Surgery Again

Please remember Andrew in prayer tomorrow (11/24) as he goes into surgery again around 10:00 a.m. est.
He has been in All Children's Hospital in St. Pete since Saturday. All Children's is 30 minutes from our home. We did not want to be separated from family and friends again.
He will have a debulking of the tumors. Following a short recovery, he will begin radiation and chemo. He began having excruciating headaches and vomiting last week.
There is no medical cure for this kind of brain cancer which is rare in children. BUT GOD.
We have put him over and again in God's kind and capable hands. We have not given up on Andrew's miracle. We still believe.

Please pray that God guides the hands of the surgeon and that there will not be an infection as was the case last time.
Pray that there are NO Ill Effects of the surgery.
Pray for us to have the wisdom of God on how to proceed with Andrew's care and that we are led by His Spirit as we talk with our son.
And please include our other children in your prayers. Andrew's big sister, Audra, is 20 and his big brother, Avery, is 15. Avery is not expressing his emotions and we are concerned about this.

Thank you for your prayers and your concern and your outpouring of love.
I'll let you know how things go when I can.

Our Miracle Child ~ Andrew!

Weeping endures for the night, but JOY comes in the morning. Tuesday night and Wednesday were very difficult days for us. I felt like I was losing my "fight." But my husband was able to be strong when I was weak. After surgery I slept on the sleeper chair while my husband waited on Andrew through the night. Even though I heard every monitor beep and every exchange of words, just being able to lie still was refreshing.
My husband and I have a pact. No matter what we hear, no matter what someone else's belief may be, we are taking our spiritual authority over our son. God gave him to us to steward his life and we intend to steward well while he is in our care.

(LET ME INSERT HERE THAT WE ARE SO THANKFUL AND BLESSED BY EVERY PRAYER YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR ANDREW. WE DO NOT DISCOUNT YOUR OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT. I HAVE FELT IT AND DEPENDED ON IT!PLEASE DON'T STOP PRAYING.)

We are the ones, who other than God, love Andrew the most in the world. We are the ones who conceived Andrew following a rough patch in our marriage. Andrew was our "miracle" child. He cemented our love and commitment to one another and to our family.
From the time Andrew was a little baby, he always had a smile. For a while, his dad called him "Smiley."
We want that smiling boy back again and we KNOW we will have him.

Yesterday I thought about the Apostle Paul's words, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor..."
In thinking of those words, I also thought about how we Christians believe that God has a purpose and a plan for each of us. I have asked God that Andrew fulfills the plan and purpose for his life. For Andrew to live is for the cause of Christ. I want our family's purpose and the individual plan for each of us to go forth. It is the enemy of our souls who attempts to thwart God's plan. He is the one who wants to take us out to keep us from fulfilling our purpose on this earth.
I want our family to go together (alive) in the rapture of the Body of Christ. This is what I am asking.

Again I am reminded of the scripture in Eph. 3:20, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine according to the POWER THAT WORKS IN US, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
God does the miracle and the healing...but he expects us to do the work of believing, praying and receiving. And if you have ever been in a position where with man, the "work" seemed impossible, then you know how much "work" is involved in keeping your faith built up, your fear down and your belief in the POWER of God to manifest the outward sign of an inward healing.

It was Jesus, the Son of God, who said that with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
Do we really believe that ALL things are possible with God? Do we REALLY believe that? Or is it just a comforting thought? Belief or thought? You must choose.
I choose to BELIEVE. I choose LIFE.

Our warrior, God's newest recruit in HIS army, ate a little bit of a banana today. He sipped a little bit of Ensure and reported it to be "nasty." Sergeant Mom had to get stern with him about eating real food because word has it that if he doesn't eat today a feeding tube will be necessary.
If you could see Andrew's shaved head, you would see he looks like he just got the "new recruit buzz." Still handsome though...just waiting for that smile!

