Nathan's chemo update
Nathan received his first round of chemotherapy treatments yesterday, 11/10/04 and was able to come home this afternoon. The chemo hit him pretty hard. Last evening was difficult with some unpleasant side effects from the treatments. This afternoon and evening he has been able to rest well with the help of his medications. Our hope and prayer is that the chemo will begin shrinking the tumors growing in Nathan’s body and kill the cancer cells. We also know that the side effects of chemo can be very hard on the body. This journey of chemo treatments is uncharted territory for us. We do not know what all lies ahead on this journey, but we do know that Nathan is in God’s loving arms and that Nathan’s healing is in God’s hands. We trust in the healing grace of God to see us through this journey. Pray with us that the good cells in Nathan’s body will quickly grow back following his chemo treatments and that the cancer cells will be destroyed. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Nathan’s dad,
Tim
Tim
posted by Nathan's Blog... at 7:05 PM
24 Comments:
Hi Nathan, this is Phyllis once again. I am glad that your first chemo treatment is completed. Remember that we are all on the side lines cheering you on. We are praying for you, encouraging you and reminding you of God's promise "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 When you are not feeling very strong and courageous because of the side effects of the chemo remember that we are standing in the gap for you remembering you in prayer and being the strength you need at that moment. May God's love surround you again tonight like a warm blanket reminding you that you are not alone. We love you.
Sleep well tonight. Awake tomorrow feeling rested.
Phyllis Litwiller
Nathan:
Our prayers are streaming towards the heavens hourly as we lift you up to our God for complete healing and a full recovery. Never under-estimate the power of God's healing, for God wants you well and to return to being involved in His kingdom work here on earth. Yes, there will probably be a few days ahead when you feel absolutly terrible, but always remember, the sun will come up tomorrow and God will give you a new day to enjoy in His creation. dastq345tq35y
way to go nathan,
round 1 goes to you...man we're praying hard here at GC. I'm glad you get to see Kendra soon or perhaps today, i hope that's amazing for you. I miss you still buddy, but guess what we'll see each other soon. Keep fighting man, God's great,
Jeron
Tim,
Just want you to know that Nathan and your family are the focus of our thoughts and prayers tonight, asking God for a miracle of healing.
Merridy
Nathan:
Our prayers are streaming towards the heavens hourly as we lift you up to God for complete healing and a full recovery. Never under-estimate the power of God's healing, for God wants you well and to return to being involved in His kingdom work here on earth. Yes, there will probably be a few days ahead when you feel absolutly terrible, but always remember, the sun will come up tomorrow and God will give you a new day to enjoy in His creation. The Psalmist says, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever."
God's love will never leave you and God will hold you in His arms as you endure this time of pain and suffering. When you face the days ahead and you feel you can not even pray, take a break, because there are hundreds of God's people interceding on your behalf for complete healng. God's blessings to you and your family.
Shalom,
Ron Roth
Hi Nathan,
We are thinking of you and praying for you daily. Not only is our church praying for you, but Karianne (Joe's wife) said her mother has requested prayer for you at her church as well. We are praying for healing and for God to give you strength as you go through the chemo treatments. We love you.
Everett and Lois
Nathan and Family -
My prayers are with all of you daily. I am a five-year breast cancer survivor, so I have traveled this road, too. Nathan, one thing that helped me during my chemo was to imagine the fluid going into my body as a wonderful, healing, vibrant fluid, full of life, glowing with God's healing power. It helped me minimize the fear of what these awesome, powerful chemicals might do negatively. I will pray that this fluid, combined with God's love and the love of family and friends, will zap the bad cells and encourage the good. You are loved - by us, and by God.
Deb Brubaker
Hi Nathan,
We are Mary and Wayne Nitzsche, friends of your parents. Your mom, Mary and I went to HC together way back before blogs or the invention of the wheel! Our prayers are with you and all your family. I'm preaching a sermon on Sunday using the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark 4:35ff. Jesus invites us to face into the storms of life that come our way, and to know that he is with us in those storms. This is certainly an F5 tornado for you and the family, and we will pray for you. Unfortunately, we got some of the e-mails in an e-mail account we only check rarely, so we are only now getting caught up on what's happening. Know that even when you are unable to pray, that so many are praying for you.
