We need your prayers.

[jinman]

Rick, thanks for the udate. The news is thrilling. and your excitement and joy come through in the words of your post. May God bless Lexi in her continued recovery and continue to surround you and your family in His loving care.

 

[Kelvin]

Rick,

My cable modem has been out of service for a while and I'm just now getting caught up on TBN posts. Accordingly, I was not able to pray for you earlier. But the prayer that I just prayed for you is centered around Philippians 4:7, that you, Lexie, and your family may enjoy "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding".

I experienced this "peace beyond understanding" 4-1/2 years ago when the doctors discovered a 4.5 cm tumor in my leg (where 5.0 cm and larger is classified as the worst / highest stage), and it took them a little over 2 days before they could complete all of the required tests to determine whether the highly aggressive rare cancer (pleomorphic liposacroma) had just started or had reached terminal stages. As strange as it may sound to non-believers, in the midst of this extreme uncertainty, them 2 days of "not knowing" were the most peaceful I have ever experienced in my life.

From your description of how Lexie is handling the situation, it appears that she is experiencing extraordinary peace as well. I will continue to support you in prayer as you have requested.

I am thankful that the moderators have allowed this post to exist, which allows believers to offer their prayful support as well as allowing non-believers to offer their support to a fellow TBN'er.

God Bless,
Kelvin

 

[BradK]

Rick,
I am sorry to hear about Lexie illness. This hits to close to me as I had Hodgkins at 20 still clean at 28. I hope all goes well with the treatments. You have my prayers.

BradK

 

[Rick Jay]

Hi Dick,

I finally got a chance to "relax" a bit and read all the posts regarding our daughter. They are very, very touching and encouraging and I thank everyone for them.

Please make no mistake about it, I thoroughly believe it is the power of God that is helping our daughter and that is where my praise is aimed. I do thank the doctors, nurses, and all those involved who are supporting us through this crisis (including all of you nice folk on TBN). I believe the chemo-therapy is a tool that man has been allowed to refine through the wisdom that comes from the Almighty.

If my post made it sound like I was giving the credit of her miraculous road to recovery to the chemicals that were given to her, I apologize.

Rush Limbaugh has a saying: "Talent on loan from God". I've heard many people take exception to that statement and seem to think of it as an egotistical statement on his part. I believe that everything we do is granted through His Grace. If I have a talent to do something, then I believe I've been given that talent by Him. I extend that to all the doctors and nurses as well.

I will not debate theology with you because, as you cautioned Bird, you are far more qualified. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Plus, we're on the same side of this issues anyway. His side.

The important message that I see throughout all of these posts is that we believe that the power of prayer can work miracles.

I've just witnessed one in my own daughter. By His Will, she will continue her road to recovery.

Thanks again for your prayers.

~Rick

 

[Rick Jay]

Hi All,

Wow...you people are really special. I just read all your posts and am so filled with emotion I can barely see to type this. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support.

Lexi came home from the hospital on Monday, October 20th. She will now continue her chemo treatments mostly on an outpatient basis, several times a week for about 2 years. She is doing amazingly well. Let there be no mistake about it, we believe this small miracle is due to the combined power of prayer of so many wonderful people and by His power. Thank you all.

This afternoon (Friday the 24th), she stopped by her classroom for about 15 minutes to say "Hi!" to her school mates. They really made her feel welcome. The smile on our daughter's face was priceless. We hope that she'll be able to begin attending school next week, at least on a limited basis.

Thanks to those of you who posted links to support sites. I haven't had a chance to visit them yet, but I hope to this weekend.

We are still very much encouraged by the reports the doctors have given us and ask that you keep Lexi and our family in your prayers as we face the coming weeks, months and years.

A quick story: On one of my quick trips home from the hospital to check on things at home and post an update here on TBN, I printed out your replies so my wife could read them in the hospital. She was overcome with emotion as she read post after post offering prayers for our daughter. Your many words of compassion and encouragement were beyond belief. She just didn't expect that type of concern from people that we've never even met. In tears, we embraced each other, said a prayer, and thanked the Lord for each of you. You cannot believe how much your support was felt even through this "cyber-space" medium.

In one post, someone hoped to see a picture of Lexi on the tractor soon. That's definitely on my "to-do" list.

I will keep you all updated as her treatment progresses.

Thank you all for your prayers.

~Rick

 

[Harv]

Thanks for the update, Rick.

Not a day has gone by that we haven't thought about Lexi here at home. My 11-year old daughter even asks me how Lexi's doing.

TBN has been a most welcome support group for a number of us over the past few years. Not something you'd expect from a bunch o' tractor-heads, but we've got some incredible people here and their concern is genuine.

If you get chance, please pass this on ...

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif <font color="red"> WELCOME HOME, LEXI!!! </font> /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Rick,
This is a wonderful group of people here. Although I never sent you and your daughter my good thoughts and prayers here........don't think you weren't in my thoughts. I'm so glad she is home.

Jerry

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the update, Rick. Glad you're back home, Lexi! We'll certainly continue to pray for continuing improvements in your health.

 

[GregJ]

Rick,
That is great news. The amazing thing about life is that it takes some serious trauma before we really appreciate everything to the fullest. I know you loved and appreciated Lexi before all this happened, but out of this, I am sure that your love and appreciation of her has grown enormously. I guess we all need to be thankful for every minute of every day. Your experience has caused me to step back and really appreciate my family. Every day is a blessing.

Rick, enjoy this time of recovery. Your family is still in our prayers.

Greg

 

[knucklehead]

I'll echo the thanks to our gracious hosts who have not locked this thread; I think they wisely see that the intent here is to reach out to our "neighbor" Rick and his family, and that the various expressions of faith are simply part of that. I ask for our hosts' continued forbearance as we appear to stray somewhat from time to time. We aren't really straying, as the issue of faith is THE issue, whether it is simply trust in medical professionals or in a higher power when life goes far beyond what we can fix with our own hands. It seems we are generally keeping it polite and to the point; I'm hoping to do the same as I respond in agreement with Junkman's statement: ...I believe that G_d listens to all prayers...

I agree with Junkman's statement because I believe that God is all powerful, all present, and all knowing. That cannot be true if He is not aware of all things, including the prayers of those who do not otherwise believe. I also believe that God loves us each as individuals, not as churches or groups or anything else but personally - also regardless of our belief in him. This is the very heart of the matter we are visiting on this thread - a father's love for his children.

However, everything is not all hunky dory in the relationship (like most families). Anyone who would know more would do well to visit the New Testament, where it is most clearly stated. It is not my intention to debate or to inflame, rather to point to the simple truth available to anyone without regard to anything other than being a human being. I make this distinction (the difference between God hearing our prayers and having a relationship with us personally) out of the same concern for all of my TBN brothers and sisters that we are collectively showing Rick. It needs to be clearly understood, and it isn't complicated.

If this is found to be offensive, then I will willingly go to the woodshed (after stuffing a big book down the back of my pants).