on the cancer but focusing on God and following His lead.  Although God’s desire is that we walk moment by moment in all of life’s circumstances it is usually not until we hit a rough patch that we are ready to seek Him in this way.

I have not been feeling well this past month.  I have increased stomach and back pain.  At my last appointment (Monday) they decided to hold off on treatment and give my body a rest for a few days to see how I respond.  We will be in touch with the oncologist  at the end of the week to decide next steps.  

Would you pray in thankfulness for God’s continued leading in this journey? I do not know what is next but I am trusting in His intervention and His leading. Pray that I would have the heart to follow and seek Him with my whole heart. Please pray that He would speak to my oncology team — to put on their minds things they have never thought before or had not considered for my case.  Mostly, that He would put in their minds His medical plan for me.  

I continue to be encouraged in the Lord and thankful for all your prayers, encouragement and support.

Love and blessings to you,

Debbie   (for Patrick, too)

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last.” Job 19:25

Thank you for your continued prayers for me. It has been several weeks since my last update, but – as the saying goes – no news is good news!  I have not had any scans since my last update and I have had two rounds of immunotherapy treatment.  I have been feeling the best that I have felt in a long time with more energy, interest in things, and less body aches! Patrick, too, is doing much better. A few visits to our physical therapist and a regimen of exercises and stretches along with your prayers and his back and leg is almost back to normal.  Praise to God!

I am learning the pattern of the immunotherapy cycle and it seems a couple days before treatment I feel a bit run down and then 3-4 days after treatment, I feel like I got hit by a truck with lots of body aches, a sensitive stomach, and no desire but to sit on the sofa with my heating pad. The rest of the three weeks cycle I feel pretty good.

God is so faithful in walking this journey with me.  I sense His peace, His presence and His guidance as He brings the right people, the right Bible verses, the right messages from friends which all speak into my life blessings and encouragement.

I am studying through the book of Luke right now and recently read the story of the persistent widow in Luke 11. My take away and encouragement in regard to God and prayer is this:

— Verse 8 Keep knocking with SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE. (Bold words taken from a commentary) 

— Verse 9 Keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking!

— Verse 10 Everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds. Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

I am pondering these verses and asking the Lord to teach me to keep having faith and to keep believing in His best for me.  Thank you for believing and praying God’s best for me as well.  I appreciate your shameless persistence in prayer on my behalf.  I am humbled at God’s goodness and favor to me.  

Please continue to pray:

~ For continued healing (hips, pancreas, other sites of metastatic cancer);

~ For a ministry trip next week which Patrick and I have to Florida next week — for protection, wisdom, strength and endurance;

~ For me to continue to learn the lessons God has for me on this health journey.

~ For my next few appointments & treatments set for May 17^th, June 7^th & June 28^th. 

How can Patrick and I pray for you?  

Love to you,

Debbie (Patrick, too:-)

Dear family and friends,

     Thank you so much for your ongoing prayers and support for this cancer journey.  I had an appointment on March 17^th and by God’s grace the scans and blood work continue to report that the cancer is stable. Praise to God who has been walking with me every step of this journey and has carried me through some difficult times. 

     I have had increasing pancreatic pain and after several months of not needing pain medication I am back on medication once again. The pain is either from the inflammation caused by the cancer or from the side effects of treatment. Either way we are working on getting this pain under control.  I have had a bit of improvement in my hips with less stiffness for which I am thankful.  The cough I had for several weeks is now gone. My energy level tends to come and go but generally speaking when my pancreatic pain is under control, I feel pretty good.  

As we know, life is filled with many twists and turns and a new challenge has come to our journey with Patrick experiencing severe pain in his upper right leg.  He has had many sleepless nights and long days filled with great pain.  We are working with the doctors to get to the root of his pain, but so far doctors say everything is “normal”.  Prayers for him and this new twist in our journey are greatly appreciated. 

     Please let us know how we can be praying for you.  We consider it a blessing to be able to bring your needs to the Lord.

     I get treatment every three weeks but more detailed updates are available about every 6 weeks; I will send out an update then.

    Our encouragement… “the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” 

(Psalm 147:11)

Blessings in the Lord,

Debbie

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have.” 1Peter 3:15

There are a lot of broken, hurting, sick and dying people in this world without hope.  The past few weeks I have had a number of people reach out to me asking about my hope. Hoping in God is a win/win situation. Throughout my Christian life the Lord has given me great hope as I read and meditate on His Word and as I sense His presence with me each day. This hope is not only for the moment or for the day, but it is an eternal hope that lasts forever! We are all going to die one day and I know without a doubt that I will spend eternity with God.  Not because I am a good person, but because I have taken God up on his free offer of eternal life through faith in the work of His Son, Jesus on the cross. 

