Improving slowly and gradually

Susan has improved gradually since last week’s lumbar puncture for hydrocephalus and is somewhat stronger, more alert, and more responsive. We haven’t seen the dramatic rebound she experienced last November, but I’m grateful for the progress so far. She’s still pretty confused most of the time about where she is and what’s going on, and she’s doing her best to make sense of things. I’ve noticed she can pull her wits together for a period of time when needed, a taxing effort that requires extra rest afterward. We’ll be back at UCLA this week for another MRI, clinical exam and chemo treatment.

These months since Susan’s tumor progression was diagnosed in April have been especially hard. Two of our brain buddy friends have died since then, following two others since last fall. The circumstances seem to point to an inevitability that no one wants to accept. But I continue to receive encouragement from the Lord in a variety of ways to hold fast to Susan’s healing. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (1:18) speaks to me also, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” God’s Word is full of ordinary people who faced impossible circumstances and were challenged to believe what God said rather than what they saw. Even a partial list of these accounts can instruct and encourage us – Noah, Job, Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Zechariah, John, Joseph & Mary, the Acts of the Apostles, and the dozens of people healed by Jesus. Trying to put ourselves in their place as they face their situations and see God intervene can help prepare us to face our own difficulties. Even so, I say facing our own trials is harder because we don’t know the outcome. But the fact is, neither did these who went before us. Like us, they had two things: their insurmountable circumstances on one hand and God on the other. It still comes down to faith – “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) We continue to trust God and know we’re in good company.