Wayne and Mary Nitzsche
Wooster, Ohio
Hi Nathan and Tim And Carol,
Glad to hear the first chemo treatment is history. So sorry Nathan that it made you feel so yucky but that is also a good sign that the medicine is doing what it should - which is to kill off the bad cancer cells. Our prayer for you is that the bad cells will die and the good cells will survive and thrive and that you will soon be well and strong again. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Remember that with God all things are possible.
Our Love,
Cleo and Barb
Nathan, I haven't met you before but I'm Clair Hochstetler, the chaplain for the Goshen Health System. My role includes the coordination of spiritual care for cancer patients, as a member of our cancer treatment team. I'm pretty sure that your father Tim, is the same Tim Detweiler I've known from former experiences while a student at EMU and later on pastoring at several places within the Mennonite Church.
Today, on Goshen College's website, I happened to read about your situation and how the entire GC campus student and faculty, as well as friends from "all over" via this blog, are supporting you. It's quite impressive.
Just yesterday I shared a proposal with some other folks within our Goshen Health System here about how we could improve the resources of support to cancer patients and their families: utilizing the internet and including certain links on a section of our website devoted to spiritual care.
Now I see how this blog idea might be an additional excellent resource to keep the emotional and spiritual support flowing in from your supporters and the updates flowing out to them -- all in a very efficient, yet creative and powerful way! (As long as you are the one giving permission for the information that goes out, of course, which I assume you have done.)
Meanwhile, Nathan, I figured you might appreciate the opportunity to dip into to a few of the many web-based resources for cancer patients which I have encountered and evaluated; I deem the following to be some of the best, in terms of the integration of faith and science, solid theology, and respect for appropriate and integrated clinical practice:
Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope - A Ministry to Cancer Survivors
http://www.outreachofhope.org/
(I endorse these articles and resources designed to encourage those facing a difficult crisis from a spiritual perspective. Also includes "The Encourager" -their newsletter.)
A good article: "The Healing Power of Spirituality"
http://www.cancerlynx.com/spiritheal.html
Another great article: "The Medical Use of HOPE"
http://www.cancerlynx.com/usehope.html
Spirituality And Chaplaincy
http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/spirituality.html
(A series of articles on the website of the Cancer Supportive Care Program, International)
"God Help Me"
http://www.godhelpme.com/prayer.htm
(A Cancer Survivor's Prayer and Meditation Bookshelf. I haven't read all on that list, but I can endorse several, especially the two by Dr. Larry Dossey.)
Doctors Who Pray
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/7t1/7t120a.html
(A Christianity Today article on how the medical community is discovering the healing power of prayer, something we take very much to heart here at our own center.)
I'm joining in as well, Nathan, with the whole host of folks praying for you. I often visit with people getting chemo, or radiation, or other treatments for cancer, and know how crucial it is for patients to get the type of spiritual and relational support you apparently have.
I'm glad your are able to be getting good treatment in your own home community, with such supportive family and friends from your own congregation. And, I look forward to meeting you in person sometime when you get back to Goshen College, right across the street!
May you experience the Lord's full blessing upon you and your family, Nathan.
Chaplain Clair Hochstetler, Goshen Health System
Hi Nathan, This is Deb from Yellow Creek Menn in Goshen, IN. You were on our S.S.Class prayer list this wk. How is that you ask? Kendra has family at YC that has requested prayer for you.Isn't it great how God alerts all his prayer warriors that you may not even know! We are lifting you up to His care for healing and peace. Your family and Kendra are also in our prayers. I'll be praying that you can deal with the treatments and not be too adversly affected, that you'll have strength to get thru your days. Blessings to you and your family, Deb
Nathan, I just read your story in the Goshen News.
What a testimony for the Lord you have. If nothing else comes from your illness you have blessed many, many people just by your belief in the God who gave you your first breath. I will pray that you will continue to KNOW that God is in the thick of your pain with you. Crawl up on to Jesus' lap and let him hold and comfort you as you weep or ask questions. No question is too hard for Jesus to answer. Jesus LOVES to give comfort and give peace in the middle of storms.