Be encouraged today that whatever you are facing, WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Don't give up the good fight of faith! It really is a fight sometimes. Fight for your marriage, fight for joy and peace in your home, fight for your health, fight for your children's spiritual growth, fight, fight, fight soldier. FIGHT! Yes, the battle is the Lord's but he needs you to do your part. Why else would he tell us to put on the full armor? Because we have to fight.
Love,
Melanie, Dan, Audra, Avery & Andrew (Ted, too)
* All of our family and friends appreciate you sisters (and brothers) interceding and encouraging me...all of us. My husband has been so thankful for the support you have given me. It truly has kept me built up when I have needed it soooo much. And I am still praying for those of you who have needs.

The Bracelet ~ Hearing HIS Voice

A few months ago I felt impressed by the Lord to give my favorite bracelet away. This bracelet was only worth about $40 but I wore it often. It was silver and had crosses in different styles on it. The person to whom I felt I should give it is an older lady who had earlier refused my offer of gas money. I wondered if she would refuse the bracelet, too. I wondered if she would even wear the bracelet. I wondered if she would be able to clasp and unclasp the bracelet.

Because I thought I knew more about this precious lady than God did, I did not give her the bracelet the first time I felt impressed to do so. A couple of Sundays I actually didn't even wear the bracelet to church. If I didn't have it with me, I couldn't give it away. Then, there was the thought that maybe God wasn't telling me to give the bracelet away at all. Maybe it was just a random thought I had! Not.

Finally, I decided that I would stop trying to excuse myself from obeying God's leading. On a Sunday morning while getting ready for church I decided to obey God that day about the bracelet. By now I just wanted to get give the bracelet to the lady and be done with it! That morning there was an altar call and this lady went for prayer. I went down to pray with her and talk to her concerning her need. At the end of the prayer time, she looked at me and said, "No one has ever told me what you did. I'll be thinking about this for a long time."
It was then that I took my bracelet off and put it on her wrist.
She didn't refuse! She loved it!
I was so relieved.
Several times when I would see her at church she would simply hold up her arm and show me she was wearing the bracelet. She told me that it reminded her to pray!

I have no idea why God wanted me to give away a relatively inexpensive bracelet.
But I do know that He wants us to obey His voice even when we don't really understand the significance of the action.

If we don't train our spiritual ears to hear HIM when all is well, how will we discern HIS voice when we are in a dark valley...even the valley of the shadow of death?

"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" Hebrews 5:14.

I wrote about another time that God prompted me to give something away. You can read about it here. (Be sure to read parts one and two.)

We are headed back to Shands in Gainesville today. Andrew is scheduled Wednesday morning to have a "port" put in for the chemo drug.
Thursday morning he has another MRI. I am asking God for this MRI to show that HE has already removed all traces of cancer.
HE is a good God, mighty to save! HE is trustworthy. We continue to obey HIS word and come boldy before the throne with our petitions. We continue to hear HIM speaking words to us that we cling to as we walk holding HIS hand through this valley.
One final thing: Yesterday we called to find out if the fluid that was drained from Andrew's head showed infection. IT DID NOT. PRAISE GOD FOR ANOTHER ANSWERED PRAYER.
Thank you all for praying about that!
Love,
Melanie & family

~(Pictures taken 12/08)~

Andrew...out on a limb. But we know Jesus is the vine and we are the branches! (John 15)

Brotherly love...Avery & AndrewAudra & Andrew

Melanie, Dan, & our boy, Andrew

Why Wouldn't I Ask for All?

Did you ever hear of God doing a 1/2 way miracle? Neither have I. What He begins, He is faithful to complete. And we KNOW that God began a MIRACLE for Andrew on 9/11. Before surgery, the surgeon warned us that Andrew might lose cognitive abilities, might be permanently paralyzed, might have a stroke, might not even wake up!
He woke up. He is Andrew. He remembers things from the past and things from this morning. He is walking as well as he was before surgery and we are believing that all loss of function WILL return.

And so we continue to persist in prayer. We continue to believe. We continue to watch our words.We are not giving up. We are not giving in. We are not settling for less than God's best for Andrew and our family. God has been glorified, is being glorified and will continue to be glorified.

I understand that sometimes we have to go through a process. Of course I get that. I've been through some "stuff" that took some time. So have you.

