On a Wing & A Prayer
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A wing and a prayer - that's literally all we had when I dropped my parents off at the airport last Sunday.
The last time I pulled up to the ATL Delta terminal my dad was dropping me off for a flight to Dallas, TX. I remember having the feeling of the "unknown", that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach because I had never flown alone. I remember trying to be strong and fight back the tears as he dropped me off, hearing his words of, "I will see you soon right back here." All those emotions came flooding back when I pulled up to let them out - except this time was different, that feeling of the unknown was too much to fight back the tears this time. A total step of faith in total darkness and the words, "I will see you soon" are harder than you think when life has thrown you a curve ball.
A direct flight from ATL to San Diego where a shuttle would meet them and carry them to the hotel for the night. The next morning a medical van would pick them up and carry them to Chipsa Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico where dad would start his treatment plan to attack the cancer cells which had formed tumors within his body.
Dad's pain in his lower back/hip area was so bad, all we could do was pray BIG and HARD for enough relief so he could travel. He has started his treatment protocol, the ones he can do at the moment for he is still trying to manage his lower back pain caused by the tumor sitting on his spine area pressing against his sciatica nerve.
Dad is a fighter, he is so strong hearted. He isn't one to just throw his hands up and quit, he's taught me you go after what you want in life. Right now, he is doing that more than ever - he is fighting for his life - he is fighting for a healthy body - he is fighting for more time - he is fighting the battle of cancer once again. So if you are praying for him - please keep lifting him up in prayer. He has always been such a Godly example to me over the years and he makes me proud to say, "that's my dad".
So what do we do for our parents when they face a valley - we fight with them and for them. My parents have been so good to me over the years, helping me in ways I could never repay them for. Just recently dad went above and beyond to help Derrick and I personally.
They will probably disown me if they see this, but I wanted to do this for them to help lighten the load financially some for them hopefully. Insurance doesn't cover a single penny of his treatment, all of the medical therapy is out of pocket. We knew this going in -but you cannot put a pricetag on life. Especially one you love.
It was going to be a $35,000.00 up front expense.
We have an amazing Healthcare Insurance company that has been so good to dad in the past with his first surgery 10 years ago. However, this isn't covered by any insurance at all. This treatment we prayed over and felt as if it was a must do as soon as possible for him. It was something that could not wait any longer.
He will need follow up treatment again in the future as well. Treatments that we are praying over for the HOPE we are so desperately seeking right now. Mom and dad would never ask for any assistance in any form, that's just who they are. They are both the type to say we will figure it out some how. I have seen personally over the years what a blessing they have both been to others, how they have reached out a helping hand not expecting anything in return. I know how much they have tried to help and loved on others in the past in their time of need. So I guess I am just wanting to pay it forward to them as much as possible. Try and lighten the financial burden a little if possible so they can focus on his road to healing.
If you feel led to help in any way, no matter how big or how small it may seem to you, please know it is greatly appreciated more than you know.
PLEASE keep praying, praying specifically for the pain to go away in his lower back, so he can focus on all the treatment he needs. Pray for total and complete healing within his body, praying the cancer cells will dissolve in response to his treatment.
From our family to yours... THANK YOU!! Thank you for loving my parents, thank you for being the friend you have been to them over the years.
We love and appreciate each one of you.
(I've attached the orginal post below if you aren't familar with what has happened in the past week).
Calling all my PRAYER Warriors:
It's been 10 years since we last heard the word Cancer. 10 years out since my dad had his esophageal cancer surgery. A surgery they told him would be worse than open heart surgery. They removed a large part of his stomach and esophagus due to Barrett's, aka acid reflux which can cause cancer cells to form. 10 years we have prayed for healing. 10 years we have held our breath praying it never comes back, because if you have ever had someone you love diagnosed you know it is always there in the back of your mind. The thought, the concern never truly goes away as much as you try to not think about it.
