My Physical Condition

My current physical symptoms are primarily tightness and discomfort in my abdomen due to the excessive build-up of fluid in that area. This results in pressure on my stomach and limits my capacity to ingest food. Therefore, most days I can only eat a few bites of a meal, before I feel miserably "stuffed." So, I have to eat multiple small meals or snacks throughout the day. In addition, I drink an occasional can of Gleucerna (like Insure, but designed for diabetics) to insure that I get needed nutrients.

Long before my diagnosis of cancer, I was having frequent, often constant pain in the left side of my abdomen. It began the day after I had had a colonoscopy on May 3, last year. That particular source of pain has persisted in varying degrees until around March 22, this year. The last 2 or 3 weeks before it subsided, the pain grew in intensity, to the point that it was the main source of my discomfort. It is now gone. Praise the Lord!

Is there a medical explanation for that pain to have gone away? Maybe. But, I do know that my wife (Schelia), during those last 2 or 3 weeks that it grew in intensity, when asked how I was doing, would share with our church folks that I was having an issue with that particular painful area. I was informed frequently that the people were praying that the Lord would take the pain away, and He did!

That experience makes me wonder if the Lord desires that we be more specific in some circumstances, regarding our petitions that we bring before Him. If that is the case, then my prayer need, for the moment, is that the Lord would cause the excessive fluid build-up and tumors in my abdomen to dissipate, in addition to the cessation of the pancreatic tumor and ultimately, every trace of the cancer.

Since I have chosen not to take anymore chemotherapy, the V.A. doctor that released me, strongly recommended that I begin a relationship with Home Hospice, even though I am not yet confined to my home or bed. So, that process was started to weeks ago. They will monitor my progress and prescribe pain control medications, as needed.

Honestly, I don't know what the future holds. Many have told me that the Lord has impressed them that I am going to be healed. If He does heal me, then, Praise the Lord! If He chooses not to heal me, then, Praise the Lord anyway! He holds the future in His hands. I'm trusting Him to work all this together for everyones' good and for His glory. (Romans 8:28) Above all, I desire that hearts and lives will be touched and/or changed for the glory of the Lord, as a result of this trial, so as by fire.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire , might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" (1 Pter 1:7, KJV)