Trust in the Lord and Take Heart

Thanking God for Pastor Carl Guiney

2011-05-31T04:06:00.004-04:00

A tribute from Rev. Aeron Morgan

I feel that I must write this simple and heartfelt tribute in respect of my dear friend and fellow minister of the Gospel, Pastor Carl Guiney. My association with him and his devoted wife Faith does not go back many years, but I do vividly recall that first time. It was in July 2000. I did have some correspondence with him previous to that (which proved to have been a providential link in the friendship that followed), but then how privileged and blessed to have been personally introduced to him and Faith by my wonderful friends, Pastor Don and June Evans. It was they who met me at the airport and took me to Mystic, to meet up with Carl and Faith, who then brought me to Woonsocket.

I will ever appreciate the generous way in which he and Faith received me into their home and hearts, and the open platform Carl extended to me to preach whenever I was in New England and able to visit. On my following visits my wife Dinah was always with me, and what a joy it was for us to come to the home and to the Church – a highlight of my visits to America was to come to Woonsocket. Ten years may not be as long a time as most of you dear people who gathered at the memorial service to celebrate his life and ministry, but sufficient time and visits through those years to endear him to my heart as a beloved brother and faithful servant of Christ. Who could forget that infectious smile of his, his cheery heart, and spiritual disposition? Times with Carl were always refreshing and edifying.

Yes, Carl Guiney was a true servant of Jesus Christ, and a faithful pastor who established a worthy testimony in Woonsocket – and for 45 years gave himself sacrificially and devotedly to the work God had called him to. He was fervent in spirit, and I admired his uncompromising stand for, and defense of, the Truth of the Gospel. He was deeply and rightly concerned with certain of the modern trends, in doctrine and practice, which have adversely affected our Pentecostal movements, taking us away from our roots. He was prepared to stand up and be counted on these issues. He sought not praise or patronage, but to please his Lord and Master to whom he knew he would ultimately be accountable. In my times of personal fellowship with him I felt something of his heart for God, for the church. And how he loved to discuss the great themes of the Bible!

Pastor Carl Guiney was a man of unquestioned integrity and uprightness, humble and selfless, loving and caring, and ever seeking to be a blessing to others. He became a dear friend to us, and being with him was always a great encouragement to me. He was always uplifting and cheering to be with. While in these more recent times he had his own physical difficulties, he was still a great blessing to be with. He was uncomplaining and uncritical, committing all things to the one whom he served with diligence and distinction. He loved the Lord Jesus with all of his heart, and he loved the Word of God. He loved to hear it preached faithfully and without compromise. He lived his life with distinction for the Master. Those who knew Carl will thank God for him, because our lives were greatly blessed and influenced by him for good. I expressed it to Faith that we wished we could have been living a little nearer to visit with him during his difficult days.

I was not able to attend the memorial service, but Dinah and I send our warmest love and condolences to you Faith, and your lovely family who also embraced us as part of it. We assure you of our prayers. Your own and greatest consolation, of course, is in knowing that Carl is with Christ. For him, nothing has ever been so sweet, so precious, so rewarding, so awesome, and so welcome. The Apostle Paul sums it up for Carl – and for each of us as believers, in Philippians 1:21-23:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet I do not know what I shall choose. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…

That is the present state of those who "with Christ," – he has never been more alive to eternal realities and rapturous communion with his Lord. He now relishes the ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, once anticipated but now enviously realised. And thank God for the hope we possess of a glorious Day soon to dawn when all things in Christ will be consummated, and all the redeemed will be together forever. May we ever be true!

Thanking God for Pastor Carl Guiney.

Pastor Aeron and Dinah Morgan
Queensland, Australia
* Posted with permission

Dad's Obituary

2011-05-26T10:58:00.007-04:00

Rev. Carl E. Guiney, 69, of Harris Avenue died Friday, April 29, 2011, at home surrounded by his family.

He was the husband of Faith E. (Shepherd) Guiney whom he married June 29, 1968. Born in Lafayette, Ind., he was the son of the late Earl E. and Kathryn E. (Turner) Guiney. Rev. Guiney was a 1964 graduate of Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo. He was an accomplished pianist and during his college years he was a member of the Revivaltime Radio Choir and was the manager and accompanist for the Messengers Quartet.

Rev. Guiney moved to Woonsocket in 1964 at the age of 22 to become the founding pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Woonsocket where he ministered for 45 years. In addition to his role as pastor, he held leadership positions within the Assemblies of God organization and served 15 years as an Assembly of God official for Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts. He shared his musical gifts at area churches by playing the piano at many special events throughout his ministry.

Continuing reading...

See the article elsewhere:

Lafayette Journal & Courier

The Woonsocket Call

Holt Funeral Home (obituary, photos and condolences)

See some comments from a couple of others:

Bob Baril

Rob "Jonas" Woods

Memorial Service

2011-05-14T10:29:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, May 7 we had a public memorial service for Dad at the church he founded more than 45 years ago. This was a special time for the people from the church Dad founded to share their memories of Dad as their pastor and friend.

The service ended with an excerpt from this sermon of Dad's, and the congregation joining in singing Never Give Up by Fanny Crosby (led by Dad in the recording). Hearing his voice out of the church speakers made it feel like he was there.

Dad will be missed, but we know that while he is not in his body, he lives on eternally in heaven. His race is complete. His suffering has ended. He has entered into God's splendor.

