a cancer story

[Full Quiver]

We have a friend that was diagnosed with bile duct cancer last year, stage 4, and was not given any medical hope.

Radiation, chemo, and lots of pain is what she has experienced over the past several months. Her and her husband are the same age as Wendy and I, 38ish. They have 4 children.

The docs gave her a time line to which I said she doesn't have an expiration date and to which her husband told the docs that they don't know the God He serves. Nikki has had the best attitude about all this from the moment she was diagnosed. Her attitude alone is a testament to the Spirit of God.

Easter Sunday I saw Brian at The Thorn Production and asked him where Nikki was. He said in Hospice to which I questioned. In my experience Hospice is the end of the road. I had just seen her and she was as good as she could be under the circumstances. He said she was in pain and Vanderbilt said she could go to Hospice. I did not discourage him.

Thursday night they were told she would probably not survive the night. Family and very close friends surrounded her bedside. I expected to awaken to awful news Friday morning but didn't. I went to her room and had prayer with her. She was heavily doped up, eyes rolled back in her head, and it was sad. Her mother and aunt sat at her side. I took her by the hand, said her name, she looked me in the eye and said my name. I told her I loved her and prayed that God would give her peace and give the family peace. Honestly I thought she was about to die.

Saturday night Brian brought the kids to church and it was a good thing to see. Their oldest son is really taking this hard. He is 16-17 and bottles things up. He can't hardly be in her room. He is her spitting image. After service several of us went to her bedside. This is where things get interesting.

When we all arrived Brian was at her bedside praying and crying. We, several of us, had prayer. Then suddenly one person began to testify and speak. This person encouraged everyone to speak to her spirit only good things. Not to be negative, not to be discouraging. This person said joy is coming in the morning. Brian then said that the Lord told him plain as day that she would be healed at 4 on Sunday. HE said he didn't know if that meant physical healing or death but he would take either at this time because he didn't want her to suffer. The Spirit of God settled into that room and the Word was spoken and a questioned posed to all of us. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? we were all asked, will you believe for the glory of God?

We all answered affirmatively. We were then asked if we were all children of God. We acknowledged and were asked to pray again. The Spirit came into that room in such a sweet way and Brian began to pray in tongues. We all left with great anticipation.

Yesterday she was taken off the pain pump, she got up from the bed for the first time in a week, used the restroom, and asked for something to eat for the first time since Tuesday. The doctors told Brian she is not going to get better to which he said You do not serve the same God that I do. She was taken off death watch.

I don't know what tomorrow holds BUT I am glad to have been at the right place at the right time to experience this.

Please remember Nikki and her family when you pray.

[scooter]

Great story!

[Full Quiver]

Wednesday Brian told the docs he was taking Nikki home on the weekend. The doc said she will be dead by then.

Some family caused some drama by saying Brian was being selfish or something. Anyhow!

He brought her home Saturday where she could sleep in her own bed and be with her children in their normal environment. She said if she were going to die then she wants to do so at home.

Wendy and I went and visited last night mainly to drop off some blueberry kefir and homemade chicken broth that Wendy had prepared and also some gift cards that our life group got for the family. It was about 8pm so we figured Nikki would probably be in the bed. We called first and Brian said come on.

We arrived and gave Brian the goodies. Emily, the 7 year old daughter, came running in & said mom's trying to get out of the bed. Brian rushed to her aid and brought her in the living room in her wheelchair. She had heard our voices she said and wanted to come see us. haha

She had ate chicken, doritos, and an ice cream cone earlier. Wendy said I brought you some broth to which Nikki made a joke concerning her catheter bag. Nasty but witty on her part.

She had spunk, a great attitude, and said she was ready for a shower. She was glad to be home, said that hospice was a strange place, and that she was ready to ditch all the high powered pain meds because they were only making her high.

We had prayer together and offered up praise to the Lord for His awesome work. She was doing excellent for a woman that just 2 weeks ago was given a death notice and told she had cancer in every bone of her body, her liver, and other organs including on her spine.

Her willingness to be sick and endure for the glory of God is really revealing the Lord to many people both churched and unchurched.

Please keep them in your prayers!