September 28

Today was another big day for Miriam, so she asked us to update you and put into writing what some of her thoughts were at the end of today.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers today for Miriam as she went in to her appointment with the Oncologist. Let me give you a bit of a breakdown on how the appointment went. Upon arrival, Miriam was met by the Resident who came in with the news that their office had not received any of the reports on the tests Miriam had been through. As you can imagine, Miriam and her sisters had not come into the appointment only to be turned away without any information! Miriam asked if there was any way that some phone calls could be made and perhaps some results could be tracked down. As the Resident went to attempt this, Miriam, Marylynne, and Ruth went to prayer, asking God to take up Miriam's cause once again. Once again, God came through in a miraculous way, and the Oncologist and Resident soon came into the office with results of all of the tests except for the mammogram. There was a clear sense today again that even in the midst of excellent medical staff and facilities, it was the Great Physician who was in control and intimately interested in Miriam's case.

According to the Oncologist, the results of the CT scans and the Ultrasound have proven to be inconclusive. Based on the original CT biopsy on the femur, the femur is not considered the primary site. As a result, the search is on to find where that site might be. The Oncologist admitted that the elusiveness of finding the primary site was somewhat puzzling, and did some more blood tests today with the hopes that some markers might be discovered that would point toward the primary site. She is committed to finding the primary site if at all possible, so that there could be targeted treatment resulting in a better prognosis. We continue to be committed to praying that God's will be done, and perhaps that means that healing is already taking place in her body.

There was some talk of radiation treatment to the affected area on the femur, beginning when sufficient post-op healing has taken place. We are hopeful that this will be able to happen here in Abbotsford at the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. Her next appointment is a follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon this Thursday.

So, we move on in faith, seeing the evidence again today that God is in control. He is still in the business of doing miracles, as proven today by answering prayers regarding the need to receive the results of the tests, even though the lateness of Miriam's appointment made this an unlikely possibility. Miriam is peaceful, even in the midst of inconclusive results. Thanks again for standing with Miriam. Miriam often likes to quote the African children she grew to love so much over the past two summers, "God is good all the time. All the time, God is good."

On a side note, I know that some of you have had some difficulty leaving comments at the bottom of a blog entry. If you wish to do so, the best thing for you to do is to set up a google account. Once you have a username and password set up, you simply have to enter your comment, click on the google profile (will ask for your username and password), and then submit your comment. Please remember as well that you can email Miriam directly at mpowles@telus.net if you prefer. She has a laptop with wireless connection and checks her email several times per day.

Sept. 25, 2009

Hello everyone, it's Miriam here. I cannot express how good it feels to be home! Praise the Lord! Personally, I want you to know how very blessed I am to have your love & prayer support through this journey. My heart is full of gratefulness tonight!! It was an amazing week. There were many moments of His peace and then I must be honest, I had times where the 'waves' were very big. I have found I keep coming back to II Chron. 20 with the story about Jehoshaphat who was facing those 3 armies....he felt powerless, he was scared, he didn't know what to do; however, his response was "but our eyes are on you." This is when the Lord said, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but Gods. Tomorrow go down against them.....You will not need to fight in this battle,
- Stand firm,
-Hold your position
-See the salvation of the Lord on your behalf"
I can't tell you how many times I have rehearsed this in my mind! There have been many "tomorrow's" this week and I want you to know I have seen "the salvation of the Lord on my behalf."
This is a time to Praise the Lord for all His goodness and mercy.
So on Monday, my sisters will go with me for the consult with Dr. Ho, a medical oncologist. Thank you for your continued prayers as we will be looking to her to give me direction for the next steps.
Blessings and love, Miriam

September 24

Miriam found out today that she is going to be discharged to go home tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 25). As a result, she spent considerable time today trying to regain mobility, specifically walking with her crutches (including some stairs). Hard work, especially for someone who has just had such major surgery. However, her determination and level of fitness and strength she had going into the surgery, certainly are in her favour.

She also had further tests today in preparation for her appointment on Monday. The reality that there is still something ahead of her hits pretty hard at times. The unknown is always so difficult. In the face of what she has gone through this week, Miriam continues to be incredibly courageous and shows an incredible reliance on the Lord for her strength. However, there is still the lurking fear that tends to come over her at times. Your prayers for God's peace and strength continue to be a lifeline for her. We are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and prayer for Miriam. We can never thank you enough.