Dad's Funeral

2011-05-13T06:00:00.005-04:00

On Friday, May 6 we gathered to remember and celebrate Dad's life. There was a small group of us--our immediate family, Dad's brothers and cousins, Dad's pastor friends and a few others. It was an intimate gathering where we focused on remembering Dad as a friend and a part of the Guiney family.

Dad was buried in a historic cemetery in Woonsocket. He's within view of the first mayor of the city.

The whole day was special, and the weather was particularly nice--cool and sunny. Everything was in bloom. These were the kinds of days Dad enjoyed.

Passing of Significant Events

2011-05-01T10:04:00.005-04:00

This weekend has had some significant events–a royal wedding, the death of Osama Bin Laden. But, far from the international and national headlines, our family also experienced an event of significance.

At 7:30pm on April 29 our grandfather, father, husband and friend Carl Guiney, passed away three years after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Throughout the day, we spent time sharing memories and praying with him and singing old songs he knows. Dad was with mom and all his children (one via skype) when he passed on to eternity. As we prayed with my dad during his final day and final minutes, I imagined Jesus sitting by his bed, comforting him and inviting him home to heaven.

We are still processing, and I imagine that we will be processing this for quite some time.

He was only given 12-18 months to live when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. Hearing the diagnosis was devastating. Dad encouraged us always to trust God, trust in his will, trust in his timing. God is his providence knew the journey ahead. Dad lived 3 years–he was in the 1% that live beyond the usual 12-18 time frame. Dad was right, God has been teaching us a lot about trusting in him through this whole experience.

Dad turns 69

2011-02-18T21:29:00.003-05:00

Today, Dad turned 69 years old. We had a family celebration with him. Dad was eager to get some cherries from his cake :) --you can see the missing cherries from the top of the cake in the pictures. A pile of birthday cards came to the house. Mom showed and read every one to Dad.

Tomorrow, we celebrate again with several others...with another cake...and more ice cream. No one is more deserving of two cakes!

Grandpa Celebrates with Ben

2010-12-04T21:36:00.002-05:00

Ben had his birthday, and we're thankful for another birthday that Grandpa could be around to celebrate with him.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T07:50:00.002-05:00

Dad was here for another Thanksgiving. He is usually not able to talk much, but we asked him to pray before the meal. In his prayer he said he was thankful for another year that he could share Thanksgiving with his family.

How Can You Help? (Part IV)

2010-11-03T06:01:00.002-04:00

Influence

When a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness they usually seek the council of a committee of care on their health care decisions. Usually this group comes together rather informally. It often includes the patient themselves, their spouse and/or other members of their nuclear family (one of whom usually serves as the Primary Care Giver (PCG)), doctors and other health care professionals, and sometimes close friends. This group could include as many as 10 or more people who help the patient grapple with everything from the scientific to the spiritual during this journey.

The group often studies the illness and the treatment options, and together they develop a sort of expert knowledge. They equip themselves to advocate for the patient, so that they can ask questions of health care providers, and they can help the patient understand all their options.

These are the decision makers, but they and the patient also need help from time to time as they struggle through issues. Individuals in this group may also need additional help thinking through other issues in their lives. The pressures of engaging with someone with a terminal illness can affect a wide variety of other areas of a person’s life. Their work, relationships, and daily life may all suffer in some way because of the emotional trauma of the illness or the time they have put into care for the patient.

You can help by being an influencer. Positive influencers do not manipulate, control or use force. Instead they are marked by their ability to listen and ask meaningful questions to help those who they are talking to think through issues and reach conclusions on their own. Their advice is given with gentleness and respect, and usually is shared by invitation.

As an influencer, you can help by asking meaningful questions that help the committee of care or the patient, the PCG or other loved ones think. These questions may challenge them to think about an issue in a different way, “Have you thought about __________________?” They might bring out the feelings of others, “How will that make _________ feel?” They may also help a person think through the consequences of their decision: “What are the long-term implications of that decision? Who will it affect? Why is this a priority?” They may encourage each person to think about how they are caring for themselves, “How have you been renewing yourself? When did you last take a break?”

It can sometimes be easier to look in from the outside, point out what is wrong, and deliver solutions for how to fix the problems. However, what the patient, PCG and their loved ones are experiencing is outside what others have experienced especially if you've never engaged in any way with terminal illness. When we judge and force solutions to fix problems that we perceive, we can build walls that over time can damage our relationships and destroy trust.

Influencers take a different approach. They help people think on their own. They may come away dissatisfied with the person’s choice. However, a good influencer knows when to pull back, and they aren’t afraid to let others make decisions that they don’t like.

An influencer that has built the trust of the committee of care can be a valuable asset in helping with care decisions. An influencer can also be a positive support to the patient, PCG and other loved ones in other areas of their lives that need special attention. It’s not an easy role, but it can be tremendously helpful.

Go to the blog archive on the right side or to older posts on the bottom of the page to go back and read about our father's journey with brain cancer.

How Can You Help? (Part III)

2010-11-01T06:01:00.001-04:00

Giving

Terminal illnesses can bring a unique financial strain on a family. Health care costs can be high, and the care of the patient may keep the Primary Care Giver (PCG) from being able to work full-time. Other unexpected expenses can arise like travel expenses for visits to other health care facilities.

Sometimes a cash gift is appropriate. Your willingness to give generally to the family or to give towards specific health care expenses can meet immediate financial needs.

