Preparing For What You Cannot Plan

That was the title of Sunday’s message.  You know when you hear a sermon and are convinced that God meant it just for you?  I’m sure that Pastor Dean Wood, of Creekside Church, had other things in mind when he prepared this message than what it would mean to this cancer patient.  But God works that way, you know.

In the first two chapters of the book of Ezra, the Israelites are in captivity in a foreign land.  Despite their situation, Ezra maintains appropriate counts and records for the many areas of service.  There is a list of gatekeepers, even though there are no gates…or even walls!  He listed the choir members though there was no place to sing.  He maintained the count of temple servants even though their temple lay in ruins back in their homeland.  Ezra made sure that no matter the circumstances, Israel was prepared and ready when God’s plan took them home.

In the book of Acts, Jesus asked the apostles to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  They didn’t know the when or the how, but their Christ asked them to be ready.  Peter could have never planned that 3,000 people would be saved on the day of Pentacost, but he could be prepared.  That is what Christ asks of us.  Be prepared.  Be ready.

In the last couple months, Paul and I have read and researched in order to be prepared to partner with my doctors in determining the best course of treatment.  Yesterday, we had that opportunity but with somewhat frustrating results.  First, we learned that my brother was not a match…only a half match, which makes for a very risky transplant.  Second, we learned that all their previous “younger” CLL patients with 17p deletion declined the transplant after first remission because they had felt better.  My doctors were elated to hear that we had studied enough to know that was a foolish choice.  Third, we all decided against the Ofatumumab trial because it is not a CLL treatment, rather it is a monochlonal antibody biological therapy designed to postpone treatment by limiting disease progression, to buy older folks or people too scared to move forward with the transplant more time.  That’s not our goal.  Next we were reminded that I am not “2.5 kids and a dog!”  That is to say that my situation is not common and there is no standard protocol. 

So what does this all mean?  We continue to wait.  We wait until the MUD Coordinator (Matched Unrelated Donor) finds a match and goes through the procedure of confirming that person’s willingness and availability to donate.  At that point, we would move forward with either FCR or Campath for the front line treatment and then directly to the transplant. 

And we continue to prepare.  Prepare physically by getting the necessary rest, avoiding germs and illness, strengthening my body through nutrition, exercise, etc.  Prepare mentally by staying educated and informed.  Prepare emotionally by understanding and accepting that taking a year or more out of my life can hopefully buy back the next twenty plus years.  Prepare spiritually by staying close to my Lord, in His Word, and on my knees.  Prepare financially by wise stewardship of what He has provided and continuing to work as much as possible within my limitations.  Prepare socially by enjoying my family and friends and spending as much time together as possible before that element becomes restricted. 

We don’t always know the plan.  But we can be prepared.

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, Tried and True 
And With Thanks Giving
I'll be a living 
Sanctuary, Lord for you

“The Jerk”

How many of you have seen Steve Martin’s memorable, hysterical, most quotable comedy, “The Jerk?”  OK, you may be wondering why this of all things has jumped into my head as something to share in my blog.  Well, remember when Steve Martin’s character, Navin R. Johnson, first sees his name in the phone book?

 

Navin R. Johnson:  “The new phone book's here!  The new phone book's here! 
Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.!  I'm somebody now!  Millions of people look at this book everyday!  This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people.  I'm in print!  Things are going to start happening to me now.”

 

Well, MD Anderson has something just about as cool.  MyMDAnderson.org.  I just log in with my patient ID number and password and there before me is everything I need to know about me and my treatment at MD Anderson.  It has all my personal information, blood type, test results, my team of doctors and nurses, support personnel and information, educational material, and my appointment schedule…complete with directions, including floor and elevator bay!  I AM somebody now…at least at MD Anderson!  :) 

This was very helpful today because when I logged in this morning I saw that the good doctor had already contacted the folks at MD Anderson about the possibility of scheduling a CT Scan.  (I learned that CAT scan and CT scan are one in the same.)  However, my two teams (transplant and CLL) BOTH ordered the same tests, so I had them scheduled for this Friday and for next Tuesday.  A couple phone calls and an email to my patient advocate got everything worked out.  I also learned that the reason we haven’t gotten the results back on my and Ron’s HLA typing was because my insurance company has not communicated back with the business center at MD Anderson to give approval.  So if anyone would like a specific prayer request, please pray that the insurance company would move forward in a timely manner and contact MDA with its approval. 

Now again, it may seem unusual to find correlation between “The Jerk” and my current situation, but I have always heard that laughter is the best medicine.  So I need to find humor where I can. 

Navin R. Johnson:  “I don't need anything. Except this ashtray.  Just this ashtray...and this paddle game.  The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need.  And this remote control.  The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need.  And these matches.  The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball...and this lamp.  The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and the lamp, and that's all I need.  I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this.  The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches for sure.  And this. That's all I need.  The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, and this magazine, and the chair.  And I don't need one other thing, except my dog.”

I’ve got all I need too.  I have the love and support of my sweet husband, my kids, family, and friends.  I have the knowledge that God is in control and loves me too.  And I have confidence in a great team of doctors. 

I am somebody.  And I’ve got all I need.