Doctor Paul, MD

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Trials are blessings…

May 29, 2016 by Paul Williams 7 Comments

Thank you Father for your many blessings and Truths on this journey, and thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement.

We have had a good week. Theresa was able to help our daughter finish her school project and present it at school, last Thursday, but she was down and wiped out for three days before she had energy for the rest of the week. Her motivation is there, but fatigue can get profound at times. Losing her hair was traumatic, but as she is beginning to grow hair back, her eye lashes and eye brows are finally falling out, which has been more difficult, because even with a hat on it is obvious to all you had chemo. A darker shade of makeup has helped her not feel so pale. She knows in time this will come back as well. As with her hair, she had hoped she would be the one who didn’t lose her lashes, but some of the effects of chemo are not seen for months later, and she realized she is not immune. This has been tough to lose what externally helps make one attractive. But her hair and lashes will come back. The perspective that being alive without hair or lashes is better than being dead with them, so we can be thankful in all situations. Thursday she will get her last treatment with Perjeta, the end of active treatment for her cancer, though she still will have 18 months of Herceptin. Probably in the next month we will get a look at the liver. We will be going to family camp in June, and have bought a recliner chair to relax in the sun together.

“Trials are blessings in disguise”, “Are you boldly praising Him for the trials in your life?” (Streams in the desert May 26). “Do you find yourself at this very moment surrounded with needs, and nearly overwhelmed with difficulties, trials, and emergencies? Each of these is God’s way of providing vessels for the Holy Spirit to fill. If you correctly understand their meaning, you will see them as opportunities for receiving new blessings and deliverance you can receive in no other way….Remain still before Him, and stop your own restless working until He begins to work…Then the very trials that threatened to overcome you with discouragement and disaster will become God’s opportunity to reveal His grace and glory in your life, in ways you have never known before.” A.B. Simpson. “To know Christ is life’s greatest achievement…The reality of knowing Jesus comes as a result of hidden prayer, and personal Bible study that is devotional and consistent in nature. Christ becomes more real to those who persist in cultivating His presence.” Maltbie D. Babcock.

I can say that these quotes are full of truth and wisdom. We have experienced the awesomeness of God through this journey. We have stayed engaged with Him daily and waited upon Him in humble surrender. God is good and has been so faithful during this time. Thank you Father and thank you all for supporting us as you have.

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Filed Under: Breast Cancer - our new normal

Comments

  1. Candace Horch says

    May 30, 2016 at 12:39 am

    Once again, I thank you for your posting… This is a review of much of my story, just 1 and 1/2 years ago. I wish I would have had the eloquence of words that you have to describe what Theresa is experiencing with her chemo and your family’s walking alongside her. It is amazing how our dependence on God helps us to get through this. I continue to pray for her and all of you. Thank you and may God continue to bless you!

    Reply
  2. Jennie Brandt says

    May 30, 2016 at 2:12 am

    Buy her a good set of false eyelashes, it will make her feel better. I did this for a girlfriend of mine.

    Stay strong.

    Reply
    • Audrey Kimball says

      May 30, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      I have followed your posts regularly and – as from the very beginning of this journey – I ask God for “a miracle,”and leave it in God’s hands. I’m moved to respond today because of my daughter Julie’s journey ten years ago. We have all learned so much since then. When I see women with scarves on their heads and faces more pale than most….I give them a mental “thumbs up – I’m proud of your strength!” There is no shame in “no eyebrows!”

      Reply
  3. Carol & Marcus Johns says

    May 30, 2016 at 4:16 am

    Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You are such an inspiration to so many. We’re still praying for you daily.

    Reply
  4. Julie Wilber Gamewell says

    June 2, 2016 at 4:01 am

    Thank you. I always look forward to your inspirational insights. Psalm 27:14 comes to mind.

    Reply
  5. Rose Weed says

    June 9, 2016 at 3:51 am

    Continuing prayers from both Ed and I.

    Reply
  6. Tammy Barnes Callahan says

    June 10, 2016 at 2:03 am

    Thank you for sharing in your blog. I just found out about Theresa’s illness and am in shock, so sad for your trials and thankful for your faith. Tell Theresa her oldest of friends still love her like a sister and will be praying many times a day for her and your family.

    Reply

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About Doctor Paul

Dr. Paul Williams, MD is a small-town family practice doctor working in Centralia, Washington. He works from the same office where his primary care practice was established by his father over 38 years ago. He believes strongly that the art of the old-fashioned primary care doctor is an important feature of our medical system that should be preserved and protected from excess interference from insurance companies and government regulation alike.

Due to changes in the health care industry and regulations affecting it, and in an effort to preserve the art of old-fashioned primary care, Dr. Paul has shifted his practice to a Direct Care model, meaning that patients pay an affordable monthly fee to purchase primary care health care services directly, rather than having their services billed through an insurance company.

This blog is intended to help Dr. Paul's patients (and anyone else!) understand the changes the medical industry is going through, and to provide information about the Direct Care model of primary care.

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