Please pray for my boss

My boss was diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma almost 4 years ago. He has been through several rounds of chemo, they got him into remission and did a stem cell transplant in January. He went for his 6 month checkup this week and they found more cancer, which means the transplant failed. This means more chemo and another transplant.

This man is not just my boss, he is a brother in Christ. I have watched the grace of God upon his life as he and his wife have walked through these last few years.

We had hoped for a good report this time. Right now we are sad, but trusting God. Please pray for him and his wife.

Thanks,
Danielle

I am pryaing sister
God bless
charlene

My boss had his second transplant several months ago and has developed Graft vs. Host Disease. This is a somewhat common reaction to a transplant from an unrelated person which can be fatal. His reaction has been very severe and he is currently at MD Anderson receiving some type of experimental medication. He is in a great deal of pain.

They have been battling this cancer for 4 years. The doctors told him the life expectancy after his diagnosis is 3-5 years. But God….

I have been so encouraged recently by the testimonies of healing of Pastorfrin and RobertW’s wife. I know God can do the same thing for Charles.

Please pray for my boss

Danielle

Hi Danielle,
Thank you for praying for my girl,
I'll be praying and will wait upon the Holy Spirit to lead me of what to pray for your boss,
and may the will of God be manifest to him to recieve all the glory.

Annie,

Charles is a very strong Christian. He is a precious brother. Truly a blessing in my life.
Jesus has been very much glorified in his life through these events. It has been an absolutely tremendous thing to watch. He has used every opportunity to testify of the goodness of God in our difficulties. This morning I was looking through some old emails from him and found this from an email he sent me last year right before his first transplant:

Dan, God will either deliver me from this situation or his glory will be proclaimed through the process. Renee and I will stand firm as an example to live as a Godly couple. I tell my sons that I have taught them how to live now I will teach them how to endure. We will enjoy everyday.

Father,
I agree with my Brothers and Sisters on this forum, and ask You to please touch Charles.
We thank You for all you have done in healing others, and we know You are still the Healer today.
Be close to Charles and his Family, during this trying ordeal.
In Jesus Name.

nowhr2hide wrote:
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for praying for my girl,
I'll be praying and will wait upon the Holy Spirit to lead me of what to pray for your boss,
and may the will of God be manifest to him to recieve all the glory.

Just want to share this as i was waiting/meditating to be lead by the Holy Spirit.
This is the inspirational word came upon me.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to sya' Luke 12:12
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness, For we do not know what we should pray for ... but the Spirit Himself makes intercessions for us. Roman 8:26
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wound.Psalm 147:3
Under His wings shal find refuge; in His stretch out arms you shall find comfort, son of Abraham.
"It is well with your/my soul" in my meditating song came.
i hope this will bring comfort to you and you boss and a brother in christ charles.

God bless - Claudette
PS plz if it is ok for you share this to him.

We received word yesterday that Charles has developed pneumonia and has been moved to ICU. His immune system is so depleted that the doctors do not know that he will be able to recover.

Please continue to pray for him.

Danielle

Several days ago we got word that he had been moved out of ICU and back into a regular room, for which we were very thankful.

Thanks for praying.

Sis,

I see that you are up at the crack of dawn. I have prayed for your boss, and hope that he is much better at this point. Is there an update.

BTW I have been quite a few times to one of the hospitals in your area over the past few years with my child/grandchild who has CP... Our Lady of the Lake and met some fine physicians there... but it has always been the dependance upon the GREAT PHYSCIAN that has yeilded the most precious fruit.

Clint

Broclint,

How it blesses my heart every time someone inquires about Charles! I was out of the office yesterday at a client’s, but I got an email from one of the partners that he called and was having a good day. He is still fighting the GVHD and we are very encouraged whenever we get any little bit of good news.

When Charles was first diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago, I was devastated. He really is a very sincere brother in the Lord and when I first got this news there was the unavoidable question – WHY??? I sat down with my Bible and prayed “God, I really need an answer. I’m staying right here until I get one.” And He so wonderfully spoke to me from Philippians 1:12

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel

When I looked up that word “furtherance” I saw that it means “pioneer advance”. And over the years I have seen the grace of God reach people through Charles’ illness who were previous closed to the message of Christ. And in this I rejoice.

