Personal Update

Posted on by December 3, 2019avatar


Bolton Abbey

“Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

 

Two of my adult children are experiencing serious and rare medical problems. I wish I could tell you what they are since it is quite self explanatory but I need to protect their privacy as well. It does involve neurological issues. The current issues does NOT include my daughter who had the brain tumor. This has caused my husband and I to wonder if we passed on some yucky genes.

In the meantime,  I also take care of my mother who will turn 91 in January. Her needs are accelerating as well.

The last two weeks have been particularly difficult for me. Unfortunately my psoriatic arthritis has advanced somewhat which causes me pain from time to time. But it is manageable.

I would imagine that the next two months may be a bit hard as we pursue medical options. I’m helping my daughter’s wonderful husband get her to medical appointments, etc. Thankfully, we are a medical family and know how to work the system. We are also close as support and love one another. My daughter who had the brain tumor is getting ready to do a stint on the Mercy Ship in Senegal and wondered if she should cancel. We told her she must go.

The blog will continue as usual. In fact, it is my sane place even when I’m called a *daughter of Stan.*  😇 The kindness and concern most of you show towards victims as well as your support for me, is nothing short of incredible.

I write this in order to explain why I might be a bit distant on occasion. I will keep you updated.

Comments

Personal Update — 68 Comments

  1. May the grace of God provide you and your family sustainence, hope, joy, peace, and purpose as
    you walk through this moment of your life.

  2. Wow! It sounds challenging with these battles with illnesses. May the Healer Redeemer God keep His hand on you and your family day by day!

    I could relate to your feeling in a small way since my 3 brothers have health challenges, and two are very serious ones. I pray that they will seek the Healer Jesus for their soul’s salvation as well as their body’s needs through these battles. Prayers from God’s children and servants here will also be appreciated.

    May the Holy Spirit carry your spirit, and lift up your whole family daily in your journey! May you find help when you need it. His banner over us is love even in the face of our enemies.

  4. DEE –

    Your father Stan must have been one tough guy … he raised a resilient daughter. 🙂

    Praying for wisdom and strength for you in the days ahead.

  5. As a mother of four children, all with medical issues at various times, and other serious medical issues in the family, I feel very empathetic with your situation. I will be praying much for your strength and peace and comfort. God is with you at all times! If you ever need to just talk about how rough it is, feel free to email me. I can tell you lots of encouraging stories, and Im a good listener!

  6. Dee,

    I rarely comment, but today it’s a must! I am praying for you and your household – for peaceful hearts and minds, for healing, and for the physicians. I know how hard it is to navigate through, and live with, rare medical conditions. God has you and your family in the shelter of His wings. Life is hard, but God is always good.

  8. Dee,
    You have meant more to my family than you could ever imagine. Praying for yours now. Steve

  10. Dee,

    You and your family will be on my prayer list. Our family is experiencing some medical issues as well, and we were comforted by this Twitter thread from Beth Moore. I am LCMS and never in all my born days did I think I would be reading her stuff but I blame John MacArthur! After his rude comment about her, I started to follow her on Twitter to see what all the fuss was about.

    I will let you be the judge….I stand comforted, and hope you will too. XOXO

    ————————————————————————————–

    ” Lord, the one you love is sick.” Jn 11:3

    My Bible reading this morning was the heart wrenchingly beautiful John 11. One of my practices is to invite that day’s Scriptures to inform my intercession.

    So I pray this day for you in Christ who are ill. And I say to Him of you,…

    “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

    As you grapple with the weakness, the pain, the limitations your infirmity has forced on you & the freedom it’s stolen from you & all as you seek a miracle-working Savior thus far with no answer, I want to remind you-you are the one Jesus LOVES.

    He loves you with an uncontainable love. Measureless in breadth, length, height & depth. He’s not unaware nor unattached. In the isolation your illness sometimes makes you feel, I pray that His Presence would be palpable to you. I pray He will make Himself startlingly obvious.

    I pray He will tend to you so tenderly & personally that you will cherish moments of this difficult journey throughout eternity. And I pray, my brother or my sister, that Jesus will heal you. I come alongside you in the desires of your heart and ask that He will do as you plead.

    But this I ask most:

    That the Son of God will be glorified through you & this great trial. That your life, including your infirmity, would bear much fruit. That a peculiar joy & anticipation of His goodness would overtake you. That your Healer would outshine even your healing.

    Lord, the one You love is sick. Tarry if You must till the time is right for Your glory to be displayed in full, but go, Lord, with great haste to comfort and attend, for Your loved one ails and her loved One cares.”

