Dear Friends,

Del and I have been reading about the life of the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament and have seen some wonderful examples of our own journey. Charles Swindoll likens God’s training of Elijah to a “boot camp,” something NTMers are familiar with. Swindoll writes, “In a very real sense, God has designed a boot camp for His children, but it doesn’t last just 8 weeks or 10 weeks. Nor is it a weekend seminar we can take or a day-long workshop we can attend. God’s boot camp takes place periodically throughout the Christian life. And there, in the very center of obstacles and pain and solitude, we come to realize how alive God is in our lives—how alive and in charge. He will invade us, reduce us, break us…so that we will become the people He intends us to be.” The natural tendency is to say, “What lousy luck I’m having right now.” But our loving Father has the situation totally in control…and it’s for our benefit!

        Del had her chemo infusion this past Monday, March 27. She always has an appointment with either her oncologist or a nurse practitioner before the infusion to determine if her blood values are within a safe range and also to have an overall exam. Because her neuropathy is so severe in her hands and feet from the chemo, her oncologist suggested that instead of having a weekly treatment for three weeks followed by a week off, she should try the reduced amount of chemo every other week—in other words, one week on and then a week off. So, Del will not have an infusion next week, but will the week after. I’m very thankful the warmer weather is coming, because it’s been hard for her to keep her hands and feet warm. We both enjoy walking, so we are anxious to get out in the Spring weather.

        We are so appreciative of the kind notes and words of encouragement. Just knowing that others are praying for Del is such a boost. What a blessing to be part of God’s family!

                   Lovingly,

                         Bryan, for Del too

                         Family blog:   thecouplandfamily.blogspot.com      

Update

Dear Friends,

        This past week was supposed to be an “off week” between cycles of three weekly chemo treatments, but it wasn’t really a rest time for Del. On Tuesday, March 21, Del had to go into Allegiance Hospital and have a “port” surgically inserted in her right shoulder area—the opposite side from her pacemaker. For the other chemo treatments she has had a PICC line in her arm, which is temporary and has to be flushed every day (I tease Del about having to have a veterinarian flush her PICC). The port makes receiving IV fluids so much easier, and blood samples can be taken from there without trying to hit a vein in her arm. Also it only has to be flushed every 4-5 weeks.

        This coming Monday, March 27, Del will start the next cycle of three weekly chemo treatments. We are so grateful to God for how well she has tolerated these reduced doses of Taxol. We are praying, of course, that the chemo agent is killing the cancer in the affected lymph nodes and elsewhere, without damaging other organs.

        As always, we would appreciate your prayers that her neuropathy (numbness and cold) would not increase in her hands and feet. It’s getting harder for her to do up buttons and other fine finger movements. Her appetite has picked up some, for which we are very thankful.

        Bless you for your partnership in prayer with us on this journey. Every day is a walk of faith and dependence on our heavenly Father. He alone knows what direction the journey will take, and we lean heavily on His promises like Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I [God] am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I willstrengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

                Warmly,

                     Bryan Coupland, for Del too

                                                                                             March 14, 2017

Dear Ones,

        Six down; three to go! Del is on a modified schedule of chemo once a week for three weeks and then a week off, and this is repeated three times making it nine chemo treatments. I don’t know of anyone who looks forward to their next chemo infusion, but in a sense it’s good news for us. Around the middle of November, 2016, she came home on “home hospice” because her oncologist felt that since she wasn’t able to tolerate her first chemo treatment and had to be hospitalized, there really was no other treatment for uterine cancer. But instead of rapidly going downhill on hospice, Del began to have more energy. That’s when her oncologist suggested, “Let’s try a lower concentration of chemo and do it weekly.” So, Del “came off hospice” and went on regular oncology care. 

        Well, now you know as much as we do. We are trusting the Lord, day by day, and we’re very thankful that “the battle is the Lord’s.” This next Tuesday (21^st) Del will have a port surgically installed, on the opposite shoulder from her pacemaker. This should make it a lot easier to infuse the chemo. Looking ahead as best as we can, the plan is for Del to have three more weekly chemos beginning March 27. After that, she will have a CT scan to see how her cancer is responding to the chemo. If the results are positive, her doctors will schedule a surgical hysterectomy to remove the source of the cancer. So, there are many steps to trust the Lord for, and we are so thankful for your prayers. One of the most difficult side-effects right now is the neuropathy or numbness in Del’s hands and feet, which leaves them cold and numb most of the time—the result of the chemo.

        I recently read an interesting review in World magazine, of the book, “Union With Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne. He wrote regarding bonding with Christ, “Imagine a storm blowing a sailboat so fast that all night long, death seems moments away, but in the morning you’re hundreds of miles closer to your destination. We can rejoice amid suffering not because we’re masochists[those who enjoy pain], but because a deeper and sweeter joy will come in the morning. And, when we stop thinking so much about our own story that we enter into God’s story, we learn that’s the biggest and best of all.”

        Thanks again for being partners in prayer with us!

                               Warmly,

                      Bryan, for Del too

       

        Dear Ones,

        We don’t have any dramatic news after Del’s chemo yesterday, but maybe that’s good. We asked the Lord to oversee every detail and it seems like He did. The morning started out with an hour-long appointment with Del’s oncologist (Dr D). As always, she was very gracious and available to answer all our questions. Here are some of her comments:

·        She was adding the chemo agent Carboplatin to the Taxol that Del took in the last cycle.

·        They took a blood sample before the appointment, and it showed that Del’s blood values were excellent.

·        Dr. D said that she is not opposed to Del trying various ‘over the counter’ remedies for treating her neuropathy. [Some oncologists don’t like you to take any supplements when you are on chemo.]

·        She suggested that Del take ‘magnesium’ daily to help with regularity.

·        The cancer marker called CA 125 which is found in the blood, was lower this time which is excellent news.

·        Dr D said that they will only consider surgery (total hysterectomy) if after the 9^th chemo treatment, the CT scan shows that the affected lymph nodes are substantially reduced in size. 

·        Del was urged to drink a lot of water following chemo to wash the chemo out of the kidneys.

Following the doctor’s appointment, Del went right away into the infusion center. The nurses are so caring and kind there, and they almost make it a pleasant experience. The chemo infusion took about four hours and Del slept a good portion of that time. Most likely the days following the chemo will be the same this time as the previous treatments. The three days right after the chemo are usually good ones where Del feels energized and eats well. During the next two days she usually feels tired and even a little nauseated, and then feels gradually better leading up to the next chemo day.

Your prayers are making a tremendous difference in our lives and we can only thank you with our deepest appreciation. We are grateful to our dear heavenly Father for you and your loving concern.

               Lovingly,

                     Bryan, for Del too