BTW I have been quite a few times to one of the hospitals in your area over the past few years with my child/grandchild who has CP

Cerebral Palsy? I didn’t know the Lake specialized in treating this. The hospital is actually about 5 minutes from my workplace. Sometime when ya’ll are here, if it would be possible, I’d love to meet you and your wife up at the hospital for a few moments of fellowship over a cup of coffee.

I see that you are up at the crack of dawn

I see that you are as well!! I go to work early and I always check in at SI while the coffee’s brewing. There is very much a sense of connectedness for me to many of the people here.

P.S. – I am praying for your grandchild.

Thank you so much for that!!

I had to be gone today and did not see your post till this PM.

I will certainly let you know the next time we are in your fair city... however, thank God we have not been in the hospital for a few months now. Actually Jordan is an 8 year old little boy that has Cerebral Palsy secondary to other health issues... it is a long story that probably would take too much time and space to go into in a public forum. But he is my oldest daughter's child. I also have custody of two of his siblings a precious 14 year old girl and an 11 year old boy.

The pulmonologist that used to see Jordan here in Monroe moved to BR and since he knew Jordan so well and was such an excellent doctor we continued seeing him.

In regard to "furtherance of the gospel", I can relate to what you are saying. God does truly work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. Many times that way is a way of suffering for some folk. The scripture that has meant a lot to me and has proved true so many times is:
2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4 (NKJV) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

My oldest grandson died of cancer right before his 13th birthday (and I am not saying that for sympathy) but he had such a wonderful testimony for Christ for those 4 years of battling his condition. God so used him that he was able to minster more in those short years than many do in a lifetime.

Paul said:
Philippians 1:20 (KJV) 20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

May God help me to keep that resolve, because it is all His anyway...

Again, I am so thankful for this site and thankful for a fellow Louisianian ?sp on here :-)

edit: I wanted to add in that description of Jordan regarding the quote "but God"... 8 years ago when we were in the hospital here, one of the doctors drew me aside and gave me this speech about how poor the prognosis was for Jordan "very poor... very poor" were his words. Another doctor was standing not very far away and heard the whole conversation. A few minutes later he came and put his hand on my shoulder and asked me, "Grandad, how are you doing?" I said, "After that, not too good!" He said, "Well, he made it overnight and we did not expect him too, and now he has made it for three days... and there is always God!" I will never, ever forget that comforting hand and that encouraging word.
There is INDEED, always God. It has been 8 years now and so many milestones. God always has the last WORD!

Clint

Annie,

Are all folks from LA like you both? I'll move there.

Let me know when you’re coming and we’ll have a crawfish boil in your honor. Right broclint?

Broclint,

I’m so sorry for your loss and that you have to go through health issues with another grandchild. There is nothing quite so excruciating as watching a child who is close to your heart suffering. But I am quite sure that you have had some tremendous experiences with the Lord through all of this. He wastes nothing. Romans 8:28 – all things. This verse has helped me through quite a few difficult times.

I find it absolutely tremendous to watch how God uses Charles in the midst of his illness, just like with your grandson. When he is at MD Anderson, he goes to other people’s rooms when he can to visit and pray with them and share a word of encouragement. I learn much by watching his example.

Thank you for all those verses you shared. Another one that is a favorite of mine for keeping things in perspective is this one;

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 2:16-18

God always has the last WORD!

AMEN!!

Sister Danielle,

Thank you for your words and for THE WORD.

As far as loss... really I have gained. I have one that I am certain of that is awaiting me that left me with nothing but the most precious memories, not ever one time asking "why me?" but rather "why not me?". That was the way he lived and that was the way he died, and I confess that he was far more of a hero to me than a lot of folks that have lived a lots longer.

As for the other child, Jordan,... I am confident that however long or short he may live, I will see him in perfect health when all this illusory life of temporary sorrows is over because he has never learned to be "wise knowing good and evil" and has never learned to be disobedient in anything. He also has been a precious teacher to me. I have learned patience, unconditional love, appreciation for small things that are SO BIG... I could not begin to tell you how God has used this precious little child that came into my life when he was only a couple of months old totally dependant, but totally grateful for the smallest things, so loving, so uncomplicated with jealousy and resentment and so many things that are so rampant in the world around us.

I could write volumes here but I will not... Let's just say that God has opened doors of ministry through him... nurses, doctors, home health people... My morning or whenever greeting regardless of how he feels is a smile that more than pays for whatever complications the day may bring.