I don't know you, but by the sounds of all the people who do, you are a remarkable young man. God will use you in more ways than you can imagine now, so keep hanging on to His hand and allow this experience to 'grow' you more into Him image. Prayers for you.
Dear Nathan and familiy,
I am writing to encourage you and your family in you battle with cancer. We saw your story in the Goshen News. We live in Millersburg, just outside of Goshen.
Our 2nd oldest daughter was diagnosed with Rhabdomyocarcoma in Jan. of 2001. She was 15 at the time, which was also considered "old" for this type of cancer. She began chemotherapy treatments at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital within a month of diagnosis.
She, too, received 3 different kinds of drugs every 3 weeks. The first round of chemo. made her very sick. After that, however, they were able to regulate the other medications and she handled the chemo. very well. She also had 6 weeks of radiation. (Her tumor was pretty much gone within the 1st month!)
She received many blood transfusions during the course of chemotherapay, but not to many other side effects. Praise God!
I am happy to report that this month we reached the 2 year mark for remission. She is a Sr. in High School and doing very well.
We were also received many blessings from God! We were amazed at how many people were praying for Elise. He really worked out a lot of things and took care of our family! We pray that he will do the same for you. God Bless You!
Sincerely,
Doug and Cindy Chupp
cdchupp@bnin.net
Dear Nathan and family:
God is good and I know He is walking closely beside you all. I am a sister in Christ who lives in Wyoming. This link was sent to me by family members from Iowa. Your testimony has been a blessing to me.
I was also diagnosed with scarcoma. The tumor had to be removed because it was an eight pounder that was engulfing my abdominal organs. My doctor set me up for chemo but I never went because God had a wonderful surprise for me.
Even though I am much older than you, I too was a college student in graduate school. I was just finishing my first semester of graduate school and was on summer break preparing to work on an assistantship and a summer internship. I knew that God had everthing in control and no matter what happened, He would care for us all but I was not sure how it would all work.
When the doctor removed the tumor and the pathologist gave the diagnosis in the operating room, the doctor just thought the tumor looked so bizzarre that she sent everything to Mayo Clinic for further analysis.
The night before my first treatment, my doctor called me with the results. Mayo said it was a schwannoma, a rare, benign tumor. To this day I am filled with joy and humility, knowing that He allowed me a little longer on this earth with my family. Yet, I know that if I would have gone through the treatments, He would have given much grace and peace just has He does for you.
Your pathway will be much more difficult that mine but "The trying of your faith produces patience (endurance)." (James 1:3) I pray that during your special journey you will have opportunity to rest in Him. I know He loves you, His children, and am confident He will be with you every step of the way.
I will continue to pray for you all. God's healing grace be with you. I pray that He will have some special surprises for you along your journey.
Cindy
Nathan, Tim, and Carol,
This is Mick Murray. Bob Smith shared this site with us this week at Pastor's cluster, so thanks for being open to letting us know how to pray. Our church family at Kalona Mennonite has been praying for you, and I will share this site with them tomorrow. Most of all I wanted to let you know that we love you guys dearly and we haven't forgotten about you! You are in our thoughts and prayers, and in some small way, I hope we can bear some of this burden with you!!!
Keep Fighting!!!
Mick
Nathan, Tim, Carol, Erica, and Caleb,
We pray for you often as we are reminded that our son is only six weeks older than Nathan. We also realize that family is truly a blessing in a time of trial like this. That is why we are raising each member of your family in prayer. Your extended family at Lower Deer Creek will also be praying for you. Remember to put on your "Full Armor" like we shared in camp a couple of years ago. Keep the Sword nearby. May the Great Physician guide the hands and minds of your earthly caregivers. Your fellow-servant in Christ, Don Patterson
Nathan,
This is Ashley Miller, Erin Eberspacher's roommate from last year. I just found out today that you had cancer. I am so sorry. Beth Hofstetter told me about this website, and I really wanted to write you and let you know that you are in my prayers. Honestly, finding out that you had cancer came as quite a shock to me and was very upsetting. You will constantly be in my prayers, and I am contacting friends and family from home (MS) to ask them to keep you in prayer as well. Know that you are in God's hands and rememer
Isaish 53:4-6 "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."
