Walking The Beat

THE SHAVE

Sarah posted this on her blog: 

http://burnscircleoftrust.blogspot.com/2011/03/hair-or-lack-there-of.html

She summarized a lot of what we are thinking. God has given us a great family and we are all together. And he has given us "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4, context of 1:1-8). We have not lifted them out of context, but believe strongly in the "rhema" Word that God has given in Luke 11:11. 

Great post, Sarah! Cheryl (Mom) is indeed our family "hero"; or "heroin". As one said, "She's the best person I know." Here is Sarah's post:

Hair or lack there of.

Close your eyes and think of someone close to you.  Your spouse, your best friend, your mom. Do you see them as you last saw them in person?

For me, I always picture people in my head as they were during my fondest memories of them. Sometimes it changes, but for a few, this image stays constant.  For instance, although my paternal grandmother is in her 80s, living in an assisted home and her mind is wavering, I will always picture her in her room at her home in Ft. Worth.  She would watch TV in bed late into the night, read and study her bible and often times have the classic music radio station on.  I can still picture the giant green plastic cup she drank water out of which was always next to her bed and the scattering of flat toothpicks on her night stand (she was also a big popcorn fan).

This is how I usually picture my family:

This is from the 1988 First Baptist Euless Church Directory.  Do churches still have directories or do people just get on Facebook?  I'm not sure.  I am pretty sure this directory is still by the home phone at my parent's house, too.  Growing up, my parents would reference it to remember who our friend's parents were, find a phone number or address and check what the Fellowship Hall was serving on Wednesdays for dinner.  Although I don't remember the exact details, I imagine that my dad is home from traveling & that is why my brother looks well behaved.

My mom has breast cancer and today, after 3 days of hair falling in clumps, we shaved her head. My sisters & I had wanted to make a 'party' of it for tomorrow afternoon but it was coming out so fast we didn't think there'd be time. Although her official diagnosis was over a month ago and she just completed her second round of chemo, her appearance hasn't changed.

Until today.  

After giving Jon is bi-weekly buzz, my mom sat on her patio holding a trash bag and I shaved her head with the clippers.  First her right side.  Then the left.  A few pictures with the mohawk & then I shaved it all off.  She does look different.  Like maybe she has cancer.

To me, though, I will always see my mom with this hair - a look only achieved with hot rollers.

In that dress my dad brought back from a trip to Korea (which I later accidentally vacuumed over), the necklace, also from Korea.  The blush from Clinique.  And I know she was probably wearing Sung by Alfred Sung perfume.

The great thing about hair loss from chemo is that it grows back and hopefully the cancer doesn't. So, Mom's Hair, we'll see you in a few months - she would prefer that you grow back in Auburn & not gray. Straight & not curly.  Fast & not slow.

Peace out, cancer.  Don't let the door hit you on your way out!

 

HAIR....More or less

"My hair has started coming out...some tears...it's o.k." That was the text message in response to mine, "On way home, how are you?"

Dr. Jim Richards and I were moving up I-35 after two very good Praying and Listening sessions in New Braunfels and Pflugerville. It had been 13 days since Cheryl's first chemo treatment. Her second was today. The medical staff was right on target.

What is this thing with the emotion of losing one's hair? Cheryl sleeps well. That is an answer to prayer. I sometimes wake up at weird hours. The body clock is resisting springing forward. 

I woke up at 2 a.m. this morning, asking that question. My thoughts were drawn to 1 Corinthians 11. Paul speaks of the covering of the woman in the context of prayer and prophecy. "But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory for her;" (1 Cor. 11:15a). Glory in this passage is a reference to dignity, honor. 

We have experienced little of this in comparison to many, but there can be severe and frequent indignities related to cancer. These are some of the hidden sufferings the disease brings.

More and more I am convinced of the truth of Luke 11:11. We are asking for a fish. God will not give a serpent, or a snake. This is a serpent and we are asking God to kill the snake!

Today was chemo treatment #2. Two down, two to go. This is Chemo Day 1 of the second cycle.

We were very blessed in the first cycle. Cheryl did not experience nausea nor pain that required medication, even over-the-counter medication. When she went for chemo today, her blood work was "perfect"! She has experienced fatigue. We are very positive and know the medical team is "treating for cure".