But my mother's heart is asking God for the completion of the MIRACLE and this week before treatment is scheduled would be fine with me!

Today I got to share with my personal doctor just where we stand on Andrew's 100% recovery. I have been seeing this particular doctor for about 3 years now.
Today I had to go in so she would write a prescription for me. I knew she would need to see me. No calling this one in because I haven't seen her in over a year!

Of course she asked me how things had been going for me. Now I hate telling what is going on right now but it is necessary in order to tell someone what we are believing!
So I gave her a brief explanation. Being a doctor, she wants to know the cancer type. I REALLY HATE THAT PART. But you know what? At the NAME OF JESUS, every thing that has a name has to bow to the NAME OF JESUS.
I have noticed that when I tell the diagnosed cancer, my voice is low and quiet. BUT WHEN I TELL THAT WE ARE BELIEVING FOR A MIRACLE MY VOICE IS STRONG AND AUTHORITATIVE!

I told my doctor: "We are Christians and 1000's of people are praying for Andrew. We believe that God healed, God heals, and God WILL heal!

She responded that miracles do happen. At the end of the appointment she hugged me and said she would pray for my son. I don't know what her belief is but she knows what we believe. God is a healer.

We live in a fallen world. The enemy is the author of sin, sickness and disease.
God is the creator, sustainer, redeemer and healer. What the enemy intends for our harm, God turns to our good and HIS glory!
Salvation was provided for in the death of Christ on the cross. Healing was provided for in the stripes on his back. Jesus went about preaching, teaching and healing the sick. There were so many miracles that He performed that if they were all recorded there would not be enough books! And He's just about to complete the one He began on 9/11.
Cancer is a terrorist. I declare war on cancer. Cancer...every kind...has to bow to Jesus!
And so we worship. We praise. We pray. We groan. The Holy Spirit intercedes and prays for us when we don't know how. Jesus is at the Father's right hand making intercession for Andrew...for YOU.
Makes you love HIM more, doesn't it? Makes you want to know HIM better, doesn't it?
He longs for more intimacy with you. He's calling out for you. He loves you so much if there had been only YOU, He would have given His life for YOU alone. In fact, HE did.

Simply Amazing! That's Our GOD

We had a good night! Praise God for that and so MUCH MORE. "Home" is a beautiful word.

We are home.

As we are awaiting the lab report on the fluid that was drained yesterday, we are believing that God has already gone ahead of us and we will get a good report ~ no infection.

Yesterday as we left our home to return to Shands in Gainesville, Andrew told us he was hungry. His appetite has been very good, maybe a side effect of the steroid he is on. So we stopped at our favorite place for quick food: ChickFilA. The drive thru line was looooong so I went in to order. The young man who took my order was Rob. He had such a gentle manner and I almost asked him if he believed in the power of prayer. I had a feeling he did. He offered to help me take the bags and drink holder to the car. Normally I would have refused, feeling that I could manage it. But through all of this we've gone through, any offer of help is welcome.

As we walked out the door, he asked me if I was on my way back to work. I told him no, that we were on our way back to Gainesville because our son needed to return to the hospital. Rob is from Gainesville and asked if we were going to Shands. I briefly told him what was going on and he asked for the name of our son. I knew what was coming. Rob offered to pray for Andrew. I opened the side door so Rob and Andrew could meet. I told Andrew he had one more person praying for him. Rob was very friendly to Andrew and got a smile from him. Just a quick little blessing that God gave us as we drove back not knowing what the next few hours would hold.
As I have said before, "We don't know what is in our tomorrow but we know God has already been there."

Following the CT scan, we went back into the surgeon's clinic where his PA drew the fluid from Andrew's head. The PA told me that there was a woman in the room next door who had mentioned Andrew and me and said we had been communicating online! Then she said the woman's name was CELESTE WELCH.
Celeste left a comment on my blog a few days ago. She was so encouraging and let me know that the same surgeon and oncologist had treated her 5 year old who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 10 months. PLEASE PRAY FOR VALERIE GRACE!