My dad has been having horrific lower back pain for the past few weeks. They diagnosed him as having sciatica and have been treating him as if that is what he had for 6 weeks. Mom had that gut feeling something just wasn't right. So she requested more test to be run. After having a MRI the results showed a mass on his lower spine that is pressing against the vertebrae and causing the pain he's been having. The test also showed several other tumors within his body.
Tuesday June 29th we heard the word cancer again.
Chemo wasn't an option, only radiation. Seeing your parent or anyone you love in pain isn't easy. In fact, it feels like you cannot breathe, no matter how hard you try. That feeling you get when the breath is knocked out of you unexpectedly.
We've been praying for answers the past week within our family and praying about our next steps for treatment for dad.
We had to step out on total FAITH. Step out of the normal US protocol because it wasn't an option. Dad had lost so much weight due to being in pain and having to take pain meds. He needed nutrition and treatments to help boost his body in order to fight from within. Stepping out on Faith and in total blindness is harder to do than we realize until we have no other choice. I didn't know why at the time, but 2 years ago a guy named Ryan D. Luelf came across my FB feed. His story is nothing short of amazing. I followed his journey, honestly not sure at times why I was so intrigued by his health updates. It's funny how God works, when we don't even realize he is at work, planning and preparing us for things to come. Ryan's journey led me to start researching more about his treatment at Chipsa Hospital. Still questioning in my mind "why" am I so curious to learn more about this place. He was slowly preparing me to have a place for HOPE that no where else could offer. People have been placed in our path, that only God could send, who have given us the encouragement we were looking for .. they have given us the courage to step out on faith in total darkness.
He started treatment today. Treatment therapy we are praying will shrink the tumors and reduce the tumor markers. Reducing the tumor will reduce his pain - which is a really BIG prayer right now. We are praying for complete healing of his body here on Earth. God has been so good to us in hearing our prayers 10 years ago. Our prayer is he will bless us with another 10 plus years.
So I am asking if you have taken the time to read this far.. will you add my dad and our family to your prayer list? Our family would be so grateful, for I know there is power in prayer.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. - Matthew 18:20
The last time I pulled up to the ATL Delta terminal my dad was dropping me off for a flight to Dallas, TX. I remember having the feeling of the "unknown", that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach because I had never flown alone. I remember trying to be strong and fight back the tears as he dropped me off, hearing his words of, "I will see you soon right back here." All those emotions came flooding back when I pulled up to let them out - except this time was different, that feeling of the unknown was too much to fight back the tears this time. A total step of faith in total darkness and the words, "I will see you soon" are harder than you think when life has thrown you a curve ball.
A direct flight from ATL to San Diego where a shuttle would meet them and carry them to the hotel for the night. The next morning a medical van would pick them up and carry them to Chipsa Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico where dad would start his treatment plan to attack the cancer cells which had formed tumors within his body.
Dad's pain in his lower back/hip area was so bad, all we could do was pray BIG and HARD for enough relief so he could travel. He has started his treatment protocol, the ones he can do at the moment for he is still trying to manage his lower back pain caused by the tumor sitting on his spine area pressing against his sciatica nerve.
Dad is a fighter, he is so strong hearted. He isn't one to just throw his hands up and quit, he's taught me you go after what you want in life. Right now, he is doing that more than ever - he is fighting for his life - he is fighting for a healthy body - he is fighting for more time - he is fighting the battle of cancer once again. So if you are praying for him - please keep lifting him up in prayer. He has always been such a Godly example to me over the years and he makes me proud to say, "that's my dad".
So what do we do for our parents when they face a valley - we fight with them and for them. My parents have been so good to me over the years, helping me in ways I could never repay them for. Just recently dad went above and beyond to help Derrick and I personally.
They will probably disown me if they see this, but I wanted to do this for them to help lighten the load financially some for them hopefully. Insurance doesn't cover a single penny of his treatment, all of the medical therapy is out of pocket. We knew this going in -but you cannot put a pricetag on life. Especially one you love.
It was going to be a $35,000.00 up front expense.
