Melvine, Greg, Bonnie Bender, and I saw Dr. Jane Huang, MD, Melvine's oncologist on Monday afternoon. Dr. Huang is Chinese American and is a delightful, and effervescent person. She is undoubtedly one of the most optimistic doctors I have ever met. She is brilliant, and graduated first in her classes in college and medical school. Not only is she intelligent, but she is a genuine professional doctor with love and compassion for her patients. She is not afraid to express her emotions with her patients and to laugh and cry with them. She has a team of PA's second to none and a staff of nurses and techs to administer chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
I knew intuitively that today would be a defining moment for Melvine, Greg, Bonnie, and me. I could sense it coming. I knew for several weeks that Melvine's pain in her abdomen was increasing and she pointed to her left side where the pain was located. I knew then that the ovarian cancer has spread in her body.
The Cat Scan as well as the blood markers indicated an elevated condition to which Dr. Huang would have to address. How would she do it? I saw her struggling and squirming to get down to the subject. However, she bravely moved to the point of concern and let us know that things were not looking good.
Melvine has taken the maximum chemo they can give her. To give her any more chemo with the current weakness of Melvine's body would be disastrous to Melvine.
Dr. Huang told us it was now time for St. Mary's Hospice team to come to our home, evaluate our situation and work with us so Melvine can live at home until she passes on to heaven.
I have made it clear that I do not want Melvine to have to go to the hospital, a nursing home, or convalescent center. I will spare no expense to let her stay in her home and to die in peace. I love Melvine with my whole heart and she is the most precious gift God has given me other than my salvation and eternal life.
I have given Melvine my best efforts to care for her every need now since September of 2018. At that time Dr. Huang said if Melvine did nothing, i. e., not take chemo, she would have at best 6 months to live. She has lived now for almost a year by having taken chemo and with the prayers of thousands of Christians all across the United States and around the world.
I was able to affirm Dr. Huang and her staff for doing a great job medically to help Melvine through this many months of intensified treatments. God has given Melvine to us for almost a year after being diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. We are grateful to God for every day she has lived.
As we were finishing up our discussions and wrapping it up, Dr. Jane Huang told Melvine that she would never see her again. Melvine didn't like that. Melvine said, "I am sure I will see you again. Won't I need to come back to see you?" Dr. Huang had to explain to Melvine that she would be under the care of the doctor and nurses of Hospice. She added, "Melvine you can come to see me any time. I will be glad to see you." That very touching scene with Melvine and Dr. Huang reminded me of Paul in his last moments with the elders of Ephesus. Here is a portion of what transpired in Dr. Luke's account of that meeting:
Acts 20:36-38
36 Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. 37 And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. 38 They knew they would never see him again — he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
The day will come when I will have to lay Melvine's body to rest in the grave. I will have to say "goodbye for now." We have already purchased her casket and made arrangements for her funeral service. Melvine will now have time to plain what she wants at her funeral. I am sure she will want the service to be at our church, Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, formerly Tarkenton Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. Greg will be involved in the planning of his mother's funeral service. We already have a family grave plot where our names are listed on the family granite tomb stone. That is where all four of us will be buried, unless Jesus comes back to catch away His Bride the Church. I expect to be in that number who will be caught away to heaven.
The days just ahead will be crucial for Melvine and me, and Greg. We want to provide for Melvine's every need.
I can tell you we need your prayers. It will not be easy. We serve a great God Who Rules and Over Rules. He is Sovereign and has the final Word. Or trust is in Him. Whatever happens, we will continue to love and serve God. He has provided for us all of our lives and for more than 59 years as a married couple.
We love you all. We thank you for standing with us over the years of our ministry.
I knew intuitively that today would be a defining moment for Melvine, Greg, Bonnie, and me. I could sense it coming. I knew for several weeks that Melvine's pain in her abdomen was increasing and she pointed to her left side where the pain was located. I knew then that the ovarian cancer has spread in her body.
The Cat Scan as well as the blood markers indicated an elevated condition to which Dr. Huang would have to address. How would she do it? I saw her struggling and squirming to get down to the subject. However, she bravely moved to the point of concern and let us know that things were not looking good.
Melvine has taken the maximum chemo they can give her. To give her any more chemo with the current weakness of Melvine's body would be disastrous to Melvine.
Dr. Huang told us it was now time for St. Mary's Hospice team to come to our home, evaluate our situation and work with us so Melvine can live at home until she passes on to heaven.
I have made it clear that I do not want Melvine to have to go to the hospital, a nursing home, or convalescent center. I will spare no expense to let her stay in her home and to die in peace. I love Melvine with my whole heart and she is the most precious gift God has given me other than my salvation and eternal life.
I have given Melvine my best efforts to care for her every need now since September of 2018. At that time Dr. Huang said if Melvine did nothing, i. e., not take chemo, she would have at best 6 months to live. She has lived now for almost a year by having taken chemo and with the prayers of thousands of Christians all across the United States and around the world.
I was able to affirm Dr. Huang and her staff for doing a great job medically to help Melvine through this many months of intensified treatments. God has given Melvine to us for almost a year after being diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. We are grateful to God for every day she has lived.
As we were finishing up our discussions and wrapping it up, Dr. Jane Huang told Melvine that she would never see her again. Melvine didn't like that. Melvine said, "I am sure I will see you again. Won't I need to come back to see you?" Dr. Huang had to explain to Melvine that she would be under the care of the doctor and nurses of Hospice. She added, "Melvine you can come to see me any time. I will be glad to see you." That very touching scene with Melvine and Dr. Huang reminded me of Paul in his last moments with the elders of Ephesus. Here is a portion of what transpired in Dr. Luke's account of that meeting:
Acts 20:36-38
36 Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. 37 And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. 38 They knew they would never see him again — he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
The day will come when I will have to lay Melvine's body to rest in the grave. I will have to say "goodbye for now." We have already purchased her casket and made arrangements for her funeral service. Melvine will now have time to plain what she wants at her funeral. I am sure she will want the service to be at our church, Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, formerly Tarkenton Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. Greg will be involved in the planning of his mother's funeral service. We already have a family grave plot where our names are listed on the family granite tomb stone. That is where all four of us will be buried, unless Jesus comes back to catch away His Bride the Church. I expect to be in that number who will be caught away to heaven.
The days just ahead will be crucial for Melvine and me, and Greg. We want to provide for Melvine's every need.
I can tell you we need your prayers. It will not be easy. We serve a great God Who Rules and Over Rules. He is Sovereign and has the final Word. Or trust is in Him. Whatever happens, we will continue to love and serve God. He has provided for us all of our lives and for more than 59 years as a married couple.
We love you all. We thank you for standing with us over the years of our ministry.