Hello everyone, it's Miriam here.....

Thank you for remembering me today as Marylynne, Ruth, and I went to the appointment with Dr. Ho. I had no idea what I was going to hear today, and knowing that there were so many prayers sent heavenward gave me a peace about how the day was going to transpire. It wasn't long into my appointment when she said, "I have good news and mixed news. " The good news is that they have exhausted different ways of looking for the primary source and there are no signs in any of the tests and procedures of any primary source. Praise the Lord! The reality remains that there may still be an underlying cancer, but there does not appear to be any sign pointing to what it might be. Dr. Ho said she has no reason to do any further treatment at this point. She reviewed all of the procedures that have taken place, with none of them pointing out any active sites. So we watch and wait. She encouraged me to continue strengthening my leg and learn to live my life in this new "place". I am to see her in 6 weeks for a follow-up visit.

Our trip home started off with us pulling to the side of the road, crying and thanking the Lord for His mercy to me. I wish you could have been in the car with us, joining with our tears of joy and our prayers of thanksgiving.

For me, this is an incredible answer to the prayers of many who have "stormed the walls of heaven" for me. A song that pretty much sums up how I am feeling tonight is sung by Hillsong Australia, called "I Will Never be the Same Again". You can hear the song at http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=i+will+never+be+the+same+again+hillsong&search_type=&aq=0&oq=I+will+never+be+the+same+again

Thank you so much for staying with me through all of this. I really look to your continued prayers as I learn to live my life in this "new normal".

October 15

It is hard to believe that a week has gone by since the last blog update regarding Miriam's ongoing journey. Since that time, our Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone, and Miriam so enjoyed time with family out at Ruth and Barry's place in White Rock. The sun was out, the turkey was cooked perfectly, and fellowship with family was so sweet.

This was the week for radiation to begin, and Miriam has already had two treatments. The first was yesterday, and Miriam felt a certain degree of anxiety as she headed in to her appointment. In God's mercy and foresight, He placed a former student of Miriam's in her path (a radiation tech) at the treatment center who set Miriam totally at ease as she prepared for the treatment. Miriam saw this as a favour of Lord to her at that time. The treatments are quick, and are scheduled for five consecutive weekdays. By Tuesday next week, she will have had her fifth radiation treatment, targeted very specifically on her leg. There has been some minor stiffness as a result, but fortunately there has not been any significant pain or negative side effects. Please continue to be in prayer that Miriam will feel the peace of God as she continues her journey. A specific appointment to keep in your prayers is next Wednesday (October 21), when she goes back into Vancouver to meet with the Oncologist. To date there has not been any further information regarding a primary site, so we continue to wait and pray for God's direction in this.

Encouragement continues to come as a result of time spent in God's word as well as with people who share a common faith and hope in God's mercy and sovereignty. Daily Light was so good again this morning. 2 Samuel 22:2,3 says, "God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout; My mountaintop refuge ..." (the Message translation). Miriam has enjoyed times of fellowship together with her church family, and has been able to join her Care Group as they meet to study, share, and pray together. A highlight to look forward to this weekend is the fact that Miriam's brother, Allen, is flying out tomorrow from Edmonton to spend time here until Wednesday next week.

So, thank you once again for all of your support and prayers. We thank God for all of you, knowing that your labour of love and the time spent in prayer is not in vain.

October 8

The day started early today at Miriam's house with reading and meditating on Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." What a fitting verse in light of the fact that today was the day Miriam was scheduled to meet with the radiation oncologist here in Abbotsford.

Waiting rooms seem to be part of God's chosen path for Miriam, both literally and metaphorically. During the 25 minutes in the private waiting room, Miriam and Marylynne shared scripture, bringing to mind promises from the Bible that have been such a source of strength. The end result of the appointment is that next Wednesday (October 14), Miriam will begin a series of five radiation treatments here at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. These treatments are very targeted and designed to control the spread of cancer in her femur. What also came out clearly again is that no primary site has been found. Although this is not unusual, it still is a puzzle to the medical staff, and they are going to continue aggressively looking for the site. Miriam's file will be passed to a medical oncologist here in Abbotsford who will direct her treatment. Although chemotherapy may be an option, it is more difficult since the primary site has not been defined. A further and more indepth CT scan is scheduled for tomorrow, with more bloodwork scheduled again for next week.

On days like today, the waves of fear and doubt continue to threaten, and at times it seems like those of us who come alongside are finding the clouds to be quite dark. It is through your continued prayers and the grace of God that Miriam continues to have strong faith and belief that God is the great Physician and He is definitely in control. She will often lead us back to God's word and together we find rest in the promises of God. Thank you so much for continuing to support Miriam with your prayers and notes of encouragement.

October 5

What a great day Sunday was! Miriam was so encouraged to be in church yesterday, worshipping and praising God with many of you who have been such a vital part of her support team over these past weeks. Being in the house of the Lord, along with His people, is such a source of strength and blessing.

It often happens in life, though, that following a time of encouragement and uplifting, the enemy likes to come in and try to discourage. So, after Sunday comes Monday! Today started off on a bit of a low note emotionally for Miriam. It seems like there is this sense that the prayers that are lifted up for Miriam have established a dike of protection, on the other side of which there are waves that keep rushing in, trying to overcome the dike and cause flooding. Some of those waves crashed over the top for a while today, and Miriam really needed time this afternoon with Marylynne to focus on God's goodness and mercy for her over the last days. Their focus was on the many benefits ... it really is true that when our prayers are led by thanksgiving, God seems to bring the other things into focus for us. Peace came flooding in again this afternoon, and Miriam knows that your prayers are making the difference for her.

There are several items that we can all be remembering to pray for these days. Miriam has an appointment on Thursday with the Radiation Oncologist here at the Abbotsord Regional Hospital in order to set a plan into place on how to deal with the bone cancer in her femur. What will that look like? What will be involved? How will she feel? Lots of questions, lots of waiting. There is also the waiting for an appointment for another CT scan and more bloodwork. The primary site has still not been defined, and the unknown can bring its own stress.

Miriam continues to count on your prayers to sustain her through these days. We can be the hands that continue to lift her up to our heavenly Father.

Daily Light was so good today...what a great verse that began the day "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me...Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him...I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications..." Praise God for His Word that continues to give a "lifting up".

October 1

I just had a short conversation with Miriam following her appointment with the orthopedic surgeon this morning, and she asked me to pass on the following information.

First of all, she is so grateful for all of your emails, phone calls, and continued prayers. God is continuing to give her a deep measure of trust and faith in His timing throughout all of these days.

Miriam's appointment with the orthopedic surgeon was a follow-up from the surgery on her femur bone. The surgeon was very pleased with the healing that is taking place. The staples were removed today, and apart from a few steri-strips, there is no longer any dressing needed. Miriam has been encouraged to begin some low impact exercises, including riding a stationary bike. So things are coming along well in that department.

Miriam is still waiting for the next steps, which include a CT scan and more blood tests prior to meeting with the Oncologist again. These procedures have not yet been scheduled, so we will continue to wait to hear from the doctor's office. Your continued prayers for healing, patience, trust, and hope are so appreciated.

Miriam can't get enough of Lamentations 3:22 - 26 these days, "The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him!' The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."