KATHY J. COLEMAN CANCER TREATMENT UPDATES |
| Friday December 28, 2007
Hello Friends and Family,
I had my Herceptin treatment this morning. All is well. My blood counts are down just a little but they are o.k. for me to take my treatment.
Guess what? John Rausch - for those of you who do not know him, he is Rod's sister's father-in-law - and I were side by side this morning in our lazyboys at the chemo room. Freddie, John's wife, and Rod brought John and I our drinks and crackers and we just layed back, enjoyed the pampering and enjoyed our treatments. One thing that John said that is something I have felt along was this - he said, "I never thought I would be the one in this chair". I shared with him that every time I am in there, I have the same feeling. But guess what? God wanted John to say that. You know why? Well, I will share with you why.....
There was a lady across the room from us that was there for the first time getting her chemo - the dreaded adriamycin drug that I took - and she heard John say that. I had watched this lady all morning because she kept crying and her husband would sit right beside her to try to console her. When I finished my treatment, God urged me to go talk with her. I shared with her that I knew how she felt and that I had my first chemo treatment one year ago today. She said to me - "You know when you and that man were talking, I heard you both say that you could not believe you were here in these chairs. That is exactly how I feel." She still kept crying but I assured her that I would pray for her and that she could call me anytime. Do you see how God orchestrated that just for that precious lady? God knew from the beginning of time that this particular lady would need John to say that at that very moment this morning. This is way too cool and exciting!!
I personally want to thank so many of you for your prayers for me during this time and prayers for Rod and the business. Rod and I are learning that God is so much more powerful than we ever imagined. No, life is not perfect - we still have business woes - life is still stressful - but God is saying to us that He is with us in the good times and in the bad times.
Also, Rod and I are so thankful for the time we had with our families at Thanksgiving and at Christmas. We are learning to CELEBRATE LIFE even in trying circumstances. My GREATEST desire is that all of Rod's business woes would be over immediately but that does not seem to be God's plan. My devotion today from "Streams in the Desert" goes like this:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Phil. 4:4 -
Sing a little song of trust, O my heart! Sing it just because you must, As leaves start; As flowers push their way through dust; Sing, my heart, because you must. Wait not for an eager throng- Bird on bird; It's the sollitary song That is heard. Every voice at dawn will start, Be a nightingale, my heart! Sing across the winter snow, Pierce the cloud; Sing when mists are drooping low- Clear and loud; But sing sweetest in the dark; He who slumbers not will hark. And when He hears you sing, He will bend down a smile on HIs kind face. As He cheerfully listens, He will say, "Sing on, dear child, I hear you and I am coming to deliver you. I will carry that load for you. So just lean hard on Me, and the road will get smoother by and by."
I told Rod one day that I should have had cancer earlier in my life. Through this journey, I have learned more than I ever could have in the great and prosperous times in our lives. Yes, I can truly say that I am thankful for this cancer journey.
The reason I send this to all of you is because so many of you want to know where I still am with my treatments. I finish the Herceptin treatments in March 2008 and will get my port out in April 2008.
May God richly bless your lives and may you feel His presence in 2008 in ways you could not ever imagine!!!
To God Be The Glory!!
Kathy, Phil. 4:13
Thursday, September 20, 2007
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:14-15a Jump as a child jumps confidently into the waiting arms of his daddy, you, as God’s child, can fall into His arms, then snuggle in the comfort of His embrace. Give all you have and all you are to the One you can totally trust. Taken from the Moms In Touch International Stand Firm calendar
My times are in your hands are five very strong words. Rod and I are in a process of learning this fact from God’s word. It is so hard to trust and believe that God can truly take care of every detail in our lives. It is so hard to “walk by faith and not by sight”. It is so hard to see that God goes before us as we pray, as we seek His face, have faith, and believe that He is our banner, our Jehovah Nissi. Believing is just sometimes VERY HARD but God knew that. His word is full of encouragement for us to keep on keeping on no matter what the trial is in our lives. But there is something I want to truly learn from this cancer journey and that is – My times are in God’s hands. God is in control. I am not. He will make a way when there seems to be no way. He is the Great I Am and He is King of King and Lord of Lords.
This week I had another Herceptin treatment. I have 9 more to go and will finish in March of 2008. I have experienced some tiredness but have learned to just take a nap when I need to. Also, I had a muga scan last week and there have been some slight changes since we began treatment. Please pray that God will protect all my organs as I continue this treatment.
May God bless each of you today in all that you do. May God show us His ways are perfect and that His timing is perfect. I thank you for your love, concern, prayers, and support!
Don’t forget to CELEBRATE LIFE!!
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory; to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16 NASB Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be a stronger person. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. From the Hand in Hand devotional calendar
Have a wonderful day! Kathy, Phil. 4:13
Friday, June 29, 2007
Summon your power, O God; show us your strength. (Psalm 68:28)
CELEBRATE LIFE!
This past Monday I started my Herceptin treatments which will be every 3 weeks until March of 2008. Again, I thank God for my doctors and all the wonderful people who work for them! I thank my husband with all my heart who is my hero!
There is something that God continues to show me over and over through this journey – WAIT and PRAY without giving up. “The LORD is my strength” to sit still. And what a difficult accomplishment this is! I often say to others during those times when I am compelled to be still, “If only I could do something!” I feel like the mother who stands by her sick child but is powerless to heal. What a severe test! Yet to do nothing except to sit still and WAIT requires tremendous strength.” From The Streams in the Desert devotional book by L.B. Cowman.
This devotional reminds me of a wonderful, beautiful, kind, and devoted Christian lady who is no longer on this earth – my mother. My mother was the best at WAITING that I have ever seen. She believed that God truly would take care of everything in her life. Because she lived this life, she continued to serve Him until the day she died no matter what her circumstances were. So this I know – WAITING is possible if we PRAY and DO NOT GIVE UP.
My challenge to you today and to me is this – WAIT and DON’T GIVE UP! I don’t know what your challenge is but I know that these things can either make us better or bitter. Let us make a choice today to be BETTER with God’s strength. I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except those things outside the will of God.
“The Battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s!”
Celebrating Life,
Kathy
Thursday, June 7, 2007 RADIATION is OVER!!!
RADIATION is over as of this past Tuesday!!! Yeah!! I Praise God for every doctor, nurse, receptionist, office personnel, radiation personnel – they have all made the journey a blessing. I Praise God for my wonderful caregiver – my husband, Rod. I love you with all my heart. And I thank my heavenly Father for giving me the strength to get this far….He is worthy to be praised!!!
Thanks goes to so many of you for your encouraging words through emails and cards. Thank you with all my heart! I cherish each word from you.
At this time, I will begin the Herceptin treatment the end of this month. I will get these treatments every 3 weeks until the end of March 2008.
