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Please pray for Faye, our dear sister, Nita's sister.






This is the "update" from Faye, on Facebook, last night.  She starts Chemo today.  She has great faith and peace about all this and wants to share this journey with everyone.  She's Nita's sister, after all ... what else would you expect? 

Another Update

Spent the night in the hospital last night. Last week I had trouble breathing so went to the emergency room. The doc found some fluid on one of my lungs so I wasn't getting enough oxygen. They sent me home with oxygen. It helped for awhile but kept getting worse. Last night I went back to the emergency having a hard time catching my breath. A chest xray showed my right lung almost filled with fluid.

They did a procedure where they drained the fluid from my lung and got 1 1/2 liters. Before they did the procedure I could barely talk without losing my breath and almost any movement make it the same.

After the procedure it was like night and day. I could sit up in bed, go to t he bathroom, get a deep breath and even talk easily.

They say the fluid is from the cancer and they hope as the chemo shrinks the tumor the fluid buildup should be less. Or they may have to drain it again.. we play that by ear. Chemo starts tomorrow.

Sister Sue left today after being here a week. Sister Pam has been here for two days. Son Rob and family will be here this weekend.

I am blessed.





I just got this message from Nita, on FB .... this is after Sue posted "Pray for Faye"

Nita Horner
We almost lost her again today. She went to anaphylactic shock with this chemo med. That's twice now. It's a new med, but she can't take this one either. They lost her pulse, unable to respond, all as before. She went from the chemo place to emergency and is the hospital now. When Pam called last, her blood pressure was coming up. EKG showed everything was ok there. She was so cold, Pam said, but they had to let her warm up slowly...something about keeping the heat in her core rather than her extremities. The first time Pam called, they weren't sure if she would make it. Now.........with two chemo drugs ruled out...I don't know if she'll try another or just decide not to do anything. This cancer is sure determined to kill her!).
When Pam first started calling me, I went into cold too..couldn't keep my teeth from chattering. Once I knew she had passed the critical point, I started warming up too.
I don't know how long they will keep her there, or what will happen. Im calling again around 4. I want to go again, of course. Pam is staying, and for that I, and Christy and Raymon, are so grateful She's such a take charge and compassionate person. Faye's son, Robbie, and his family, will be there Friday.

It's just after 7 p.m. and Nita just called.

The doctor just came to tell Faye she "only has weeks".  Pam is with her, held her as she cried, and says Faye is totally at peace.  Her husband and daughter had just left and she didn't want them to know until tomorrow.  This is terribly hard on the family, pray for comfort for Nita, her sisters, and their families.   

Father be with Nita's family at this time of heartbreak.  May they draw nearer to you and come into a closer relationship with your Son.  Touch each of them I ask and give them your peace.  Be with Faye and keep her close in your arms as she walks this final journey.

One hour later ... At 8 o'clock Nita called to say "we've changed our minds ... we're not going to be sad" It seems the primary doctor came in and was very upset with the oncologist for telling Faye she has only weeks to live.  The oncologist is 30 something and the primary is 70 something.  He says "only God knows how long you will live  ... don't call hospice yet."  It truly is all in the attitude, and Faye has a very positive attitude and strong faith.   So .... we can all continue to pray for all concerned and know that Our Father is totally in control ... He has our days numbered and He knows exactly when we will draw our last breath. 

Thanks for all your prayers ...

Thank you Jane.  I will continue to pray.

Jane, I will pray for Faye and especially for her family.  It sounds like Faye is ready for whatever God has in mind for her.

Please count on my prayers, too.  I ask our Heavenly Father to bring peace and comfort to Faye as she makes her way Homeward, and peace and comfort to all her loved ones as they travel this sorrowful path together.

Jane, thank you so much for letting everyone know what's going on with Faye.  I appreciate you.

And thank you, everyone for praying for Faye.  I know her peace is enhanced feeling all those prayers around her.

