[CindyLuWho]

Reaching out to everyone who can join me in praying for my long-time friend, MERLINDA*, who was diagnosed last week with stage 4 renal (kidney) cancer which has spread to her spine. She is in her early 50s, a CCU nurse, and one of the kindest-hearted people I've ever known.

Tomorrow (Fri., Aug 31) is the bone scan, and we are all praying that the bone scane will reveal that the cancer has NOT spread anywhere else. IF it hasn't spread more, then she will go ahead and have the diseased kidney removed, have back surgery to repair a disc fracture and stabilize her spine, then deal with treatments for the spine issues. No one is talking "cure" but extending her time.

If it has spread, then they do not plan to do these additional measures.

Please pray for the scan to be CLEAR. Join me in boldly approaching the throne of God on Merlinda's behalf!

* Yes, it's MERLINDA, not Melinda.

[JenniferZ]

Sending positive thoughts to your friend.

[mbc72]

Sending prayers for Merlinda.

[teecee]

Sorry to hear your friend is having to go through this. I'll certainly be sending prayers for her.

[BarbaraC1977]

Scary diagnosis so far. Prayers on the way!

[Cheri T]

Praying for Merlinda.

[PolkaDot]

That's a lot to deal with for Merlinda. Sending prayers....

[Belle]

So sorry. She is in my thoughts and prayers.

[ValerieT]

I will keep Merlinda in my thoughts.

[Sara Arell]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Cindy. Sending positive thoughts and prayers for her now.

[LenaLotta]

I'll keep Merlinda in my thoughts

[princessrunningfingers]

I will be keeping Merlinda in my prayers. May God be with her through these trials.

[Jster025]

Joining in the prayer circle, including prayers for strength for you and her family as well as Merlinda.

[Smiles]

May angels of strength and healing be with her through this challenge, and may angels of wisdom and healing guide her doctors and care team.

[Jo Corne]

positive thoughts for Merlinda coming her way Cindy. Please let us know the results if you can

[Sara Arell]

Keeping Merlinda close in thought and in prayer.

[elibar]

She is in my thoughts and prayers. Lord, we ask that you subdue this enemy, so that it cannot take hold over the body of your precious child, Merlinda.

[Debbie Cleek]

I will be keeping Merlinda in my thoughts. I will be thinking of you also Cindy, since you will need strength to help support your friend.

[CindyLuWho]

Thanks, everyone... I know you will be faithful to pray and keep her close to your thoughts.

There will be no news until Tuesday on the results of the bone scan, due to the weekend and the Labor Day holiday. I'll let you know when I hear something.

Cindy

[CindyLuWho]

My friend's report came back a day early! AND... it's pretty good news!!!!!!!!!

Here's what Merlinda posted on Facebook:

Ok, family and friends, get your hands in the air and praise Jesus. Our God is great. Nothing is impossible for Him. Dr. Park (spine doctor) justed call. My bone scan showed an isolated area of cancer in my spine and kidney which means HALLELUJAH !!!! The news gets better. God is working through Dr. Park. He called a bone oncologist at Mass General for the best course of action in my case. They now have decided no massive spine surgery yet. He will stabilize my spine on thursday or Friday which will be a small surgery. I then can have a right kidney nephrectomy possibly next week. Then I will have cyber knife treatments to kill off cancer cells in my spine. Then come back and fix my spine more permanently. He mentioned that this spine surgery should last 40+ years. Praise to the Lord.

Last night I had an amazing experience with God. He told me that I was to not just have life but have life abundantly. This cancer is not going to be a part of my body. Jesus resides within me and cancer cannot stay. I prayed all through the night for Jesus to remove this cancer.

I feel so at peace with this decision. In Hebrews 13:5, God says, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to lift me up with your prayers. Please pray for my doctors (Hutson, Webster, Park and Chee). Let God direct them. Give my doctors wisdom. Most of all, let my doctors know that God is in control and he is using them for his perfect plan. Remember, God is so great and wonderful.


THANK *YOU ALL* for all you have done in joining in this effort on Merlinda's behalf. I'll keep ya posted as I know more.

Cindy

[ValerieT]

That is wonderful news, I'll keep Merlinda in my thoughts and hope her treatment goes smoothly.

[Deb C.]

Yay!! Praise God for that news! What miracles He can perform!!!

[Jo Corne]

this really is wonderful news. may Merlinda's progress towards full health be a wonderful and painless journey

[Belle]

HALLELUJAH!

[LaLo1103]

That is wonderful news!

[BetC]

My prayers join with all the others for Merlinda's good recovery.

[Smiles]

May angels of wisdom and healing guide her doctors during this journey.

[Sherry Lynn]

Cindy I am just seeing this thread BUT I am so glad to read Merlinda facebook post --- I will add her to my prayer list during her recovery!

[CindyLuWho]

Hi, friends...

You all have been so GREAT to keep this thread at the top of the list by adding your replies. I got really busy with the Boutique opening (last week), and then I just kind of collapsed and got back to "regular busy" life this week, so I didn't post anything.

