Thursday, August 4, 2011

Healing

Derek's dad, Dale, has cancer.  He was diagnosed about a month ago.  Thyroid cancer.  Which, if you are going to get cancer, this is one that is not so bad to get, from what we are told.  
Today he had surgery to have his thyroid removed, and have some stuff checked out with his lymph nodes, which are looking suspicious.  The surgery went well, considering.  No big surprises, and he is in recovery this evening.  

He may even get to go home tomorrow.
But he is looking at a month of recovery time.
And then, when he is feeling healthy again,
the doctors are going to blast him with radioactivity,
in an attempt to knock out any cancer that is remaining (and hopefully not knock him out too horribly 
in the process.)
He is a wonderful husband and father, and such a blessing to all of us.  He is definitely one of the good guys.  

Five years ago, it was prostate cancer.
Now thyroid.
We are all praying for a complete and total healing for Dale, and I ask that you pray, as well.

Dale and Julie, my in-laws, adopted three beautiful little girls out of US foster care three years ago.  The girls are 5, 7, and 8.  They adore their daddy.  
We all adore him.
We praise God that the surgery went well today,
and we pray for quick recovery and total healing!

He is one of Derek's best friends.
He is "Gramps" to my kids.
He has been like another father to me.
He is The World's Best Daddy to his little girls.
He is one of the most loyal, noble, and kind husbands 
I've ever met.
He is the guy who knows everybody.
And the guy that everybody likes.
The guy who is there to help when somebody needs help.
The guy who gave up his retirement and his peace and quiet, and traded it all in for another round of building tree forts and reading bedtime stories and 
cleaning scraped knees.
He is the one who always has something funny to say.
He is the guy who always has time to stop and hunker down and listen to what the little kids have to say.
He is a man who has lived for the Lord his entire life.
Lived in obedience to Him.
He is a warrior for Jesus.
This is my father-in-law, and I am so honored 
to be a part of his family.
We are praying!
And we are trusting the Lord.