So many of you continue to ask me what God has shown me thus far…..He keeps saying to me – “Wait”. I want to learn to wait on Him and not panic in whatever my circumstances are. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7. The Message translation says it this way, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:6-7 are verses that my mother taught me my whole life to live by. I saw her live this life and it is a powerful way to live. This is what I want for my life – to WAIT and not be ANXIOUS for anything.
Again, I am very thankful for the “Streams in the Desert” devotional by L.B. Cowman that has meant so much to me through this cancer journey. Listen to parts of this devotion that started out with Matt. 26:41, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Dear friend, never go out into the danger of the world without praying first. There is always a temptation to shorten your time in prayer. After a difficult day of work, when you kneel at night to pray with tired eyes, do not use your drowsiness as an excuse to resign yourself to early rest. Then when the morning breaks and you realize you have overslept, resist the temptation to skip your early devotion or to hurry through it. Once again, you have not taken the time to “watch and pray.” Your alertness has been sacrificed, and I firmly believe there will be irreparable damage. You have failed to pray, and you will suffer as a result. We do not know all that Jesus gained from His time in prayer, but we do know this---a life without prayer is a powerless life. It may be a life filled with a great deal of activity and noise, but it will be far removed from Him who day and night prayed to God.
This is a very challenging devotion, isn’t it? May God teach all of us to “Watch and Pray…” I pray God’s blessings on each of you who read this email. Thank you so much for your care, concern and prayers.
Glory to God! Kathy, Phil. 4:13
May 9, 2007 - Wednesday In Phil. 4:13, Paul said, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.
Sometimes we just want to give up……..
My dear husband shared with me about the above verse this week saying that it does not mean we could decide to jump off the Empire State building and God would give us the strength to do that. No, God also gave us a BRAIN to use when we do things that we know without a doubt that will cause us harm and the ones around us harm. If I truly felt I could do ANYTHING and God would give me the strength to do it, I would not have a true understanding of God’s ways.
Don’t you remember telling a little white lie in grade school and all the while thinking it was not a big deal? Then as we told another lie it would become easier and the next one easier and the next and the next….. There ARE consequences of us thinking we can do ANYTHING without believing there will be consequences for it.
You may be asking yourself, “What in the world does this have with my update?” Well, good question. You know I could have chosen not to do anything about the cancer diagnosis I received back in November of 2006. I could have ignored my doctor’s advice about going through chemo and radiation. It was my choice. But Rod and I prayed and we felt the chemo/radiation was the best way to go.
Through this journey we have met some of the most amazing people in the world. Some of these people we don’t even know their names but a SMILE was what they needed for that day. The reason I know that is what they need is because MANY days I just need a SMILE. A SMILE gets me to the next second – the next minute – the next day.
The journeys we take in life are for a reason. God puts us in many places and allows us to go through many trials that we DO NOT want to go through. But through all of these things, our lives are to touch others for Jesus Christ. Do we fail at this may days? YES. But God loves us anyway and can use us in spite of who we are. Does that amaze you? I know it does me.
As I talked with a precious new friend of mine this week, she assured me that we all have issues in our lives. None of us have reached perfection in our families, in our friendships, in relationships at work, etc. We are all a work in process which God calls “sanctification”. I think God has a LOT of work to do on me. Actually, I know He does.
I want to thank so many of you who have emailed me, sent me a card, called me, etc. etc. – Rod and I are overwhelmed. It is such a blessing to still be getting cards in the mail each day. They are my lifeline during so many days of my life. Thank you with all my heart. And above all, thank you Rod.
During the last few weeks and now, I have wanted to give up. That is why I am learning that a card, a message, a prayer, or a smile can get a person through a day. I am living this life. There are things in my life that I have found that are worse than a cancer diagnosis. I will not go into any details but these “things” have made me want to give up. But guess what my devotion was this morning from my faithful devotional book – “Streams in the Desert” by L.B. Cowman said? Here goes:
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD…WAIT for the LORD; be STRONG and let your heart TAKE COURAGE. (Psalm 27:13-14)
Do not despair!
Oh, how great the temptation is to despair at times! Our soul becomes depressed and disheartened, and our faith staggers under the severe trials and testing that come into our lives, especially during times of bereavement and suffering. We may come to the place where we say, “I cannot bear this any longer. I am close to despair under these circumstances God has allowed. He tells me not to despair, but what am I supposed to do when I am at this point?” What have you done in the past when you felt weak physically? You could not DO anything. You CEASED from doing. In your weakness, you leaned on the shoulder of a strong loved one. You leaned completely on someone else and rested, becoming still and trusting in another’s strength. It is the same when you are tempted to despair under spiritual afflictions. Once you have come close to the point of despair, God’s message is not, “Be strong and courageous” (Josh 1:6), for He knows that your strength and courage have run away. Instead, He says sweetly, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). Hudson Taylor was so weak and feeble in the last few months of his life that he told a friend, “I am so weak I cannot write. I cannot ready my Bible. I cannot even pray. All I can do is lie still in the arms of God as a little child, trusting Him.” This wonderful man of God, who had great spiritual power, came to the point of physical suffering and weakness where all he could do was lie still and trust. That is all God asks of you as His dear child. When you become weak through the fierce fierce fires of affliction, do not try to “be strong.” Just “be still, and know that (He is) God.” And know that He will sustain you and bring you through the fire.” God reserves His best medicine for our times of deepest despair. Be strong and take heart. Psalm 27:14 Be strong, He has not failed you In all the past, And will He go and leave you To sink at last? No, He said He will hide you Beneath His wing; And sweetly there in safety You then may sing.
I pray that God will strengthen you today in whatever you have facing you. My husband, Rod, keeps teaching me to simply believe for today – “Give us our daily bread.” I want to learn that with all my heart.
God bless you! Thank you also for sharing with me how this website has blessed your heart. Glory to God in the Highest! “Without Him – we can do nothing.”
Love in Christ – Kathy, John 3:16
April 18th, Wednesday
Blessings to each of you!
Today, I found out that I will start Radiation treatments tomorrow afternoon. The last Radiation treatment will be June 5th and I am already looking forward to that.
I would appreciate your prayers for the days ahead.
Also, would you please pray for the Neuropathy - the numbness in my fingers and toes - which is a side effect of the chemo? This can go on for a very long time after chemo and some have even reported that it never goes away. Would you please pray that this goes away? Thank you with all my heart.
Thanks so much to each of you and I will be writing more in the next few days!
Thank you - Kathy
April 7, 2007 – Saturday
Last Chemo is finished!!!
