Hi Everyone!

Hi, Everyone:
I am sure by now that you have read the good news of my scan! There was no growth in my cancer over the past two months. The spots that were there on the last scan are still visible; however, they are stable and do not appear to be growing. Many people with my cancer live for years and years with the cancer still visible on scan but stable. So, this is good news. I do not believe that this is the state my cancer will remain in. I still believe with all of my heart that God intends for my cancer to go away completely!!! I praise Him with every ounce of my being for all the good news He has brought to our lives thus far. I also praise Him for the continuous good news that is yet to be!!! The doctor did share some encouraging news with us yesterday. There is a very promising drug in Phase II of clinical trials right now. It is taxol that is actually "glued" to the herceptin drug. The two drugs work together to hit Her2+ cells like a "super bomb". The herceptin finds the Her2+ cells and attaches to them. Presently, the only purpose (which is a big one) the herceptin has is to attach to the receptors on these cells and tell them to stop multiplying. Now, with the taxol glued to it, the herceptin will locate these cells, bind to them, and allow the taxol to go directly into the cells and kill them!!! Isn't that amazing!?! The doctor said that I may not even need this drug for some time to come; however, it will be on the "shelf" for me whenever I need it…what an encouraging thing to know!!! There are people out there that need this drug right now!!! Please pray that it will move quickly to Phase III so this drug will become available to people that are running out of options. I am not the only person fighting this battle, and we pray daily for every person that has to struggle with these drugs each and every day. I realize that the FDA is trying to protect us and do its job. But, we need a cure…NOW!!! So, please stay on your knees for all of us that wrestle with breast cancer!!!
Now, there is another thing that I would like to share with all of you that is weighing very heavily on my heart!!! I have a passion to see believers one day come together and care for each other the way it is prescribed for us to do in Acts of the New Testament. I know in my heart that if we would all band together and give up some of our desire for all the material things we have been blessed with, we would see a revival throughout!!! I know two people that are amazing believers that are suffering in different ways right now, and I am asking you to pray about helping them (if you can)!!! No one is going to monitor what is or is not done, but I pray that I can somehow encourage you to turn to your Bibles and read Acts. I will briefly share Acts 4:32 – 37 with you. Take these words to heart, and ask God if you are someone that can/should help in these situations.
"The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything. With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. God's abundant good will was with all of them. None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it. Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles."

Do these verses speak to you as clearly as they do to me? I am one that has been touched greatly by the generosity of others, and I know, first hand, how amazing it feels when you are supported by fellow believers. It is a feeling that I will never forget or loose appreciation for. Because so many loved me, I feel it is my responsibility to carry on the good deeds and remind everyone of what a difference generosity can make.

We have a very dear friend, Scott Jones, who is suffering from a devastating kidney disease. He needs a kidney transplant immediately because his body is being ravaged by the effects of dialysis. He is losing strength day by day. Not only is he having to deal with the battle his disease forces on his body, but he spends each day knowing that he is unable to provide for his family the way he once did. He has three children, one of which is getting ready to go to college next year. We have three fundraisers coming up for them in the near future. In September, we are planning a "pass the hat" spaghetti dinner for their family. We will not charge for the meal, but we will pass a hat around to accept donations for the family. If you are interested in attending this meal, please let me know. We are also planning a fish fry that will be held in Belmont, and a golf tournament for the guys to get in on. I will forward the dates for all of these events, and I pray that you will feel led to attend as many as you can. If you cannot make any of the events, but you do want to help, you can contact me @ 2141 Shadwell Ct, Gastonia, NC 28056. I can forward all donations to the family.

This request one of different means; however, it is very important to me! When I began chemo at Duke, the first few treatments were very difficult for me emotionally. I knew that they were there to help me, but it was still hard to accept that I was a chemo patient. There is a precious CNA that works in the treatment center that reached out to Brian and me immediately. She shared the Holy Spirit with us in such a wonderful way. She is confident in what God can do. We have watched her travel around that treatment room sharing her faith with everyone she comes in contact with. These are all people that need to feel and understand that power of God. She is in such an amazing work environment to share her passion for the Lord. We have learned that she is a single mother of twin boys that are ten years old. I don't have to tell you how expensive that can be. Yet, I have never heard her once complain. She loves her boys and in trying diligently to raise them in a loving, Christian environment. Last week she talked to us about an incident she had with her car where it broke down late in the evening with her boys, and it scared her for their safety. We encouraged her to share the situation with her car, and she told us that it is a 1992 Honda that she is having a lot of problems with, but she doesn't have a lot of money to get it fixed the way it needs to be. Immediately I began to think of the verses above. I know that someone among us has an extra car that is reliable sitting around waiting for the day the you might need it. Will you please pray about donating that car to someone that needs it now? I know this is a request that can be met if we all work together!!!

Thank you for taking time to read this and for considering anything you might be able to do to help!!! I can only imagine how it will touch our Lord to see us come together to help his children the way He intended us to!!! I love you all, and I look forward to starting our new study on September 2.
In Him!!!