We have been blessed by friends. The fridge is filled with frozen meals to thaw and cook as well as other food that is healthy and helpful. A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE PROVIDED THIS!!

The support of family and friends is deeply appreciated. Grandchildren as well as children are helping. Today a grandson went to chemo with her and tomorrow the granddaughter is going with Cheryl as she gets her injection. The grandsons in S. Texas call and have sent a wonderful card. She is surrounded by the love and support of family and friends. We are grateful.

Please continue to pray. Pray that God in His mercy will continue to spare Cheryl from nausea often associated with chemo. Pray she will be spared from pain often associated with the injection she receives the day after chemo. Pray for healing. We do believe that to be within God's will and believe this is a detour.

Pray for the grace to accept some of the side effects such as loss of hair. I have said, "You are not your hair." We shall approach the indignity with dignity and complete trust in the Lord.

The church where I am interim is presenting a candidate for pastor. It is time. This will allow more focus in my life. I have a new prayer conference/workshop/seminar called "PrayTheGospel". Please pray God will use that and open whatever opportunity he has at this time, whether that seminar of something else. We are His...confidently!

Thank you for caring and praying! Thank you Steve and Jackie for organizing a 1 p.m. daily prayer time for Cheryl's healing. We are grateful for all of you.

DETOUR

"I suppose this will change our lives", I said to the radiologist. "No, it is a detour". She began to explain how.

A simple routine and annual mammogram ("mammogrammies", as our Ethiopian friend called it) had shown something not good in Cheryl's breast. Something had grown. The letter advised to return for another mammogram and a sonogram. Then a recommendation to see a surgeon for a biopsy.

I can't count the times we have prayed for people who have made this same announcement. Little did I know what was welling inside them physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We asked God to let us get the surgeon of choice whom we had recommended to others (because of his success with an in-law's surgery). We had seen the positive results of his skills and compassion.

We decided to tell our church. I guess the only church family we have is temporary, where I am interim pastor. Our membership is elsewhere, but because of the ministry God has given me, we are not there. So, our "interim" family is the one we have with skin on. And they are awesome indeed. 

Each step moved us along. See surgeon...walk down hall for biopsy...talk to radiologist...wait...get phone call, "I'm sorry to tell you it is cancer"...come in the afternoon and early evening for other tests...another test Monday..."This is a big cancer"..."We can win this". Say that last thing again, because we are very frightened..."we can win this." 

So, we see the Oncologist Thursday morning and at present a port will be implanted on Monday morning. We will gain more clarity in our visit with the Oncologist.

Cheryl and I have prayed, cried, read Scriptures and begun the detour together with our children, grandchildren, and in-laws. The pain, questions, concerns, fears, etc. we have seen in the eyes of others are now in our eyes. We are not alone nor are we in the worst shape. 

When we received news she needed to have another mammogram, I began to search the New Testament for every text and context on healing. Did you know that there is no record of Jesus refusing anyone who came to him? So, we prayed for healing. It was not - at least at this time.

I began to cry out to God. Tests were Friday with one more to come Monday. I went to bed Saturday night and was awakened after midnight thinking, 'if you ask for a fish, will he give you a serpent?' I got up and found the verse in Luke 11:11 and the context in Luke 11:1-13. We came back home Sunday afternoon from worship. I shared with Cheryl the verse I had awakened with. That verse in the narrative says "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead?"

So, at least for me, I am calling this "the snake". It is poison and it needs to be killed. I won't argue the theology at this point but just know that our desire is to "glorify God".  I am reminded of the John 9 passage. The man's ailment was not due to either his sin or that of his parents. But the glory of God was the display of the work of God in his life. God's work was to make this man whole. 

We are believing that God will display his work in Cheryl's life and the lives of the family as he makes her whole. We began the year by asking God to help us get healthy this year. We joined a fitness center and started working out. We both had our "Wellness" exams. Little did we know what detour that desire to 'get healthy' might take. But here we are.

And so we begin our detour. I may get Cheryl to blog her own journey. From time to time, I will be posting some updates here.

We deeply desire your prayers. And we thank you in advance for praying and for caring.