Blessings to Everyone,
This past Wednesday was an exciting day for Rod and me. Chemo #8 is over! Yeah! The staff at the Hembree Cancer Center are the most wonderful people in the world. They make chemo days a delight. Their attitudes are amazing and we thank God for each one of them and their hearts. We love you all!
My radiation treatments will probably start around April 23rd. As soon as I find out the date, I will put it on the website.
What have I learned through these 8 chemo treatments? What have I learned since finding out last November, 2006 that I had breast cancer? These are two questions that I have been asked often. There are so MANY things that I have learned that it is hard not to write a complete book on those two questions.
Most of all, I have learned that my husband is the greatest caregiver in the world. He truly has the patience of Job. Rod has had the hardest 3 years of his life in business but he still has the love and patience to care for me and continues to walk this walk as we begin radiation treatments. This can only be explained by the love of God in his life. Rod, you are my HERO. I have learned, honey, that you love me more than life itself. Thank you.
I have learned that I must CELEBRATE LIFE. Kim Norman, thank you for that wonderful “Celebrate Life” plate that you gave me for my birthday back in November, 2006 that had this saying on it. There was no way I would know how much those two words would come to mean to me but God knew. CELEBRATE LIFE – what does that mean? That means living each day believing that God has a purpose and a plan for each second of every day of my life. No matter what comes my way, I must believe that God is in control and I must ask God to give me the grace and strength to go through each day no matter what it may hold. Have I arrived at this? Absolutely not but I know that this is what God desires for me to do.
From the beginning of November when I learned I had breast cancer, God gave me one word that has stuck with me from the beginning – Contentment. I desired with all my heart to learn what Contentment was all about and how a woman can live this kind of life – a life of Contentment. Then God used Barbara Helm, a dear friend of mine, to send me a book by Linda Dillow called – “Calm My Anxious Heart – A Woman’s Guide to Finding Contentment”. In my heart, I didn’t think I would read this book during my chemo journey but God kept urging me to pick it up and read it.
I would like to recommend this book to all women. One paragraph that had a great impact on me was the following: “If we want to be women of contentment, we must choose to accept our portion, our assigned roles from God. We must make the choice to dwell on the positive aspects of our role in life. If we don’t, we’ll be discontent, always wanting something different from what we’ve been given.” This is Powerful – this is truth – this is simply what life is all about. Every second of every day I make choices. Our God gives all of us free choice. I want with all my heart to live a life of contentment and yes, I am a work in progress but women, let’s choose a LIFE OF CONTENTMENT with God’s help. It is not possible any other way than through HIM.
Again, I thank each of you for your love, prayers, concern, gift cards, food, prayers, hugs, cards, phone calls, smiles, etc. God has truly blessed Rod and I with great people to encourage us like we never imagined. Thank you so much! We would not be here today without your support. Rod and I thank God for each of you who have shown us such kindness during this time in our lives. Thank you again and again.
God bless you and I will be writing more next week!
Glory to God in the Highest!
Kathy, John 3:16
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend, Debbie Griffis today!!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 Hello Everyone, I cannot thank each of you enough for ALL YOUR PRAYERS! Have I told you that when I asked for prayer for the rash that was on me it went away? I have not had any trouble with a rash since that time. Thank you so very much for your prayers! Last Wednesday, I had Chemo #7! I only have one more left! Yeah - Praise the Lord! The days following Chemo #7 have been easier than the times before. Thank God for wonderful doctors who know how to prescribe the right kind of meds to get through these days. The nurses and Dr. Mackey are WONDERFUL! Over the weekend, Rod and I had the privilege of planting flowers together and oh, how we enjoyed the amazing weather we have had. Each day is so precious. We are so THANKFUL for the good days! Actually, we have learned to be so THANKFUL for so many things we took for granted. May I share a devotion with you that so speaks to my heart? Psalm 40:2, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." "Troubles can seem to pour down like rain and rather than drain away, only collect around us. The believer is like a plant growing in the raised bed. God did not promise to remove us from every difficult situation we face. Instead, He enables us to rise above it. Ironically, rising above initially requires bending down. We must admit our own inability to handle things and then "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10). God will place anyone who humbly cries to Him for help in a raised bed high above their troubles. We are told, "The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down (Ps. 145:14). As He does, our fears will simply drain away." From the devotional book, "A Perennial Faith" by Patricia Mondore My mother taught me early in life to enjoy working in the yard and planting flowers. She had such a love for trees, flowers, and all the beauty of the outdoors. I can remember my mother praying over a meal and thanking God for the flowers, the trees, the sunshine, the rain, the green grass, etc. before she ever prayed over the meal. It was not until this cancer journey that I finally realize why Mother thanked God for all the beauty of God's creation. Mother saw things through "thankful eyes". My Mother so appreciated the little things in life and she thanked God daily for the many things I have so taken for granted. One thing I have learned through this journey is that I want to see life through "thankful eyes". Why do we have to go through painful times to have "thankful eyes"? May God bless each of you "exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine". Thank you for caring and praying. Thank you for encouraging not just me but my precious husband. Thank you for your prayers for him as well as for me. We feel each and everyone of them. Thank you! "Walk by faith and not by sight", Kathy
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
Hello Everyone! “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is such a powerful verse if we allow it to be in our lives. It is not such an easy thing to do sometimes, is it?
Today, I had my Herceptin injection which takes about 1 hour. Also, I had blood work done and my liver count is high. They have asked me to drink, drink, drink, and drink some more fluids. So please pray that I will drink all I need to and that this count will go down to where it needs to be. If it doesn’t, then I have to have an ultra sound on my liver.
Many of you have asked how it has been after last Wednesday’s Chemo Day…..all was fine Wednesday and Thursday and then Friday morning at my Moms In Touch prayer group time, my bones began to ache. Praise God for pain medication but nothing seems to take it completely away.
What is the good news? I had the privilege of going to a Razorback Baseball game on Saturday with Rod, Elizabeth and Justin. Rod found him and me a shady place to sit behind home plate and I slept a lot on his shoulder. Now, that is my definition of a REAL MAN who will take his bald wife to a baseball game and let her sleep on his shoulder and not be embarrassed one bit. We had a blessed time.
Saturday night was not good so I was unable to go to church Sunday morning but we had our precious Small Group over Sunday night at our home. Great time – I love you, Small Group!
Thank you for praying!! Yesterday, God stopped the pain that morning and I had the blessing of teaching “Loving Your Husband” to the Ft. Smith First Baptist Church Apples of Gold group. They blessed my heart – all the mentors and mentees. If you are reading this and your church has not brought this program to your church – YOU NEED TO. Email me if you need details on how to bring this to your church – it is powerful, just powerful!