So right next door was Celeste and Valerie Grace. I walked out and Celeste and I hugged one another (3 or 4 times!). I got to thank her for her encourgaging comments and emails. Celeste had also contacted friends from her home church in Gainesville who emailed me offering their support. One of her friends was actually working on the PICU floor while we were still there and she came in to meet us!
Amazingly, Celeste and her family had just arrived from Ecuador yesterday morning and needed to have Valerie Grace seen that day by Dr. Pincus. Valerie Grace is beautiful and told me she would miss me! I got to hug her, too!

Can't you see how AMAZING our GOD is! "He makes; who can unmake?"

Celeste and I marveled at how we met yesterday. Who could have arranged that but God?!

Andrew is asleep now. I prayed over him this morning that he would fulfill the plan that God has for his life. I prayed that he would be a living testament and testimony for the glory of God. I prayed that many would come to know the beauty of Christ because of Andrew.
I continue to pray for those of you who have made a request. I am interceding on your behalf. God is a God of multiplication. I pray that as Andrew receives his MIRACLE that you will receive YOURS.
If you have stopped praying because you have grown weary or been disappointed, begin praying again! Ask God to give you direction from His Word that will reignite your "prayer fire." This is a SEASON OF MIRACLES.

Later today I plan to upload some pictures so you can see Andrew, crooked smile and all. As I blow dried his shampooed hair (per doctor's orders) I told him to let me know if it was too hot on the incision. He said since it was itchy, the heat felt good, like it was scratching it. I reminded him that when I had a bad case of poison ivy a few years ago, the hottest water in the shower felt good on my arms because if felt like they were being scratched.
That's when Andrew said, "I felt bad for you then, Mom. Is that how you feel now for me?"
I said, "Yes, son, I feel bad for you."
Andrew responded with this: "Don't feel bad for me, Mom."
"Why son?"
He answered, "Because it's not that bad."

My precious son, how I love you! And how I love your dad who has shown how tender he can be in his care for you. And how I love the Lord who is the Good Shepherd and watches over you, tender little lamb.

Pictures later...

Home Again!

I just wanted you to know that we are home again. It is a 3 hour drive from our home to Shands in Gainesville. Because Andrew started feeling fluid building in his head, we needed to go back to the hospital for a CT scan. Praise the Lord! The CT scan did not show hydrocephalus. If it had, he would have needed a shunt.

So the surgeon's PA used a needle to drain the "stuff" and they will send it to the lab. Since they would not have the report for about 3 days, and since Andrew was feeling fine otherwise, we got to come home.
Specific Prayer: Pray that there is no bacteria in the fluid and that it is simply fluid that has not reabsorbed properly...but should naturally over some time.

Tomorrow I will share a couple of encouraging moments that happened today. One is from a guy named Rob who works at our local ChikFilA. The other I am waiting on permission to share. But if you scan my comments, you will find out what I am talking about. What a "God ordained moment"!

One reason I am so glad to get home is because I need to be in my prayer closet this week.
I have discovered that in worshipping God we gain strength and in offering Him praise, we find our joy!

One more thing: We have THE BEST friends some of whom happen to be our neighbors, and we have THE BEST church family. And we have THE BEST sister bloggers (a few brothers, too). And I just want to tell you all how much you are ministering to our family. I am one of those people who has always been independant, not wanting to imposition anyone, and feeling uncomfortable in a position of "need." But God is showing me that I can change and I can accept help whether it be from the "bag boy" offering to help me with my groceries all the way to accepting cash from "anonymous" to help pay a bill. Church family, friends and neighbors who are friends have helped us in so many ways. We have received cards, askateboard magazine and a prayer shawl & a beautiful print from blogging sisters!
There have been other offerings of love, too. We appreciate all of the food that ha been brought over. My mother is here but she is in need of a physical healing, herself, so meals help out a lot!
Help in different forms has arrived from people we know, people we haven't seen in years and people we don't know at all.
But we know the hearts of those who have ministered to us.
Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep holding on to the promise of a MIRACLE in your life!
I'm still praying for those of you who have shared requests and I'm praying & believing BIG for all of you! Why not go for it? I really think it pleases our FATHER.
I'll post more tomorrow. I've got some good stuff to share!
Love,
Melanie & family
And, yes, "a crooked smile" from Andrew!

