An Update from Sue Leber

Beloved, I spoke with Nichole on Wed. (11/19) about how she was doing and when they were going to start the Chemo treatments. Nichole is doing well, she’s walking around and able to care for herself pretty well, besides getting out to Dr. appointments she is also able to go to the store with drivers. Shawni, her regular Nanny helper is doing a great job with the kids and Nichole is very happy with how things are going. When I speak to her on the phone her voice is strong and her spirits are full of joy. There is much to be thankful for. There are still many choices to make with the type of treatment ahead. She asks for your prayers in this area as they make their final decisions. They are still looking at doctors out of the area for the best and most effective treatment. These are life and death decisions that must be made and they are seeking out God's will to make these decisions. They ask for peace and strength to endure any future treatment Nichole must undergo. As of next week we will no longer need helpers for Nichole’s personal care until her condition changes. She would like to only have help with cleaning her home 2 times a week and meals, 3 times a week as displayed on the calendar / sign- up schedule, I will continue to send out. I’ll continue to schedule rides to any appointments that arise. She also would like to schedule an on-call person to come help her with the children on Saturdays, if Norm is working. This would mean you can sign up and I’ll schedule you and you will need to contact Nichole on Friday evening to find out if you are needed. Unless there is other needs to be met I will send out a new calendar next week just before I leave for the Thanksgiving holiday. I’ll be gone from Tuesday the 25th until Monday Dec.1 so please fill in the remainder of needs before then. Some of you have asked about the Greene's plans for Thanksgiving and they will be receiving a meal that day and would like to enjoy each other’s company.

I received this update last night from Sue Leber.

Nichole is doing well and recovering as expected. The infection is clearing and there is no obsesses. She has a good appetite, which is a great sign.

There are a few changes in the schedule due to one of our regular helpers, needing some time to recover from an injury (a couple of weeks). Please be praying for her.

Nichole will need more rides soon as more dr. appointments arise.
Chemo treatments have not been scheduled yet, but soon.

The Greenes have decided to add another meal to be delivered each week, since Nichole can eat now and needs to put on a few pounds while she can. (One on Sat)

Nichole has asked us to continue to pray for wisdom for the decisions ahead, for the doctors to find the right treatment for this type of cancer or to find other doctors with the more experience with this cancer, whether here or out of state.

Another brief update from Sue Leber...

Nichole is doing well at home, although she does have an infection and needs to recover from that before any chemo treatments can begin. She is regaining her strength and Norm is doing a great job as evening Nurse. All those that have been available to help, Thank you! Please continue to pray for her recovery and that the doctors make the right choice on the chemo treatment. Pray that Nichole and Family will stay healthy leading up to and through the treatments ahead. Pray for the helpers to stay healthy as well.

Here is a brief update on Nichole, listing some of her needs as well. If you would like to help, contact Sue Leber. lebersue@hotmail.com. I will give them a call soon so I can post a more detailed update. Continue to pray for them!

Nichole is doing well at home. She's very happy to be there, as are the kids and Norm. As of today the most urgent need is for the care of Nichole during the daytime (this week, wed, thu, fri. still open). She would prefer someone comfortable with medical things or someone with medical experience. She needs help getting around and changing some bandages. And you shouldn't have your own children with you for this time. There is also the need of rides for Nichole to doctor appts. If you can be available on call for rides please let me know and as appointments are made I will contact you with more details. Please contact me via email if you can help with any of these things.

Home!

Nichole is home now! Her house is abuzz with helpers watching the kids, cleaning up, and making sure she can rest. Nichole and I had a nice talk today about prayer, about the danger in putting God in a box, and about the great privilege we have as believers to go boldly before the throne of grace, asking what we will in Jesus' name, and EXPECTING an answer. God delights in answering our "impossible" prayers, so I pray daily for what may seem impossible in Nichole's life. God is great, and nothing is impossible with Him!!