This afternoon, I have driven to Little Rock to attend a Mother/Daughter Evening at Elizabeth’s church. I will spend the night with Justin and Elizabeth and head home in the morning. “Thank you, Jesus, for the strength to be here for this special evening with my daughter.” I’ll update you on how this goes….I can’t imagine what this is all about. Ha. Today, I was blessed by young man who was probably around 25 years-old and he doesn’t even know he blessed me. I stopped by T.J. Maxx and More in Conway, AR – (eat your heart out, girls), and as I was checking out this precious young man kept staring at me. I had my bandana and baseball cap on and while I was writing my check he said to me, “Mam, are you having a good day?” I thought for a moment and almost started crying. There was no reason to cry at that moment but his heart was very evident to me. He had to of experienced a mom, a sister, an aunt – someone who has been through this cancer journey. His eyes and the way he said, “Mam, are you having a good day?” – showed his very tender heart.
Actually, I hesitated before I spoke a word and I responded, “Yes, this is a very good day for me and I am trying to learn to CELEBRATE LIFE.” He said, “Well, now you go and have the best day you could possibly have.” Then he gave me a most precious smile that said to my heart, “I don’t know you but I care about you and so does Jesus.” He has NO WAY of knowing what his smile and words meant to me. Truly, I believe he was an angel placed by God to touch lives. His words and concern really took me by surprise. I cried most of the way to Little Rock…..the power of God’s Holy Spirit was very evident in that young man’s life.
So I say all of that to say this – we don’t have to say THOUSANDS of words to touch a life. A simple smile and a “Mam, now you have a great day” – is really enough. I need to learn that lesson in my life, do you? Do you spend hours talking to others about YOURSELF and never asking others how they are doing? Do you just enjoy talking about yourself, yourself and then some more about yourself?
I have so much to learn…..
May God bless each of you. Thank you for caring and praying for us. Thank you for all you are doing to touch our lives.
Glory to God in the Highest, Kathy, John 3:16
Chemo #6 - Finished Today!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Dear Friends and Family, As I shared earlier, I started a new chemo drug, Taxol, last Weds. - Feb. 21st. I did really good that day and on Thursday but Friday afternoon, I started experiencing bone pain and abdominal pain. Unfortunately, I was unable to go to church Sunday and am just getting some relief as of today. I am asking for your prayers for next Wednesday, March 7th when I take this drug again.
I also have a rash now from the steriods that I receive with my chemo treatments. It makes me want to scratch my skin off but I am taking Benedryl to stop that. Please pray for the healing of this rash.
Yesterday, was one of those days when I started feeling sorry for myself. When I washed clothes, I would cry - when I folded clothes, I would cry - when I took a walk, I cried then it was like God said to me - "Kathy, go work on your Sunday School lesson." The lesson is in 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the PRAISES of HIM who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." This became very powerful in my life as I began to Praise God for His mercies which are "new every morning." And how God had taken me out of the "darkness" of sin into his "WONDERFUL LIGHT." There is no brighter light than JESUS. And the sun was shining so brightly yesterday - how could I not see Jesus? Right at that moment I had to make a decision - will I turn from darkness to light or will I give in to the darkness?
God said to me, "Kathy, you are not alone. I hear your cries. I care and I love you more than you can imagine. I love you so much that I died on the cross for you. Praise me and you will feel better." So I did and guess what? It WORKS!
Do you also know how when you are down and just the smallest thing can make you sad? Well, the pad to our garage door had lost its' cover somehow in all the wind this weekend. It made me cry because getting a new one would probably involve getting a whole new pad. So as I walked up and down our driveway I began to pray for God to help me find that cover. As I walked along our fence, I saw this white thing and I was almost scared to go look. Why? Because I knew that if it was the key pad cover, I HAD to get out of pity party. It WAS the key pad cover. There is NO WAY that cover should have still been on our property. I laughed and praised God for his mighty power which is more than I can fathom. God even knows where our key pad cover is......HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!
Then God urged me to begin the study of Daniel by Beth Moore that our ladies are doing on Wednesdays at East Side. So once again, I got back in God's word which is truly "sharper than a double-edged sword." This made me Praise God even more for how he used Daniel and his friends who were probably only around the age of 15 when they were taken into captivity into Babylon. These young men are so encouraging in how they stood for God at such a young age. Then my sister, Dianna, calls this morning to share how this Daniel study is also blessing her life. One thing she shared really stuck with me and I hope will you also. She said that Beth Moore shares how when we get that dreaded diagnosis that first - we want a miracle. Then next if we don't get the miracle, we want the eventual healing but what we don't want is - GOD'S WILL - whatever that may be. This is so true. "Lord, don't give me the hard journey - I prefer the easy one." I do, don't you?
May you feel God's presence in every decision you make today, in every place that you walk, in every face that you see, in every trial that you face - in everything. And we can feel that presence because HE IS THERE. HE IS ALWAYS THERE. When in doubt....read God's word. When lonely....read God's word. When afraid....read God's word. When you get the diagnosis.....read God's word. When your business is in trouble....read God's word. When your family has issues....read God's word. I think God is showing me that in all things - turn to God's word. He has ALL THE ANSWERS if we will but seek His face, listen to Him and pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. "Pray without ceasing."
Thank you for caring, praying and listening to me. May God speak to you today from this journey of mine.
Glory to God in the Highest!
Kathy, John 3:16
Thursday afternoon, February 22nd, 2007
Dear Friends and Family
Yesterday, I started the new chemo drug, Taxol, that I will be taking for the next three treatments. It is easier than the first four and I can already tell that. Praise the Lord! I also started Herceptin yesterday which is a hormone drug that I will receive for a year. I will be taking this every week up until I start radiation. They do not give Herceptin with radiation so I will start it back up after I finish radiation. Yesterday, we were at the doctor's office for 8 hours. It took about 6 hours and 45 miniutes for the all the drugs to go into my body. My husband was by my side the whole time. A dear friend, Brenda Yelvington, has written a beautiful song about me that she has taken from my chemo updates and from Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." The song's title is "Free". I want to share the words of it with you: Free Verse 1: "Here I am again, Lord. On my knees again, Lord, How I hate what is happening to me, But I feel your grace, The warmth of your embrace, As you guide me on the pathyway to be free. Chorus: Free to Love, Free to be, Free to claim God's love for me. And free to walk in His light, Free to believe He'll make things right. And free to do - do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Verse 2: It's seems so hard sometimes and so unfair, That you would ask - that you would ask to bring me here. But I'll lean on you, And trust your heart - Knowing that - that this journey will set me free. Chorus: Free to Love, and Free to be, And free to claim God's love for me. And free to walk in His light, Free to believe He'll make things right, And free to do - do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Verse 3: And nothing, nothing can separate me from His love, And I am free - free to celebrate, celebrate whatever comes. I am free - free to do all things - all things - all things Through Christ who strengthens me - who strengthens me - who strengthens me.
