Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

I haven’t blogged in several weeks, partly due to grieving over my brother’s death from cancer. I will never fully recover. He was a godly man, cherished family member, and precious saint. An example to me in many ways.

Another time-consuming distracting week was our vacation to Disney World. What a joyous time with my family! I walked more than I thought I could, rested in the afternoon and walked some more! I will post some pictures later. We also had Easter, visitors from overseas, HongKun from Korea and Reiko from Japan, and doctor visits to keep us busy.

On April 4th I have another Pet Scan to see if my cancer has returned (done three months after the last chemo/radiation treatment) although I won’t find out the results for a week. However, I have been feeling pretty well. Some days I am more tired than others, but I think that is part of the recovery process. It could be just getting older, as they say, but the naps feel really good! I am cutting back now and taking a nap only every other day.

My Aunt Frances, 86 years old, was just diagnosed with bladder cancer. For a healthy family, all this has been very shocking. She is the third person in six months. And as for me, my heart is very heavy. I want to feel God’s strong presence now more than ever, and be found faithful. I found a verse that encouraged me: Psalm 106:43-45.

“Many times He delivered them, but they rebelled against Him by their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless, He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry; and for their sake He remembered His covenant and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.” NKJ.

Same verses, NIV version: “Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.”

To me, this means that many times I rebelled or failed to listen to God, yet, nevertheless, or even so, He has heard my cry. The “nevertheless” is my word for the day. Even though I have not always obeyed God as I wish I had, nevertheless He hears me. Because He loves me. Enough to remember His covenant. Now isn’t that a great loving God?

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My brother Fredrick is one of the godliest men I know, a brilliant theologian, leader in the Christian community, and a family man with a gentle spirit. He is my hero. He has been battling sickness for a long time, and renal cancer since last summer.

 For those of you who have asked about him, he is not doing well. He has lost more weight, has nausea and vomiting which means trouble keeping food and liquids down, and extremely weak. I am not qualified to give all the details, for I would probably get them all wrong, but the doctors seem to think his time on earth is limited. He has had two major operations and we thought he was doing better, but now seems worse.

 Fredrick has a wonderful caregiver. His wife Jeri, a nurse, has aggressively sought the best treatment for his care, researched and implemented traditional and alternative methods where a possible cure could help him. I can only say that I admire and respect the amount of love and care she has given. She has been exhausted and overwhelmed at times but keeps going.

Fredrick and Jeri know God is with them, and we pray for strength during this time, and that’s God’s will be done. Thank you for all your prayers for him. God still listens. Here are the verses I pray for Fredrick.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him. I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.”  Psalm 92:14-15

That describes Fredrick. He loves God and acknowledges His name, and whatever the future holds, I know God will be with him. He will be honored.

 And, a miracle could save him.

Good news! The doctor examined me a few days ago and said the cancer appears to be all gone! She was amazed at how well I am doing. The radiation burns have healed very quickly and I’m already walking around the block and able to drive to Braums for eggs. It can only be God and your prayers.

 It’s been 3 weeks since my last treatment. At that time, I started on extra vitamins and a healthier diet (high protein, low carbs and lots of veggies) and lost another 5 pounds in a week, but my weight has stabilized since then. I think the diet has been good. I went in for fluids a few times the past few weeks because of dehydration and low blood pressure. I still have to take naps every day and tire easily, so the fatigue may be the last to go away.

 In three months I go back to get a pet scan from head to toe to see if any cancer has returned. I was upgraded to a Stage 3 because of the lymph node so the chances are 60-80% of cancer not returning hence the need for followup.

God reminded me of the positives. The international student ministry is going well at David’s and Laura’s house. Over 30 people there! The two tumors were small and have been blasted away. I went through treatment better than expected. I was never depressed or down (I’m sure due to prayers). I have a good chance of a long healthy life. I had lots of amazing, wonderful support. (Especially my daughter Treasure who stuck with me and never complained when I asked her to drive across town to run an errand!) I was able to return to church last Sunday and watch one of our students be baptized.

 And through all this, I have learned that my God has not left me nor forsaken me. He has been there by my side. That is a good thing to know.

 Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? These words are in my mind, “Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus.” He has healed this old body and I’m so very grateful.

You are loved,

kathryn

I celebrated the last radiation treatment on Friday, January 11, 2012. Seven weeks already over! Chemo treatments ended a few weeks ago so cancer treatment is completed. Bill, my mom, sis and niece were there, and I was given a certificate.  “This Certificate of Graduation is hereby given to Kathryn Spurgeon for completing this course of Radiation Therapy with great courage and determination.” How about that for some good news!

Had a low blood pressure (78/52), diarrhea and light-headedness which means dehydration so the last two days of treatment I was given fluids to pump me up. Also a shot each day to help my white blood count. Overall I’m doing great. Radiation burn will take some time to heal and fatigue may stick around for a while. On the positive side, I did not lose my hair. I did not have mouth sores. I did not get the flu. I lost only five pounds.

When the doc exclaimed about how well I handled all this, I told her that many people were praying for me. Tears came to her eyes, and she said, “I agree. That helps.” So now I think we should pray for Dr. Craig and the doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians who treat cancer patients. They carry the burden of people’s lives.

Thank you, support team, for all the many blessings you have given me. I don’t know how to thank you appropriately. You have graciously given and given with cards, visits, gifts, calls, food, transportation, emails, concern and of course, prayer. I never knew such a caring group of people were out there. I guess I did, I just never equated it to caring about me. I’ve learned so much from you about how to care for others. I have not always been so sensitive to sick people but I hope to be more so in the future.

Bill stayed home with me this weekend as I rested. He was bored along with me on Saturday, but Sunday a kitchen sink water problem gave him something to do. He worked all day and finally had to put in a new faucet. Sometimes boredom is not so bad.

My spirit has been peaceful through this whole ordeal. I am amazed. God has been so good. Jesus’ sweet spirit has been with me.

Hope you are cheering with me today as I have successfully completed all of the cancer treatments!

You are loved,

kathryn

You may not believe me, but I’m seldom bored. Today I am. Usually, I read, write, find a project or if all else fails, clean house. My mind doesn’t like to sit still long. Chemo brain, I’m told, causes lack of focus, which has hit hard meaning I can’t stay tuned to a book or movie or conversation. Makes me wonder what else in my brain has been affected. 🙂

The worst part of the cancer treatment is coming in the next two weeks and yes, I am not looking forward to it. Radiation burn and the effects do not sound like fun. But with God, and the prayers of the saints, I will make it through.

God has been good and I have not been depressed so far. I thought I would be since I tend to be a melancholy person; poets are like that I think. And I call myself a poet after more than 4,000 poems written – good and bad, heavy on the later.

Not saying I won’t get down at some point. I look at David who wrote Psalm and he certainly had his gloomy moments. I’ve been marking verses just in case I need them, like “Be not far from me, Oh God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.” Ps 71:12, and “I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.” Ps 69:29.

When my pleas seem to fail I will fall back on His love. “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14 “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things, and consider the great love of the Lord. Ps 107:43.

A blue crane, an endangered species, landed on the pond in my back yard last week. In East Asia culture, a blue crane symbolizes longevity. With my foggy brain, I wondered if I imagined the bird so I took a picture. Let me know if I’m mistaken on the identity of this visitor, but it stayed for an extended afternoon visit.

What a nice surprise. I watched the crane, calm and collected amidst the chaos of geese, ducks, and squirrels. May my heart be like that. Though bored and uncomfortable, no matter what goes on around me, may I be peaceful and unruffled.