Delphine and Bryan Coupland ~ Our Family Journey: Requesting your prayers

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Requesting your prayers

Hi All,

I thought I would just give you a brief update on today, and especially ask you to be praying tomorrow. In order to receive the modified (decreased) amount of chemo tomorrow, Del needs either a port or a PICC line which is much simpler. The oncologist thought the latter was the best choice for now, so she went into Henry Ford Allegiance hospital in Jackson today and had the line put into a blood vessel in her upper arm. The port would require an actual surgery whereas she wasn’t even put to sleep for the PICC line.

Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Del will have an infusion of Taxol chemo—about 60% of the amount she had back in November. If she tolerates it well, then she will have a second dose on February 3 and a third dose on the 10^th of Feb. We would ask for your prayers tomorrow that if it would please the Lord, that Del would do well and not have such strong side effects that they have to discontinue the process. We will keep you posted.

Thanks so much!

Bryan, for Del too

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Dear Friends

News update from the Couplands…

It seems like when we go through a serious trial in our lives, the Lord will often give us a verse or verses of Scripture that we can hold onto as our source of strength and hope. Early on, the Lord gave Del and I verses from 2 Chronicles 20 which were so comforting.

~Verse 12 – “For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

~Verse 15 – “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S.”

~Verse 17 – “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf…”

Our dear wife, mother, grandmother, and now great grandmother, Del, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of uterine cancer. By the time it was accurately diagnosed, it was already stage IV. Del was not in the best physical condition when she had her first chemo on Nov. 9, and the chemo just dragged her down further. Our oncologist, who also treated my lymphoma 2 years ago, admitted her to Allegiance Hospital in Jackson, MI where for four days, she tried to build up Del’s condition with blood transfusions, and numerous IV’s. Since the cancer was beyond the point of being treated effectively, and Del could no longer tolerate the chemo, the only solution was ‘hospice care.’ This was an excruciating choice for the family, but it was beyond human control, and we wanted Del to be comfortable at all cost. As an aside, Del won the hearts of so many of the nurses and aides, and had different opportunities to talk to the medical staff about Jesus. Her oncologist was a dear lady and a believer, and the two of them really bonded.

We had the choice of Del going to Allegiance Hospice House or going home to our apartment and having Home Hospice Care, where they equip your residence with all the equipment you need including a hospital bed. Then a nurse is assigned to you along with a nurse’s aide; the nurse comes by two times a week to check on her condition, adjust her meds, and help with the medical decisions. The aide bathes the patient and meets the other physical needs. And the family loves on Del, provides the meals, and encouragement. I don’t know what we would do without our three kids and their spouses. We have formed a team and the Lord is leading us as our Head. We would appreciate your prayer that God would have His desired outcome and that He would be glorified in all things.

Thank you.