Some of you already know that we have made arrangements to see ANOTHER doctor out here in California at the City of Hope. They seem to be really genuine and really wanting their doctors to review my case as it is difficult at best.
Problem is that we cannot see him until the supplemental coverage in Arizona drops me from the plan which is September 1, 2011. So we have to WAIT once again. Boy what a "Waiting Game" cancer can be. Hard on your emotions, your body, your family. Just difficult. But we are still strong in our fight so we will wait.
As I thought about that it reminded me of a scripture in Genesis. It's in the 3rd chapter and the 15th verse which says, "And I will put enmity (hatred) between you and the woman. And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, (Devil) and you shall bruise him on the heel." Why would God bring me to this verse? Well, He is constantly reminding me that He and He ALONE is the miracle maker so something I gleaned from this verse years ago is that, the "woman" has "NO SEED!" Now if you think about the statement, God is telling Satan that there will come a time in the future that a woman, a virgin woman will have "seed". This is literally the 1st Biblical mention of the miracle birth of Jesus Christ! Can you see it. Woman has no seed yet God warns Satan of a virgin to come, producing the seed of Jesus Christ and His Miracle Birth.
What's so difficult about that. Anyone who studies the Bible can easily come to the same conclusion. Well, so did I. And it has helped me over the years to understand that if our God has the ability, not only to produce the "seed" in the woman, and tell about it several thousand years earlier, then He surely has the ability to produce a Miracle in my life today by producing sufficient clean blood cells to rid me of this "Death Inducing" disease known as leukemia. Get it? Early on, close to the beginning of EVERYTHING God introduces this Miracle yet to come. And He is still in the Miracle making business.
So, where does that leave me? Well, I have an appointment with doctors whose only job is to fix in mankind, disabled blood cells and help continue life. Am I right? You bet I am. So just short of a month now, we stand before these gentlemen, and listen to their recomendations concerning, "literally, my seed!" WOW! Doesn't that grab you by the hair and throw you around the room a little? It sure does me (now that I have some hair back).
God is still here, still directing our paths as Barb and I continue to search for His perfect will while we keep sharing the Gospel of Christ with all that we meet.
I hope your day will be as good as mine, tomorrow.
God's Best,
Dave
Crazy Papa
I'll make 'um an offer
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Comments from a precious sister in the Lord!
Hi Dave,
Have just been doing some catch-up on your blog, which I do from time to time...just wanted to say a heartfelt "thank you!" again for what you write...I know it comes straight from your heart.
I thank you for how it continually points me to the Lord, and you always hit the nail on the head with your topics and thoughts about this life, hard as it is sometimes, and the life to come.
Your writings always create a peace in my soul, as I read of how much God loves me, and how He always keeps His promises to those who believe on His name and live for Him. Thank you so much!!!!
I am so sorry for the awful shock that you and Barb got today as you went to that long anticipated first appointment with the specialist...just incredible how that got messed up for you all...and how
costly it was. I pray that somehow God will use that experience in your favor...that is pretty much my prayer right now for you guys, that you will receive God's favor in the days ahead. Please know that
you are always on my mind and in my prayers...sweet, blessed folks!
With Love,
Ruth
Have just been doing some catch-up on your blog, which I do from time to time...just wanted to say a heartfelt "thank you!" again for what you write...I know it comes straight from your heart.
I thank you for how it continually points me to the Lord, and you always hit the nail on the head with your topics and thoughts about this life, hard as it is sometimes, and the life to come.
Your writings always create a peace in my soul, as I read of how much God loves me, and how He always keeps His promises to those who believe on His name and live for Him. Thank you so much!!!!
I am so sorry for the awful shock that you and Barb got today as you went to that long anticipated first appointment with the specialist...just incredible how that got messed up for you all...and how
costly it was. I pray that somehow God will use that experience in your favor...that is pretty much my prayer right now for you guys, that you will receive God's favor in the days ahead. Please know that
you are always on my mind and in my prayers...sweet, blessed folks!
With Love,
Ruth
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Day To Remember...Or Not!
Today was my long awaited appointment in Southern California at the University of California Medical Center with Dr. Buxbaum, an expert in the cancer "MDS" which works it's way into full blown Leukemia. We were extremely excited and anxious as this would let us know if I had a chance to get a Bone Marrow Transplant or not.
My wife has spent the last 4 months with my Oncologist and office assistants in order to have all records and necessary information in the hands of this doctor by the time we arrived at 1:30 PM today. Well, we arrived early so forms could be completed and we could argue over the fact that we had to pay cash for the visit (along with a "facility fee" of $65.00 just for seeing the doctor at USC...WOW)!