However, often gifts in kind show your care in a deeper way. Consider the following:

Provision of daily needs. Buy groceries, or cover the expenses of lawn care or a house-cleaning services. This can help a family keep up with daily activities.
Gifts for special occasions (Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries). A family may not have time to get these gifts themselves, so these can be particularly meaningful.
Provision of rest and relaxation. Loved ones, especially the PCG, need help finding opportunities to rest and relax. A PCG may find it hard to take a break given the daily needs of the patient. The provision of a vacation, or anything else that promotes rest, can recharge the PCG and other loved ones as they continue to care for the patient.

How else could you give?

Go to the blog archive on the right side or to older posts on the bottom of the page to go back and read about our father's journey with brain cancer.

How Can You Help? (Part II)

2010-10-30T06:01:00.000-04:00

Encouragement

The continual strain of a terminal illness that persists can cause periods of great discouragement to the patient, the Primary Care Giver (PCG) and other loved ones. You can provide encouragement to them when they need it the most.

Encouragement can come in many forms. Here are some suggestions for ways that you can help as an encourager:

Words of encouragement. Words do matter. Our words can lift up or cause harm. Your words can be tools of encouragement. Avoid platitudes and cliches that may seem encouraging on the surface. We've all done it. "God knows." "It will be OK." "God will provide." These statements are based in truth, and our intentions when we say things like this are usually good. However, when someone is facing the trauma of a terminal illness, these statements fall flat. We often say these things because we don't know what to say. Instead of platitudes, plainly just let them know that you’ve thought of them or prayed for them. You can do it in a card or tell them in person. Or choose to share other words that are genuine and thoughtful.
Prayers of encouragement. Prayer can be a powerful expression of faith that can help a patient, PCG and their loved ones through their difficulties. Sometimes our tendency might be to focus our prayers on the patient's healing. God can do the miraculous. He can bring a terminally ill patient to complete recovery, but he doesn't always heal. Sometimes this focus on prayers for healing can come at the cost of praying for what a patient and family need from God in that moment. When you pray, consider asking the patient and the family how you can best pray for them, instead of instantly focusing your prayers on healing.
Actions of encouragement. Practical good deeds are very helpful. Always start by asking the family what they need. Here are some suggestions of practical ways to help: bring a meal, take the PCG or other family members out shopping or out to dinner, offer to sit with the patient so that the PCG can go out or take care of other things in the house, help with household chores, and if you are comfortable and able, offer to assist the PCG with some of their care for the patient (feeding, bathing, etc).

Go to the blog archive on the right side or to older posts on the bottom of the page to go back and read about our father's journey with brain cancer.

How Can You Help? (Part I)

2010-10-29T06:50:00.016-04:00

If you’ve been following this blog or have reviewed it’s previous posts, you will be aware of my father’s journey with brain cancer. His diagnosis was in 2008, and he’s lived more than two years since his diagnosis. His life, and our lives, have all changed as his illness has brought about a new normal.

Along the way, people have asked how they could help, and many people have been very helpful to us. However, I also know that some people want to help and don't know how especially as an illness like this progresses over a long period of time. I know because I've been one of those people.

I’ve decided to provide a little insight into how to help families in this situation based on our experience. This is really less for us and more for those who may struggle with this in the future. This will be the first of what will probably be several posts on this subject.

Some background:

Terminal illnesses persist beyond the first shock of the diagnosis. Long after the initial show of support, the patient and their closest loved ones are still struggling with the effects of the illness. The death of a loved one that occurs as a result of age might be expected or anticipated. The instant death that might occur in an accident, while shocking, allows for a more immediate closure. Terminal illnesses, whether the patient survives it or dies from it, threaten possible death, sometimes daily, over a long period of time until the patient recovers or passes away.
The patient and their loved ones all suffer as a result of the illness. While the patient might feel the physical effects of the illness most, the Primary Care Giver (PCG) has to provide greater care for them. That greater care creates a new daily schedule around the patient's needs, stretches the PCG emotionally, and challenges them physically. They along with other family members and close friends may also struggle with feeling overwhelmed, isolated, lonely, drained, exhausted, and numb.

I'll start with something easy or maybe obvious; however, this is probably the most important way you can support a patient and their family and close friends.

Empathy.

Empathy is the most important way to support a patient, PCG and family and friends connected to the patient. When you identify with the feelings of one or more in this group, you validate their emotions, and you help them not to feel alone or isolated.

This might take several forms. One way to show empathy is to listen without providing solutions and without judgment. Let the patient, PCG or others vent and express their feelings. Try to imagine yourself in their situation as best you can, recognizing that you will not be able to fully understand everything they are expressing and feeling. However, you can validate their feelings by listening and providing empathetic feedback like "That would be hard." "I'm so sorry you're going through this." "That would make me sad as well."

It can be very difficult to maintain steady emotions through a terminal illness. The natural hills and valleys that accompany the illness can put the emotions of the patient, PCG and other loved ones in a continual roller-coaster. They will often cycle through the stages of grief continually until the illness is resolved. These emotions can sometimes be intense, but as you are able, you can help further by sharing in some of these emotions. Cry with them. Laugh with them. Share moments of contentment. Sharing in this way helps with healing.

These simple acts of empathy show solidarity with those going through the pain of a terminal illness. As you put yourself in their place and seek to understand their thoughts and feelings, you can have a positive impact, and you might learn something in the process that may change you.

Go to the blog archive on the right side or to older posts on the bottom of the page to go back and read about our father's journey with brain cancer.