This is a very powerful song for all of us. If you would like a copy of this song, I will be glad to get you one for $5.00. Brenda, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your gifts and talents have and continue to bless many lives. Thank you. Again, I thank all of you for your prayers, love and concern for my family and myself. We feel your prayers. Please continue to pray for my Rod and our business. He continues to be Jesus in my life. Because of your prayers, I was able to speak at Community Bible Church this past Thursday evening. It was a wonderful time with the women there who were so welcoming. I spoke on "Life is Not About us and How This Affects Our Prayer Life." I thank Debbie, Melinda and Leigh for helping me that evening. Thanks to Rebecca and Terry for such a lovely evening. May God's richest blessings be on each of you today. I pray this update will bless your life. I pray the words of this song is exactly what you needed in your life today. Glory to God in the Highest, Kathy, Isaiah 20:12, NIV - "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."
Sunday Afternoon,
February 11th, 2007
Dear Friends and Family,
I finished #4 Chemo treatment this past Wednesday. The nausea was not in my life this time but I have been extremely tired. But Praise God I was able to go to Sunday School this morning to hear my friend, Merry Beth Anderson, teach a powerful lesson from Esther on "Taking Risk." It blessed my heart! I am learning more every day why my parents MADE me go to church. The word of God is truly "powerful than a double-edged sword." The word of God this morning in my life gave me a PASSION to keep fighting the fight.
A precious and wise younger friend of mine, Heather Helm, said to me this afternoon - "Sometimes we need a PASSION in our lives that pushes us forward." How true these words are....that is exactly what God's word being taught did for me this morning. I did not get to attend church but enjoyed watching First Baptist when we got home. What a blessing for God to provide church services on the television. I have never been so grateful for that in my life until now.
There are no words to describe what my precious husband means to me. He fixed the most amazing lunch today with hamburger steak, green beans, corn, and mashed potatoes. My mother would be so proud of him for how he is taking care of me. I must thank his parents, Buddy and Patsy Coleman, for raising such a fine, godly and caring young man. He is a true servant of God wherever he is. I am blessed ABUNDANTLY to have him in my life.
Again, I want to share with each of you from Mrs. L.B. Cowman's devotional book, "Streams in the Desert". This devotional book has been powerful in my life through so many trials and tribulations that Rod and I have endured. This is from February 8th: "Surely I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20), "Never look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear. Instead, as they arise look at them with the FULL ASSURANCE that God, whose you are, will DELIVER YOU out of them. Hasn't He kept you safe up to now? So hold His loving hand tightly, and He will lead you safely through all things. And when you cannot stand, He will carry you in His arms.Do not look ahead to what MAY happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you can bear it. Be at peace, then and set aside all ANXIOUS thoughts and worries. "The LORD is my shepherd. (Psalm 23:1) Not WAS, not MAY BE, nor WILL BE. "The LORD IS my shepherd. He IS on Sunday, on Monday, and through every day of the week. He IS in January, in December, and every month of the year. He IS when I'm at home and in China. He IS during peace or war, and in times of abundance or poverty."
Do you know why that devotional was so powerful at that particular moment? Because Rod and I were laying in bed the night I was going to read this and I looked over at him and Rod was just laying there looking up at the ceiling. I asked him, "Honey, what are you thinking about?" He said, "Well, I guess I am anxious for what tomorrow holds, next week, next month, and next year." I shared with him that I was also very anxious about life and we both thought of the verse from Philippians, "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." After we quoted that, I began to read this above devotional and there it was, "Do not look ahead to what MAY happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you can bear it. Be at peace, then and set aside all ANXIOUS thoughts and worries."
Wow! You know how that happens.....God puts a scripture, an email, a phone call, a card, a devotional, a message...in your life and it is in HIS PERFECT TIMING. Rod and I were so blessed by this devotional and I pray you are today. I have to read it over and over to know that My God will Strengthen me for whatever the next second, day or month holds. Praise Him From Whom All Blessings Flow!
I want to thank so many of you who have poured into our lives. The food, the emails, the cards, the gifts, the books, the phone calls, the love, the suppport, the kindness, the PRAYERS, the hugs, the visits - all these things are what money cannot buy. We treasure each of you and your concern for our lives. Thank you. We never knew people could care so much.
Would you please pray for me as I speak at Community Bible Church this coming Thursday evening, February 15th? Please pray that my blood counts will be up when they are taken on Wednesday, the 14th so I can speak in God's strength and not in my weakness. I will also have a Muga Scan of my heart on Wednesday afternoon and please pray that it will show that my heart is as in good of a condition as it was when I started Chemo.
I would like to end by wishing the love of my life a VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. Who knew - but God that when my mother prayed for you in my life that it would be "for such a time as this?" I love you, my Rod, with everything in my heart and soul. And thank you to my precious Rob and Jessica and Elizabeth and Justin for your love, visits, prayers, and support for me.
God bless you all and may this update be just what you needed to read at this very moment in your life. This is my prayer.
Love in Christ,
Kathy Jo, John 3:16
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Blood Count Report from yesterday
Good Afternoon!
Yesterday's Blood Count Report shows that most of my counts are down again. Per my wonderful husband and caregiver, I am doing my best to behave myself and take my daily naps. The naps really do help give me strength. Again, I cannot thank my husband enough for all he is doing to get me through this journey. He has been willing to stop wearing cologne, find moisturizing lotion that has no smell, find hand soap that doesn't smell, willing to find food that taste right - you name it, he has been willing..... Now, there is a thought - "being willing" - that is my Rod. I am so blessed to have him. Thank you, Mother, for all your prayers for my mate in life. "PRAYING MOMS MAKE A DIFFERNCE"
One day this week, a precious friend said she wanted to get with me to see what I have learned so far through this cancer journey. So I have begun to think and pray about what God is really teaching me.
One thing He has taught me is that I DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE STRONG. I have probably cried more tears in front of Rod in last 2 weeks than I have my whole married life. All my life, I felt I had to be strong for my parents in caring for them in their illnesses and even through their deaths. Two words were always in my mind, "Be Strong, Kathy. Be Strong." While I was the baby of the 4 siblings, I still had this in my heart. Now, I am learning to cry and cry some more. It is REFRESHING.
