Father, thank you for your love, for walking with us, for your peace, and helping us praise you no matter what life brings our way. Thank you all for your continued prayers.
Well this week was unexpected. Theresa rallied for our trip to California, and was worn out when we got home. But within a day or so found she would cough with fluids and then solid foods got stuck in her esophagus. She also became much more short of breath, getting anxious when she felt she couldn’t breath, which was anytime she wasn’t close to being upright. Her appetite dropped and her strength tanked.
On Monday morning I checked her mouth and found thrush, so suspected her swallowing and cough may be due to candidal esophagitis. On Monday she started Clotrimazole troches, which she would suck on, and were finally able to get an oral anti fungal liquid on Wednesday that she wasn’t allergic to. By Wednesday we were able to get an oxygen concentrator machine which helped greatly with the air hunger and anxiety when laying down at night. Around the same time Theresa noticed a nodule in her neck and so we compared the nodule to her PET/CT scan in June and it appears the right neck lymph node has grown 4 times in size during this time as has the ones just above her left clavicle. So most likely the same is true of the lymph nodes in her chest. We stopped the male hormone blocking medications as they were not helping and some of her symptoms could be caused by them.
Theresa’s fatigue and weakness progressed over the week, that now if she walks, she does so with a cane and can barely get up the stairs. She is tired all the time, and now sleeps most of the day in her recliner. She really has no interest in anything. We are in the process of getting a twin bed that elevates the head so she will be more comfortable during the day. We will put it down stairs.
We went to see her Oncologist Thursday, which was a chore for Theresa. In the end, that was her last visit to her Oncologist as there is nothing more he can offer her. He confirmed the lymph node enlargement and the increasing pleural fluid accumulation. Theresa is now on comfort care at home. She is declining rapidly. She slept all day today and maybe drank 8 oz of water. I think her cough has lessened because she is not really eating or drinking or moving and probably being helped by the oxygen.
Our prayer has been that Theresa is comfortable and at peace and that air hunger, and panic related to it would not be present. As this week has progressed, Theresa has been at peace and is comfortable, so we praise God for answering our prayers. He is here and is intervening in this very difficult time.
We are so grateful for all of you, for your prayers, concern, kind words over these past 4 years. We continue to covet your prayers, asking for comfort and peace for our whole family.
A friend with the gift of empathy and comfort sent me this song from Hillsong
Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)
Words and Music by Joel Houston
Verse 1
Take this fainted heart
Take these tainted hands
Wash me in Your love
Come like grace again
Chorus 1
Even when my strength is lost
I’ll praise You
Even when I have no song
I’ll praise You
Even when it’s hard to find the words
Louder then I’ll sing Your priase
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
Verse 2
Take this mountain weight
Take these ocean tears
Hold me through the trial
Come like hope again
Chorus 2
Even when the fight seems lost
I’ll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell
I’ll praise You
Even when it makes no sense to sing
Louder then I’ll sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
Bridge 1
And my heart burns only for You
You are all, You are all I want
And my soul waits only for You
And I will sing ’til the morning has come
Bridge 2
And my heart burns only for You
You are all, You are all I want
And my soul waits only for You
And I will sing ’til the miracle comes
Chorus 3
Even when the morning comes
I’ll praise You
Even when the fight is won
I’ll praise You
Even when my time on earth is done
Louder then I’ll sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
The Kendall family continues to pray for your family. May peace, comfort and the tender arms of our Savior’s love and mercy be with you all.
Continued Prayers for Comfort & Love. Bless Your Hearts. I’m So Very Sorry. My Thoughts & Prayers are With You All❤️
We are praying for comfort for Theresa and peace for the family.
Praying for your family and sending love.
Love and prayers for your family
Dr. Paul and family,my thoughts and continuing prayers are with you . God bless you all.!!!!
My love and prayers for you all!
God be with you on this journey Theresa and family, may he give you comfort and peace. You all are in my prayers. ❤️
Sending so much love to you all ♥️And many prayers to my friend, Theresa
I think of her so often and happy that my fellow Disney friend was able to visit the happiest place on earth. My prayers for peace are with her and the family.
We offer our heart-felt wishes for peace and comfort. Love to all your family as you travel this path with Theresa.
Bill and Doris
Praying for you and your family, Dr Paul. God’s love and comfort will carry you all, as He already has, through this journey.
So sorry to hear this crushing update. Praying for you all in this raging storm. May God hold you all tightly & bring His sweet peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Theresa and your family. God is faithful and we know you will continue to feel His presence during this difficult time.
Our love and prayers are with you !
Continued prayers for comfort and peace.
God bless your hearts. You are all in our prayers. You give others beautiful hope sharing how Father God never leaves us and gives us peace and comfort through it all. Sending you our love and continued prayers. Charlie and Tiffany Alexander
Our prayers are still with you and your family. God bless you all. Peace and comfort to Teresa on this journey. God will keep you safe.
You have been so faithful and God will honor that. May Theresa be at peace and may God hold you and your family in his strong and loving arms giving you strength, comfort and peace. Our love to you all.
We have been thanking the Lord that you were all able to be together and make more memories in California. We continue to cover you all in our prayers as you walk through the days ahead. Love, Lance and Linda
My Heart and Prayers go out to you my friends
We are all walking this journey…one right behind the other and yet we do not know where our place inline will be…what a courageous young woman whose heart is after God….He does reward those who are faithful to Him. Her reward will be great and yours as well for staying on the path with her…our household’s prayers have followed you along the way and they do not stop….