New Tumor Growth

2010-10-18T20:26:00.002-04:00

Dad recently had another MRI. The doctor's have noticed some new tumor growth. What they noted with interest, though, was that it is not currently characterized by the rapid growth typical of the type of brain cancer that dad has. They would have expected this new growth to have been larger, however, to this point it is very small.

Restarting treatment was considered, but because of Dad's current health, everyone decided it would be best not to do that.

Church says goodbye

2010-08-06T08:48:00.008-04:00

One of the local newspapers ran a story on Mom & Dad's retirement from First Assembly of God in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. You may enjoy reading it. An excerpt and link to the whole article are below.

After a half century, Woonsocket church says goodbye to pastor who spent his life building it
By AUDRA CLARK, Valley Breeze Staff Writer
WOONSOCKET - Carl Guiney, the founder of the First Assembly of God Church on Mendon Road, who retired last year, first came to the city in 1964 from his hometown of Lafayette, Ind., because, he says, he felt Woonsocket was where God wanted him to be.
Faith Guiney, the pastor's wife, sat beside him, her hand periodically grasping his hand or knee as she told her husband's story. Pastor Guiney was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2008 and now passes his days at home with his family, but often finds it too difficult to speak.
Read more

Retirement Dinner

2010-06-14T09:41:00.004-04:00

Friends and family gathered to celebrate the 45 (Dad) and 41 (Mom) years our parents served First Assembly of God in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Sunday evening, June 13. Enjoy these photos of the event.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T00:44:00.002-04:00

A new challenge

2010-03-17T21:47:00.003-04:00

Dad had another trip to Dana Farber hospital. They discovered a blocked vein in his leg. It probably developed over a long period of time but has been made worse in the last few months because he has been very inactive. It's a fairly serious issue because if a piece of the clot breaks off, it could go to his lungs or heart. Pray for God to give my parents wisdom regarding this new health issue.

Remaining Stable

2010-02-06T10:15:00.002-05:00

My dad's been receiving therapy from several therapist over the last few weeks. The requirement for on-going therapy is that the patient shows continual improvement. Therapists do tests periodically to see if this is happening. At first my dad did show some improvement, but he got the flu in the midst of his therapy and his progress slowed and may even have gone a little backwards. Two of the therapists have decided to complete their time with my dad because he appears to be remaining stable and not showing continuous improvement. His physical therapy will continue. With some of his therapy coming to an end, it's hard to know what the future will look like. When he's completely recovered from the flu will he be able to show improvement again? We just don't know.

What we do know is that Dad is still doing much better than he was a few months ago. He's more mobile, and he's able to communicate better. The Lord knows what's next for him.

Brain Tumor Appears to be Gone

2009-12-23T01:24:00.019-05:00

My dad went to see his brain cancer specialist at Dana Farber yesterday. He had an MRI of his brain, and the report from the doctors was that it appears there is no visible cancer in his brain anymore. There could still be some cancer cells, but the portion of the tumor that he still had in his brain since his surgery in June of 2008 appears to be gone. This was not the expected course--my dad has been without treatment for almost four months. The doctor was surprised and very pleased with the results.

The MRI also revealed that an area of my dad's brain has been damaged probably by one of the treatments he received. However, the doctor was optimistic with the recovery that my dad is already making, and he thought with therapy that my dad could recover some or much of the cognitive abilities that he's lost.

My dad's care will be switching from hospice to palliative. My family will still be receiving help caring for my dad from visiting nurses and a home health aide, except the care will be focused on recovery instead of end of life. He will now have access to additional services from therapists who will work with him on improving his physical and mental abilities.

There's still the strong possibility that his cancer could recur because that has been the typical pattern for this type of cancer, but his current recovery is outside of expectations. Who knows what the Lord may do. What we know now is that we have more time with my dad than we thought. We are praying that he is in fact able to recover, maybe even completely. That would be an amazing miracle!

We had been watching Robert Novak and Senator Kennedy with interest because they both were diagnosed with the same kind of cancer as my dad. They were both diagnosed around the same time as my dad. According to what we saw in the news, my dad was receiving the same kinds of treatments that they were. My dad has now outlived both of them. According to statistics from UCLA's neuro-oncology department the median survival for 98% of patients in my dad's age range with his kind of cancer that have tumor removal surgery and treatment is about 15 months (475.22 days). My dad has lived for 547 days (roughly 18 months)...and is recovering.

Thank you for your on-going prayers. Please join us in praying for my dad's time in therapy that it will be effective and that he will recover many of the abilities that he's lost.

Progress!

2009-12-15T11:32:00.007-05:00

Dad's been continuing to show improvements. This is contrary to the typical path of his illness. Two months ago, he wasn't able to feed himself and had gotten to the point where he could not leave his bed. The decline was steady for about 6 weeks, but for a reason we don't understand his condition seems to have turned around.

Improvements in the last week:

With some help Dad walked up two flights of stairs.
With some help Dad walked from the church sanctuary, out the door, and down a hill to the car.
He's feeding himself all of his meal and talking and expressing himself more.
In October we were only able to get him to play one chord on the piano. Yesterday, Dad played a song for the first time in months. You can see how Dad used to play here.

What's going on? We really don't know, but we are all thankful for every moment we have with Dad. The doctor's are intrigued with his case, and they have scheduled an MRI on December 22. We'll keep you posted with an update after that appointment.

