Shout praises to the Lord!

In just a few days she would turn 78!  She could hardly believe it.  Seventy-eight years is a long time....so many memories....so many events....so many friends...so many people.  Fortunately, the brain cancer had not damaged her mind.  Her mind was vital and sharp.  And the ability to recall details of past memories gave her cause for celebration.  She continued to be amazed at how her brain was healing.

Yes, as she thought over the past four years, the journey was remarkable.  In April of 2010 she had enjoyed a physically active life as a member of Striders, the Holland, MI walking club.  The numerous two and three mile walks throughout the city of Holland were easy and enjoyable jaunts.  Certainly no indication that she was headed for a deadly cancer!

Then following the return to their lake house in Ontario the end of that April, the excitement of catching up with friends kept her busy.  The middle of May she even hosted a dinner party decorating the table with fresh cut tulips from the garden.  Shortly after that, physical problems began to surface.  She was feeling extra tired, had bouts of depression and wondered what was wrong.  Then one day the beginning of June, while planting marigolds in the garden, she fell over and could not manage to stand. Dick ran to her assistance, but she refused to stop gardening until the marigolds were planted!  A few days later she could not get out of the tub after her nightly bath.  She knew something was wrong....but what???

And of course, that absolutely wonderful vision of Jesus the night of May 26, 2010 when He told her "You will be healed BUT in My time frame", caused more bafflement and questioning.  What was going on?

Questions began to be answered on July 8, 2010 when the oncologist gave her shattering news.  "You have a lethal, aggressive cancer in your brain (left thalamus) and you have seven weeks to live."  Yes, that was four years ago, and here she is alive and well and healing!  Wow!  She now wanted to shout praises to God every day!

As she truly assessed her physical condition, she realized there has been a slow, steady progress to regain her pre-cancer physical status.  Back in July, 2010, especially following the brain biopsy (which was required to ascertain correct diagnosis), she could barely speak, could not move her right arm or leg, could not blink her right eye, could not even move her tongue to the right side of her mouth and suffered hearing distortions in her right ear.  Yes, total right side complications!

The healing started within days.  The first miracle was the ability to blink her eye.  She laughed as she remembered the surprised joy of the ophthalmologist when he came into her room prepared to schedule surgery for eye repair and saw firsthand, that she could blink!  He had literally danced and exclaimed, "This is a miracle!"  That announcement gave her encouragement and further assurance that the message from Jesus was coming true.  The next miracle was the announcement by the oncologist in August, 2010 that the MRI was "Glorious"! There was no more sign of cancer...and to date, April of 2014, the MRIs continue to be clear.

Her body keeps healing, keeps improving and now in April of 2014, she is overjoyed at the latest development.  The physiatrist and her physical therapist gave her good news.  She was now taught new exercises to "improve her gait"!  She had now moved to a level of refining her walking ability.  By utilizing a simple technique known as 'rolling', the muscles in her leg were relaxing and strengthening. Dick now used a simple, kitchen tool, a rolling pin (!), to rub up and down the muscles of her right leg (except the hamstrings, where only an upward motion is used due to ankle edema).  At first her muscles were so tender the rolling pin could barely touch the skin.  But as the weeks have gone by, she has been able to endure increasing pressure and.. voila! the leg has been able to function better. She can even use a 'massage roller ball' on her arm which has given astounding results.

Her speech has improved greatly.  She discovered she could even sing a little (but not publicly).  The speaking voice is stronger with less and less impediment.  Amazing!

She is sleeping better, she can roll over in bed with little difficulty, she is using her arm more and more in daily functions.  She is healing!  What was that Jesus had told her on May 26, 2010???
"You will be healed BUT in My own time frame."  For months and months she had struggled with that message...questioning what did it mean?  Was the healing limited to the cancer?  Or did the Lord also promise healing in her arm and leg?

At this point she could not predict how complete that physical healing would be eventually.  All she knew was that healing had never stopped and she had never regressed. What blessings! What miracles! She praised Him daily and wherever she went she would open up conversations to tell others of what God had done.  What a story of grace!  What a story of God's love!  What a story of God's power! Yes, God is good!

The Psalms are filled with praise songs and here is one that fills her heart......

"Praise the Lord.
 Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
 Praise the Lord."           Psalm 150