  11. Dee,
    As a mother of a brain-tumor-survivor, I empathize with you and will be praying for you and your children. May you sense the Lord’s presence more than ever and have strength and wisdom for this difficult time. You and your blog mean a lot to me.

  12. Rebounder,
    Your child survived as well?! How wonderful. Sometime I want to hear your story and compare notes. I’m so happy for you and my family as well!

  13. Andrew,

    Belfast, Ireland! I visited your lovely country 1 1/2 years ago. I learned to make the lovely vegetable soup served at all our dinners while there.

    True story: My father was Russian. My mother claimed to be totally English. I am an admirer of St Patrick and always felt a bit sad that I couldn’t claim any Irish blood. So, our family did the DNA testing. My fully English mom is 46% Irish! She couldn’t believe it. It seems her father was hiding his background. M DNA puts me at 20% Irish!! I am so happy. A s I said two year ago, *a daughter of Ireland has come home!!!”

    Thank you for thinking of me.

  20. Ryan,

    Thank you!! I attended Wesley United Methodist Church in Salem, MA off and on when I was a teen. It was there that I encountered some seminary students who took an interest in me. They started me down the road to my faith.

  23. An ever-true verse for such times, with a slightly different than usual translation from the Berean Literal Bible: “I have strength for all things in the One strengthening me” (Phil. 4:13).

  24. Hoping that your people get the very best medical care, and that they recover quickly. I know that there are good genetic clinicians in the Triangle if you’re wondering about the genetic side of things.

  25. So sorry to hear the health struggles in the family. You have my prayers for grace and healing.

  26. Max: Your father Stan must have been one tough guy … he raised a resilient daughter.

    I think it has a genetic component.
    Remember, Mother Russia has never been conquered by an invader.

    Max: Praying for wisdom and strength for you in the days ahead.

    Count me in too!

  27. My mom put much of her own life on hold to deal with me and my hip issues, including my last big surgery in 2002. You’re a blessing to many, Dee, including your children. I will pray that healing comes!

  28. So sorry to hear that you’re going through something like this, Dee. I only have students, and no kids of my own, so I can’t even imagine what it’s like.

    I’ve prayed for God to grant your children healing, and you and your husband strength for everything that’s ahead. May you be surrounded with love and support.

  30. Dear Dee, praying for fortitude as you travel this path. My husband and I have passed yucky genes on to our children. Second daughter headed to surgery for rare genetic condition in two days.

  31. Dee, I am so sorry that you must face these difficult struggles. I pray that God gives you strength, wisdom and peace, and that he graciously gives healing and health to you and your loved ones.

  32. May the illness of your family be moderated. ATB + p . arthritis? Research…Evening Primrose. NOW Supplements, Super Primrose 1300 mg with Naturally Occurring GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid), 120 Softgels . For comfort …sunbeam electric blanket for the sofa…have your family anointed with oil by your elder and prayed for. A piece of Waterford crystal may elevate your spirits. Don’t forget the chocolate.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WQNMWBSGUQ

  33. Dee,
    You and your family are in my prayers, and I am very sorry that you are all having to face the realities of this imperfect world.
    God bless you and yours, in ways most beneficial to them by God’s wisdom.

  34. Dee,

    you and your family are in my prayers.

    I hope that you are able to get enough rest. Stress and exhaustion are not helpful to our material embodiment.

    May God encourage and aid you.

  35. Praying for you and your family, Dee, to come through it all. I am positive that the Mercy ship staff, volunteers, and the people they minister to will be praying along side your daughter for everyone as well.

  37. Dee,
    Thank you for all your insight and lovingkindness. I am praying that the healing mercy of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit will cover and strengthen you and your family.

  38. OldNana: this Twitter thread from Beth Moore. I am LCMS and never in all my born days did I think I would be reading her stuff but I blame John MacArthur! After his rude comment about her, I started to follow her on Twitter to see what all the fuss was about.

    Ha! Funny how I took checked in on her to see what she was saying here and there after never having been a big fan and found mostly good things that just made those guys look mean.

    Lovely thread and my best to your family and to dee’s.

  39. I understand the sickness of children and the protective instincts that go into high alert for a mother. Take care of yourself so the stress of the current situation doesn’t cause further problems with your arthritis. Praying for healing and a peace that transcends all understanding for your entire family.

  40. Muff Potter: Remember, Mother Russia has never been conquered by an invader.

    Didn’t need to.
    Throughout history, the biggest enemy of the Russian people has been the Russian government.