The other children are richer for the experiences we have had... and I have said too much already... but just to say:
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) 22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Sin and the world brings sorrow... but the blessings that God brings, is "hope in spite of sorrow, and comfort for the soul".

I know this thread was and is about prayer for your boss, and I apologize for getting carried away here :-( .

I will continue to pray for him, his family and you during this time...

And for Sister Annie, Thank you so much for your precious post...

Regarding the crawfish boil: I would be delighted to put the water on the fire for the "mudbugs"... as far as that matter, wouldn't it be a delight to have the SI gang come to LA (and that ain't Los Angeles) for a next Revival Conference?

What I am really praying for however is that LA has a revival/awakening that others have to come to see and be a part of.

Clint

Sister Danielle,

I have not seen you on the site for several hours now and wondered if you may have been in touch with your boss or his family or associates and have any more news.

The more I have thought about and prayed about your boss, and reread the email that he sent you, the more precious the privelege to be a part of praying for all of you. I believe this is an extraordinary relationship between employer and his family and employee that you have related here, rare and precious.

May God intervene so that the pain both emotionally and physically will be made more bearable by His Holy presence during this time.

Clint

Brother,

It has blessed me so tremendously that people here at SI are inquiring about Charles, a man they don't even know. I was thinking about this yesterday and I had such a longing to post some things about Charles, who he is, what he's like. But it's almost impossible to summarize 10 years of a friendship in a paragraph. Hopefully Broclint, you will be able to meet him for yourself during one of your visits to Baton Rouge.

How thankful I am for the prayers and concern for Charles. So very thankful.

Danielle

I hope and pray that Brother Charles has improved. Has he come home from MD Anderson?

I keep returning in prayer for this family and all his loved ones and you... I know all too well that seemingly unbearable ordeal of waiting and waiting and hoping and praying and waiting.

I pray God intervenes with healing if it be His will.

Clint

One of the partners was able to talk to Charles yesterday and he was having a good day. The doctors have told him that he's going to be at MDA for a while. We don't really expect him to be back any time this month and perhaps even longer than that.

God bless you brother for your prayers.

Danielle

This is an update we received from Charles' wife the first week in January:

As of today, Charles has been in the hospital for 48 days.

These past weeks have been the most difficult times we’ve endured thus far. Charles has physically suffered greatly yet in the midst of his pain he continues to encourage and pray for those entering his room. Just last night he told me of his new friend, Jasmine, who returned at the end of her 12 hour shift to thank him for praying with her that morning.

The doctors tell us that Charles remains critically ill. We’ve been told that few survive GVHD as severe as his. His GI tract is severely damaged causing immense abdominal pain, he has 57 lbs. of excess fluid and developed a blood clot in his arm just yesterday.

In the midst of it all, we have seen God numerous times. God has delivered Charles through ICU. (We were blessed in ICU with a doctor who graduated from LSU!!—doctors from all over the world at MD Anderson and we get the hometown doc who actually lived with Charles’ local oncologist during Hurricane Katrina). Charles was also delivered from a threat of GVHD of the liver and a life threatening blood pressure issue. We’ve witnessed a doctor shake her head in puzzlement and disbelief that Charles’ liver, blood pressure and severe body tremors resolved. The doctors have done all they can do. They simply say, “We will wait and watch.”

The odds against Charles are enormous. Sometime it seems impossible but I am thankful for God’s reminder this morning in Psalm 64, “BUT GOD” and “SUDDENLY”. I am praying and believing as verse 8 says, “That all who see Charles will too shake their heads in amazement and will declare the work of God and see what HE has done.”

Father,
Touch Charles.
We all know nothing is too hard for You.
In Jesus Name.

Praying.

Thank God that we can go to Him in prayer, as the song "What a Friend in Jesus" says, "Everything to Him in prayer".

Still fighting the pneumonia here, but that is a small issue upside what Charles' family is having to deal with... I know He know's, and will continue to seek.

