- C
- D
Rebecca’s HOPE,
I’d like to share a story about my wife Rebecca. Earlier last summer (2014) at the age of 46, Rebecca was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer with metastasis to her liver and lungs. She just finished six months of chemotherapy on December 2 and the doctors now have her on “maintenance therapy.” Since the cancer is quite advanced, “maintenance therapy” means the doctors can no longer shrink the tumors by use of mainstream chemotherapy without adverse results because of chemo’s high toxic build up in the body. So the goal of maintenance therapy is simply to contain the disease, allowing the patient to live a little longer, but resigning the patient’s hope.
Rebecca is a strong, beautiful woman, who is full of hope. She is not ready to stop fighting this disease, and she is not ready to accept “maintenance therapy” as the final answer.
She is fiercely independent, runs on coffee, handles emergencies with grace and calm, and has a kiss that cures a child’s sadness or a husband’s weary day. 1 Corinthians says it is all about Rebecca: her love is patient, her love is kind, her love is not self-seeking, and it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
A mother of four, Rebecca’s treasure is her family and she has devoted her life to them for the last 25 years. So often, she has been the unseen hero as she has sacrificed her own needs to support me as a U.S. Marine (now retired) while serving my country.
Rebecca’s oncologist judges her prognosis to be approximately 18 months. With the present protocol, there is no cure for Rebecca’s disease, but there is hope, with a new approach, that her prognosis may be extended. The good news is that other treatments are available! The window of opportunity is only open for a short time, so that is why I am telling Rebecca’s story and asking for your help.
Any alternative treatment requires significant out-of-pocket expenses that insurance does not cover, so any amount of money you can give is appreciated and will be put to good use. Our prayer for Rebecca is for healing and hope so that, God willing, her quality of life and days may be increased
We are humbly asking for your financial help and your prayers. We believe that God can turn this situation around, so please pray for my dear Rebecca. Even though the financial need seems overwhelming, we believe God moves in the hearts of people to help in situations like ours.
Thank you in advance for any donation, and thank you also for helping spread the word to your friends and contacts about Rebecca. On behalf of Rebecca and our family, thanks and God bless you!
Sincerely,
Gary Smith
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I Look To You
By Whitney Houston (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pze_mdbOK8
As I lay me down,
Heaven hear me now.
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all.
Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun.
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
About to lose my breathe,
There’s no more fighting left,
Sinking to rise no more,
Searching for that open door.
And every road that I’ve taken
Lead to my regret
And I don’t know if I’m going to make it.
Nothing to do but lift my head
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
My levees are broken
My walls have come
Tumbling down on me
The rain is falling.
Defeat is calling.
I need you to set me free.
Take me far away from the battle.
I need you.
Shine on me.
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Need You Now
By Plumb (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGIumjD6I3M
Well, everybody’s got a story to tell
And everybody’s got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there’s beauty here
‘Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on
I can’t let go, I can’t move on
I want to believe there’s meaning here
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
Standing on a road I didn’t plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I’m trying to hear that still small voice
I’m trying to hear above the noise
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take
How many time have you heard me cry out?
And how many time have you given me the strength?
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope (For My Sister)
By Neal Smith and B. McNulty (2014)
http://youtu.be/RAi9BDLmhZE
A veteran leaves a war and comes home to another
Only this one’s internal no chance to run for cover
Never asked for permission it’s the same old story
You invaded my life without a care or a warning
One day I awoke and it seemed no different than any other
Felt a little tired but thought I’ll have some time to recover
At the doctor’s office nervous waiting for the results
His words took me by surprise no time to blame or cast insults
All the children and the innocent lives
Like a thief in the night we are all left deprived
Those with hope and dreams live for the future
Dashed upon the rocks, like a ship without people or an anchor
After all the madness in disarray we are left standing
As if there is no hope and our spirit just disbanding
But I am different from the rest and I am also stronger
I am not going to cower or tremble, my stamina lasts longer
Some people give up fearful of the darkness
Not me, I see the stars illuminating through the darkness
There is strength in numbers as my family surrounds me
They along with God ensure my life goes on eternally
To those who say life is short, time waits for no one
I reply time has no chains, for those who believe in the Son
My family back home is with me, so I am never alone
Our roots grow deep; these seeds of love have been Heavenly sewn
If there is something I could tell my children
Embrace the day and build a stronger foundation
To my partner who has been with me for so long
Even when I am not with you, I am with you all along
Now is the time to pull it altogether
To focus on the goal and find the hidden treasures
Just know my spirit is strong and my will is driven
I am determined that this disease will retreat into remission
You promised me nothing more than I can handle
Holding you to your word I will carry your mantle
No matter the situation and the odds of my survival
From this point forward I intend to overcome and to thrive on
Some people give up fearful of the darkness
Not me, I see the stars illuminating through the darkness
There is strength in numbers as my family surrounds me
They along with God ensure my life goes on eternally
I’d like to share a story about my wife Rebecca. Earlier last summer (2014) at the age of 46, Rebecca was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer with metastasis to her liver and lungs. She just finished six months of chemotherapy on December 2 and the doctors now have her on “maintenance therapy.” Since the cancer is quite advanced, “maintenance therapy” means the doctors can no longer shrink the tumors by use of mainstream chemotherapy without adverse results because of chemo’s high toxic build up in the body. So the goal of maintenance therapy is simply to contain the disease, allowing the patient to live a little longer, but resigning the patient’s hope.
