Bible Verse of Hope and Promise:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart heart; and
lean not unto thine own (emphasis mine) understanding. In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise
in thine own (emphasis mine) eyes: fear the LORD, and
depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy
bones.
Proverbs
3:5-8 KJV
Update:
Erin Hope went to Bethesda Maryland this past week to
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute
(NCI). She underwent extensive blood work, echocardiograms and CT
scans of her head, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and an MRI of her heart.
All of this was on Thursday. She was without food or drink for most of
12 hours. The short version of the results is that these tests showed
that there were more tumors in her lungs, liver and spleen. Also, the
echocardiogram showed a significantly large tumor in the left side of her
heart originating in the pulmonary vein (the vein coming from the lungs back
to the heart). The echocardiogram showed that her left ventricle has
normal function. Also, there showed to be a tumor on the outside of
the heart pressing into it. The MRI of her heart was sent to
Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. for review by their cardiothoracic
physicians. Open heart surgery could not be an option in light of the
recent brain surgery Erin Hope underwent the week before. And, she nor
did we, want her to go through that again. Also, the tumor in the
spleen had increased in size and looked as if it had perforated her
diaphragm (big muscle below the lungs causing the lungs to breathe in) and
encroaching into her left chest. Erin Hope feels well with the
exception that she is a little more tired than usual and occasionally
breathes a little faster. Also, the liver function tests came back too
high to qualify for the phase one clinical trial there at the NIH.
This all scared the doctors there and they admitted
her to the hospital to watch her overnight. The decision was made to
come back home to have traditional chemotherapy. The doctors at
the NIH told us that it would be advisable if she had chemo "sooner
than later". She was admitted to Baptist Hospital in
Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday night and received chemo Sunday and Monday
mornings and came home Monday afternoon. She feels well and has not gotten
sick from the chemo. Praise the Lord!
Now, all of this sounds really scary. The
doctors up at the NIH told Erin Hope's doctor at Baptist that to look
at her on paper and scans does not look the same as seeing her personally.
They would expect her to look much worse. Folks, this is just the
hand of God on her life and body. But, Erin Hope and her parents
have claimed that she will recover: I shall not die, but live, and
declare the works of the LORD. Psalms 118:17 KJV
Just like the bible verse at the beginning of this update. We cannot
be discouraged by worsening symptoms but we must rely on what God's word
tells us. Faith is not really faith if it is wavered by
circumstances. It is easy to have more faith when symptoms
improve or things are going well. The real test of faith comes when
our senses and our human intellect tells us that there is no hope.
Folks, there is hope, even more than hope, there are promises from
God's Holy Word that we must stand on.
There are many other scriptures in which we base our
faith in the healing that Jesus Christ gives for us all. We
will share some of those scriptures as we continue to update you.
God bless you and we love you all so much.
Please continue praying and claiming it.
God is good...ALL the time!!!