All Because of Jesus Part 1

I hope you have all checked out our new theme song, “All Because of Jesus,” by now.  I first heard this song a few months ago on Christian radio and felt a connection with it at that time.  It really is because of Jesus I’m alive.  But in the past few weeks it has come to mind a lot.

The decision we made to go with the clinical trial recently for treatment was made after much prayer.  The trial would have two “Arms.”  Arm A would involve being infused with two chemotherapy drugs, Doxorubicin and Palifosfamide, while Arm B would only involve one, Doxorubicin.  Fifty percent of the patients would be in Arm A, while the other half would be in Arm B.  The placement would be determined strictly by “random selection,” done by computer.  A roll of the dice?  A lousy coin flip?  The luck of the draw?  Rock Paper Scissors?  To determine something this important?

Our first reaction was that we wanted to be in Arm A, so we could receive the best possible benefit of both drugs.  If we were going the chemo route, we might as well go for it.  God reminded us that there is no such thing as “luck” for us who belong to Him.  So instead of fretting and worrying about which Arm we would end up in, we chose to completely trust God to put us in the one we needed to be in.  That really took a lot of pressure off.  We received a call from our study nurse.  God had placed us in Arm B, the one with the one chemo, Doxorubicin.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks.  I received my first treatment on Monday, March 29, a twenty-minute infusion with Doxorubicin.  Had I been in Arm A, I would also have been given the other drug on the same day, as well as on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Most of you know the reaction my body had to the chemo.  I ended up in the hospital for five days.  I believe that had I been treated with both drugs over a three-day period, I would have died.  I asked Dr. Mita if my condition would have been much worse.  She said it would have.  I told her I thought I would have died.  She didn’t say anything.  All I know is that both drugs had almost the same long list of probable side effects.  I believe that God Himself selected Arm B specifically and on purpose for me.  There is no doubt in my mind.  We believe that God used the many prayers of you all for us in a mighty way.

This is the short version of an account of the most recent time Jesus has saved my life.  It is all because of Jesus I’m alive!  Literally!  If you haven’t heard the song, click on the link on the right side of this page under “Our new theme song.”  I hope it moves you like it does me.

“God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up.”  I Samuel 2:6  (The Message)