Happy 2012

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

     In a few hours we’ll close this chapter of our book titled “2011”. It started out as 365 empty pages. We filled each page with momentous events that happened in 2011. It became a chapter in the history book of our life.

     This chapter of our book contains many memories. Some we’ll look back on and smile; and others we’ll look back on and shed a tear. When we started this chapter of our lives, we didn’t have any idea of how it would end, but we know that God was in control and the author. He already knew that we would have sad times, but He also knew we would have many happy times - times spent with friends and family, the birth of a little grand daughter named Brylee “Hope”, because we never want to forget that there is always HOPE. It was also a year of fear, not knowing what we would be writing on the next page.

     So now we are closing this chapter and writing a new chapter titled “2012”. The first page will not be filled with resolutions, because I probably would not be able to keep them. The first page will have written on it prayers and dreams.  Prayers that lost loved ones will be saved, prayers that the chapter "2012" will contain a page that says Jerry’s cancer is in remission. It will have pages filled with wonderful times spent with family and friends and pages filled with lots of laughter. And my prayer is that your “2012” will be a very happy chapter in your life.

Please continue praying for Jerry. He has had a lot of headaches and nausea. His blood counts and platelets are dropping rapidly. The doctor said that was what they wanted. Jerry says he feels like he has the worst flu you could get and it never goes away.

We want to wish all of our friends and family the greatest of New Years. We love you.

Happy Birthday!

When they do a stem cell transplant they call it the person's Birthday. Jerry now has three Birthdays. His actual birth date, the day he was born again into God's family, and now his transplant birth date, December 29th, when he was given another chance of life.

It was a very emotional day for both of us. It took two hours to do the transplant. They injected 8 syringes of stem cells into his Hickman port line. He has really been sick from the anti-rejection drug.  It has given him a terrible headache and he has been sick at his stomach all day and not able to eat anything. 

We still will not know if the transplant has worked for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Jerry's new immune system should take over and start producing good cells.  Please be praying.

Our son, Neal, was reading "Daily In His Word" by Pastor Paul Chappel from Isaiah 40:21-31.  Paul Chappel said in his devotion  - "God always had control of a situation no matter how bleak it looks to you. Whatever you're facing today, don't focus on the immediate sorrow or problem, but realize God is in control of your situation and will work things out to His glory according to His sovereign plan."

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Jerry getting the first injection of stem cells

Thawing the Stem Cells and Putting them in the syringes

One of the tags on each syringe showing Bob Rice as the donor

 

The eight empty syringes after the transplant

Jerry receiving his last injection of stem cells

We are so thankful to Jerry's brother, Bob, for this gift of life

and so thankful for God's wonderful love to us.

Happy Birthday, Jerry Rice, and praying you have many many more!!!

Transplant Day

Today is finally the day that we have prayed about and worked toward. They will do the transplant between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. We are both so anxious.

Jerry has been very nauseous from the chemo they gave him and the anti-rejection drug they are giving him. Also the anti-rejection drug gives him a terrible headache. So please pray that he'll have a better day today.

We will not know if the transplant will work for about 2-3 weeks.

Thanks everyone for all the prayers, love, and support.

God is so good to us.

Psalm 107:8

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

My God Is Bigger

The past few days have been very different. I am definitely out of my comfort zone. It's a little bit scary. I'm driving in a place I have never driven in before (Durham traffic can be crazy) and living by myself for the first time in my life. The evening is the very hardest. They will not allow me to stay all night at the hospital with Jerry, so I have to come home to our apartment. 

But we are so thankful, we have a very nice apartment here in Durham.  I really have no complaints. The Lord has been so good to us. 

 I get very mad at myself when I feel afraid. I think about all that Jerry is going through at the hospital. All I have to do is find my way from A to B without getting lost plus find my car each night in the parking garage. (I have watched too many movies - I know what can happen in those parking garages) So on the way out to the parking garage and driving home each night, I sing the song from the Veggie Tales-

God is bigger than the boogie man.
He's bigger than Godzilla,
or the monsters on TV.
Oh, God is bigger than the boogie man.
And He's watching out for you and me.

I know God is watching out for us. I'm always so amazed at even the little things that God works out for us. Jerry is excited and upbeat about getting the transplant. I am so proud of him. He has one more day of chemo tomorrow and then on Wednesday, they will let him rest. On Thursday they will do the transplant.  Please be praying.

II Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Jerry doing physical therapy so he'll be strong
when they do the transplant.

The Door to Hope

The Doors to Duke Hospital's Transplant Center

As we walked through these doors today, we were filled with fear and excitement. We know that God has brought us this far and we know that the transplant is Jerry's hope for the leukemia to go into remission.

We still have battles to fight, but we know God will be with us each step of the way.

Tomorrow will be a different Christmas for us, but it will be a Christmas of hope and dreams for our future.

47 years ago, we shared our first Christmas as boy friend and girl friend. Jerry was just 15 years old. He didn't have much money and so he worked all day Christmas Eve helping deliver milk with one of his neighbors. With the money he bought me a huge pink and white Teddy Bear. I was so excited. Through the years, he has given me many presents, but I will always remember that pink Teddy Bear, because it was a gift of love and sacrifice.

