But For His Grace, There Go I...

It never fails. Every time I get all 'snivelly' and get to thinking 'poor me', God has a way of shaking my timbers. This morning I received a prayer request from a dear friend....
"JANIE'S AN OLD HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE OF MINE,PLEASE PUT HER GRANDDAUGHTER & FAMILY ON YOUR PRAYER LIST.
DEWAYNE. WHITE"

This is their story:

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=elesha

Yesterday, we heard the news that every parent dreads. There are many tumors and NB filled lymph nodes in Elesha's abdomen. The tumors are mostly between her spine and organs. They are pressing on her heart, one lung and kidney. The cancer is multiplying quickly. We were told that her previous CT showed a lymph node in her abdomen, but it was a normal size and shape, so it was not concerning. That lymph node was probably the beginning and the rest of the tumors have all popped up in about 6 weeks.
We decided to stay in the hospital last night so that we could start chemo today. The docs aren't sure how the tumor pressure is affecting her kidney, so the first thing that we need to do is to check kidney function. If it is good, we will proceed with some heavy medications (Cytoxin followed by vincristine and Topotecan). We are going to try this first round and see if it has any effect before we go on to round 2. We may need to change course if the cancer does not respond. We were told there's only a 30% chance that the cancer will respond to anything. Although the statistics give us a good idea of what we're up against, our faith is in a God who brings the dead to life, so we know this is not too difficult for Him.
Dwight and Hannah know that Elesha's relapsed. They are asking many hard questions and we (and my parents with whom they're staying) are doing our best to answer them truthfully. Please pray for them as they process all this information and try to understand it in light of the theology they know.
Our prayer is that God will continue to receive praise from Elesha on this earth and that we will be able to praise Him for miraculous healing. Our faith does not rest on whether or not God does as we wish. Our sorrow and pain don't change the character of God. He is the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and it is in His hands that we lay this precious little girl.
Thanks for praying,

Please lift this family in your prayers....that God will show His Glory through all the pain and heartache.

Thank you, D. White for your warmth, compassion, and ever-lasting loyalty to your friends and loved ones.