He's now been without any treatment for his brain tumor for several months.

A Christmas Greeting

2009-11-30T13:23:00.005-05:00

Dad with his grandchildren, Grace and Aaron, in front of the recently decorated Christmas tree.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T10:32:00.002-05:00

My parents enjoyed Thanksgiving at home with some friends and had a morning visit from my dad's cousins--Patti & Steve. Dad continues to show improvements each day.

Going on an adventure

2009-11-22T07:39:00.009-05:00

We took my father-in-law on a little trip to see the RI MA CT corner marker. It is one of his hobbies. Today, we made it happen! Well, mostly... :) We saw the CT and MA marker. The three-corner marker was too difficult to get too. What an adventure!

Carl used straps to pull his dad a lot of the way. He would pull, and Ashley and I pushed and balanced.

It was muddy!

This was not easy with the wheelchair, but we did it!

Woohoo!

-Jess

Some improvements

2009-11-15T09:38:00.005-05:00

Since I left Dad has been improving--not what we expected at all. For the last couple of weeks, he's been talking more, then he started feeding himself and standing up, and yesterday he walked a short distance with almost no assistance. It's actually been quite amazing. My mom says that he almost seems to be back to where he was more than two months ago. His improvement may be in part because he no longer has the Avastin treatment in him, and that had been quite rough on his body. It's God's blessing, none the less.

I've been able to talk with him on the phone, and he's been more conversational. We're glad to have a little more time with a little more of my Dad. The improvements also make it a little easier to care for him.

Saying Good-bye

2009-10-28T09:58:00.003-04:00

I said good-bye to my dad. It's one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I don't know if I'll see him again in this life or not. He gave me a smile, but he wasn't able to say much. I had to put his arms around me in order to get a hug. My departure came up fast, but I'm glad that I've had this time to spend with my dad and my family.

Day to Day

2009-10-27T20:07:00.005-04:00

For now, we've chosen to care for Dad at home. Mom's sick-time accumulates each year, and after several years of not using much of that time, she has months of time reserved that she is using now to care for Dad. It's one of those blessings that God gave us. And, it really has been great for Dad to be at home, able to see his wife, his children and his grandchildren everyday.

While Mom is Dad's primary care giver, Dad's care requires all of our help plus the regular help of the home health aide and nurses that come. Dad can't move without the assistance of two people (or my brother to carry him). Eating, bathing, dressing...everything requires some assistance. It takes four adults to carry him if we decide to take him out anywhere.

It's a lot of work, but it comes with blessings. Each night my brother's kids come to say goodnight to my Dad. They usually give him a hug and tell them they love him. On good nights my Dad will tell him that he loves them or say good night or at least smile. That gets them excited.

All of us wait each day for those moments when Dad is more alert and communicates more. Some days he isn't able to talk, but other days he unexpectedly comes out with a joke. You can't help but be happy in those moments.

What is most difficult is seeing my Dad now and remembering how he was. Sometimes you can get so used to how he is now that you can almost forget who he's been. And when we remember, we can't help but grieve for the parts of Dad that we don't see anymore or the things about him that we don't see as often. I told Dad just the other day how much I miss just having a long conversation with him. It's really difficult for him to do that anymore.

Please continue to pray for us.

A special delivery

2009-10-26T20:56:00.003-04:00

Dad came home today after a brief stay at the in-patient center of his new hospice care provider. It was quite an entrance. He came via ambulance. When he arrived at the house my neice and nephew ran out of the house shouting, "Grampa's home! Grampa's home!" Dad mustered up a broad smile for them. The squealing continued as the EMTs took him up to his room. The EMTs thought that Dad had an especially good welcome back home.

Dad's been being cared for at home by all of us and a special hospice health-care service. The service provides daily visits from a home health aide and periodic visits by nurses. After our visit to Dana Farber in Boston, we decided it was time to change the service to a new one. The day the new nurses came, they saw that my dad still had thrush mouth. They recommended that we take him to their impatient center so they could treat it more thoroughly. Their in-patient center was beautiful, but we were also all glad to have Dad home.

Dana Farber Trip

2009-10-22T15:11:00.005-04:00

It's been a rollercoaster week. We decided to take a trip to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for Dad to have a follow up appointment with his Brain Cancer doctor. We felt that Dad's doctor could give us a clearer picture of Dad's health right now.

Getting Dad up there was an adventure. We carried him in a sheet from his bedroom out to the car. It's about an hour drive to Boston from where my parents live, but we ran into lots of traffic on the way up. We arrived late to the appointment.

Many people in the waiting room had masks on in order to prevent the spread of the flu or other illnesses. We had a good meeting with the doctor. While Dad's health is declining some from his brain tumor, the picture, while still not great because Dad isn't able to participate in any more treatment, wasn't as dire as we had previously thought. We also had a good opportunity to talk about what kinds of on-going care Dad needs. His cancer doctor will be taking over managing his hospice care.

Carrying Dad to church

2009-10-19T15:21:00.003-04:00

We were able to get Dad to church again on Sunday. Last week we didn't take him because he was in too much pain and discomfort with thrush mouth. The picture shows us getting dad into his chair after carrying him up the stairs in the sheet.

It's a process getting him out of the house these days, but it's great to get him out whenever we can. He especially enjoys seeing everyone at church.

