Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The eye of the storm has passed by

A hurricane hits and pounds with wind and rain and flood. Then for a brief time, when the eye passes over it gets peaceful. The skies are even blue for a short time. But then after the eye passes the pounding continues until the storm is gone.

The results of Tricia's scan today showed that her lymphoma was essentially unaffected by the chemo she's had over the last 5 weeks. In fact, the cancer has grown.

Nathan's blog gives the details.

We're all discouraged, to put it mildly.

I don't have answers to the obvious questions. I hope I have the faith the size of a mustard seed, however.

Thanks for your prayers. The winds and rain have picked back up on the back side of this storm.

12 comments:

GinnyBerry said...

I'm sorry to hear about this news. I appreciate your analogy to the eye of a hurricane.

marcia said...

Rick, please know that many of us who have come to "know" and love your family via the internet in the past several months, will continue to "pray you through" the times ahead! I think I remember you commenting at one point, on either your blog or Nate's, that you appreciate the lyrics of Twila Paris' "God Is In Conrol", and some of those words have been going through my head tonight, since reading Nate's post earlier. Let me remind you of them right now...and may God give all of you the ability to hang on tightly to Him, and make His age-old promises of strength and His faithfulness very real to you in the days ahead! Praying for the miracles to continue...and here are those lyrics:
This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

May you and Gail and all of your family and the Kirschner clan, know God's peace in and through all of everything this night! My husband and I will continue to pray for you, as we have been doing for many months now.

Nana2Six said...

Rick,
Your post as well as Nathan's has us back on our knees. I remembered the words to the old hymn............ "Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by."
We will be standing with all of you during this new storm.

AshleyG82 said...

Lifting Tricia up in prayer. xoxo

Scott said...

Hey Rick,

I hurt for you guys! This was a tough report to read. I know you guys are feeling it and I'll pray for that mustard seed of faith! Sorry for the setback.

Missy said...

many prayers!

Kerry said...

Covering your family in prayer.

Mrs Redboots (Annabel Smyth) said...

As someone said on Nate's blog, "This isn't a surprise to God!"

We know that in all things God works for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) - one authority suggests this might best be translated "God intermingles all things for good" - which means the dark side isn't diminished - after all, when it's you that's going through it, it certainly doesn't feel small!

I am remembering all of you in my prayers.

~j~ said...

felt like i was punched in the stomach when I read Nates blog..
I can only imagine what it must be like for all of you, i am so sorry.. it's more than apparent that there are thousands earnestly praying for your family, it's so very humbling for me to be on this journey, i often feel so intrusive yet the Lord keeps me coming back day after day to show me what HE is doing and my love for your family can only be explained becasue of HIS. We are committed to
your families through this privledge of prayer.
julia

terri c said...

It has to be so hard as a father to see your son and daughter-in-law struck once again by adversity. Prayers to the whole family.

Unknown said...

I'm part of a "fast and pray" group of friends that have been together since college (20 plus years) and we have geared up for Tricia's situation. For the duration of her treatment schedule, each day, one of us will be fasting and we'll all be praying (there are seven of us, so it works out well)... over 20 plus years, we've fasted and prayed each other through a ton of life stuff, and we've all come to care so much for the way your family is honoring God in the midst of all of this! Oh how we all (and I mean the thousands of us who follow your story) wish you could see us with you in prayer like those mildly annoying, yet somehow humorous, Verizon network ads!

MelB said...

I'm sorry to hear the report. My heart goes out to all of you.