We have Miriam set up with a laptop and wireless connectivity in her house, so I know that she will begin to post her own messages on this site very soon! I know she will look forward to reading the comments on the blog as well as any emails that have been sent her way.

September 23

Thanks to all of you who have upheld Miriam in your prayers today. Every day I am hearing of more and more people who have been steadfastly praying for Miriam. Wow, what a gift you all are to her and to all of us as a family.

Miriam has had steady recovery again today from the surgery on her femur. She is feeling stronger and has been able to take several assisted walks today. It really is amazing how quickly physiotherapists work at getting people mobile again after major surgery. Along with the improvement in her mobility comes of course the discussion of discharge. I know that Miriam would appreciate your prayers around the timing of her discharge from the hospital. They are beginning to talk about a potential discharge sometime on the weekend.

Miriam has had a CT scan today on her chest and abdomen areas, and is still waiting for more tests to be done before she is discharged. At this point, she is still planning on a consult with the Oncologist on Monday, at the BC Cancer Agency.

The waves of anxiety and fear are never far away, but Miriam was again encouraged by different scriptures that were shared with her. Today, it was specifically Lamentations 2 and 3. If you get a chance, take some time to read through these two chapters. When she came to 3:55 - 58, "I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, 'Do not close your ear to my cry for help!' You came near when I called on you; you said, 'Do not fear!' You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life," she pictured the Lord with her file open on His desk, knowing she was His priority. What encouragement! Please continue to pray that fear will be removed and that she will experience God's peace again tonight.

Miriam enjoyed a latte out on the terrace with her sister Ruth this afternoon, and watched cruise ships leaving the harbour from her window! Gorgeous day and gorgeous view for her to enjoy - just some extra blessings for Miriam today!

September 22

Today has been a day filled with a variety of emotions for Miriam, from the highs of getting out of bed and being able to weight bear on her leg, to the lows of realizing that there is still so much more to come. Let me try to fill you in on Miriam's day today.

The orthopedic surgeon was in to see Miriam and described the surgery as a "textbook" surgery. There was minimal blood loss and the bone was able to be secured with a number of stainless steel pins. The threat of Miriam breaking her leg has been averted, thanks to the protective hand of God, coupled with the skill of the surgeon. The orthopedic surgeon's part in the story is done now, and Miriam has been referred to Dr. Ho, the Oncologist who will take over from this point on.

Miriam was seen by physiotherapists on two occasions today, who helped her get out of bed and start moving. They are amazed that Miriam is so strong. She feels very little pain, and is not on any painkillers, apart from regular tylenol. Unbelievable for the surgery that she just has gone through. She is fighting some fever tonight, and the nursing staff is keeping a close watch on that.

A real answer to prayer occurred this afternoon, when the nurse manager was able to contact the Oncologist to begin the next part of the process. Although the Oncologist usually does not order tests before seeing a patient in her office, the manager came back to Miriam with news that she had approved three diagnostic tests over the next couple of days. These include ultrasounds, CT scans and mammograms. Although we were so greatful to hear that things remain in motion, it has produced in Miriam a certain amount of anxiety today. In fact there were waves of anxiety and fear that would come over her at different times, and she would reach out her hands and ask for more prayer to overcome those fears. I know she would appreciate your prayers for her, especially over these next days, as she begins to look at what the next steps will be.

A passage of scripture that was an encouragement to her this morning was from Psalm 143:8, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

September 21 pm

I just talked to Marylynne and found out that Miriam has gradually become more lucid as the anesthetic has worn off this afternoon. The pain has become more manageable and she is in very good spirits. One of the first things she wanted as she was waking up was her phone, just in case there were any text messages there for her! She is thanking the Lord for the way He orchestrated the day for her today. The joy of the Lord is truly her strength! She was even able to eat a little supper tonight, so that is a great sign.

There have been no visits with any doctors yet, and probably won't be until their rounds in the morning tomorrow. As a result, we don't have any details as to how the surgery itself went and what has been done. When I get that information, I will certainly post it so that you will know.

So now, it is rest for Miriam while our prayers continue to be for her healing and strength to face the days ahead.