Clint

Danielle...
This morning is the first time I have seen this post.
My heart and prayers go to Charles/Family and to you as well.
I can't help but note the severity of the need and yet the professions of God's Greatness and Faithfulness.
Isn't it amazing that it is in the most dismal of times we are able to see and report God's Hand of Goodness...Light is magnified in darkness.
May the Hope of our Risen Lord overtake all of you and give you Strength and Peace.
In Jesus Name,
Bonnie

I received an update this week on Charles' condition from his wife:

By the grace of God, Charles has experienced phenomenal progress. As of today, as a patient for 67 days, Charles has lost 56 pounds of excess fluid! As a result, his mobility and basic life functions have improved enabling him to enjoy the simplest of pleasures such as taking a shower, thus being less dependent on nurses and family.

Although Charles has made tremendous progress, he still has a long way to go. Intermittent, severe abdominal pain is an issue. As a result of this pain, he is not able to consume the daily required calories which affect various other cells in his body. Doctors are therefore unable to predict a discharge date but say that Charles is improving daily and are hopeful that Charles can be released as an inpatient in a few weeks. He would then be required to stay in the Houston area for another month receiving outpatient care. It’s been a long journey but we feel confident now that Charles will get to come home.

As you know, this has been a spiritual journey as well. This past week, I was telling my kindergarten students that “Mr. Charles” was doing better. One of my students raised her hand and said, “God is healing Mr. Charles.” “Say it again,” I said to Hannah. And so she said, “God is healing Mr. Charles.”

Yes, Hannah, HE IS !!

“Out of the mouths of babes…You have established strength.”
Psalm 8:2

# Psalm 41:3
The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. - nkjv

this is what i led to read while i was praying for charles.

:-) God is good.

Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you all so much for your prayers for Charles. I found out this morning that he went to be with Jesus last night.

Right this moment I can’t grasp the fact that I will never again hear his laughter booming from down the hall or his heavy footsteps in the office, or that I’ll never hear him call me “Lieutenant Dan” again.

I wasn’t prepared for him to go. I didn’t get to say goodbye.

Hi BrokenOne...

My wife and I will remember you, your office and this man's family in my prayers.

Be encouraged -- for "to live is Christ and to die is gain."

:-)

Dear Sister Danielle,

Words fail... I will be praying for you. BrokenOne is no doubt the most appropriate title.

I read your post on the other thread before I checked here and can relate from the loss of my friend recently... I take comfort in the fact that he knows just as surely as Charles knew even though the goodbyes are sometimes impossible.

How these compounded wounds drive us nearer the heart of God.

Clint

Tonight the Lord greatly renewed my strength. I have been so sorrowful the last few days and didn’t even want to attend the Monday night Bible study I go to. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to do anything but sit there and cry. There were tears, but there was also laughter as these dear ladies let me talk about the precious friendship I had with Charles. There is a “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance” Ecclesiastes 3:4

There may still be more mourning, but this experience has awakened the desire to give of my life to others for Christ, just as all of you have given to me of your prayers and encouragement.

Charlene, Claudette, Annie, Joy, Nellie, Clint, Bonnie, Linn and Chris (and all the others who prayed) thank you, thank you so much. You will never know how much your posts have meant to me over the months or how many times I have come back to read them again because I needed to know that someone cared.

My heart is full of thanksgiving to God for each of you.

Danielle

I suppose this will be my final post in this thread. Today was Charles’ funeral. It was held at his church because the funeral home would not have been large enough. People were lined up all through the church and almost out the door for 2 hours to pay their respects to the family. There were around 2,000 people at the service, all of them people whose lives had been touched by Charles in some way.

After the burial when we met back at the church for a fellowship meal, I had a chance to talk to his wife and she shared with me the events of his last days.

She said that his eyesight had begun to be affected so he would have someone read a Psalm to him in the morning and one in the evening. While he was still able to speak, he would close his eyes as they would read a verse and he would repeat it.

He would say, “Who’s praising the Lord”. And she would say “I am Charles. I’m praising the Lord.” And he would answer “Let everyone praise the Lord.”

He eventually became unresponsive the night before his death.

That night, a woman patient from his floor was walking down the hall and began to become confused and fearful and she began screaming. Charles’ wife rushed to turn on the CD player so that he wouldn’t be disturbed by the noise. But his eyes flew open as he heard the lady crying out in fear. His last words were a prayer for the Lord to comfort her.

It seems odd that life should go on without him. Those of us who knew him have lost something precious that we were not able to fully appreciate while he was here. He was a man who genuinely cared about other people; a man whose desire was for Christ to be glorified through his life and his suffering; a man with a steadfast faith in Christ. He will be missed.