More Visitors

2009-10-14T17:04:00.003-04:00

We've had many visitors come to see my dad. John and Philomena was one couple from the church that came this week. Dad's still sharp even though it's harder for him to communicate. He knows everyone who calls and visits by name. He was able to get out, "Hi, John and Philomena" and when they asked how he was doing, he responded as he always has, "I'm fine, thank you."

Poor dad has been dealing with a thrush mouth infection this week. It's been very difficult for him to close his mouth because his lips, tongue and all inside of his mouth is swollen. His throat seems to also be effected, so it's been difficult for him to swallow. Mom's been treating it with an anti-fungal treatment. Pray that it heals quickly.

Paul comes for a visit

2009-10-07T10:59:00.001-04:00

Dad's brother Paul came in for a short visit. He's just a little younger than Dad. We enjoyed our visit with him. Last night we all sang old songs around the piano with him. Ashley played the piano for us. My dad wasn't downstairs to join us, but I'm sure he could here us all.

A Good Laugh

2009-10-06T14:13:00.000-04:00

Dad's friend, Don and June Evans, came for a visit. They pastor a church in Connecticut, but have known my dad since long before they started working at that church. Pastor Evans is a great story teller and very funny. My dad was laughing at Pastor Evans' funny stories.

At Church

2009-10-04T17:19:00.004-04:00

Last week Dad was in the hospital. This week we weren't sure if we would be able to take him to church because he's not very mobile. We found a way to get him out of his room and to the car. Four of us carried him in a sheet--it was an adventure.

It took a while for us to get him ready, so we arrived at church late. He got a standing ovation when he came him--it was a warm welcome from friends. Dad enjoyed visiting with everyone.

He was able to eat lunch downstairs at the table with all of us. We sang the doxology before eating, and he was able to sing some along with us. See the white sheet behind him? We used it to get him into the house and into the wheelchair--and then we used it to take him upstairs to his room.

In the Company of Friends

2009-09-28T20:17:00.003-04:00

Dad's back at home, and he's been enjoying visits and phone calls from friends and family. He often doesn't have the energy to talk or interact much, but both he and my mom enjoy the company and the words of encouragement.

My parents are currently living with my brother and his family. It gives my mom the extra help she needs taking care of my dad, and my dad can enjoy the company of my brother and his family. My sister is here, too, and I've just come in from Kenya. Now we're all here.

Trip to Indiana

2009-08-16T20:12:00.001-04:00

We're preparing for a trip to Indiana with Dad to visit with his family, and he'd like to visit a few other family landmarks.

New Treatment

2009-08-01T20:07:00.002-04:00

The doctor is recommending a new treatment called Avastin. Dad's platelet count is too low for any of the other treatment options. He will receive this treatment every two weeks by intravenous. It's a fairly new treatment for cancer, but we're hoping for responsiveness to it.

Back Home

2009-07-18T19:42:00.000-04:00

My dad went home today. Some nurses and physical therapists are going to come to the house over the next few weeks. My mom says that he is doing much better.

-Heather

In the Hospital

2009-07-08T10:00:00.004-04:00

I got an update from my mom while I was traveling in West Africa. My dad suffered a seizure, and has been in the hospital ever since. He's currently going through rehabilitation working with several therapists.

The seizure seems to be an indicator that his tumor has begun to grow again. If it has, then this also means the treatment he is currently on is no longer working.

He and my mom have just connected with a new doctor at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute in Boston. When my dad is well enough, the doctor there is recommending some possible new treatments.

-Heather

Still no changes

2009-06-09T10:08:00.001-04:00

The latest MRI still shows no changes in the size of the tumor. The treatment my dad is receiving still seems to be keeping the tumor from growing.

-Heather

Ashley's Graduation

2009-05-25T08:03:00.003-04:00

When we first found out that Dad was sick, Ashley consider taking some time out of college. Dad's encouragement brought her back to complete her last year.

Dad was able to be there for her graduation. Although, he wasn't quite himself. We found out later that during that trip he was having a bad reaction to some seizure medication. In any case, we were glad he was able to be there.

New MRI--No Changes

2009-03-26T14:06:00.000-04:00

My dad had another MRI this past week to check on his brain tumor. My parents received good news from one of his doctors. There has been no enlargement of the tumor since his last MRI in January.

Thanks for your continued prayers!

-Heather

So Far So Good

2009-01-12T14:04:00.001-05:00

My dad had another MRI of his brain this past week. It was a more extensive one--they injected dye into him in order to have a clearer picture of what cancer remains. The report from his oncologist after reviewing this latest MRI was that things look very good. He is continuing with oral chemo treatments, as this treatment seems to be effectively fighting the cancer that remains. The good report gives us some peace of mind as we prepare to leave for Kenya.

Below is a video clip of some of his remarks from the Christmas service at the church where he continues to serve as senior pastor.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for my father's health.

-Heather

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-27T08:40:00.001-05:00

It's our first Thanksgiving since Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. We spent it together with my mom's side of the family. It's good to have Dad around.

Tumor Shrinking

2008-11-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

We had some good news from my dad's doctor. The newest MRI of my dad's brain showed that what remains of his brain tumor is shrinking. The radiation this summer and his on-going chemo is working. This was exciting news! However, we've been cautioned to remember that the tumor is still there and that this type of cancer is aggressive and can be unpredictable. Please continue to pray for his complete healing.