Merlinda has had A LOT going on in that time. Since I last posted, she has had TWO surgeries. The first was last Friday (Sept 7) to stablizes her L2 vertebrae that has a tumor in it, plus it has been giving her immense pain due to a compression fracture. Today's surgery (Sept 13) was to remove the right kidney, the one which has the cancer in it. A couple of other cancer spots were found during another scan (CT scan maybe?), spots that did NOT show up in the bone scan. That was a downer, but the oncologist is really not worried about those other spots, at least not at this moment.

Here's her Caring Bridge site if you want to check up on her thru that. She posts pretty regularly. http://www.caringbri...erlindachelette

Her prognosis is still "terminal" - but she has such an incredible, faith-strong outlook. I wanted to post bits and pieces from a few of her posts this week. For a fuller history, go to Caring Bridge.

From Merlinda:
Sept 11
God has been so good to me today. Started the day with the best gift of all, a visit from the sweet wonderful Ms. Lola Greathouse (a former church staffer at our church and a close friend). Everyone that knows Lola understands what a wonderful blessing from God she is. Lola brings great joy and faith. Tonight her daughter, Kathy, gave me a great scripture to focus on while I am fighting this evil disease.

Philipians 4:8. Paul tells us to think about such things. Kathy suggested I make an index card with this scripture. Of course, Philipians 4:4-7 are included. For example: Whatever is true ___________ (fill in the blank, such as God loves me.)
Whatever is noble________ (example, my nurses who take care of me)
Whatever is right_________ (taking my medicine)
Whatever is pure__________ (my husband's tears)
Whatever is lovely________(morning dew)
Whatever is admirable__________(other people facing this with courage)
Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy _________ (my dear sweet Savior)

Kathy said I should think of a different word to fill next to each "whatever." Brilliant idea. God has surrounded me with such beautiful people.



Sept 12
Dear friends and family,
Tomorrow is the right kidney removal at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. I am asking for your prayers. 12:15 is the scheduled time. I have some specific prayer needs.
1. Dr. Webster and OR staff feel God's power and work in accordance with Him.
2. I really want to have a peace regarding the surgery.
3. That I be a good patient ( kind, loving and patient.) You know nurses are the worse patients. (BTW, MERLINDA is a nurse!)
4. God be lifted up throughout my stay.
5. Little pain.
6. Quick recovery. I need to be back on my feet ASAP.
7. For God to heal me. Maria Palmer, my friend, gave me a beautiful prayer.

"We are praying in harmony that God is healing you. May He fill you with His warm, brilliant healing Light! We are praying that the Great Physician our Almighty Omnipotent All knowing God will move all the cancer cells in your body to your right kidney. I call out to all believers to join us in asking God to encapsulate all the cancer cells in Merlinda’s body to her right kidney so that when it is removed by your surgeon, so is the cancer! May God be Glorified - He is in Control! " Love, Maria

I think, wow, what an awesome prayer. It works for me.

8. That I stick to the battle plan. Fill in my "whatever" plan as well.
9. I will definitely be fasting and praying. LOL. Can check that one off.
10. No nausea or vomiting after surgery. Last time we prayed for this and it really worked. I absolutely felt great after surgery. Shout out to God with hands in the air!!!!!

Thanking God for my husband, family and friends for their prayers. Please remember my husband, Ricky, in your prayers. He is an awesome man.

Okay, I think that covers it. If God burdens you with any other request, please feel free to pray. Sorry for the never-ending prayer request, just knowing that you guys are praying for me gives me additional strength over the evil one.

Read this devotion today, "I AM YOUR LIVING GOD, far more abundantly alive than the the most vicious person you know. The human body is wonderfully crafted, but gravity and the inevitable effects of aging weigh it down. Even the most superb athlete cannot maintain his fitness over many decades. Lasting abundant life can be found in Me alone. Do not be anxious about the weakness of your body. Instead, view it as the prelude to My infusing energy into your being.

As you identify more and more fully with Me, MY LIFE becomes increasingly intertwined with yours. Though the process of aging continues, inwardly you grow stronger with the passing years. Those who live close to Me develop an inner aliveness that makes them seem youthful in spite of their years. Let My Life shine through you, as you walk in the Light with Me."
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart.
Colossians 1:29 To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies and which is at work in me.
1 John 1:7 But if we live in the light--just as he is in the light--then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

May God bless you all. Big hugs for each of you,
Merlinda



Sept 13
Hello family and friends, surgery #2 done. Hooray!!! Will update everyone tomorrow. Just wanted to say how much your prayers have meant. I feel God's presence. Good friend shared this with me "I read Matt 14:29-31 this evening. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus (and we all do) and looked at "reality" (storm), he became afraid. Maybe like you, looking at what some doctors have said. But as Peter began to sink, he cried out to Jesus. "AT ONCE..." Jesus rescued him, just as Jesus is rescuing you." During my surgery, I pictured Jesus on the shore with His hand out. Now I am focusing on my dear sweet Savior rescuing me from this storm.

Shout to the Lord with hands in the air!!!! No nausea or vomiting.

Well, more to follow. Keeping my eyes on Jesus,
(like a laser beam)
Merlinda


Thanks for reading... thanks even more for praying!

Cindy

[Sara Arell]

Keeping Merlinda close in thought and in prayer these days - praying for a miracle for her. What a brave soul she must be! You're a very special friend, Cindy - thank you for posting her thoughts here.