An Update

This is Tina.  I have been wanting to come here to give an update personally, but life has been pouring on us over here.  Things were going really well with my treatment and recovery process and then our family got sick.  Very very sick.  One night we were taking our 1 year old to ER to learn he had RSV and bronchitis and then the next we were in the hospital watching our 3 month old struggle to breathe.

Everyone is well now, praise The Lord!  The struggles, however, set me back in my healing process.  I ended up with a bladder infection this past week and have been fighting an incredible amount of fatigue, stomach pain and discouragement.  Some things, however, remain very good.  While I had lymph swelling when my baby was in the hospital, I have not had a day of swelling since.  It has been 7 days now, which leaves me VERY hopeful!  I also have also been free of the overall bone pain for several days now.

I still find certain normal every day things difficult to do.  I swept a floor and dusted a room today!  These are things that I have not been able to do without serious consequences, so I was feeling quite pleased!  While I admit I wrestle with discouragement, I try to focus on the areas that have most indeed changed!  And like my mom likes to remind me, it took 8-1/2 years to get here and unless God chooses to heal me completely on the spot (which we believe He is fully capable of doing) it will take time.

My husband remains an amazing, unwavering help!  He is often close to home and when he isn't, he is a phone call away and comes if I need him to.  He stays close by every morning and feeds the children breakfast so I can sleep.  I look forward to the day when I can do this myself again.  Please keep praying with us for this to happen!

The children are well!  I find the blessing of this time is how I have learned to completey change my priorities.  Where I might have paused in my busy day in the past to explain why I couldn't take time to read a story in a certain moment, now it is what I have time and energy for.  I have been placed in a position where I have had to choose between so many things.  My husband and my children are at the top and I keep doing what I can to be what they need me to be, with the Lord's strength and grace.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers!  I go back to Hansa in the morning for a doctor's appointment and treatment.  It is such a blessing to be able to go to this place for help!

The Lord is in the midst of us!

March was a difficult month for all, but the Lord has clearly been in the midst of us!  Having made the the trip to Tina's home (over 800 miles!), I developed a terrible sinus and upper respiratory infection!  Battling through this, I was doing all I could to be as much help as possible while Tina was going through treatment each day for two weeks.  The Lord blessed greatly and she was able to complete the two weeks necessary to jump start her toward better health and strength.  The multitude of prayers and donations have blessed us beyond telling!  I headed home four days after her initial treatment was completed and two days after I got home, their household came down with RSV.  The baby was hospitalized three days and things were really touch and go for a bit there.  Thankfully, she was released from the hospital and the family was able to celebrate our Lord's resurrection together.  They continue to need prayer, as a few of the older children are still battling the bug.  Tina continues to need prayer that this therapy, which has already begun a significant change for the better in her health, will continue to bring healing to her.

The financial blessings have been amazing, but we have not yet reached the mark.  I ask that you please continue to send the link to this website out to as many as you can.  The Lord is our Provider and we trust Him

Prayer Request

Prayers for Tina and her family are appreciated.  Her 3 month old ended up in the hospital with RSV, just a day after they spent a night in ER with their 19 month old who ended up with a bronchitis infection.   She got out of the hospital yesterday..  The whole family is very sick.  Tina is doing fairly well considering, with only a couple setbacks.  Please lift them up in prayer during this time.