The word "refreshing" brings my devotional on January 30th from Streams in the Desert to my mind: "I will be like the dew to Israel." (Hosea 14:5) - "The dew is a source of Freshness. It is nature's provision for renewing the face of the earth. It falls at night, and without it vegetation would die. It is that great renewal value of the dew that is so often recognized in the Scriptures and used as a symbol of spiritual refreshment. Just as nature is bathed in dew, the Lord renews His people. In Titus 3:5 the same thought of spiritual refreshment is connected with the ministry of the Holy Spirit and referred to as "renewal by the Holy Spirit." Many Christian workers do not recognize the importance of the heavenly dew in their lives, and as a result lack freshness and energy. Their spirits are withered and droopy for lack of dew. Beloved fellow worker, you recognize the folly of a laborer attempting to work all day without eating, but do you recognize the folly of a servant of God attempting to minister wihtout eating of the heavenly manna? Every day you must receive the "renewal by the Holy Spirit." Quietness and stillness bring the dew. And spiritual dew comes from quietly lingering in the Master's presence. Get still before Him, for haste will prevent you from receiving the dew. Wait before God until you feel saturated with His presence. Then move on to your next duty with the awareness of the freshness and energy of Christ. Dew will never appear while there is either heat or wind. The temperature must fall, the wind cease, and the air come to a point of coolness and rest-absolute rest-before the invisible particles of moisture will become dew to dampen any plant or flower. And the grace of God does not come forth to bring rest and renewal to our soul until we completely reach the point of stillness before Him."
So the second thing God has shown me that in "quietness and stillness" is when I will be "renewed by God's Holy Spirit." Did I already know this? Yes, but I have had PLENTY of quiet and stillness. Sometimes I am listening to God and talking to Him and sometimes I am upset with God so I don't listen. But when I do listen.....God is powerful and I am different. I don't know about you but I need A LOT more time of "quietness and stillness."
May God bless each of you....I want to close with something I said to Rod one night this week and how God spoke to me the next morning about my words. Now being the Founder of the Mom's Day of Prayer and a speaker on "Loving Your Husband Makes Sense", I am almost embarrassed to share this but not that much. I said to Rod, "You don't need my prayers, you need _________ from me." The devotional calendar the next morning said, "There is no more significant involvement in another's life than prevailing, consistent prayer. It is more helpful than a gift of money, more encouraging than a strong sermon, more effective than a compliment, more reassuring than a physical embrace." (Quote from Charles Swindoll)
Prayer is the MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO FOR ANYONE so thank you from the bottom of my heart for ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS FOR Rod, me and my family.
We are blessed by your love, concern, care, and prayers,
Kathy, Proverbs 3:5-6
Friday, January 26, 2007 - Update from Kathy Hello Everyone,
I want to thank all of you who have signed the Website Guest Book. Your words are very encouraging and uplifting. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Again, thanks to all of you for the ways you are blessing Rod and me through these days. Thank you so very much!
This past Wednesday was Chemo #3 and there are 5 more to go. I wish each of you could have seen Rod serving people. He was going around asking those receiving Chemo and those sitting with them if they needed something to drink or eat. You see, there are all kinds of snacks and drinks for the chemo patients and their guests. Rod was the example of a true servant as usual. You don't have to ask if Rod Coleman is a follower of Jesus Christ because you only have to watch him serve. I loved to watch the look on people's faces when he would ask them if they needed something.....they were in shock and then they would let Rod get them something. I am so grateful for my precious husband.
Wednesday night was a rough one but we got the meds to working properly. Thursday I went to work and today my bones are aching from the Nulasta shot which I received yesterday. But this Nulasta shot is a miracle drug in the way it will eventually bring my blood counts back up.
Today is such a beautiful day with the gorgeous sunshine. I am so thankful God has so graciously given us such a beautiful day.
If any of you are going through this cancer journey or you are the caregiver of someone with cancer, I would highly recommend the book, "Abiding In His Strength", by Gwen Wilkerson. Gwen's husband is David Wilkerson, Pastor of the Times Square Church in New York City. I love how open Gwen is in her book in explaining when she first found out about the cancer in her body: "David and I were careful to avoid the words "cancer" as we talked and prayed together, but I was acutely aware of his concern. Several times I caught him staring at me with a a worried, pained expression that fed my growing anxiety. Each of us, however, was determined to put on a brave front for the others and for our family - an effort which deprived us of the opportunity to deal openly and honestly with the fears that were welling up within each of us. When it was time to go to the hospital for surgery, I was wearied beyond belief from the effort of pretending I was not upset about what lay ahead. As soon as I was alone, I began to cry out to Jesus."
This is exactly where I got to last week as I dealt with some strong emotional anxieties after getting my hair cut very very short last Tuesday evening. Then on Weds. morning - more hair would fall out then the next day - more and more and more....Then I began to realize that I had to be honest with Rod and others in how I felt. Since then I have learned to let Rod hold me and just cry.
Those of you that really know me - know I like to be real and open. I don't like to pretend. This has been a great release to go back to who I really am in dealing with this chemo/radiation journey. I AM NOT HAVING FUN YET.
Thank you again to each of you for your prayers, love, concern, and smiling faces. Thank you for praying for my husband and our business. Thank you. Thank you for praying for my children and their spouses through this journey. I teach Bible Study Sunday morning so I would appreciate your prayers for strength to teach the lesson on "Keeping Commitments".
God bless you all and I will leave you with my mom's favorite verses from Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
Love in Christ - Kathy, John 3:16
January 19, 2007 To All of You Caring Friends and Family, Again, I want to begin by saying a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you. Your love, prayers, concern, and kindnesses are more than Rod and I ever imagined. Thank you. I had my blood count taken this past Wednesday and my counts are down again. There is a pattern going on here. The many folks who have been through this before me have assured me that this is normal. After Chemo, the counts go down - get the Nulasta shot and they will go up eventually - then by next Wednesday when I have chemo again, the counts should be back up. This week has been difficult for me emotionally. I am loosing my hair as I was told I would. So dealing with that and other things has caused me to say to more than one person, "I hate what I am going through." Then a very wise young man named Justin said, "Although I have no clue to what you're physically and emotionally going through, I want to tell you that hating your life is a pretty bad thing to say. How about you just REALLY dislike the situation you're facing right now, and that it's all going to be better?" So even though I am 50 years old, this 24 year-old son-in-law of mine opened my eyes. How does that happen? Many of you have shared scripture with me and I want to thank you. Today, a dear friend named Karen, shared Romans 8:38-39 with me - "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." In my Life Application Bible the footnotes said about these verses - "These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, even death. These could cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul exclaims that it is "impossible" to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ's constant presence with us. God tells us how great his love is so that we will feel totally secure in him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid." I can assure each of you that I have experienced doubts, fear, anger, frustration, and more through this cancer journey and through a long 3 years of business issues. But even though I complain and whine to my precious Lord, he is truly a "constant presence". He "never leaves or forsakes us" - these are all truths from God's word. Even this week, I told God I was going to stop praying. Yes, me, the Founder of Mom's Day of Prayer told God this. Do you know I could not help praying? I would think about all the MDOP Coordinators and I had to pray for them. I would think about my precious husband and caregiver and I had to pray for him. I would think about my children and their spouses - Rob and Jess and Elizabeth and Justin - I had to pray for them. And the list goes on and on......so I COULD NOT QUIT PRAYING. That is why these verses mean so much - "NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" - "NOTHING". Since 1995 when I said "Yes" to Jesus Christ - "NOTHING" can separate me from Him! And "NOTHING CAN STOP CHRIST'S CONSTANT PRESENCE WITH US". Are you as excited about this as I am? So I say all of this to say.....I must quit whining and Celebrate Life!! A dear friend gave me a beautiful tray for my birthday with those two words on it - "Celebrate Life". I had no idea what those two words would come to mean in my life. Thank you, Kim May God bless each of you. I pray that these updates are a blessing in your life. I pray that God's Holy and Powerful word speaks to your heart in a very special way. God's word is "sharper than a double-edged sword". Please pray for this Saturday, January 20th! This is Mom's Day of Prayer for 2007! Thank you again for all of your love, care, concern, and prayers! Love in Christ - Kathy, Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight."