Rebecca is a strong, beautiful woman, who is full of hope. She is not ready to stop fighting this disease, and she is not ready to accept “maintenance therapy” as the final answer.
She is fiercely independent, runs on coffee, handles emergencies with grace and calm, and has a kiss that cures a child’s sadness or a husband’s weary day. 1 Corinthians says it is all about Rebecca: her love is patient, her love is kind, her love is not self-seeking, and it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
A mother of four, Rebecca’s treasure is her family and she has devoted her life to them for the last 25 years. So often, she has been the unseen hero as she has sacrificed her own needs to support me as a U.S. Marine (now retired) while serving my country.
Rebecca’s oncologist judges her prognosis to be approximately 18 months. With the present protocol, there is no cure for Rebecca’s disease, but there is hope, with a new approach, that her prognosis may be extended. The good news is that other treatments are available! The window of opportunity is only open for a short time, so that is why I am telling Rebecca’s story and asking for your help.
Any alternative treatment requires significant out-of-pocket expenses that insurance does not cover, so any amount of money you can give is appreciated and will be put to good use. Our prayer for Rebecca is for healing and hope so that, God willing, her quality of life and days may be increased
We are humbly asking for your financial help and your prayers. We believe that God can turn this situation around, so please pray for my dear Rebecca. Even though the financial need seems overwhelming, we believe God moves in the hearts of people to help in situations like ours.
Thank you in advance for any donation, and thank you also for helping spread the word to your friends and contacts about Rebecca. On behalf of Rebecca and our family, thanks and God bless you!
Sincerely,
Gary Smith
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I Look To You
By Whitney Houston (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pze_mdbOK8
As I lay me down,
Heaven hear me now.
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all.
Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun.
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
About to lose my breathe,
There’s no more fighting left,
Sinking to rise no more,
Searching for that open door.
And every road that I’ve taken
Lead to my regret
And I don’t know if I’m going to make it.
Nothing to do but lift my head
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
My levees are broken
My walls have come
Tumbling down on me
The rain is falling.
Defeat is calling.
I need you to set me free.
Take me far away from the battle.
I need you.
Shine on me.
I look to you.
I look to you.
After all my strength is gone,
In you I can be strong
I look to you.
I look to you.
And when melodies are gone,
In you I hear a song.
I look to you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Need You Now
By Plumb (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGIumjD6I3M
Well, everybody’s got a story to tell
And everybody’s got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there’s beauty here
‘Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on
I can’t let go, I can’t move on
I want to believe there’s meaning here
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
Standing on a road I didn’t plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I’m trying to hear that still small voice
I’m trying to hear above the noise
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take
How many time have you heard me cry out?
And how many time have you given me the strength?
How many time have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many time have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope (For My Sister)
By Neal Smith and B. McNulty (2014)
http://youtu.be/RAi9BDLmhZE
A veteran leaves a war and comes home to another
Only this one’s internal no chance to run for cover
Never asked for permission it’s the same old story
You invaded my life without a care or a warning
One day I awoke and it seemed no different than any other
Felt a little tired but thought I’ll have some time to recover
At the doctor’s office nervous waiting for the results
His words took me by surprise no time to blame or cast insults
All the children and the innocent lives
Like a thief in the night we are all left deprived
Those with hope and dreams live for the future
Dashed upon the rocks, like a ship without people or an anchor
After all the madness in disarray we are left standing
As if there is no hope and our spirit just disbanding
But I am different from the rest and I am also stronger
I am not going to cower or tremble, my stamina lasts longer
Some people give up fearful of the darkness
Not me, I see the stars illuminating through the darkness
There is strength in numbers as my family surrounds me
They along with God ensure my life goes on eternally
To those who say life is short, time waits for no one
I reply time has no chains, for those who believe in the Son
My family back home is with me, so I am never alone
Our roots grow deep; these seeds of love have been Heavenly sewn
If there is something I could tell my children
Embrace the day and build a stronger foundation
To my partner who has been with me for so long
Even when I am not with you, I am with you all along
Now is the time to pull it altogether
To focus on the goal and find the hidden treasures
Just know my spirit is strong and my will is driven
I am determined that this disease will retreat into remission
You promised me nothing more than I can handle
Holding you to your word I will carry your mantle
No matter the situation and the odds of my survival
From this point forward I intend to overcome and to thrive on
Some people give up fearful of the darkness
Not me, I see the stars illuminating through the darkness
There is strength in numbers as my family surrounds me
They along with God ensure my life goes on eternally