Hi, friends,
Many of you have been blessed when you have called Rest Ministries to speak to my volunteer assistant, Kara. Her sweet southern voice and compassion is a comfort to us all, and she keeps the ministry running smoothly and me (relatively) sane.
A couple of weeks ago she let me know she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer and last week she had a lumpectomy. I briefly posted on Facebook this week as she was in surgery, but I asked her permission to share it publicly and she said it would be fine (and prayers appreciated).
Wednesday following surgery Kara posted the following:
I’m already home from the hospital after the lumpectomy and lymph node sampling and praise the Lord that’s all for now, depending on what the lymph node status is. I’ll have an apptointment with the surgeon in a week and find out the status of the nodes then, but I’m hoping they would call me sooner–who knows?
They may have to sample more nodes or need more extensive surgery, depending on the results, but the plan right now is to heal for 3-4 weeks, meeting with the oncologist meanwhile and starting 6 weeks of 5 day/wk. radiation therapy; hopefully I won’t need chemo, but I may have to do some hormone treatment since the biopsy results showed the tumor was estrogen-fed–some people take those anti-estrogen meds for 5 yrs. or indefinitely, evidently, and they’re apparently no fun. I’ll be doing some natural stuff too in addition to traditional medical therapy.
Everything went as well as could be expected at the hospital–I was pretty nervous and felt like getting teary sometimes, but it helped knowing that I was being prayed for so much and I also tried to think of my mom and my sister Barbara Goodson facing even more scary diagnoses and surgical procedures and ultimately death at such young ages with so much grace and far less medical knowledge. They must have been so frightened–I just thought of their strength and faith and it helped me to think, “They did it so well and I can do it too.” I’m not being morbid–hopefully my outcome is good and I pray that God will allow me more yrs. to enjoy my sons, grandson and future grandkids.
If not, the Lord and I are on good terms and I have faith that I would be in heaven having a reunion w/ so many loved ones. But right now I’m not thinking that–I’m really hopeful and so thankful that everything is good so far. Thanks so much for all the prayers! Hopefully I can get some rest soon!
Please continue to keep Kara in your prayers. This path is never easy, as many of you know, and she has little support in the town where she has recently moved. She is truly feeling them. If you would like to send her an encouraging message, please post it in the comments below and she will see it!
Also, last fall I posted our web site about our ministry sister Jenni Saake who had suffered a stroke (and then a few more). She updated her blog the other day with the following status report.
“It is about 3 months since my first strokes now. I still see blurry and double so have trouble reading. Can’t use my left hand so typing is challenging. Need a walker or wheel chair and doctor say extent of my injuries is profound but hopefully I will mostly rebuild mental connections within two years. Thank you for prayers. Circumstances are hard but God is faithful and good. “
Prayers for her are needed and appreciated as well. So much pain here on earth, huh?
Relying on God one day (or minute!) at a time,
Lisa
Hello Kara. I want you to know I am praying for you. I don’t know you, and I don’t believe we have ever spoken on the phone, but I still appreciate the work you are doing for Rest Ministries. I do hope you get a lot of rest and are strengthened and comforted by the Lord at this time. God is good, and His love (for you) endures forever.
Shalom,
Christine
Hi Kara,
I am praying for you, sweet sister in the Lord. We have never met or spoken, but I know that we share a kindred spirit through unity in Christ. I am so sorry for your suffering! Thank you for allowing all of us to join you as you walk this difficult path. I have no answers for you, but I can pray. I so agree with you as you keep your mom and sister as role models in knowing that you can walk through this just as they did. It is good to have silent encouragement or should I say reminders while enduring. Our God loves you! You are still His girl and will always be His girl. God bless you, Kara.
Love,
Cindy
Kara,
I am adding my 2 cents worth of prayers with our God on your behalf. My mother and sister are breast cancer survivors. That brought me hope as they trusted God like your family members. I will trust God along with you. God is good all the time! Peace, Mona
KARA;HI YOU DONT KNOW ME BUT WE ARE OF THE SAME HOUSE OF FAITH.I AM FROM REST MINISTRIES ENCOURAGEMENTS TEAM, THOMAS.I WAS MOVED BY YOUR STORY.THIS SOMETHING I AND MYFAMILY WENT THRUOGH WITH MY BIG SISTER PATTY.SHE IS SAVED.BUT SHE WENT TO GLORY IN 2009.IKNOW WE WILL SEE ONE ANOTHER SOME DAY .I HAVE RSD,FIBRO.BUT YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE PAIN SIDE.I JUST WANT TOO SHARE SPECIAL PRAYER WITH YOU.MAY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND AS HE GENTLY COMFORTS YOU.GOD BLESS,THOMAS
Dear Kara – I, too am praying for you and for your peace of mind as you wait for test results.
I’ve a friend who had gone thorugh your exact scenario in recent months and is doing fine. She has only needed radiation and will have her last round this week.
I am a breast cancer survivor and God led me all the way through – surgery, chemo’ – all of it and that was in 1987.
We each bring our own stories and although you have family memebers who went through cancer and modeled inspiration for you, wait on the Lord as to what He is going to do in your life. I know it would be easy for you to think – “what if” in your case.
Many are holding you up – including me!
Love,
Lynn
Kara,
Please be assured of my continued prayers and wishes for your speedy and full recovery. You are a faithful woman but everyone gets scared and feels alone at times, allow us all to lift you up with our prayers. Good bless you for being there for so many of us. Hopefully now you will feel the return of all the love you have given!
