January and February and early March we were very busy going to doctor appointments and with Rex undergoing treatments. Then, March and April was a waiting game until we found out the results of the treatment done so far. What started out as an aggressive plan suddenly stopped after the results of the PET scan were given to us. We've been left to pursue more or other treatment on our own. To fill the gap, Rex has been pursuing nutritional therapy. He overall feels good, but has some days after he has done some heavy nutritional therapy where he doesn't feel very well.
These last few weeks have been very emotional for us as we have experienced a wide range of emotions that we hadn't dealt with before because we were too busy to think about it. While we knew Rex' condition was very serious, there was still a certain amount of surrealness to it while we were so busy with treatments. All of a sudden, the surrealness dissipated and it became very real to us. Sadness and doubt engulfed us. The more research we did, the more real it became. Esophageal cancer is in the same ballpark as pancreatic and liver cancer in that it is very difficult to treat with little room for recovery, especially at stage IV.
This past Sunday was no exception to feeling some despair and defeat. During the morning worship service, Rex felt led to go the prayer chapel and pray. He decided to read some Psalms to try to lift some of his despair. Since it was the 30th of the month, Rex decided to start with Psalms 30, and it was such a blessing to him and later to me as he shared it with me. The Lord met Rex' need that morning. We know that God is in control; we know that He is faithful to us. Our faith has not wavered, but we have faced the grief of this disease. I want to share Psalm 30 with you:
1 I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 6 When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." 7 O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Every time I read this passage, I am brought to tears; it is such a powerful passage and has ministered to Rex and I tremendously.
This week in the process of all our research, Rex has been able to talk to three individuals that had been diagnosed with stage III and stage IV esophageal cancer that are now in remission or cancer free. He's talked to individuals in Indiana, California, and Georgia. It has really lifted Rex up and encouraged him in the midst of his own battle.
We have heard back from surgeons at Baptist, Duke and Chicago who have all said that they would not do surgery on Rex. This somewhat discourages Rex, but I just believe that God is protecting Rex.
Continue to pray for us as we embark on new roads to recovery. We are currently talking with Cancer Treatment Centers of America and looking into Sloan Kettering, as well.
Pray for us as we change our diets, eliminating processed foods, white flour, drastically reducing sugars and turning to organic foods. Rex and I both feel that God is calling us to be more responsible with the foods that we put into our bodies. We are just disappointed in ourselves that it took cancer for us to come to a point of submission and seriousness with it.
Pray for God to guide us, and direct us to the doctors we need and the treatment that Rex' body needs.
God bless,
Donna Meadows
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