I know what it is like to live in hopelessness. Before I turned my life over to the Lord, I had no hope.  I had so many questions about life, my purpose, my eternal destiny, but had no answers.  Even though I was brought up in a religious family I did not have a relationship with God.  It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to Christ and received His free gift of eternal life that I came to understand what it meant to walk with God and have His hope fill my life. Will you pray with me for the people you know who are hurting and without hope?  Would you be willing to share with them the hope that you have?

Thank you for your continued prayers for my cancer journey. Last week I had lab work, scans and a doctors visit which resulted in another good report that the cancer is “stable”. I praise God for His work in my body and I am trusting Him for what comes each day.   Please continue to pray for me!  I know that prayer makes a huge difference. I know that many people are praying for me and this fills my heart with joy, humility and strength. I want to run this race well with wisdom and grace.

Praise God with me for:

• The good lab work results.
• Stable cancer.
• Our special time away with our family on Orcas Island given to us by gracious friends! THANK YOU!
• The prayers and encouragement of family and friends from around the world.

Continued Prayers Needed for:

• My left hip (some days I see improvement other days are a bit rough).
• Nausea that comes and goes.
• Back pain that comes and goes.
• Immunotherapy treatment – that my body would fight to stop the growth of cancer cells.
• Wisdom for my doctors (Oncologist Dr. Martins, Nurse Practitioner Jennifer, Orthopedist Dr. Thompson, Physical Therapists Calen and Jon) as we walk this treatment journey together
• For my next treatments on Feb 24^th and then March 17^th.
• For my elderly parents (Bill and Shirley Papuc) who are both facing some health issues. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him so that you overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

Love,

   Debbie (and Patrick)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (New Living Translation)

Happy New Year!  We are so thankful to the Lord for a new year and new beginnings.  I am just getting started with immunotherapy and will have my second treatment Wednesday, Jan13th. I have been feeling pretty good with this treatment so far and have experienced some fatigue and a dry cough, but most of my other cancer-related symptoms are gone.  I will receive treatment every three weeks and I am being monitored with scans at regular intervals as well.

I want to once again thank you for your support and encouragement and for being my cheerleaders in this cancer journey. I truly do have a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith.  I have a bulletin board here in front of my desk filled with your cards and Bible verses that encourage me daily. I have a card holder in the hallway filled with notes sent to me letting me know that I am not alone in this journey. You have assured me of your prayers and have exhorted me with the Word. Thank you!

Please pray for me:

+ For this above verse from Hebrews 12 for me.

+ Also, that I would strip off the things that slow me down and trip me up.

+ That I would run with endurance and grace the race God has set before me.

+ That I would keep my eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfecter of my faith.

+ Thanks, too, for prayers for my annoying dry cough which is triggered by talking. (So lots of quiet in our home right now.)

+ Also, for my left hip which I feel is getting better slowly, slowly.

+ For God to heal my body of this cancer, if that would be His will for me.

How can Patrick and I be praying for you??

Peace and Grace,

Debbie (+ Patrick, also)

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us.”  Matthew 1:23

This past year has definitely been a year of experiencing our Immanuel, God with us.  God has been my peace, comfort, and hope carrying me through my cancer journey with His presence, leading and guiding at every turn. I have personally experienced Immanuel and I am so thankful for this time of year when we can reflect and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

I continue to give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful team of prayer persons, encouragers, family and friends that are walking this journey with me.  Thank you! We enjoyed hearing from you via Christmas cards.

On my health front, I started a new protocol / immunotherapy yesterday and will be receiving this treatment every 3 weeks. 

Please pray for: a) my body to respond to treatment; b) for my platelet count to improve; c) for continued energy; d) for the pain that comes and goes in my back; e) for continued improvement in my left hip!

Blessings to you and yours for a simple holiday celebration.

With much love and appreciation,

Debbie (& Patrick, too)

    

                             

                            

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Todays’ oncology visit with our doctor is a testimony to this. I was scheduled for chemotherapy today, but my platelets were too low to receive treatment. Even though there have been several times when I have not been able to receive treatment it seems like I have a tailormade treatment that is working just for me. The amount of chemotherapy that I am receiving – – which is controlling the cancer – – is a very small and reduced amount. So even when I do receive treatment what my body responds to is much less than the standard dose.

What is amazing is that one of my prayers to the Lord since I began treatment is that He would lead and guide me and the doctors through this very complex maze of cancer treatment. We can see the hand of God in all the twists and turns and today when addressing my response to this treatment the doctor leaned toward me and said twice, “the way you are responding to this treatment is beyond our explanation!” We all verbally agreed that God is at work.

A BIG thank you to everyone who is praying for me. I am reading a book on prayer and the author states that, “the winning quality to prayer is persistence.”

Thank you for all your persistent prayers lifted up on my behalf. God hears and God moves.

“Trust me in your times of trouble and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:15

Once again, we are encouraged in the Lord. Celebrate with us and keep on praying!

Blessings of Comfort and Joy,

Debbie (and Patrick too)