She came home from the hospital today.  My sister Pam came home this afternoon.  She called me to say that they had been going over financial things...she and Faye.  Her family just isn't ready to do that yet.  Pam has businesses and knows what should be done, and has also asked her financial attorney to get involved, so that puts Faye at ease I know. So many things to take care of.

God absolutely has guided Pam to be there, given her words of comfort, given her strength for the family.  They have leaned on her and drawn strength from her. She said she felt all along that this is how it would end, even before the doctors said.  I think we all did.   I haven't been, as have been sick with a cold, but will go next week after she has this time alone with her family.

Pam said Faye has absolute peace...and though her husband really wanted Pam to stay longer, Faye sent her on her way.  Her son and his family will be there Friday.

Please continue praying for her husband and daughter, her son, and two grandchildren who really love their grammy.  One lives with her (his mom too). My heart aches for them.

We are still numb.  I spend time either crying or pouring over all her photos on her blog.   

Hello Nita, I'm just catching up.

Praying ........

Love and prayers from us here in the Philippines. God is so faithful to His Word, especially during these times. May the peace that surpasses all understanding protect our hearts and minds.

Thank you for posting Nita.  We are praying!

Nita, thanks for updating us.  My prayers for Faye, you and all the family continue. 

Continuing to pray.

Nita please know that I have been praying since I first hears this news from Jane. She has been keeping me updated on a daily basis.

Just saw this message posted by Faye on Facebook:


Family and Friends... wanted to share the latest update with you.

My journey has been eventful since I last shared with you. It appears I can't take the chemo. I went into anaphylactic shock just as I did when they tried chemo 5 years ago. They had to call an ambulance and rush me to emergency again.

This time it was different meds they used so the doctor thinks I would have the same reaction to any chemicals they put in my body. The doctor says the two chemo drugs they have tried are the only ones they use for chemo so there is nothing else for him to try but it would be too risky anyway.

So we take it one day at a time. I am totally at peace with whatever God has in store for me. I attribute that to all the love and prayers surrounding me.

I am blessed

Faye

Jane, thanks for passing that along.   

Our Lord is totally in charge of EVERY aspect of thid situation.  We do not "gang up" on God by having more people praying, but those who do pray are greatly privileged to be part of His sovereign operation.

Amen, Al ... prayer helps get our minds/attitudes in the right place and at peace with all that God is doing or going to do ... actually all that God is, period. 

Amen Jane. 

Thank you again for your prayers, and thanks, my friend, for posting Faye's latest sharing.

I have something else that I just wanted to tell you.  Yesterday Christy, Faye's daughter, picked up her 14 year old son from school, then went to the oncologists to pick up some paperwork for her mom.  When seeing it, she couldn't resist reading, and that's the first time she knew that the oncologist had told her mom she had weeks to live, not months....3 mos at most.

She, of course, lost it.  She was very emotional and told Raymon about what it said.  They went right home (they  live with Faye) and the first thing Raymon did was to go in to see how his gramma was taking it. (He'd been staying at his dad's for a week)   When he saw her peace, he said, "gramma when I see how peaceful you are, it makes me feel that peace too."  And he was ok.

His mom was in the other room, crying, and he made her come into gramma's room and sit down and talk about it.  He told her, "Mom...Gramma isn't going to leave this earth until God says it's time to go...and when she does die, she will be completely cured and never be sick again."

She said she was never so proud of this sensitive young man a she was this minute.   It helped us all to be reminded that the minute we put off this earthly body, we are cured of all diseases, and enter into our fullness.......and oh, the most important part,  we will see Jesus.   She's looking forward to that.   

From out of the mouths of babes!  Hope he remembers that his entire life.

Amen

Know that I am here praying for all involved...

Nita, that's beautiful!  I'm so glad you came to share it with us here.  We should all be as Raymon. 

Here's more from Faye (on Facebook)

I've been thinking about how to spend my time. I've never been one who could sit and watch TV unless I'm also doing something creative.