The first Christmas, God gave us a gift of love and sacrifice - His Son, Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Please be praying for us and we want to wish every one  a Merry Christmas!!

Jerry starting his chemo
to get ready for the transplant

Jerry's Brother, Bob, donating
 his stem cells for the transplant





A Wonderful Christmas Surprise

Thank you so much Bro. Weber and the Youth group from Peoples Baptist Church here in Greenville, NC  for coming by our home and Christmas caroling.  You made our  Christmas very special.

We want to thank our friends, family, and church family for their love, gifts, prayers, and support at this Christmas season and special time in our lives.

The Love of a Brother

A brother is a friend provided by nature.
-Legouve Pere

Jerry and his brother, Bob

Growing up together, they were like most brothers. They had their fun times together, playing and pretending and probably had their quarrels like most siblings.  But I believe there is always a special bond between brothers and sisters.

When the doctors decided to try a stem cell transplant to treat Jerry's leukemia, they said a sibling would be the best donor. Jerry's two brothers and two sisters all willingly agreed to be tested to see if they might be a possible donor.

After being tested, Jerry's brother, Bob, was a perfect match to be Jerry's donor.

We all met at the Duke Transplant Clinic today in Durham. After doing a physical on Bob and blood tests today, the transplant oncologist said everything looked good and they were going to proceed with harvesting Bob's stem cells for the transplant. He will be in Durham all week taking injections to build his white cells so they can harvest them on Thursday and Friday.

Our prayer now is that after they harvest them and send them to the lab for checking that they will be suitable for the transplant.

If the cells are good, Jerry will check into Duke University Hospital on Saturday, Christmas Eve, to begin chemo and then on the 29th of December, they will do the transplant.

Please be in much prayer that they will be able to do the transplant. We love you and we are so thankful for all the love, support, and prayers.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.



Bob and his wife, Julie



Christmas Magic

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I remember the first Christmas I celebrated as a saved person. It was the most specal Christmas. I finally understood the meaning of John 3:16. That God loved me so much that He gave me the greatest gift a person could receive.

The Magic of Christmas

What makes the magic at Christmas Time

What makes it so different than any other time.

Is it the evergreen strung with bright lights,

Or the candles burning all through the night.

Is it the songs that we all sweetly sing.

Or the presents we hope Santa will bring.

Is it the angels, the manger, the star,

The shepherds, the Wise Men who traveled afar?

What makes the magic at Christmas Time?

What makes it so different than any other time?

I think it’s a Baby born on that day.

Who came to give hope and show us the way.

That makes the magic at Christmas Time.

That makes it so different than any other time.

-Patricia Rice

This Christmas will be a different Christmas for us. We will be spending it in the hospital. Next to the gift of Jesus, we will be receiving one of the best Christmas presents we could receive - Jerry a transplant and hopefully a remission of the leukemia.

We love you and please be praying for us. 

Gathering Sunshine

I loved reading stories to our sons while they were growing up. And one of the stories I remember was titled "Frederick". The story was about a little mouse named Frederick. While the other field mice worked  to gather grain and nuts for winter, Frederick would sit on a sunny rock by himself. He would gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days. Another day he gathered “colors,” and then “words.” And when the food ran out during the winter, it was Frederick, the dreamer and poet, whose endless store of supplies warmed the hearts of the other mice, and fed their spirits during the darkest winter days.

Right now we are gathering sunshine, memories,  and laughter for the months ahead of us. Every time we talk to our family or spend time with them, it's a ray of sunshine that we're going to need in the months ahead of us. On a day when we need to laugh, we can think of something funny that one of our grand kids said or did or a special time spent with family or friends. We're going to need lots of laughter to carry us through the days ahead of us.

We're so excited about the transplant and so thankful for God's goodness to us. We know from reading the literature about the transplant that it will not be an easy road, but we know that we have a good God with lots of people praying.

We love you!

Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,

neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Hope Again

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

After several rounds of chemo that didn't seem effective in destroying the leukemia, Jerry's primary oncologist at Duke and the transplant oncologist have decided at this time that the best option for the treatment of his leukemia is a bone marrow transplant.

He has a preliminary date to check in at the hospital December 23 to begin chemo in preparation for his transplant. His donor is his younger brother, Bobby, who is to report to Duke on December 19. Bobby will also have to go through a physical exam to make sure that he is a suitable donor.

We are very excited about this hope that God has given us. Thank you for your prayers in seeing us through this thus  far and ask that you please continue praying.

We love you!

Christ, Our Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

"THE SOLID ROCK" written by Edward Mote. A hymn of grace, God's wonderful grace.

The biopsy report was not good today. We talked to Jerry's oncologist at Duke, Dr. Diehl, this evening. He said the leukemia is not any worse, but it is not any better, neither. The chemo has kept down the leukemia blasts, but it is not getting rid of the myoplasia (the baby leukemia cells). Dr. Diehl is going to talk to the transplant oncologist and try to decide what their next step will be. Jerry had an appointment Monday with the transplant center, but we're waiting to hear whether or not they will still want Jerry to keep the appointment.

We know God loves us and He's still a good God. Please keep praying.