Thursday, September 4, 2008

God is STILL - EVEN STILL my doctor

Just a quick update to relay my test results. More from the heart will come later, God-willing.

CT of the brain was negative.
As expected, since oral cancer usually spreads from head to neck to lungs, etc., there are about 10 small nodules in my lungs consistent with metastatic disease.
The abdominal CT was clean other than a possible spot on the liver. It could be metastasis, but it could also be a hepatic cyst, which is pretty common.

This news does not change the treatment plan. As soon as Dr. Gilbert thinks I am strong enough, she will begin my next round of chemo.

More to come later, but I wanted to get this information out as quickly as possible.
Just remember, God is in control, and He is still my doctor - even still. I love Him SO much - not nearly as much as he deserves, though.

One more thing I have to say. I know it's possible that some of you reading feel sorry for me. You wonder when I will ever just accept what the doctors are saying and give up. What God says is what interests me. Trust me, I understand my medical, human outlook - it's about as grim as they come. There is something we must remember, though. God numbered my days and ordered my steps. He will heal me in one of two ways: I will be cancer free or I will be free in Heaven thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, the beautiful one on the cross.

I love you all. Hope to talk with you really soon.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Daniel, we have a mutual friend who asked me to pray for you and sent me a link to your blog. I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your story and spread the word of God to those who may not know much about cancer or the Lord. I'm not sure of all the details of your current condition, you said you need strength and that you can't eat real food, but I thought you should know that my mother "juiced" each day throughout her chemo and radiation treatments and amazed her oncologist with a surprising amount of strength and eased symptoms. She got a juicer and researched what vitamins she needed (lots of iron and vitamin c) and made carrot-beet-apple-ginger juice, which is soooo yummy, and a few other varieties almost every day. You'll be in the prayers of my family.

The Lee Family said...

Hey D!
You know we all love you here! We are praying expectantly!
Love, Lees and Driscolls

Anonymous said...

Yeats-

In my head and in my heart, I keep hearing these beautiful lyrics: "Show me peace as you walk with me. Burn in me." I know God everytime I read your blog. Thank you for making us all better people by being in your presence. As I have said before, God trusts you by placing this burden on you. He knows even in this trying time, you will use your voice to uplift His holy name and spread his tremendous love. Don't stop. We all grow from it.

I love you and pray for your healing.

Kitty Fancy

Anonymous said...

Oh Daniel- how do you process all this? I am constantly amazed by your clarity and consistancy. I want to scream for you! I believe Daniel- I believe that He can overcome ANYTHING! I believe all he calls us to is one step at a time. And I trust in his promise to us.. He will NEVER forget you, and he will NEVER forsake you. Oh yeah, and contrary to popular belief, those of us in medicine love to be proven wrong! In Him, Jamie Morrison

Anonymous said...

Daniel~ So many people's hearts are stitched in with yours. I know that your name is echoing through heaven as people pray, pray ,pray.
You are so loved. jenny

Anonymous said...

Daniel, We love you and are praying for you. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. Praying that you would continue to know His mercies each day. That not a day would pass that you would not be able to see His great love for you that has never changed. Jenny, Beth, Susan and I were together tonight and prayed for you. We also laughed about your sense of humor! I hope you continue to feel better as you get farther away from the effects of the radiation. You are never far from our thoughts and prayers. Love, Amy Creech

Anonymous said...

God's grace and immeasurable faith sure look good on you, my friend. We love you literally more than words can express, and are expecting much from the LORD on your behalf. We are with you, my friend.

Love you so much,
Maela & Shane

Mom2rayray&colten said...

As usual you are a power house.. I love you so much. I so wished I would have had more time with you the other day. I will just keep praying and maybe soon our prayerful miracle will come and we will be singing together soon.

Like you said, God knows all. He could take any of us at any time. I don't like it that you have to suffer so much but I truly believe that this was His plan and because of all of this you are reaching more people than you or I could have imagined. You have inspired so many people to be better Christians and to win others for Christ. I pray that your toughest trails are through and you are free of pain. That has been the toughest thing for me is to have you go through so much pain! No one wants that for anybody, but like I told you in the hospital God knew you could handle everything He has put on you.