I think I want to write but I'm not sure exactly what I want to write about yet. I guess the first thing I have to do is figure out how to use the mouse and key pad on my laptop. Its hard to sit at my desk for too long at a time so I need to get used to using it while sitting in my recliner. I've always just used a separate mouse and keyboard before.

Then I have to figure out how the dog fits in. Any time I'm sitting, he thinks his place is right in the middle of my lap. Its not that easy to balance a lapTOP on a 7 lb lapDOG.....we'll figure it out though.

So anyway.. if it continues to feel right.. writing about my journey..you are welcome to travel along with me. I can't promise any profound words of wisdom but I did find something beautiful today to share....

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jane, thank you for bring Faye's facebook writings to us.  What blessings we'll be able to receive from her great faith.   

Thank you JAne!

Today's update on Facebook is continuing what Nita posted yesterday.  A beautiful testimony of Faith and Peace.


Faye 

The faith (and wisdom) of a child....

Earlier this week, my daughter, Christy, stopped by my oncologist's office to pick up some papers I needed to get to my employer. I think reading the doctors words was the first time the truth of the situation really hit her and she wasn't dealing with it well by the time she got back here.

She had to pick up my 14 year old grandson, Raymers, from wrestling practice on the way home and since she couldn't hide her feelings she had to explain to him why she was so upset.
As soon as they got here, Raymers came in to see how I was doing. It was the first time he and I had talked seriously about my illness and he listened attentively as I explained that I wasn't afraid and that I was totally at peace with whatever God has planned for me.

Then my wise Grandson called his mom into my room and talked to her while she sobbed. He told her that as soon as he saw that I was ok with it.. he was ok with it and that she can be ok with it too. He told her that she didn't have to cry for me because I was going to a better place and that once I went to be with Jesus, I would be completely healed.

He went on to say that, yes, they will miss me when I'm gone but one day we will all be a family again in Heaven.

Such beautiful, simple faith. And the things he said made a huge difference for both his mom and his Papa. This was two days ago and we are all talking about it openly now.

I, truly, am blessed

Let them know I am continuing to pray.

Just a few minutes ago .....

Faye

My first experience witnessing death was beautiful and moving and forever changed how I viewed death.

Before I went to work at UCAN 25 years ago, I worked as a caregiver for an older couple for 3 years. Noble and Dorothy were both in their 90's. Dorothy was blind, could barely hear, couldn't move on her own and was afraid of being alone so most of my time during my shift was spent sitting with her, holding her hand...talking to her... listening to her fascinating stories of settling in Roseburg in the early 1900's.. and opening Goettle's Variety Store.

When Dorothy got in a down mood she would often cry and wonder why she still had to be here. Many times she told me she just wanted to go be with her mom.

The day came when she decided it was time and she refused to eat. At first Noble insisted that she be tube fed but a friend of theirs was a hospice nurse and she talked him out of it. Within a day Dorothy slipped into a coma.. She would occasionally respond if I asked her to squeeze my hand but other than that she didn't move.

We waited .. and she held on...

Dorothy belonged to a local church and though she hadn't gone to church for years, the pastor still came to visit her at times. When she went into the coma I asked Noble if we could call the pastor but he refused to have him in the house. But one day he left to go make funeral arrangements and I called her pastor who came right away. I don't know anything about her religion which I think was Episcopalian, but the pastor performed a service... probably "last rites?" and left.

As he drove away I witnessed one of the most amazing and beautiful moments of my life. Dorothy raised up in bed.. something she had never been able to do since I'd known her.. her eyes were open wide and she was looking up.. and she was seeing....her eyes darting to all corners of the ceiling...She was seeing her mother.. she was seeing angels or whatever heavenly hosts were coming to take her home. The most amazing thing was the expression on her face. It was a look of awe.. of wonderment.. of excitement. I know she was seeing the light and she was so ready to follow.

She lay back on her pillow and I put my ear to her chest and listened as her heart beat slower and slower and then finally stopped.

I knew from that moment on that I would never fear death. God started preparing me for this journey a long time ago.
I am so blessed.

Jane, what a beautiful story.  Please relay my thanks to Faye.