-Heather

Indiana Family

2008-10-13T13:57:00.000-04:00

I've been enjoying a wonderful, all-be-it short, visit in Indiana with my dad, mom and sister. My dad grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, and he still has friends and family here. Today, we got together with many of them. We had a great visit. He shared with them about being diagnosed with brain cancer this past summer and how God has been acting since the diagnosis. It was great to be able to visit with everyone! See pictures of some of the people we saw and hear a few clips from what Dad had to say to everyone in the movie above.

-Heather

Driving Again

2008-10-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

We received some good news from one my dad's doctors. The neurologist that told him that he should not drive, gave him to OK to drive again. After an EEG, the neurologist felt that my dad is not currently at risk for having a seizure and is well enough to drive. This is great news, and a good sign. Being able to drive means that he can return completely to his regular routines.

In a couple of weeks he will begin a dosage of chemo that will be twice what he was taking previously. However, instead of taking chemo pills everyday, he will only be taking them for 5-days per month. While people taking this form of oral chemo do not experience as many negative side-effects as those who take forms of chemo intravenously, there are still some side-effects like nausea and tiredness. Please pray that these side-effects will be minimal, and please continue to pray that the treatment he is receiving will be effective in eliminating his cancer.

Thanks again for your prayers for us.

-Heather

Only One Radiation Treatment Left

2008-08-30T13:55:00.000-04:00

My dad has nearly completed all of his radiation treatments. He's been going 5 days a week for the last several weeks. His last treatment will be on Tuesday. He's been taking chemo orally every day. He usually takes five pills. They are all the same medication, but the pills are only available in certain milligrams, so to get the amount he needs, he has to take a few pills of different milligram amounts. He'll be getting a break from chemo, too. He gets two full weeks off, and then he starts back up again but with a reduced frequency.

The doctors have told my parents that my dad is doing well so far. That's good news. They seem to be pleased with his progress, although we don't yet know the final result of the treatment. The doctors have said that the radiation treatment will continue to attack the tumor for a while after he is done having treatments. Therefore, they like to wait about two months to do the follow up MRI. Dad's follow up appointment and MRI will be in November...another long wait.

We are so thankful for your prayers! Please continue to pray that what remains of his tumor will shrink.

-Heather

Chemo & Radiation Started Today

2008-07-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

My dad started chemo and radiation treatments on Monday to address the small piece of the tumor that remains in his brain. So far, so good.

Neither of these treatments require an overnight hospital stay. His radiation therapy, called IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), lasts about 10 minutes. It's done in the radiologists office and will be done every weekday for six weeks. He's taking an oral chemo (temozolomide) every evening at home. So far, he's not had any ill effects from that either.

Please pray that these treatments will be effective in shrinking and eliminating what remains of the tumor.

-Heather

God's Providence

2008-07-14T13:49:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday we drove up to Woonsocket to hear my dad preach his first sermon since his brain surgery on June 24. He's already been playing the piano at services since the first Sunday after his surgery. His sermon was on God's providence. His text was from Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, and he used these passages as background for his testimony of God's providence in his life during the last month. He shared all the instances of God's intervention to literally save his life including having extraordinary access to doctors without advanced appointments.

Listen to his sermon in the video below (it's the audio with a few accompanying pictures). Some highlights:

At about minute 21, he begins to share about what happened during this last month.
At about minute 51, he shares a funny song.

The service ended with us singing an old song--Never Give Up by Fanny Crosby. Here are the lyrics:

(Verse 1) Never be sad or desponding,

Only have faith to believe;

Grace, for the duties before thee,

Ask of thy God and receive.

(Verse 2) What if thy burdens oppress thee?

What tho' thy life may be drear?

Look on the side that is brightest,

Pray, and thy path will be clear.

(Verse 3) Never be sad or desponding,

Lean on the arm of thy Lord;

Dwell in the depths of His mercy,

Thou shalt receive thy reward.

(Chorus) Never give up, Never give up,

Never give up to thy sorrows,

Jesus will bid them depart;

Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord,

Sing when your trials are greatest,

Trust in the Lord and take heart.

When we got home, Dad was commenting on how normal the day was, and how good that felt. He's doing amazingly well since his surgery.

We know your prayers have made a difference.

-Heather

Happy Independence Day

2008-07-05T08:18:00.000-04:00

It's been about a week since Dad came home from the hospital after his surgery. That made it a special July 4, and we were glad we could spend it together.

Dad's Home

2008-06-27T13:42:00.003-04:00

My dad was discharged from Rhode Island hospital yesterday. The staff working with him have said that he is doing extremely well. It's amazing to see him being so...normal after just having brain surgery. He's been very talkative and seems to have more energy than he did before the surgery. When we got home, the first thing he did was play the piano. He can still do it. Amazing. View the video, and you can see him playing.

In the evening we all visited with our cousins. We had a great time of fellowship with them, and Dad enjoyed the company. Our cousin Steve's mom and my Dad's dad were brother and sister, so my dad was reminiscing about them and telling us some stories. Dad just got copies of two old photos from one of his old Sunday school teachers. Steve's mom was in one of them, so my dad got to show Steve the photo.

Yesterday was also the first time my dad heard the prognosis. We had heard just after the surgery, but wanted to wait until the doctor could see Dad with us to share the news with him. My dad has brain cancer. Soon he will begin chemo and radiation therapy. One good thing about the chemo is that he'll be able to take it orally, and it won't have some of the negative side effects that other types of chemo have--no tiredness or upset stomach.