I'm so proud of you not giving in because I think back of all the miracles that were performed in the Bible and I KNOW you could be one of them.

Keep up the Fight!!
I love you sweetie!!
MUH

Carolyn said...

Daniel, each time I sit to try to conjure up appropriate words, they leave me. Thank you for your testimony, your steadfast faith, and most of all the fire in your soul to maintain the fight against this disease. We are praying and we love you.

Kevin, Carolyn and Ryan Marina

Anonymous said...

Daniel,
I know that you are at a true understanding from the medical standpoint. Thank GOD, human medicine can and has and will be again proven wrong! The Great Physician is the Healer. Our prayer is that you have relief from pain and in the next couple of weeks that the oncologist is correct and the mucus and mouth problems decrease dramatically. We also pray that your strength will return as soon as possible so you can begin the next step in the treatment plan. I wish I could take some of the pain and discomfort from you. You, my dear, have it together and are helping to make all of us better people. Thank you for being so honest and sharing with all of us. We pray for you many times during the day.

In Him
Tammy and your MS family

Anonymous said...

I am still praying for a miraculous healing for your physical body. God spoke to me the other day and said that your healing COULD be, by taking you home. Like you say, either way you are healed. I STILL BELIEVE it will be a miracle on earth and am praying that way. I WILL NOT STOP!!! By the way, on the negative brain scan...we always knew there was nothing there!!!! :) I love you!
Ashley

Robert & Tara Kadunce said...

Tara and I are still praying for you. Also, nutriention is most inportant God gave us everything we need on this earth for our bodies to fight.

There is also an alternative treatment not many doctors have been willing to talk about as I have experience in my own stuggle. Low Dose Naltrexone has been a life saver for many people with terminal metastatic cancers that have been considered incureable.

www.ldninfo.org

Hope this helps,

Robert & Tara Kadunce

Unknown said...

Daniel,
Thank you for the updats that you are sending so we know how to specifically pray for you. I think you have already been touched by an angel, by the way you praise God each & every day. You are an inspiration to me, to live out my faith to the fullest, no matter what the situation. I wish I could visit with you, but instead I must just sit & tell my 1year old all about you. ha! Keep fighting my brother! Lovin' you in Houston!

Anonymous said...

Daniel,
our prayers are with you constantly and you're in my thoughts......sean sherman and family - especially Zakkary who sends special prayers for Dr. Daniel

Anonymous said...

Dearest Daniel, I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very thankful that I was able to talk with you the day before your surgery. God does work in wonderous ways and I am so very thankful that He made you well enough to talk with me and your other friends and family during this time.

You are so very strong and positive with your blogs serving as daily inspiration for us all. You are an amazing man whose journey over the past several months has touched the hearts of hundreds of people. I truly admire your determination, spirit, and, most of all, faith as you face each day of this journey. Please know that I am with you in thought and prayer every step of the way.

I am so thankful for your blog. It truly helps those of us who love you yet live far away to keep track of how things are going for you. Thanks for doing this for all of us!

I'll be thinking about you! I love you very much!

Michele McManus Howard

Anonymous said...

Daniel, I can't tell you enough how much I am thinking of you and praying for you and your family. You are an inspiration to so many, and your faith is astounding. You are a true testament to the Lord. I am in awe of your strength, your faith, and your love. Keep fighting and know that you are being held close in prayer by so many who love you.--Allison Nolan

Anonymous said...

Praying for you. Thanks for being so open and honest. Wow. It is a true blessing to read your blog.

Jerrod Wright said...

Daniel,

Yes God is your doctor!! Keep up the fight against this cancer. You are an inspiration to many including me. Your testimony and the strength of your faith has uplifted us all. Life is a blessing from God. Some lives are a ray of sunshine through God. Others have the opportunity to befriend those rays of sunshine. You are blessed to be one of those rays of sunshine. Continue to be blessed and Remember, you can do anything through God. Our thoughts and Prayers are with you.

God Bless you,

Jerrod, Jason, Michael, Joe and Wright family