Okay, most of it is settled and she asked us if we were there with the ability to pay up to $610.00 for this single consult. Well, after some discussion back and forth (and a small amount of SHOCK), finally they took a blank check to hold until we finished with the doctor. We're In! Whoo Hoo!
Barb and I are sitting in the room waiting to see this VERY SPECIAL doctor ($610.00 for initial visit, Whoo)!
He comes in, introduces himself, he is indeed, Dr. Buxbaum (I notice his name on his lab coat) and asks us what brings us to his office. "Well, we were referred here by my Oncologist so that you could determine my qualifications, based on my MDS, for a Bone Marrow Transplant. His first statement is, "What is MDS?" Of course we laugh as though he were just jousting with us. Then he asks again. "No really, what is MDS?"
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Very much so was his reply. As we talked, we learned that he was not an MDS Specialist but rather a GI/Liver Specialist! somehow, with 4 months of leg work for our visit, we were hooked up with a GI/LIVER Specialist instead of an MDS Specialist. We are a long way from home for this kind of mistake but it is true. Barb and I are in shock and do not now, know what to do.
Anyway, in our messy life, things go wrong. From what I started with above, one would think that the office visit would have gone off without a "hitch." But it went anything but right. A lot of people use a favorite quote about "Murphy's Law" saying, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." I'm trying not to look at it that way but rather, "for if Christ is for me, who can be against me?" This mistake, though VERY big in the scheme of our lives, cannot sway Christ from His purpose for me. I am His child, adopted with a purpose and working together with His Spirit for the kingdom of God.
So we came back to the RV and will regroup, ask God for His help and try to find the right doctor next time. Lots of time, money and stress went into this planned doctor's visit just for EVERYTHING to go wrong. But we are still looking for God's purpose here.
BUT, I didn't get a chance to share with you ALL THE THINGS THAT WENT "RIGHT" during this visit to Southern California. I'll keep that for another time but just remember, God has His hand right in the middle of my need to see this MDS SPECIALIST and as it is or is not His will for me, we will surge forward.
God loves you,
Dave
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
My wife has spent the last 4 months with my Oncologist and office assistants in order to have all records and necessary information in the hands of this doctor by the time we arrived at 1:30 PM today. Well, we arrived early so forms could be completed and we could argue over the fact that we had to pay cash for the visit (along with a "facility fee" of $65.00 just for seeing the doctor at USC...WOW)!
Okay, most of it is settled and she asked us if we were there with the ability to pay up to $610.00 for this single consult. Well, after some discussion back and forth (and a small amount of SHOCK), finally they took a blank check to hold until we finished with the doctor. We're In! Whoo Hoo!
Barb and I are sitting in the room waiting to see this VERY SPECIAL doctor ($610.00 for initial visit, Whoo)!
He comes in, introduces himself, he is indeed, Dr. Buxbaum (I notice his name on his lab coat) and asks us what brings us to his office. "Well, we were referred here by my Oncologist so that you could determine my qualifications, based on my MDS, for a Bone Marrow Transplant. His first statement is, "What is MDS?" Of course we laugh as though he were just jousting with us. Then he asks again. "No really, what is MDS?"
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Very much so was his reply. As we talked, we learned that he was not an MDS Specialist but rather a GI/Liver Specialist! somehow, with 4 months of leg work for our visit, we were hooked up with a GI/LIVER Specialist instead of an MDS Specialist. We are a long way from home for this kind of mistake but it is true. Barb and I are in shock and do not now, know what to do.
Anyway, in our messy life, things go wrong. From what I started with above, one would think that the office visit would have gone off without a "hitch." But it went anything but right. A lot of people use a favorite quote about "Murphy's Law" saying, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." I'm trying not to look at it that way but rather, "for if Christ is for me, who can be against me?" This mistake, though VERY big in the scheme of our lives, cannot sway Christ from His purpose for me. I am His child, adopted with a purpose and working together with His Spirit for the kingdom of God.
So we came back to the RV and will regroup, ask God for His help and try to find the right doctor next time. Lots of time, money and stress went into this planned doctor's visit just for EVERYTHING to go wrong. But we are still looking for God's purpose here.
BUT, I didn't get a chance to share with you ALL THE THINGS THAT WENT "RIGHT" during this visit to Southern California. I'll keep that for another time but just remember, God has His hand right in the middle of my need to see this MDS SPECIALIST and as it is or is not His will for me, we will surge forward.
God loves you,
Dave
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
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