September 21

This update is to let you know that Miriam had surgery this morning to stabilize her femur. We received notice at about 6:15 am that she was heading into surgery, and it was 12:00 noon before she was back on the ward. At this point in time, we have not been able to talk to any of the doctors regarding the details of the surgery. Miriam is still very sedated and any movement is very painful. Her respirations are still too low to give her any further morphine, but she is receiving wonderful care. When I heard from Marylynne a few minutes ago, Miriam was awake enough to ask that we thank all of you who have been praying for her today. Your prayers will continue to sustain her.

We will let you know more when further information is forthcoming. Thanks again for walking this path with Miriam.

September 20

This is just a quick update to let you know where things are at today. As requested, Miriam went in to VGH this morning just before 10:00. Although at first there didn't seem to be a plan in place for her, God intervened and advocated on her behalf. She did not have to wait long at all in the waiting room before being admitted and seen by medical staff. After some conferring between the surgeon and the emerg doctors, it was decided that Miriam's surgery is to take place tomorrow, Monday (we don't yet know what time). During the day today, Miriam will be undergoing a series of pre-op procedures and tests so that they are ready to go tomorrow. Again, the main purpose of tomorrow's surgery is to pin the femur in order to protect it from breaking.

Ruth has been in Vancouver with Miriam until mid-day today, and Marylynne and Jill have gone in to be there this afternoon and evening. I am sure that when they get back, we'll have some more details that we can share with you.

Thanks for your continued prayers. They are supporting Miriam and the rest of us during this time.

Friday, September 18

We have been waiting since Monday's tests to know the results and where the medical staff will need to proceed from here. Waiting is always difficult, but God has given Miriam strength and courage throughout this week. She has had wonderful times of fellowship with many people and has bathed herself in God's word, receiving strength and courage.

We did hear some news today, and even though the news is difficult, we must continue to rest in God's promises, in the fact that He is our Rock, our Fortress, the One we cling to when it seems like things are crumbling around us.

Miriam received a call from her doctor this afternoon. The news was that there is a confirmation of cancer on her femur, as shown by the CT biopsy. As a result, Miriam has been asked to come to the emergency department of the Vancouver General Hospital at 10:00 am on Sunday morning (September 20) with the hopes that she will be able to get into surgery that day. Although I don't know many of the details at this point in time, it appears that at the very least, the surgery is urgently needed to pin the femur so that she doesn't lose it. What else they do while in surgery remains to be seen, based on what the surgeons find when they perform the surgery. One of the certain follow-up procedures will include radiation treatment. One of the other results of the CT biopsy is that the cancer site on her femur does not appear to be the primary site, indicating that there might be cancer elsewhere as well that will need to be treated. There was a full body CT scan scheduled for Monday that would have looked for other potential sites, but I don't know now when this will take place.

So, please continue to pray for our dear sister, that God will sustain her and be a shelter over her during these days. As difficult as it is sometimes, we must cling onto Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Miriam herself has been encouraged today by verses in Psalm 107, verses like 29, "He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves."

Thanks for your continued support.

Monday, September 14

This has been a day we have been waiting for, in hopes of receiving more information regarding Miriam's journey. The day actually started yesterday evening. Let me give you just a little glimpse into a very intimate evening we as family shared together last night, along with a few close friends. We met at Vic and Sandy Schellenberg's last night(Sunday, September 13) for the express purpose of spending time together in worship, Bible reading, and prayer, as we anticipated a day that was designed to bring some direction and news. Our prayers and tears mingled with the prayers being offered by many of you as we came before the throne of grace on behalf of Miriam. It was indeed a beautiful time as we felt the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus flood the room and engulf each of us who was there. Vic shared the story of Jehoshaphat who sent worshippers ahead of the mighty army to indicate that it was the Lord who would provide the victory and not the might or power of humans. We left last night knowing that the Lord himself was going ahead and would be preparing the way for Miriam today. He proved to do just that.

So, today started early, with Miriam and her two sisters, Marylynne and Ruth, heading into the Vancouver General Hospital by 5:00 am. The day included a number of tests, including an MRI, x-rays, followed by a consult with the Oncologist, and concluded with a CT scan and biopsy mid-afternoon. The CT biopsy will indicate what exactly it is she is dealing with, and we will have to wait for some word on this in the next few days. The most important thing at this point is that Miriam try to protect her leg as it is very vulnerable right now. He indicated that surgery is imminent to try to stabilize her leg, regardless of whatever else is going on. There is danger of breaking this femur, which would greatly complicate the treatment schedule.

