I am writing because we have seen some new progress in Sam’s stomach and intestines in the last 12 hours. Last night, Sam was anointed with oil as we prayed around him. It was during the night that we noticed a difference in how “things” were…and he was able to sleep so much better. I really expected a fight this morning to convince Dr Berdeja to keep him on the same diet for one more day to see if he would progress and improve as he desired. To my amazement ….he did not fight me. He agreed to give Sam another day to see if his intestines had, indeed started the healing process.
On the flip side, he said if he did not see a big improvement by tomorrow, he would add a treatment tomorrow that would further immunosupress Sam. This would make him more susceptible to infections. I know that God can work either way. He can protect him throughout a new treatment. Or he will show his powerful touch in improved function of his intestines today!
I am praising for God’s touch on Sam last night, for a great night of rest, for a Dr that listened. I am also praising for a family and a church and friends who believe in the power of prayer. I believe that it is not in the words that we say…(if that were true we would have figured out the words…like some kind of incantation…like magic)…but truly in the holy God that we serve, who is all knowing, all powerful, healer, deliverer.
I would ask you to pray that Sam would not worry, that Sam’s stomach and intestines would heal. That the colitis that he has from the GVHD would truly disappear…that we would see the evidence of this. That we would see absorption of the food he takes in today increase drastically! That Sam will not have any infections. That Sam will remain strong. That our girls will be encouraged.
Thank you for your continued prayers…God is able…He will do it!
Keli
Our God is Able indeed Keli! Praying, praying.
-Tiffany
We continue to lift the whole Green family up to the Lord.
So glad to hear of the answer to prayers. We’ve been waiting to hear news of improvement. Continuing to pray for healing of Sam’s colitis, encouragement for him and protection from infection.
Praying continually!
IN EVERYTHING GIVE HIM PRAISE!!!!
Continued healing for body, mind and a heart of peace is my prayer for Sam.
I love you all and believe that our FATHER will continue to answer prayer.
Lisa
Thank God for good news, and thank Him that we can continue to come BOLDLY, asking for continued healing and protection and encouragement! He is able!
Continuing to lift Sam and your entire family in prayer. HE IS ABLE!!
We are continuing to pray for drastic improvement for Sam’s colitis and for all the tests results to show that God is indeed working and healing. Praying for another good night of rest and peace of all of you. Praying for you to be together with the girls at home. We know that God is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or think. We love you guys so much and are praying for miracles.
Praising God with you and praying to God for the continuing healing!
I am so happy to hear of progress and signs of healing for Sam’s stomach and intestines! God IS Still Doing Great Things and HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVEN MORE!!!! Our prayers are with you and Sam, with the girls, and the entire Green family. We pray that you will all be together again soon, completely HEALED! We love you all!!!
Hey Greens:
I was praying for you guys last night and had a thought: When Brian had GVHD, we were living in Seattle, and there was a dr. there named Dr. McDonald, who was a gasteroenterologist, but he was an expert on GVH of the gut….that’s all he treats..day in and day out. Anyway, he was pretty fond of himself (he autographed a picture of Brian’s intestine for us to keep as a souveneir….even though we didn’t ask!
hahaha ) but he was world-renowned in GVH of the gut. Have Sam’s doctors already consulted anyone else about his case? In Seattle at Fred Hutchinson Center, they do about 450 transplants a year, so they see EVERYTHING. Maybe that might help.
I’m continuing to pray for y’all.
Dina,
Your message was a God-send. Within 2 minutes after reading your message, Dr. Berdeja came in doing his morning rounds and I was able to talk with him about consulting other doctors. He said he is very open to that and would do so as we move forward if we would not see the changes needed. I appreciate all the different messages you have sent me over the last year. Even though I haven’t responded, they are always encouraging and uplifting. I pray that all is well with your family. From the beginning, I have kept Brian’s health journey as a reminder of God’s healing touch and that He can and will do the same in my life.
Blessings,
Sam
Oh, Sam, I’m so glad to read this! It just came to me while I was praying, and I agree….God is at work! I’ll try to find the contact info for the doctor in case you need it (although I hope you won’t).
Dina
His name is Dr.George McDonald and here’s his contact info:
Phone: (206) 667-6932
Fax: (206) 667-6519
He’s a professor at the University of Washington and he’s employed also by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Maybe you’ll get a signed picture of your duodenum, just like Brian did!