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.