Preparation - 1

Finding out that we have a family match for a transplant was very exciting news!  An opportunity for healing! That was quickly following by a feeling of terror for what lies ahead.  Joy and terror, two pages in the same book.

When Barb and I sit and talk about what has all transpired, we remind ourselves to count God's blessings in our lives first, instead of dwelling only on the disease and all it entails.
 1.  Had we not booked those physicals we would not have known of the cancer.
 The month prior I had gone to the hospital for chest pain that would not ease.  After tests the doctors concluded that I must have some virus, it would pass and it did. With this result I likely would have waited a long time to go in for the same thing. My oncologist in March determined that it was likely a spleen attack caused by an enlarged spleen, a symptom of the disease.
 2.  Being young enough to go through this bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
Not many people who have MPN unclassified, or CMML (name given to the disease in July) have the opportunity for a stem cell transplant because of age and other health issues.  The hematologist described the pre-transplant regimen as "tossing you out of a plane".
 3. Finding an excellent match in my brother Clarence.
All my siblings were willing to be donors, and what a blessing that one was found to be a 6/6 match.  A family stem cell donor gives a patient the best medical opportunity for success.
 4. The strong and consistent support of our children and our families.
Their love, and the willingness to discuss our hopes, fears, questioning of God's will for our lives, trust and dependence on our great Shepherd, has been a great encouragement for us.
 5.  Our friends and church family.
They have held us up before our God in prayer, and have given us much encouragement and love in varying ways, they have shown us the love of Christ in the body of Christ.
 6.  Dwelling on the unfailing promises of our God.
Going to scripture to see God's promises for His children in times of trial, suffering, and death. We are reminded that in all things He will uphold and bless.  We are constantly reminded to trust in this God, who gave Himself to death to save us, as the faithful promise keeper.  He will indeed provide for us to the end.
 7.  That our children are adults, and walk in the way of Truth.
We are so thankful for the unfettered years of raising our children, and for the blessings God has given to each of them.
 8.  That we have, for the most part, been able to stay away from dwelling in the question of "why me God?"
One of our requests to our Lord has been to protect us from this danger, knowing it can result in bitterness and anger towards our Heavenly Father. We most certainly question his plan in this for our lives, and pray that He will use our time of trial for His purposes and for His glory, and that we will not be a hindrance to that.
 9.  That we have been kept from the "pit of despair".
It's a pit that lies on the edge of the path, ready to swallow pilgrims.  We are thankful the Lord is keeping our eyes on the path to the Holy City.
10.  That our end is sure.
The knowledge of eternal salvation through Christ's righteousness by faith, means cancer never wins, suffering never wins, death never wins, Satan never wins. Christ reigns.
11.  We can give our burden to the Lord.
I Peter 5:6,7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Exodus 19:3,4 "The Lord called to him (Moses) out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."
1John 2:1,2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

That's it for today.