January 11, 2007 Greetings Everyone! Yesterday was Chemo Day - #2 - and today is a GOOD DAY! PTL! Only 6 more treatments to go and then radiation. Rod and I are learning how to do this medicine thing where we know what will work and when to take it which helps to keep the nausea away! We are so thankful for good days! Thanks so VERY MUCH to everyone for your prayers, emails, comments on the kathyjcoleman website, cards, phone calls, flowers, and concerns. Thank you! Rod and I continue to meet new friends in the Oncology Waiting Room and my new best friend is - Lou. She was in the lazyboy chair beside me as we took our chemo together. She has only 2 more to go and then she will start her radiation. She was such an encouragement! I told her to save me the chair beside her in two weeks! Lou had put siding on a building the day before she had chemo. The Worldwide Mom's Day of Prayer is only 9 days away on January 20th - but who's counting? It is so exciting to receive emails and phone calls from moms who are planning their MDOP in the U.S.A. and Canada this year. Thank you, Melinda, for all you are doing to work with all of them. God continues to work in spite of trials, sufferings and stress in the life of Rod and me. Rod is the BEST CARE-GIVER in the world! He goes with me to Chemo, stays with me all day and then the next. He works from home which is a blessing during these times. Praise God - the AR Democrat Gazette and our local newspaper will be doing stories on MDOP this weekend I believe. Pray this will be used in a mighty way to challenge moms to host a MDOP in their areas. The result of a MDOP is this - women are encouraged to pray not just one day but all during the year. They want to find prayer partners or get in a Moms In Touch group and pray all year with other women. MDOP is not just one day! It brings a PASSION in women to pray all year long for their children and the children of the world. Please go to the MDOP website and see if there is a MDOP in your area - www.momsdayofprayer.com. Then guess what? Author, Jennifer Kennedy Dean's new book is out - "Heart's Cry - Principles of Prayer" and guess what? Mom's Day of Prayer is mentioned in her book - Page 166. Please buy it - the book is amazing! Just go to Jennifer's website at www.prayinglife.org and order it today! I was touched by Jennifer's heart for prayer when she spoke at our church some years back. I knew very little about prayer at that time in my life and I ate up every word that Jennifer shared at that conference. Powerful - powerful time of learning in my life. I will never forget it and will be forever grateful for the profound impact Jennifer has had on my life. Also I would like to thank the following men who prayed over me and anointed me with oil this week: Jamie, Carl, Jan, John, Don, Andy, Brent, Johnny, Kyle, Rob, Rod, and Jackie. There are no words to describe what that time of prayer meant in my life and in Rod's life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be forever grateful to each of you. I love you with all of my heart. I want to close with some words in from my "Streams in the Desert" devotional for today: Isaiah 40:1, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." "Store up comfort. This was the prophet Isaiah's mission. The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently, your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the diviine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you may learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere. Do you wonder why you are having to experience some great sorrow? Over the next ten years you will find many others afflicted in the same way. You will tell them how you suffered and were comforted. As the story unfolds, God will apply the anesthetic He once used on you to them. Then in the eager look followed by the gleam of hope that chases the shadow of despair from the soul, you will know why you were afflicted. And you will bless God for the discipline that filled your life with such a treasure of experience and helpfulness. God comoforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters." It has been almost a year ago that my precious mother, Janollah Payne, went to be with the Lord. My mother suffered pain in her body and in her life. I always wondererd WHY she had to go through some of things that she experienced. But you know what? My mother was always ready to comfort others as this devotion talked about. Her trials and sufferings were used to bring glory to God and they did. She was a comforter to others that is for sure. Calvin, my friend - this is what I said you had done for me...comforted me with what you have been through. Thank you. Again, GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. May God touch your life today in a way that I cannot even imagine. May He bless you "exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine".
Monday, January 08, 2007
There is just no way I can properly thank all of you for your love, concern, prayers, and support during this time in my life. Thank you also for praying for my husband and our business. This is such a BLESSING in my life! Thank you! This week on Wednesday, January 10th, I have my 2nd chemo treatment if my blood count is where it should be. My doctor has prescribed for me a new anti-nausea medicine so please PRAY THAT IT WORKS! Thank you. Below I will make a list of the dates for my chemo treatments that many of you have asked for. Of course, this can change if my blood count is not where it should be on the day of chemo: Weds. – Jan. 10th – blood work and chemo #2 Weds. – Jan. 17th – blood work Weds. – Jan. 24th - blood work and chemo #3 Weds. – Jan. 31st - blood work Weds. – Feb. 7th - blood work and chemo #4 Feb. 14th – blood work and VALENTINE’S DAY! Feb. 21st – blood work and chemo #5 Feb. 28th – blood work Weds. – March 7th – blood work and chemo #6 March 14th – blood work March 21st – blood work and chemo #7 March 28th – blood work April 4th – Blood work and LAST CHEMO TREATMENT - #8 – if this schedule stays on track! YEAH! Then afer chemo, I will begin 44 treatments of radiation which will be each day of the week except on weekends. Praise God I was able to teach on Nehemiah this past Sunday to our F.R.O.G.ette’s class – which stands for “Fully Relying On God – Ever Trusting The Eternal Savior”. We have four F.R.O.G.ette teachers and it was my Sunday to teach. I praise God for the health to be there. I love all of you ladies!!