Love and gentle hugs,
Maureen
Dear Kara
We have never spoken but reading your post I feel a connection. I too have had many medical hardships in the past two years. Seems like one after another. But mine are not potentially fatal. I must say you are an inspiration. You write with a calmness that comes from your obvious faith in the Lord.
Be assurred of my prayers and thank you for ur witness to Christs healing love.
Maria
Dear Kara,
Before I got through the second paragraph of the email announcement to pray for you I bowed and prayed for God’s full healing and hand upon you going forward. I appreciate your volunteer service for the Lord’s sake. Love and grace to you. Hugs, Sherah
Kara,
You do not know me, but as a fellow sister in Christ, and breast cancer survivor, I wanted you to know that you are in my prayers…especially for rest and healing now after surgery, and for all that your body will need in the months ahead as you go through treatment. It always helped me to remember that cancer is the little ‘c’, and Christ is the BIG ‘C’…it is HE who provides and overcomes, and HE will walk with you every step of the way!! God bless you as HE carries you through this journey !
~Patti
Kai Ora Kara. A blessing from New Zealand.
My dear wife is in the same situation as yourself, but is about twelve months ahead of you.. I’ll never forget the day when we found she has breast cancer, and as a husband it sure shook my foundations. We are a Christian couple and have witnessed many blessings as well as healing along our journey, so please be encouraged.. Just to knowing that our Farther, plus all our church and family were behind us, as they all lifted us up in constant prayer, is so comforting Kara.. Yes, it is a scary journey to have to travel but please be assured, you are never alone..
May peace be with you, strength to carry you, and His healing Hand be always be upon you.. ~ Mike
Hi Kara ~
We haven’t met but we are Sisters in Christ, so our hearts have met. I’m praying for the strength, courage, trust, and acceptance you will need for this journey.
I went through lung surgery for cancer this year but am presently doing well. Whenever new health problems arrive, I keep reminding myself that even though I may not be able to see why God is allowing it, I know that He loves me way too much to let me suffer unnecessarily. He will bring blessings through all things,… some we will see and many others we can’t even imagine.
Look for the blessings in every day. The more time we spend in thanksgiving for what we have, the less time we have to focus on the negatives. Gentle hug from Rita ~
dear kara,
u r in my thoughts and prayers. You are precious, loved, and treasured by our Lord Jesus. cling to Him as your Rock and Hope. May He be your Resting Place:)) Nahum 1:7
love in Christ.
priscilla
You will be in my prayers, Kara. Your faith and courage are inspiring!!
Kara,
I too, was diagnosed with breat cancer two years ago. It was already a strawberry size. With the biopsy it become infected and I had 3 months of draining the tumor every day. They finally quit the Chemo I was on and went straight to surgery. I was in shock for the longest time. I believed and prayed for healing. My family helped out alot by driving me to appoitments. Miy husband was in another city for his job commuting onky every other week, so that was extremely hard. After the surgery I went through more chemo treatments and within two weeks of completion of them I went into 33 rounds of radiation every day. Then I had a whole year where I couldn’t move or function completely due to the heavy fatigue. It was very difficult on me and my family. However, one Sunday evening the pastor of our church prayed for me and God healed the cancer. I have had total complete and perfect tests. All have come out without any cancer. I was in stage 3 and now am in my 4 mo. visits. I want to encourage you since I now counsel cancer patients and survivors of cancer. Remain steadfast in the Lord. He is mighty to help you and be with you and give you hope. Peace will be multiplied as you trust in Him. Jesus took our stripes for us so that we are healed.
Don’t ever give up or give in. God is still the same and has not forgotten you or forsaken you. He will be with you at all times. I will be praying for you. YOU ARE A TREASURE TO HIM. Love in the Lord, Dr. Ballinger
I will definitely be praying.
Kara,
I will be praying for you sweet sister. I know this must be a scary time of waiting and not knowing, but know you are loved and there are prayer warriors all over praying for you. You are in His hands and He will hold you through every step. God bless you, sweet one…I will be praying for you as well, Wendy
Kara, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kara,
As I scrolled down the numerous people praying for you, I was touched. Isn’t it awesome that so many of us do not really know each other–yet we care and pray for each other? May God give you good days and healing days. I’m praying for you. Donna
Kara, God loves you with an everlasting, never ending love, and He is WITH you in this process. I pray that the Lord will heal you even in other areas of your life — peace of heart, rest in your mind and comfort from the Lord. We pray that others will be able to support you and help you along this road to good health, however, the Father determines it. Bless you. God is with you.
– Peggy
Kara, I am praying for you! You are one of God’s great examples of faithfulness in the midst of storms. I love your comment that you and the Lord are on good terms! I pray that God will use your story to encourage many others facing life and death situations. We serve a faithful God who is able to bring us through anything!
Many blessings, Connie
Hi! I am an almost 12 year survivor of Breast Cancer. You are in my prayers and thoughts most all the time. I feel for you!! I know it is scary, but you have already stated that you have turned it over to the Lord and that is the most important step! So you are going to be fine. Know that you are being lifted up in prayer probably every hour of the day by all of us. Many blessings!
Barbara
Please help pray to God to destroy the spirit of witch crafting operating against my life, destiny and future…I am a graduate looking for a good job here in Nigeria.