In Christ, Ashley
Dear Detweilers,
Jane and I have been so blessed by organizing this 24/7 prayer vigil. We have 258 half hour time blocks already filled. We need only 78 more blocks to fill but we feel very confident that God will make a way! We know the power of prayer and it is amazing to see how God is working this prayer vigil into a reality for Nathan! If anyone reading this would like to be part of this prayer team, please email Jane Davis at cjtmkd@yahoo.com. Send an email to her ASAP and let her know a time (more than one to choose from is very helpful) that would work in your schedule. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." John 14:27
Love and prayers,
Becky Widmer
Hi Nathan!
This is Leslie Miller. First of all i just want to thank you Tim for keeping us posted it is much appreciated! Nathan hang in there, you are being lifted up in prayer because we believe with all faith that God will heal you. You are an inspiration to me! You are a wonderful guy and i pray that you can find peace and comfort through this whole situation. My sunday school class is praying for you all the time! I pray the next round of chemo will go well. Being in the medical profession iam aware of the side affects that you are facing and i pray that they will continue to become less and less as you receive treatment. Blessings to you my friend!
~Leslie Miller
Nathan,
Our family is praying for you daily and Adam asks about you each time we talk to him. I gave him your blog website and he checks it often to see what is new there. I just pray that you can feel God's strength as you journey down this path and that you can find comfort in knowing how many people love you and are praying for you. Peace be with you today. I pray you can rest and be comfortable.
One minute, one hour, one day at a time.
Love to you and your family-
Kaylene
Hey bud,
This is andrew from the house last year. To hear that you had cancer from John Weldy came as a big shock since as college students we don't think of ourselves as possible cancer patients. But throughout life we are given many obstacles and possible "distractions" that God has given us to become stronger individuals. You and Kendra along with both your families are in my prayers every day as you both go through this. It is wonderful to see the support you have and I am so thankful that your support network is so vast and growing everyday. God has planned our lives for us and I know that he has more in store for you as you battle this cancer day in and day out. I told Kendra that you both are invited to my wedding this summer and she said "Andrew you know that we will both be there". With God's hands I know that you all will be stronger when this passes and I will see you in July. Keep fighting bud and everyone here at the Mennonite Offices in Elkhart and many others in this community are praying for you and your family as the fight goes on. Keep that positive attitude of handing everything over to God because it is very uplifting. I have felt uplifted to hear that you have been able to give everything to God. hope the day goes well today and the prayers will keep coming your way.
friendly neighbor
andrew kauffman
Hey Nathan, this is Bethany (formerly Fleming) from IMS. It is truly amazing how much we affect each others lives, even if our paths just cross for a moment in time. I'm sure at times you feel quite alone, but rest assured that your life is important to more people than you can even name, and each of us is crying out to God on your behalf.
Bethany Keener in Goshen
I hope Nathan knows he is being prayed for. My name is Andrew Ottoson. I'm in the process of surviving Ewing's Sarcoma, almost 18 months removed from my last bit of treatment. Among the most encouraging things anyone ever did for me was pray, so I'm glad to pray for him. If there is anything specific I can pray about, my email address is andreott@tabor.edu. I hope everything is going as well as can be expected.
AO
Nathan,
I work with your dad and have known both your parents over the years. I wish you didn't have to go through this, but Tim and Carol are two people I'd want at my side if it were me! Caleb was a counselor at CCCC this summer when I was camp pastor- all the girls thought he was really cute! I'm sure he gets that from you :)
We will miss your dad next week when the nation's conference ministers gather for our annual meeting in Dallas, but we understand why he'd rather be with you at home. We want him to be with you, too. He told me even if he did come to Dallas, he wouldn't really be "there" but home with you. What a great dad.
Please know we pray for you each week at West Union, and now there are 50 conference ministers in all parts of the USA praying as well. There will be special prayer for a miracle in your body next Thursday evening, December 2, at our Dallas meeting.
May God be very near and very real to you in these days-
Diane Zaerr Brenneman
Parnell, IA
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