Delphine and Bryan Coupland ~ Our Family Journey: Thankful🍁

Monday, November 27, 2017

Thankful🍁

Thanks Giving & Mom's 1 year celebration

Dear Ones, November 23, 2017

Del just had her final chemo of this series two days ago. Lord willing she will not have to have more chemo, but her oncologists will evaluate her condition with CT scans and blood tests. She still has some follow-up examinations by her doctors at the University of Michigan and Jackson hospitals. But thanks to our dear Lord Jesus, the treatments of radiation and chemo are behind her and so we go forward by faith.

Del nearly didn’t get her final chemo because both her white and red blood cells were below the normal range and her magnesium level was very low. The oncologist suggested that she still go ahead with the chemo and we agreed. The side effects usually come later. We’ve specifically prayed that Del wouldn’t lose her hair and so far she hasn’t. Yesterday Del had to return to the hospital and get another infusion of magnesium.

It was a year ago that Del was placed on home hospice care. And now seeing her progress makes our hearts sing with gratitude to the Lord. We are deeply thankful to our friends and loved-ones who have faithfully prayed through every victory and set-back. Together we have praised God along this journey, and so we are trusting that He has been honored over this year.

There is a wonderful article in the 11/25/2017 issue of WORLD magazine on the life of Joni Eareckson Tada. For those not familiar with Joni, when she was seventeen years of age she dove into a shallow spot in Chesapeake Bay, broke her neck, and immediately became a quadriplegic. That was 50 years ago. Rather than becoming bitterly self-absorbed, Joni has been a help and testimony to hundreds of thousands because of her love for Jesus Christ. An additional challenge occurred in 2010 when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. The following powerful statement describes Joni’s attitude toward suffering and the accident that left her paralyzed: “Not only was in not a ‘mistake’—Joni learned that God uses ‘suffering’ to make people more like Christ and to know Him more deeply. Indeed, He uses the suffering of His own Son [Jesus] to accomplish salvation of sinners.”

Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I think the following verses in Psalm 103:1, 2 are very appropriate: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.”

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Lovingly,

Bryan and Del Coupland

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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.