We have an amazing Healthcare Insurance company that has been so good to dad in the past with his first surgery 10 years ago. However, this isn't covered by any insurance at all. This treatment we prayed over and felt as if it was a must do as soon as possible for him. It was something that could not wait any longer.
He will need follow up treatment again in the future as well. Treatments that we are praying over for the HOPE we are so desperately seeking right now. Mom and dad would never ask for any assistance in any form, that's just who they are. They are both the type to say we will figure it out some how. I have seen personally over the years what a blessing they have both been to others, how they have reached out a helping hand not expecting anything in return. I know how much they have tried to help and loved on others in the past in their time of need. So I guess I am just wanting to pay it forward to them as much as possible. Try and lighten the financial burden a little if possible so they can focus on his road to healing.
If you feel led to help in any way, no matter how big or how small it may seem to you, please know it is greatly appreciated more than you know.
PLEASE keep praying, praying specifically for the pain to go away in his lower back, so he can focus on all the treatment he needs. Pray for total and complete healing within his body, praying the cancer cells will dissolve in response to his treatment.
From our family to yours... THANK YOU!! Thank you for loving my parents, thank you for being the friend you have been to them over the years.
We love and appreciate each one of you.
(I've attached the orginal post below if you aren't familar with what has happened in the past week).
Calling all my PRAYER Warriors:
It's been 10 years since we last heard the word Cancer. 10 years out since my dad had his esophageal cancer surgery. A surgery they told him would be worse than open heart surgery. They removed a large part of his stomach and esophagus due to Barrett's, aka acid reflux which can cause cancer cells to form. 10 years we have prayed for healing. 10 years we have held our breath praying it never comes back, because if you have ever had someone you love diagnosed you know it is always there in the back of your mind. The thought, the concern never truly goes away as much as you try to not think about it.
My dad has been having horrific lower back pain for the past few weeks. They diagnosed him as having sciatica and have been treating him as if that is what he had for 6 weeks. Mom had that gut feeling something just wasn't right. So she requested more test to be run. After having a MRI the results showed a mass on his lower spine that is pressing against the vertebrae and causing the pain he's been having. The test also showed several other tumors within his body.
Tuesday June 29th we heard the word cancer again.
Chemo wasn't an option, only radiation. Seeing your parent or anyone you love in pain isn't easy. In fact, it feels like you cannot breathe, no matter how hard you try. That feeling you get when the breath is knocked out of you unexpectedly.
We've been praying for answers the past week within our family and praying about our next steps for treatment for dad.
We had to step out on total FAITH. Step out of the normal US protocol because it wasn't an option. Dad had lost so much weight due to being in pain and having to take pain meds. He needed nutrition and treatments to help boost his body in order to fight from within. Stepping out on Faith and in total blindness is harder to do than we realize until we have no other choice. I didn't know why at the time, but 2 years ago a guy named Ryan D. Luelf came across my FB feed. His story is nothing short of amazing. I followed his journey, honestly not sure at times why I was so intrigued by his health updates. It's funny how God works, when we don't even realize he is at work, planning and preparing us for things to come. Ryan's journey led me to start researching more about his treatment at Chipsa Hospital. Still questioning in my mind "why" am I so curious to learn more about this place. He was slowly preparing me to have a place for HOPE that no where else could offer. People have been placed in our path, that only God could send, who have given us the encouragement we were looking for .. they have given us the courage to step out on faith in total darkness.
He started treatment today. Treatment therapy we are praying will shrink the tumors and reduce the tumor markers. Reducing the tumor will reduce his pain - which is a really BIG prayer right now. We are praying for complete healing of his body here on Earth. God has been so good to us in hearing our prayers 10 years ago. Our prayer is he will bless us with another 10 plus years.
So I am asking if you have taken the time to read this far.. will you add my dad and our family to your prayer list? Our family would be so grateful, for I know there is power in prayer.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. - Matthew 18:20
Organizer
Alicia Dorsey
Organizer
Panama City Beach, FL
