Just a quick update to confirm that Sue had her Groshong (chest-wall) line taken out yesterday.
We were only in the hospital for an hour or so, and the procedure was quite quick and relatively painless - thanks to lots of local anaesthetic. The doctor who carried it out did some of his training at the hospital where Sue works, so that made things a bit easier; and he said he would do his best stitching! We will need to change the dressing over the weekend, and then the district nurses will come in next week to take the stitches out.
Another step forward on the road back to normality - PRAISE THE LORD!
As regards family matters, Sue hopes to be well enough to go to Manchester for Hannah's graduation on Monday; and Jess heard this week that she has passed her first year exams, so that is a blessing too. We will go up to Manchester on Sunday night, as the ceremony starts quite early on Monday; but we can't leave very early as I am preaching on Sunday evening in a local church. The first time since last September.....
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
And the consultant said......
"You look fantastic!"
He was of course addressing Sue, not me! And of course he has not seen her since March (or possibly even February), so she has changed dramatically since then. She is much brighter, quite a bit stronger - and of course now she has hair!
He confirmed that the scan results were indeed good; they showed no further growth, nor any evidence of new tumour growth elsewhere. He also said that there comes a point where it is very hard to distinguish between remaining "abnormalities" and scar tissue from "things that may have gone". In short, he was very pleased - as we were!
He has therefore decided that the Groshong line (in her chest) can come out next week (they only have that clinic once a week); then he will arrange an appointment to see him in six weeks time (mid-August); and then a scan mid-September before we go to see him again at the end of September. Dates to be confirmed by post in due course!
So we have much to thank the Lord for, because He has been / is / will continue to be very good to us, giving us strength and peace and hope all the way. We can testify to the blessings we have known since Sue was diagnosed in November, and would even thank Him for ordaining the trial so that we could know the blessing. As somebody said, "If you want to see the rainbow of God's covenant love, there has to be a storm" - and we rejoice in the truth of that. Indeed, to take a verse out of context (dangerous, I know!), we would affirm "This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes" (Mark 12:11)
If you are a regular reader, thank you for your prayerful interest too! Please pray on, as Sue is not completely better; there is still a long way to go before she will be "normal", and able to manage household matters or walk any great distance. It will for instance be good when she can start driving again, and even be fit to return to work. Who knows what progress may be made over the next three months? We don't - but we have a loving Heavenly Father Who knows already, for our times are in His loving and sovereign hands.
It does of course mean that I will have to find other matters to blog about, or it will all go very quiet for many weeks! So watch this space.....
My thoughts surmount these lower skies,
And look within the veil;
There springs of endless pleasures rise,
The waters never fail.
There I behold, with sweet delight,
The blessed Three in One;
And strong affections fix my sight
On God's incarnate Son.
His promise stands for ever firm,
His grace shall ne'er depart;
He binds my name upon His arm,
And seals it on His heart.
Light are the pains that nature brings:
How short our sorrows are,
When with eternal future things
The present we compare.
I would not be a stranger still
To that celestial place,
Where I forever hope to dwell,
Near my Redeemer's face.
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
He was of course addressing Sue, not me! And of course he has not seen her since March (or possibly even February), so she has changed dramatically since then. She is much brighter, quite a bit stronger - and of course now she has hair!
He confirmed that the scan results were indeed good; they showed no further growth, nor any evidence of new tumour growth elsewhere. He also said that there comes a point where it is very hard to distinguish between remaining "abnormalities" and scar tissue from "things that may have gone". In short, he was very pleased - as we were!
He has therefore decided that the Groshong line (in her chest) can come out next week (they only have that clinic once a week); then he will arrange an appointment to see him in six weeks time (mid-August); and then a scan mid-September before we go to see him again at the end of September. Dates to be confirmed by post in due course!
So we have much to thank the Lord for, because He has been / is / will continue to be very good to us, giving us strength and peace and hope all the way. We can testify to the blessings we have known since Sue was diagnosed in November, and would even thank Him for ordaining the trial so that we could know the blessing. As somebody said, "If you want to see the rainbow of God's covenant love, there has to be a storm" - and we rejoice in the truth of that. Indeed, to take a verse out of context (dangerous, I know!), we would affirm "This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes" (Mark 12:11)
If you are a regular reader, thank you for your prayerful interest too! Please pray on, as Sue is not completely better; there is still a long way to go before she will be "normal", and able to manage household matters or walk any great distance. It will for instance be good when she can start driving again, and even be fit to return to work. Who knows what progress may be made over the next three months? We don't - but we have a loving Heavenly Father Who knows already, for our times are in His loving and sovereign hands.
It does of course mean that I will have to find other matters to blog about, or it will all go very quiet for many weeks! So watch this space.....
My thoughts surmount these lower skies,
And look within the veil;
There springs of endless pleasures rise,
The waters never fail.
There I behold, with sweet delight,
The blessed Three in One;
And strong affections fix my sight
On God's incarnate Son.
His promise stands for ever firm,
His grace shall ne'er depart;
He binds my name upon His arm,
And seals it on His heart.
Light are the pains that nature brings:
How short our sorrows are,
When with eternal future things
The present we compare.
I would not be a stranger still
To that celestial place,
Where I forever hope to dwell,
Near my Redeemer's face.
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
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