Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Michelle and I joked before we were married, and early into our marriage, that it wasn't "in sickness and in health" but actually "in sickness and in sickness." This was because of the relatively minor health issues we dealt with since she had lost her job. Neither of us knew how prophetic that would become.
As mentioned previously, in October 2003, we moved from Southern California to the Monterey area, about 360 miles away. We hadn't been married for a year, and already we were getting uprooted from our families, friends and church home. That was difficult enough, but what soon followed became even more difficult.
We found a new doctor in Salinas, and when Michelle spoke with her, she agreed that depression wasn't the answer. She began to help Michelle try to find the problem. In addition, a short time later, Michelle started suffering from stomach pains.
After more examinations than I can remember, they finally discovered a tumor on Michelle's pancreas, and in July 2004, she went in for surgery. The surgery, known as a Whipple Operation, is the most invasive and potentially dangerous surgery out there. Michelle didn't know if she would survive it, and the thought was frightening, even though, in my heart, I knew she would survive.
The surgery lastest eight hours, and she was in the surgery for 10 days and, about a week or two later, she was readmitted for another 10 days for complications from the surgery. It took about a year, though, before we discovered that the tumor that was removed wasn't cancerous.
Unfortunately, that one surgery wasn't all we had to endure. It was only the beginning. In November of the same year, just after recovering from the Whipple, she had to have surgery again, this time for thyroid cancer.
Over the following months, Michelle had been diagnosed with several conditions, too numerous to list here. She was put onto disability, has been to numerous doctors, and has had many emergency room visits and hospital stays.
The latest surgeries were back in December 2006 and in February 2007. In December, she had a herniated disk removed from her neck, and in February, she had another abnominal surgery. This one was to remove scar tissue build up from the Whipple that had caused some constricting and tangeling of her intestines. At the same time, we are trying to get her seen at the pain center at Stanford University Hosptial. She has had minor surgical out-patient procedures, the latest one being yesterday, as an effort to reduce her pain levels.
December of this year will make five years of marriage. I've heard that the first five years are the most difficult. With all the Lord has allowed in our lives, I think we've experienced more in our first year than most people experience in their first five years.
These trials are extremely difficult, not only for Michelle, but for me as well. The physical, emotional and spiritual battle is intense. There are times that I feel discouraged and helpless, seeing the woman I love so much have to suffer in such a way. Despite that, I still cling to God and His promises. I don't know why He is allowing this, but I trust Him and His purposes.
My "life verse" (Jeremiah 29:11) is just as applicable to me today, as it was when He first wrote it on my heart. I cling to that, and other promises, no matter how dark things appear. I thank the Lord for the support He gives me through my new church and the body of believers I have come to know there.
Now, we attend Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay where I serve once again in the Children's Ministry. I teach as well as act as coordinator for our elementary Sunday morning children's ministry. I don't know what the Lord's plans are for tomorrow, but I trust Him to carry us through today.
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Michelle and I joked before we were married, and early into our marriage, that it wasn't "in sickness and in health" but actually "in sickness and in sickness." This was because of the relatively minor health issues we dealt with since she had lost her job. Neither of us knew how prophetic that would become.
As mentioned previously, in October 2003, we moved from Southern California to the Monterey area, about 360 miles away. We hadn't been married for a year, and already we were getting uprooted from our families, friends and church home. That was difficult enough, but what soon followed became even more difficult.
We found a new doctor in Salinas, and when Michelle spoke with her, she agreed that depression wasn't the answer. She began to help Michelle try to find the problem. In addition, a short time later, Michelle started suffering from stomach pains.
After more examinations than I can remember, they finally discovered a tumor on Michelle's pancreas, and in July 2004, she went in for surgery. The surgery, known as a Whipple Operation, is the most invasive and potentially dangerous surgery out there. Michelle didn't know if she would survive it, and the thought was frightening, even though, in my heart, I knew she would survive.
The surgery lastest eight hours, and she was in the surgery for 10 days and, about a week or two later, she was readmitted for another 10 days for complications from the surgery. It took about a year, though, before we discovered that the tumor that was removed wasn't cancerous.
Unfortunately, that one surgery wasn't all we had to endure. It was only the beginning. In November of the same year, just after recovering from the Whipple, she had to have surgery again, this time for thyroid cancer.
Over the following months, Michelle had been diagnosed with several conditions, too numerous to list here. She was put onto disability, has been to numerous doctors, and has had many emergency room visits and hospital stays.
The latest surgeries were back in December 2006 and in February 2007. In December, she had a herniated disk removed from her neck, and in February, she had another abnominal surgery. This one was to remove scar tissue build up from the Whipple that had caused some constricting and tangeling of her intestines. At the same time, we are trying to get her seen at the pain center at Stanford University Hosptial. She has had minor surgical out-patient procedures, the latest one being yesterday, as an effort to reduce her pain levels.
December of this year will make five years of marriage. I've heard that the first five years are the most difficult. With all the Lord has allowed in our lives, I think we've experienced more in our first year than most people experience in their first five years.
These trials are extremely difficult, not only for Michelle, but for me as well. The physical, emotional and spiritual battle is intense. There are times that I feel discouraged and helpless, seeing the woman I love so much have to suffer in such a way. Despite that, I still cling to God and His promises. I don't know why He is allowing this, but I trust Him and His purposes.
My "life verse" (Jeremiah 29:11) is just as applicable to me today, as it was when He first wrote it on my heart. I cling to that, and other promises, no matter how dark things appear. I thank the Lord for the support He gives me through my new church and the body of believers I have come to know there.
Now, we attend Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay where I serve once again in the Children's Ministry. I teach as well as act as coordinator for our elementary Sunday morning children's ministry. I don't know what the Lord's plans are for tomorrow, but I trust Him to carry us through today.