DARE TO ASK; DARE TO BELIEVE; DARE TO EXPECT

How is Andrew? I had a question about how Andrew is doing today.
So I just asked him, "Andrew, how are you doing today?"
Andrew says, "I'm fine." That's it. That's all I got!
What I see: The physical and occupational therapists came by this morning and did what they do. Then they helped him out of bed to use the bathroom. That's when they were happy with the strength he had in his left leg. He does need help, of course, but we're happy with his progress after Friday's surgery.
The surgeon, Dr. Pincus, visited Andrew this morning and he is also happy with what he is seeing. He showed my husband the MRI from Thursday that we brought with us and the one taken Saturday morning after surgery. I just didn't want to see it.
My husband said the two scans were like night and day. Dr. Pincus feels there is about 20% of the mass left.
Dr. Amy Smith talked to us this afternoon and wants us to plan to be back Monday or Tuesday. She is reviewing the pathology report of the tumor that was removed and will call us tomorrow. Dr. Pincus thinks there is a possibility that the tumor is a different type than what was originally diagnosed. I have purposefully not given the type of tumor here because I don't want you to "research" it. Sometimes finding out what is known about certain types of cancer can be very discouraging. Right now I can't afford for you or me to be discouraged. It's not that we're putting our heads in the sand.
Dr. Amy and I talked Sunday afternoon and she layed everything out for me. My reply, "Only God knows the number of our days and we trust Him. We're going with God."
She told me that some people come in and are in such denial that they don't make good decisions. She also added that she doesn't see that we are doing that. She said that was proven Friday.
God has given us opportunities to share where we stand and who we are looking to.
We are seldom met with opposition. And on some occasions we are cheered on and even get an "Amen!"


What would you say is the biggest hindrance to Christians (the BELIEVERS) in asking God for the REALLY BIG STUFF as they pray? Most Christians, I would assume, believe in the power of prayer and have faith at least the size of a grain of mustard seed.
I believe the answer to why we back up in our faith when we need a miracle is because we have been disappointed in the past when we've prayed in faith believing and haven't received our answer to prayer.
Now I know what you're thinking. Sometimes the answer is, "No" or "Wait." I get that. But we are in a position now where we WANT, NEED and EXPECT a miracle of Great proportions.
Dare we ask for Andrew to be 100% restored? YOU HAD BETTER BELIEVE WE DARE TO ASK FOR THAT. If we are going With God on this, then why not ASK FOR ALL HE CAN DO?


I have been thinking about the biblical examples of Jesus healing people when He walked this earth. The woman who had been bleeding for 12 years aggressively moved through the crowd encircling Jesus and she touched the hem of His robe. She said to herself, "If I can but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made whole." She didn't even ask Jesus to heal her. In fact, Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" Her persistence in faith appropriated the healing virtue resident in Him. (Mark 5)

The blind man heard the approach of Jesus and cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowd tried to silence him. But the Bible says in response to them, "He cried out all the more."
"Son of David, have MERCY on me."
Now this is the part I like. Even before Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus, the passage in Mark 10 records, "And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus."

What I see from that passage is that the blind man was making a statement. A bold statement. Before he even had his miracle of healing, he was giving up the identity associated with a blind beggar. The poor and the sick wore garments identifying their status. They held out cupped hands hoping to receive the charity of passersby.
Baritmaeus was so SURE that Jesus would heal him that he didn't wait until his eyes COULD see again to discard the "label of a diagnosis."
And Jesus asked Bartmaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

There was a lame man who lay by the pool of Bethesda (John 5). Many lay there waiting for an angel to come down and stir the water. The "first man in" was the fortunate recipient of healing. Bethesda had five porches. The number "5" is representative of "grace" and the Hebrew word from which "Beth" is derived means "house." Jesus, present in the House of Grace, walked by the man and asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"
Notice the lame man didn't really answer the question. He gave an explanation as to why he could not receive healing. His answer, "I have no man..."
In other words, he was in need of assistance. What he didn't realize is that in getting the attention of Jesus, he didn't need a "man" because THE MAN was at his side. There was no longer a need to wait on someone else to intervene and help him beat the rush on a miracle available to one person at a time.