More Details

I spoke with Norm for a while this morning so that I could keep you all posted on any news, and to find out more details. As you have heard, there were cancer cells found around a lymph node on the opposite side from where the surgery was directed. There was a marble-sized tumor there, which they did remove during the surgery. However, as you read yesterday, they have discovered that there are still cancer cells in the area. Norm told me this morning that once the cancer hits the lymph system, chances are it has spread. There is still hope that they wont find cancer cells throughout the whole lymph system, but that seems unlikely. The doctors have diagnosed her with stage 3 cancer. There are 4 stages of this cancer- stage 4 is when the cancer attacks the other internal organs of the body (which has not happened). God could obviously do whatever He wants to do, so we can pray and ask that the cancer cells have not spread throughout her system!! As I have urged in previous postings, let's ask God to do a miracle so that Nichole's life can continue to speak for His glory and the expansion of His Kingdom! She is still faithfully trusting and rejoicing in Him, and telling every person she encounters the good news!!
Right now, the doctors have samples of Nichole's cancer and they are testing those cancer cells to see how they react to certain types of Chemo treatments. They then will dose her with two different Chemo treatments at once (for a certain amount of time), then proceed with two different ones. They seem to be doing all that they can to attack this cancer with full force. Please pray that Nichole's body will heal quickly and be strengthened to endure these Chemo treatments. Her body doesn't handle Chemo very well, (she has gotten very sick, nauseous, and has been unable to keep food in her system) so she will need the Lord's grace and kindness to endure! Please begin praying for this now!
At present, Nichole seems to be doing well. She is completely off of pain medication, which seems miraculous in my mind, knowing the surgery she just had. She is taking short walks every two hours. She still isn't ready for visitors. Rather than checking in with Norm, I will try to keep you posted as to when she is ready, as I'm sure will Sue. If you aren't on Sue's email list, you can email her and ask to be added (lebersue@hotmail.com). I have been posting her email updates on the blog as well. Nichole and Norm are being well taken care of. Someone is at her side 24 hours a day to take care of her. People have been spending the night with her, and others have taken several hour shifts to be there to care for her. What a testimony of the Body of Christ to the doctors and nurses! I imagine that Nichole is the only one on her floor that has such enduring support! I'm not sure who those people are that have been caring for her, but thank you! Thank you for being a light and a testimony by caring so deeply for Nichole and the family.
I asked about the kids as well. Noah and Ansel are enjoying school more and more. However, all of their little worlds have been turned upside down, as you can imagine. They haven't had their "normal" life for quite some time now, and as you can imagine, this would be extremely difficult. Their mom hasn't been able to be mom. Dad has had to take on more responsibility, and evenings (as we all know!) trying to feed the kids, play with them, get them ready for bed, bathe them, etc, can be more than enough for mom and dad to handle together, let alone for Dad to do on his own. Pray for Norm! Along with caring for the kids, he has a lot to think about, and is caring for his sweet wife as well. And he is still going to work everyday. And we think our own life is overwhelming...take a moment to put yourself in Norm's shoes. Your life is a breeze, isn't it?
I asked Norm how he was doing. He said that he and Nichole are still trusting the Lord, knowing that God causes all things to work out for our good and for His glory. They have spoken in real terms about the future, and Nichole is prepared for heaven. Whether she will be there soon, or if God prolongs her life miraculously, she is ready. As she told me before, I will quote again. "Norm is not mine. He is the Lord's. My children are not mine. They belong to the Lord. He loves them more than I can, and He will take care of them. Of course I want to be there for them, but they would be okay without me." Once again, I am amazed at her perspective. Humble, and truly trusting in the Lord. Both she and Norm are trusting the Lord as they think about the real possibilities. Norm also said that they have been enjoying their time together, and laughing together. They have to be careful how much she laughs, because laughing hurts her tummy! Praise the Lord for this exhibition of joy in trial.
During another memorable conversation I had with Nichole she said this, "All that matters here on earth is that God's Kingdom is grown, and the church is built up. This trial seems to be accomplishing that, and I am so glad for that." Nichole has proven over and over that this is what her life is about. She has been boldly proclaiming the gospel in every circumstance, and has been such an encouragement to the body of Christ, building us up and encouraging us by her example of how to endure trials.
To honor Nichole, and to bring glory to God, reflect today on the things that are important to you. Could you say with Nichole that "all that matters is that God's Kingdom is grown, and the church is built up?" What in your life do you cling to that supercedes or clouds your vision? What is more important to you than God's priorities? What do you think about or worry about that doesn't matter? Resolve to cut these things out of your life and to focus on eternity. You could die tomorrow. Have you done all that you can today to honor God, spread the gospel, and build up the church?

Please Pray!!

Here is an update I received from Sue Leber last night. Please continue to pray for Nichole and Norm!

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah Ps.36:6, 7

Beloved, as I mentioned Monday, Norm and Josie were down with a flu bug. It seems it was a 24 hour one and they are doing better today. But I can’t say the same for Nichole- she is feeling a little nausea and running a little fever. But Norm says she’s of good spirits and clinging to Christ.
There has been some news from the doctors in regard to the lab work done on the tissue samples and lymph nodes taken during the surgery. There seems to be many cancer cells found in the lymph system sample (NOT GOOD NEWS) and the doctors are planning to start Chemo as soon as they can determine the best treatment for this type of cancer. The samples will be sent across the country and tested with different Chemo’s to see the most effective results before they can begin.
Although this is not the news we all were waiting for, it is the news God has planned for Nichole and the Greenes at this time. Nichole is fully aware of her purpose through this trial and has been witnessing to doctors, nurses, her mother and father, and yes- the hospital’s (female) Chaplin as well. Even after the doctor told her about the lab results, she was compelled to share to her nurse that it is Jesus Christ that she clings to and put all her hope in, then she shared with this women the gospel.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. Prov. 3:5-7 Pray! Pray! Pray !