I’m continuing in prayer for peace and comfort for all of you. Love in Christ, Nancy Core
Bob and I will be covering your family in prayer. We know that the Lord will hold your family close.
We are so sorry to hear this. Happy she got to experience her “happy place”. We always have you all in out thoughts. We continue to pray for all of you and for her comfort.
Dr. Paul, were so sorry that things have taken a turn for the worse. I will continue to pray for your whole family. You are all on our hearts. Praying for Theresa’s comfort.
You most certainly have a loving and caring body of believers surrounding you, and we pray for continued comfort for Theresa and the peace that passeth all understanding for each of you at this time. May God continue to hold you in His loving arms. Our prayers… Candee and Dick Horch
I am praying and will continue to for Theresa and the whole family during this time. May He hide you within the shadow of His wings. May the Holy Spirit wrap you all with comfort and peace.
Praying for God’s peace during this difficult timr. Love you guys.
Praying for you, Theresa and your family……
Our prayers for you and your beautiful family. May Theresa find peace and comfort now. God bless all of you
Continued prayers for peace and comfort for you all. Much love, Matt and Kristi
We are so thankful for God’s amazing grace in your lives. For all this you have Jesus. Continuing to pray for Theresa, you, Ben, Noah, Matthew and Ashleigh. Our love to
You all. Denny & Connie Taylor
May the God of all comfort hold all of you close. I am so grateful for every moment I got to spend with Theresa over the years, and I am so thankful God blessed her with you and your beautiful children. You have been so faithful. God’s sees you. He knows. He loves you all. He’ll never let you go.
We continue to pray for your family during this most difficult of times.
Dear paul & Theresa,
I am so sorry to hear of the advancement of the CA & its symptoms and pray for God’s comfort & peace to be abundantly sensed by you & your family as you continue your life race with endurance until God calls you home. I am so pleased that you were blessed with extra months to meet important family goals. God be with you Theresa till we meet again. You have been an amazing blessing to your family & friends, and we will do our best to love you & your family in return.
My heart goes out to Theresa and your family. What mighty warriors and examples you have displayed through this journey. God bless you. His mercies are new every morning.
Praying God would hold you all in His loving arms.
Love from the Rooklidge family
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of you, now even more so during this difficult time. As Theresa prepares to leave this earthly place to go home and be with Jesus, she knows she will see all of her family and friends again. Prayers and love to all of you.
I am so sorry to hear that Theresa’s cancer symptoms have returned . I wish you, Theresa, peace and comfort as you are surrounded by those you love, and may you also find comfort in knowing how very many hearts you have touched as we have followed your difficult journey. You have shown all of us how love & trust in God can be so powerful. You have shown such amazing strength. Know that you are surrounded by our feelings of warmth and appreciation. Take comfort in knowing that you are loved by so many. May God surround you and your family with comfort and peace knowing that he is there with you!
Sending hugs and love, Auntie Donna
Dearest Paul, Theresa and Family, I am thinking of and praying for each of you and asking God to fill every need that each of you have at this time and beyond. God has been so faithful and He knows that you have been faithful to honor and praise Him on this entire journey. Thank you for sharing these past four years with each of us, what a testimony for Christ you have been!
Much Love,
Kim Toczko
“When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart(s) and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
Your deep faith has been an inspiration to all of us who care so much for your family.
Theresa, you are a very brave lady. God is helping you, at your side always. He is not leaving you alone; he is always with you. I pray that he will rap his loving arms around you and hold you tight. You are in his loving care and can find rest. Thank you for sharing your testimony with all those who love you and care deeply. You are a wonderful example of your love for our Lord. Continued prayers are sent for you and great hope for a miracle to touch your body.
Jan and I continue our daily prayers and healing wishes for the entire family.
Dear Paul and Theresa,
I was in a Bible Study with Pastor Bill Knepper 4 years ago when this all started for y’all. I have had you on my daily prayer list ever since. I am so thankful y’all are leaning on our precious Savior as Theresa declines. I pray for peace and comfort for y’all. I praise Him for eternity and joy.
In Him,
Lena Norton
Praying for you to feel the presence of Jesus your precious Lord and Savior, His comfort and peace. He will be with you all as He has been through this Journey. You all have trusted Him and He has been faithful. All our family is praying for you we send our Love.
Praying for peace and keeping you all in our hearts .
We continue to pray for you all daily that the God of all comfort will comfort you,strenghten you and give you peace.Thank you for sharing this difficult journey with us and allowing us the privilege of praying for you.
Dearest Theresa, Paul and Family, I just want to let you know that I continue to start and end each day thinking of you. During my day, my thoughts frequently turn to you. I know that you, Theresa are surrounded by so much love and the comfort that God is always there with you. I pray for peace and comfort for all of you.
Hugs and love, Auntie Donna❤️
Continued prayers. Take care of each other.
PRAYERS AND MORE PRAYERS FOR THERESA, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS.
May our Lord embrace her with his presence. Praying for you and your family.
Prayers for you all and please send love to Theresa . She was the closest thing I had to a sister growing up. Life goes in different directions but love does not. I will always cherish our hikes and fun.
Oh ! How The Lord Is Faithful! We will continue to hold you up to our Savior ! Praying for HIS Gentle Arms to hold you all at this time! Love in Christ Jesus Mary and Tom Jones