Do Not fear.
This morning in both my devotional time and in service at church two different passages used the same beginning ‘Do Not Fear’. One spoken by Moses (Exodus 14:14), the other by Jesus (John 12:15). Immediately after reading I shared these passages with Nat as a means of encouragement in this season. We have so much to potentially fear regarding Murphy’s treatment, symptoms, and prognosis, but we have much to be thankful for when we read God’s Word. I asked myself this question and I want to ask you the same, what is there in your life that you might be afraid of that God wants you, simply to let Him face the battle on your behalf.
To see the video below, make sure you click through to the website to view it. Murphy’s beautiful voice is everything! This was taken Sunday 26/2. Plus there’s a video at the bottom that will make your heart leap with excitement!
This time last week was an amazing day. We are calling it “Miracle Sunday.” After the incredible prayer meetings that were held here in Adelaide, Nashville, Atlanta, and all over the world on Saturday, we received incredible news the following day. Murphy was finally growing white cells, which meant the transplant has taken, with the new cells finding their home in the Bone Marrow. This was an incredible turn around, Doctors had advised us that if there was no evidence of an increase in murphy’s numbers he needed to go to the ICU for further intervention, his body could no longer withstand its current state of pain and his heart rate was Tacky and dangerous. We asked the doctors to hold off if safely possible to do so, until after we had the prayer meetings Saturday morning and then if there was no change they could intervene with the next step. What happend on “miracle Sunday” was God’s Awesome healing power on display. Doctors and nurses were shocked and amazed at the turn around in numbers, with many saying they had never seen this in 10+ years of transplants that have taken place at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. God is so good – may your faith be encouraged. Ours was and so was Murphy’s.
Murphy’s progress
Murphy’s recovering from the current round of chemotherapy has been nothing short of remarkable! Each day we see Murphy face new challenges and overcome fears. A few days ago, Murphy took his first steps after being in bed for nearly 3 weeks. Murphy stood to his feet, looked at the corridor in front of him, and closed his eyes to pull all his strength together to overcome the obstacle that lay ahead of him. With severely depleted leg muscle, Murphy struggled with each step, but in true Murphy fashion, he ended his walk down the hallway with a smile! There was a sense of pride in that smile, and the nurse’s station were all joining in smiling as they watched him walk!
Each day this week it has felt as though Murphy has had fewer medications, and this has been a positive sign of how well he has recovered. Currently, he has worked his way off of all opioid pain medication, and in the coming day he should work his way off TPN (nutrition that is delivered through his IV line) and rely on other forms of nutrition. By yesterday he has ceased antibiotics and it has been 2 full days with no fever! Can you please pray that in the coming days Murphy can start to eat and drink more.
Conversations
From last Saturday’s prayer meetings, Nat and I have had many conversations with nurses and doctors about church and faith. There are a surprising number of faith filled medical professionals that God has given us to look after Murphy! I’m reminded of a nurse who cared for Teddy when he was in a critical state with Meningococcal in 2017, who after asking our permission, proceeded to close the door behind her and storm heaven, praying and pleading for a miracle for Ted! As Ted’s life hung in the balance, this nurse increased our faith immensely with her passion and desire to see healing in Ted’s body. Similarly, Murphy’s hospital stay has been able to open many conversations with staff both here in Adelaide, and in Brisbane where we started treatment about our faith, church, and Miracles. You just never know how God might use your situation.
What’s ahead
Murphy has a few weeks to recover before we begin the same treatment, high dose chemotherapy and his second Stem Cell Transplant. In the natural it is hard to even imagine and comprehend that what we have just been through, and murphy has endured, we will have to go through again – but we know that God is always working and is a powerful God. This Faith is out Hope as we look ahead.
My prayer is that these next few weeks has some wonderful family time, laughter with siblings, fresh air, Easter eggs, peaceful nights with no alarms blaring, strong stem cell growth and moments of pure joy ahead for Murphy and our Family.
Finally, it is with incredible thankfulness and joy I can say after 25 days in hospital – most of that spent in isolation from his siblings, Murphy is now recovering at home, and we are all together as a family again. Thank you for praying.