Yesterday, I shared how Nehemiah had “Sound Strategies”. His strategies were from God not from the world. He stayed on task which was the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. He had to deal with the Persian officials who tried to discourage him, kill him, manipulate him, distract him, mock him, frighten him, etc. You name it, they tried everything in their power to stop him. But Nehemiah had GOD on his side! Neh. 4:20, “GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!” Now, there is a plan! When I go to the Oncologist for chemo and blood work, I look around the waiting room at all kinds of people. And my prayer is this week that each one of us in that waiting room will know without a doubt that “GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US”! I want to be a “GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US” kind of gal. Please pray that Rod and I will even get the opportunity to share this with others while we are in the waiting room and even while I am getting chemo. Pray that God will put me in the chair right beside who he wants. On Tuesday evening, January 2nd of last week, God opened the door for me to be interviewed about Mom’s Day of Prayer by Radio Host - Pastor Brenda Kelly from Orlando, Florida. Pastor Kelly challenged those listening to pray the following – “Lord, show me your vastness!” Brenda had no way of knowing that she was challenging me at that moment to begin praying that. I challenge you to begin praying this prayer also – “LORD, SHOW ME YOUR VASTNESS”! I truly believe that my prayers in that Oncology Waiting Room can be powerful and effective. God tells us “we have not because we ask not” – so I am asking for God to show each one of us that he is fighting for us. Today, I am thankful for how wonderful I feel. God opened another door for me to be interviewed about Mom’s Day of Prayer by hosts, Joe Riggins and Cheri Edwards, at the ACTS t.v. station located in First Baptist Church here in Ft. Smith. The times for this interview to be shown are as follows: Week of January 14th – Sunday, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. Friday, 12:00 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Again, THANKS to each of you for your love and PRAYERS. May you be blessed by this update today. I pray there is something in this update that God wanted just for you. The verses I want to close with today are the ones so many people sent to me last week. Isaiah 41:10, 13-14, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand says to you, Do not fear; I will help you; Do not be afraid..” God bless you and Thank you, Kathy
1/3/2007 Hello Everyone, I had my blood taken today and my White Blood Count is very low. My white blood count is 1.9 and normal is between 4.8 - 10.8. I also have a cough and congestion in my chest which they are watching. Please pray for healing of this congestion and protection against infection which is what our white blood count fights. Many of you have asked when my chemo days are. They are on Wednesdays. My next chemo treatment is Wednesday, Jan. 10th. I have blood work done on my chemo days and then on Wednesdays when I don't have chemo. Thank you and God bless you! I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. Love, Kathy
12/28/2006 Hello Everyone, What a blessing all of you are in our lives! Rod and I got home around 2:30 this afternoon. I had blood work, we met with Dr. Mackey and then the chemo started. The Oncologist nurse did an EXCELLENT job explaining what chemo was going to be all about before we started. "We" means Susan and I and of course, my Rod was right there the whole time. This was Susan's first chemo treatment today also. She has Inflammatory Breast Cancer and is a Juvenile Detention Probation Officer from Clarksville. Cool lady. My dear sister, Dianna, and her husband, Curtis, came on Tuesday and left today. Dianna has had a double masectomy and wanted to be here the 2 days before my first treatment. We had a wonderful visit with them and it really kept my mind off what was coming up. God knows exactly what we need even when we don't. Dianna and Curtis asked Rod and I to hold their hands as they prayed for us before we left to go to the Cancer Center. It was a precious time. They prayed that God would use us to minister to others. When we arrived, a gentleman that I worked for when Rod and I first were married was there. His prognosis is not good so it was a joy to get to visit with him. I told him his name was on my list to send a card to so I would be his card in person. Then there was a young lady sitting there in the waiting room crying. A lady next to her held her hand and talked to her. Rod went and got her more kleenexes. I can't tell you how God answered Dianna and Curtis' prayers this morning. It was a blessing to be in that Waiting Room. Is that wierd or what? How do I feel? Well, the chemo administering went absolutely wonderful. I feel a little light headed at the moment and am having a headache. Dr. Mackey's nurse, Kathy (great name), said to go ahead and take the nausea medicine they have prescribed for me when I got home. Then to take it tonight, in the morning and for the next 2 days. She is absolutely an angel. So I am listening.... Tomorrow morning, I go in to have a shot called Nulasta - this is to build up the immune system. Then I am having a Cat Scan on my neck area. There was a place that showed up on my Pet Scan but Dr. Mackey feels it is just because I probably moved during the scan. So I will have that in the morning at 8:45 after the Nulasta shot. Fun - fun - fun! I want to thank Lorie, a breast cancer survivor, for sharing with me this morning that my chemo is not the "Red Devil" as they call it but that she gave it a new name - 'THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB'! Now, how exciting is that? It would just thrill me to list all the PEOPLE who have ministered to Rod and me already since the first moment I found out that I had breast cancer but I guess that is impossible! You are ALL near and dear to my heart. I read your cards, your emails, your scriptures you send to me, your phone calls are uplifting, your love for us is unbelievable - you are all near and dear to our hearts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I pray that I will show you how much your kindness, love and PRAYERS mean to me. Thank you so much! Please remember to pray for my Rod who is more important than chemo and me. As many of you know, he has been under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress with his business for almost 3 years now. He NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS DESPERATELY for great strength, wisdom in business and blessings for his life. This will do me more good for me than anything to know that people are praying for him. He is the greatest care giver anyone could ever have. He is a servant beyond anyone I have ever known besides my dear precious mother. God has truly blessed us with a love for each other beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine. My advice to couples is this: "Marriage is the HARDEST thing you will ever experience but the rewards of staying in a marriage where God takes over is worth more than anything in this crazy world. In 1995, God changed Rod and I both to live a life devoted to Jesus Christ and we have never been the same since. I will forever be thankful for what God has done in our marriage." These updates will be now posted on www.kathyjcoleman.com/treatment.html. At this site, I will keep an update for all the Moms In Touch moms, Worldwide Mom's Day of Prayer moms, family members, and friends. Please feel free to go there and add any message that you might have for me. I do not think it will be possible for me to answer every email that is sent to me so a dear friend, Jill, has created this site for folks to go to and send messages. Of course, you are welcome to send me an email at anytime. God bless you all. I pray for all of you. Each time someone touches my life, I pray for them. May God bless each of you. Thank you and will write another update real soon. Glory to God in the Highest! Jesus is the reason for EVERYTHING! Love - Kathy, Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." (My mother's favorite verses). As I shared at my mother's homegoing in January, 2006, this does not mean a life free of pain and suffering, it means that we are to keep our focus on God and his plan for our lives. He will direct us no matter what comes our way if we trust, believe, pray, and keep our eyes on him. This is not so easy to do when suffering comes our way but I can't imagine my life without my Jesus and his love. John 3:16.
12/22/06 Hello Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that I had the Pet Scan yesterday but do not know the results yet. Also, had the Port put in and I am at home today taking it easy. Thank you for your continued prayers and concerns.
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