  41. Dee, I am praying for you and your children. Praying for wisdom for the doctors and your family. Praying also for strength, peace, relief of pain and for healing. Your blog has been a real blessing/eye-opener for me and I thank you for this important work for the Body of Christ (the REAL Church).

  43. Hi Dee, I have psoriatic arthritis also but doing very well no pain
    I take methotrexate and Consentx. It works well. Originally did very well on enbril but it pooped out after a couple of years

    Will pray for your family and your ministry.

  44. dee — you’re such an awesome person. i appreciate so very much this forum you’ve created. this community. this very worthy cause. you have all my hope and faith for healing and strength for the journey.

  45. Hi Jeff

    I have a high pain tolerance and waited far too long to seek medical help. I currently take Methotrexate, Plaquenil and Xeljanz XR. Unfortunately, I have some destruction of my joints which results in some pain. To make matters worse, the disease attacked the nerve in my lower left leg which resulted in foot drop and I see a neurologist for that. I wish I had sought help sooner.You were smart and you are on a good combination of drugs. I’ll pray for you as well.

  46. Nick
    You are the best. Our Sunday dinner in the pub in Edinburgh is one of my favorite memories, despite the haggis on a burger.

  47. You are one of the stalwart faithfuls on this blog. I couldn’t get along without your wonderful comments.

  49. Dee,
    Muff and Mrs. Muff send prayers and solidarity from Southern Cal. to you and yours too.

  50. Dee, I cared for my mom in our home for 10+ years before she died at 94. I can’t imagine juggling appointments for adult children at the same time, not to mention the increased concern. Praying that God will give you supernatural peace and strength.

  51. Praying for you and your family.

    God bless. You do such amazing work that has great impact. (#ChurchToo).

    And then on national media you claimed to be “just a nobody”. Not true. Your work has & continues to – change many lives, and lift the real church to a higher place, while throwing light into the darkness shining a path out for the seekers.

    So appreciated. Ever grateful. Learned so much from reading your work & the comments, like those of Max, for example.

  52. I’m very sorry to hear this, Dee. The storms of life come upon us all and that is when faith, love, friendship and kindness reveal the true depth of their value. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please know how much your example means to me and has blessed my life. You are a beacon in a dark place, not just in speaking the truth but in your common-sense, straight talking, and wisdom. Thanks for providing this site, it means so much to me. God bless you and yours.

  54. Heavenly Father, please heal Dee’s children, give Dee comfort and strength, and raise up more Dees.

    Dee, feel free to email me when these burdens ease and we can share stories.

  56. You and your family are in my prayers Dee. Please remember to take care of yourself in the midst of all this.

  58. Dee,

    Keeping you and your family in my prayers. I’m sorry about all the illness in your family at the moment. Thank you for the time and thoughtfulness you put in on your blog. It is a blessing to so many as the comments confirm.

  59. Hi Dee, thinking of you and praying during this time. Phillipians 4:7. May the peace that passes understanding be with you at this time.

  60. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time, Dee. Thank you for having the courage to speak up against abusers and providing support for victims on this blog. You are appreciated and your ministry in this area is invaluable!

  62. I’m so sorry Dee. Praying for strength for you, and healing for your children, and the presence of Jesus to sustain all of you through this storm.

  63. Will be praying for you and yours, Dee. Undifferentiated spondylitis here, pa’s ‘cousin’. 🙂
    Took Methotrexate and Enbrel, now just Enbrel. I make a concerted effort to not be fearful of the future and the what-ifs. Peace.

  64. Dee and Fonty, I am so sorry that your arthritis was not caught quickly. Did you have Psoriasis prior to the Arthritis? My Psoriasis was so bad it got me to a Dermatologist who was very proactive and referred me to a rheumatologist very fast before much damage to my joints.

    Sometimes I think that our sicknesses are to teach us that we are not to get so attached to our fallen world. And it surely makes us more compassionate toward others.

    Something to think about: Isaiah 53.5 With his stripes we are healed. This verse is referenced in Matthew 8.17. when Jesus healed Peters mother in law. My baptist minister friend dropped his teeth when I showed his this. ultimately his atonement will take care of everything maybe not on earth but certainly when we see him.

    With Christian love, Jeff Allen

  65. I don’t comment much anymore but I check in frequently, always thankful for the kindness and reassurance I have found here, and the graciousness when I’ve crossed boundaries. Dee, you are the embodiment of goodness and apparently you have spread it wide. I seldom say that I will pray for anyone anymore, but I promise I will wrap you up in prayers and tuck those you love those they love inside.

  67. Dee, I’ve been praying for you and your family, and will continue to do so. All of us treasure you.