November 1, 2007

Prayer for Dr. Cook

We want to again thank you for all of your prayers and notes of encouragement to Dr. Cook.

It has been over a week since he completed his chemotherapy treatment, and as often happens in the first and second weeks after treatment, he has begun to experience several side-effects of chemotherapy. He has developed several lesions in his throat and mouth and has also developed a fever. He has difficulty eating and swallowing and talking, and he has trouble sleeping. At one point, he was running a very high fever, but it has come down considerably in the last couple of days.

The doctors and nurses have assured us that this is all within the realm of what is to be expected during this treatment, but it is, of course, not something that is to be desired. He is extremely tired and miserable, and at the same time, he remains hopeful because he serves a God who is able to overcome any situation.

He wanted us to share with you that he continues to claim Isaiah 40:31, and he has this verse posted on his hospital wall and reads it throughout the day.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

This is the first time that he has had to fully wait on the Lord because he is powerless against this disease. And as he has waited, he said that he can feel God’s presence with him in the room, teaching him what reliance on the Lord truly means.

Please pray for his comfort during this time and that his body would begin to heal and rebound from chemotherapy. Also pray that the tests that they will be running in the next week or so will show that significant progress was made against the leukemia.