I'll share more later. I need to help Andrew with his breakfast now. But know that I will be praying for all of you who gave me your requests. Some need a deliverance from fear, panic and anxiety. Others have asked for prayer regarding illness, including cancer. There is a precious five year old girl who has been recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her name is Kate. Then there is the beautiful high school girl named Rachel who needs a miracle, too! And my new blog friend battling ovarian cancer and then there is Peggy also diagnosed with cancer (lung).
There is Clint P.'s father in renal failure.
And also the "other Andrew" wherever he may be who needs a miracle.
God can HEAL ALL. Let's ask in faith, believing that we have entered into A SEASON OF MIRACLES. Have you caught the scent of healing on the wind? I have.
Love you all!
Melanie

REJOICE

Last week my husband was trying to catch up on the yard work. As you can imagine, lots of things have fallen to the wayside since Andrew's "medical" diagnosis. My husband took a break to come inside and tell me something. With tears in his eyes he said, "God told me 'Let no one mourn for us; Let everyone REJOICE with us.'"
I said, "Yes. That's it."


Friday on our "MIRACLE DRIVE" to Shands, we prayed almost the whole drive. I had my Bible on my lap and I heard my husband, Dan, say, "Father, just give us a word for right now."
I whispered, "Yes, Lord, we need something right now. Immediately I heard in my spirit, "Psalm 97." I did not recall a particular verse from Psalm 97 but I turned to the passage and read it aloud.
It begins like this: "The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice..."
In verse five, I read, "The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD..."
I reminded Dan that we had been speaking to the "mountain" to be removed and cast into the sea, never to return and leave nothing in its place that God didn't design.
Verse eight: "And the daughters of Judah (praise) rejoice..."
Verses 11 -12: "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name."
I said, "We need to fill this vehicle with rejoicing and praise."
And we did.
During Andrew's brain surgery, we gathered in the family waiting room. My husband and I, our other two children, my mother, family friends including our pastor and his wife sat reading scripture, praying and believing for a good outcome. I asked one of our friends to read Andrew's Psalm (27th) from The Message Bible. It's the version his sister put on a poster board for Andrew's room.
This same friend offered a portion from Lamentations chapter 3 from The Message.

We talked a while longer. Then I felt we needed to sing. I asked the precious group assembled with us if we could sing, "There is a River whose streams make glad the city of our God..."
Voices raised in harmony, praise and worship.
"And I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad."
"There is a fountain, full of Grace and it flows from Immanuel's veins.
It came and it healed me; it came and refreshed me; it came and it washed my sins away!"
"So I will rejoice; I will rejoice and be glad."

I spoke to Dr. Amy Smith yesterday and told her I had to know something: "Do you have hope for Andrew?"
She said, "Yes."
We sat and talked for several minutes and she went through her proposed plan for radiation and chemo. After hearing the hard news that even with the surgery, the type of cancer we are dealing with is very resistant to treatment, I told her I understood the reality and we will continue to place Andrew back into the Father's hands. I told her that Andrew belongs to God and we have been given the privilege to steward him and we WANT him. "We are believing for God to do what only He can do," I continued.
I added that we would continue to fight the good fight of faith and also search for every thing in the physical realm to help our boy.
She and I both had tears in our eyes. I told her, and she agreed, that God led us here on Friday and He would not let us go nor leave us.
I will REJOICE, I will REJOICE and be glad..."

I know you may be weary of praying for THE MIRACLE FOR ANDREW, but please don't give up hope and please continue to speak about him to the Father. If you prayed even once for Andrew, know that YOU have been a part of the beginning of The Miracle that saved his life on 9/11. We look forward to sharing the completion of that MIRACLE!
Love,
Melanie & family