So how are we all doing? Well, when we all first heard, it was awful and upsetting. We had hoped not to be going through this. The time up until we told my dad was the hardest, but my dad has processed this all really well. That has made a big difference. We know that God is faithful, and no matter what, He promises to work everything together for good.

Thanks so much for your love, prayers and support.

-Heather

Report After the Surgery

2008-06-25T13:39:00.001-04:00

We had a long day yesterday. My dad's surgery began late (at about 1:30pm), and lasted about 5 hours. We all waited at the hospital all day. My sister just had her wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, and she was well enough to be there, too. It was amazing how we felt the Lord's peace. My dad felt it as well, and he was totally calm before the surgery.

We found out just before the surgery (after the doctor reviewed a new MRI) that part of the tumor was wrapped around my dad's optic nerve. There was an added risk on top of the other risks that my dad could lose his sight.

Well, we were able to see dad at about 8pm, and he was doing really well. The doctor and nurses also said that he did really well in the surgery. He was completely himself, and there seems to have been no ill effects from the surgery. We are so thankful! Dad told us that he felt better than he's felt in years--another thing to thank God for.

Yesterday was a long day, and we were all exhausted. My dad's youngest brother was able to be here with us from Indiana, and early this morning I took him to the airport. So, we had a busy morning as well.

My dad will be coming home in 2-3 days. He's now out of the ICU. The doctors did another MRI this morning to see what of the tumor remains, and the tumor has been sent to be analyzed.

We'll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks so much for your expressions of concern and your prayers. It means so much to us!

-Heather

Prayer Requests for Today

2008-06-24T13:30:00.000-04:00

My dad's surgery will be today at 10:30 am. If all goes well, it will last about 2 hours. My parents have been so blessed in the last few days with so many phone calls and visits from people who have been touching base with them and letting them know that they are praying.

Here are a few prayer requests for today:

Pray for my parents to feel Jesus's presense with them today in a special way.
Pray that we will all feel the Lord's peace and comfort, and that He would free us from any anxiety.
Pray that God would give an extra measure of wisdom to the doctors and nurses who will be working on and caring for my dad.
Pray that God will guide the hands of the surgeon enabling him to remove the whole tumor without disturbing any other parts of my dad's brain.
Pray that God will protect my dad from potential complications and infections.
Pray that God will restore my dad's brain and his body after the surgery.

We are so thankful for your prayers. Only God knows what the outcome will be, but we are trusting the Lord to give us the strength for whatever is coming.

-Heather

A Day Together

2008-06-23T13:25:00.004-04:00

We have about three days until my dad's brain surgery. My dad's youngest brother arrived yesterday from Indiana and is here until after the surgery. So, we decided to spend some time together. The property around the temporary home where my husband and I are living is beautiful, and it's so peaceful here. Everyone came out here to visit and have a cook out. My brother's kids enjoyed swinging on the tire swing and taking a ride on the golf cart.

We had kind of a collection of food--hamburgers, potato salad and chips AND tacos, rice, beans, guacamole and corn chips. All things we thought that Dad would like. While preparing the food, I burned my fingers. Now, I didn't do that in the way you would think...it was from cutting a hot jalapeno pepper without any gloves on. I was walking around for part of the day with my hand in a glass of milk. It's still burning.

It was so nice to be able to be together. Dad was really tired and napped periodically, but we were still able to visit. Tonight, he'll be preparing for his sermon on Sunday.

-Heather

Surgery will be Tuesday

2008-06-21T13:15:00.000-04:00

My parents were able to get an appointment with a neurologist sooner than they expected. They met with Dr. Deus Cielo who is a neurosurgeon in Providence. Deus is Latin for God and cielo is Spanish for Heaven. Isn't that interesting? Even that feels like a reminder that God is watching over our situation.

After a series of tests, Dr. Cielo determined that the tumor was too large to be removed with the gamma knife. Part of the tumor is similar to a cyst. He said that it is continuing to grow as it fills with water, so the tumor has to be removed as soon as possible.

Brain surgery to remove the tumor is scheduled for Tuesday at Rhode Island hospital. The surgery can be risky. The tumor will be tested for cancer after it is removed, and after the results are in the doctor will recommend further treatment if it is necessary.

Please continue to pray for my dad and our family.

-Heather

Tumor Found

2008-06-16T13:17:00.003-04:00

My sister is home for the summer after completing her junior year of college. My brother and his family live close by, and our departure for Kenya has been delayed another few months. So, it appears that we'll be together this summer.

We recently found out, after my dad had an MRI, that he has a 1-2 inch egg-shaped tumor in the right temporal lobe of his brain. It gives cause for some anxiety, but we've been assured that brain tumors are far more treatable today than they used to be. They have an appointment set up with a neurologist in a couple of weeks.

Brain tumors can be benign or cancerous. Cancerous tumors vary in severity from slow growing to aggressive. Even benign tumors can be a problem if they are not removed. Advancements in technology have made it possible to remove some types of tumors without invasive surgery. For example, a gamma knife (which actually isn't even a knife) can eliminate a tumor without any incisions, often allowing an individual an extremely quick recovery (one day to one week).

Pray for my dad and pray for our family during time of waiting. Please pray that God will prepare each of us for what's ahead. We don't know much at this point. Our hope would be that this is a benign tumor that a tool like the gamma knife can eliminate quickly and easily. Please pray that God will give the doctors wisdom and clarity as they analyze the tumor and determine the best course of action.

We thank God that the doctors found this, and that we're able to all be together right now.