Miriam is staying with Vic and Sandy, where she will not have to go up or down any stairs. She has been buoyed by your prayers and is a testimony to the tremendous grace of God through this difficult day. We ask you to continue to pray for the protection of her femur, as well as asking God to continue to wrap his love and mercy around her. She is amazingly peaceful, but we also realize that fear and doubt are always waiting just around the corner, so we count on your prayers for God to continue to uphold her.

We Have a Date

We have spent time over the last few days praying that Miriam would have direction from her doctor before the weekend. The answer to her prayer came when she received a phone call letting her know of her next appointment. She is to show up at the Vancouver General Hospital on Monday, September 14 at 6:30 am where she will meet with a specialist and go through a battery of tests, including another MRI and CT scan.

Miriam continues to draw encouragement through prayer and reading the Word. She was especially blessed in yesterday's (September 4) reading of the Daily Light. A couple of the verses are as follows:

"Sit still, my daughter." Ruth 3:18
"Take heed, and be quiety; do not fear or be faint-hearted." Isaiah 7:4
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15
"He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established." Psalm 112:7, 8

During this next week of waiting, we invite you to join us in praying that God's answers will be evident in Miriam's life when she goes for her next set of tests on the 14th. Our God is mighty to save, and we know that with Him, all things are possible!

We are arranging to make email more accessible for Miriam over these next days, so if you are interested in contacting her directly, you can email her at mpowles@telus.net.

Call the elders to pray!

Just last Sunday, we sat through a service at our church where the pastor was speaking on the last few verses in James. One of the focus points was on the part where we are encouraged to call elders to pray for healing over one who is sick. Little did we know that we would be exercising that privilege so soon. On Tuesday, Miriam had a group of elders from her church come over to her house for the purpose of anointing her with oil and praying fervently for her healing. It was a privilege for us to be with her that afternoon and add our tears and our prayers to those being offered up by the elders. We recognize the incredible power and authority there is in invoking the precious blood of Christ to bring healing and restoration.

One of the passages read that afternoon was Psalm 139, where Miriam was reminded that she was fearfully and wonderfully made. Even before she was born, God had her perfect design in mind. If that was the case then, how much more confident can we be that God is still completely aware and involved in all that is happening in her body.

It is especially during these times when we realize the strength of Christian community. What a blessing to have the elders, who are also her friends, stand at her side during this time. Also, what a blessing to have all of your prayers offered to sustain and strengthen Miriam during this season of waiting.

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to have a communication tool that will enable Miriam's family and friends to received updated information as to Miriam's journey to healing.

Miriam's close friends will already know that since earlier on this summer, and especially since her trip to Portugal, she has struggled with stiffness and pain in her right upper leg. Initial treatment included trips to a physiotherapist for the purpose of loosening this stiffness and restoring fullness of motion to her leg. However, this was soon discontinued as there was no noticeable improvement. The physiotherapist suggested that she receive more diagnostic treatment to determine if there were any medical causes for this pain and stiffness.

Since Thursday, August 27th, Miriam has gone for an MRI, CT Scan, X-rays, as well as a bone scan to try to determine what was happening. The fact that these procedures were able to take place so quickly is an answer to our prayers that quick action would be taken and that the Lord would open doors and expedite the process.

Following these procedures, Miriam received a call from her physician to come for a 5:30 appointment on Monday, August 31st. The news her doctor had to give her was difficult and unexpected for her and for those of us who were closely involved with her. Miriam's doctor indicated that the tests revealed a tumor that had attached itself high on her femur, close to the hip bone. The physician put into motion a series of events, including attempting to contact a surgeon who would be competent at performing surgery which surely would be needed. Further tests were ordered for Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 1, 2), including further ultra sounds to determine if there were any other sites of concern, as well as a battery of blood tests.

At this point, the next step appears to be a process that includes orthopaedic surgery in order to put a pin into Miriam's femur, stabilizing it against fracturing during further procedures. The case is being referred to an Oncologist who will be directing the process from this point on.

Needless to say, we know that many people have been and are praying for Miriam at this time. Your prayers are sustaining her, along with constantly going back to words of encouragement found in the Psalms. Never before has Miriam been so drawn to the strength that comes from God's word and from the prayers of her Christian friends and family.