We serve a God of Miracles!

I have been so excitedly sharing the wonderful news around town, when I checked the blog I could hardly believe I hadn’t published it yet – I was sure that I had.

At my last posting, I said that Nikki was due to meet with her rheumatologist later that day. When she met with him last week, they were discussing the recent tests she had undergone to determine the extent of the damage in her joints. With the level of inflammation that Nikki has had in her joints over a period of nearly 2 years (her doctor has said that he has never before seen such an aggressive case), there should be massive permanent damage to her joints. The fact is that there is NONE! While explaining all of this to her, he asked her to look at him and said, “I know it’s something you have been wanting to hear for a long time, Nikki, but this is a MIRACLE!” He then repeated himself twice and said, “this is miraculous, it is a miracle!” He said, “You should be jumping up and down right now!” Nikki replied saying, “I would if I could!”

In addition to this, Nikki’s oncologist used the following words when studying Nikki’s test results after the first 6 sessions of Chemo. She said, “It's AMAZING, I don’t know when last I saw a liver respond so well to treatment!” These are the very words that we have been praying into the situation daily, “Lord, may the doctors be AMAZED at your works!”

I don’t know if many know that our mother, Louise, was miraculously healed of colon cancer 20 years ago and has not had a trace of it since. The words that we prayed in that time were, “Lord, may the doctors be AMAZED.” The words that the surgeon used when calling my dad during the operation were, “Chris, I don’t know what to say to you other than that I am absolutely AMAZED!” They had taken a biopsy a week or so beforehand and confirmed malignancy in the colon. They had planned to remove the entire colon but when they opened her up, they found not a trace of cancer there! They closed her up without removing the colon as planned. We are beleiving the same for Nikki.

I mentioned previously that medical aid was being sticky about approving further chemotherapy treatments for Nikki. Nikki’s oncologist has gone on maternity leave now but on her last day of work last Friday, the medical aid finally came through to authorise another 6 treatments of the breast cancer chemo, Hercepton, so she went straight through to Oncology on Friday afternoon to receive the first of this next batch of Chemo. Nikki may not continue with the liver chemo as she has reached the maximum dosage of this already. The good news about this is that her hair should start to grow back now as it was that drug that caused the hair loss. We will wait to see what happens there – she has heard of previously straight dark hair returning thick, blonde and curly, so you never know (what an image!)

In the meantime, Nikki has started taking Glyco-nutrients which are said to be fantastic for patients on chemotherapy. As with everything in Nikki’s story though, it’s not that straight cut. The Glyco-nutrients might be immune-stimulants, which would explain why her joints have been so incredibly sore. The rheumatologist has suggested that Nikki go back on to the meds she was on in the past, but these will shut down the immune response to tumors, and in theory stop the immune response to the joints. The other option is called a B-Cell Therapy, but it’s not clear at this stage how safe that option is. The doctor is going to speak to the manufacturers to explain Nikki’s unique situation and get their feedback. He is also attending a conference with some of the world’s top specialists in March and is documenting Nikki’s case to discuss there. Please pray for wisdom and God’s guidance in all of this – that we would know the right path to follow with this. Let’s continue to thank God and to pray and believe that the immune system will respond best to prayer (as the cancer has done!)

Psalm 145:16

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made."

Zechariah 4:6

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 40:29

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Slowly easing into 2010

We're back in action and FINALLY settling into 2010. It's been a slow start and a bit of denial, I must admit! I am waiting for Nikki to send me the latest medical facts regarding her physical condition (so that I dont miss out any important info there) so I will update you on those as soon as I know more. In the mean time, here are some pics taken over the festive season.

There were so many wonderful friends and family visiting Cape Town over Christmas time and it is always so good to catch up with old friends. We got to see the Palmer family again which was wonderful. They were in SA for a Palmer family reunion and took some time out to spend with us on 16th December (I dont have a photo as they are on Pete's PC). Nikki got to see them again before they went home but we left for holiday.

Our cousin Genevieve was also visiting from Australia and we had a number of family reunions during that time too which was great. She is such a special part of Nikki's life and they got to spend some good time together which was so good. Here are Gen and Nikki together at Imhoff's where we had a family lunch:

One of our closest and longest-standing friends, Samantha, was also visiting with her family from Joburg and we spent time together with the Legg family which we havent done in far too long and it was just lovely. Here is a pic of Eve, Sam and Nix (aka the Gumboot Gang) taken at Afton:Christmas Eve was spent together at Afton and the children did a nativity play for us before they went to find presents in their stockings in the treehouse. My dad's brother Robin did the honours and dressed up as Father Christmas and took them all by surpise. Daniel wasn't as interested in opening presents as he was to go back to the front gate with Father Christmas to "check out his sleigh". It was a precious time of fun (and food!) together with family.

Pete and I then spent 2 weeks camping in the Cederberg which was just amazing! We had Pete's family with us for the first part which was lovely. It was the first time that all the Holloway cousins have been together and our girls relished the attention from their older cousins. It was precious to see all of them lying together stargazing on their inflatable matrasses at night. We spent our last weekend of holiday at the Totalsports Challenge in Kleinmond where we managed to take 4th place in the mixed pairs and 29th place overall. Not bad for my first race ever and a good way to start the year.

It was our Megan's 5th birthday on 8th January and we had a Psalty party for her last Saturday. She is all about the details and plays an enormous role in the planning of things like parties - she absolutely loves it! She had it in her mind for some time now that her sister should dress up as the blue singing songbook which she loves so much and I thought this was so cute, I would show you all a pic! So here is Sydney dressed up as Psalty the Songbook!

Nikki is seeing her Rheumatologist again today at 4.30 pm so we will probably know more after that. She has been battling a lot with spasms in her neck and struggles to sleep at night because of this so please keep her in your prayers in line with this. We were chatting earlier and also felt to ask friends to pray more specifically that Nikki's immune system would stop attacking her joints.

Thanks again for your support and prayers which carry us daily. We wish you everything of God's best in your lives for 2010! May it be a very very good year.

Psalm 46:10-11

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

(This scripture has been a challenge and encouragement to me for this year - may it bless you too).

Quick Update

Hi all. We seem to have finally sorted out the issues with our internet line. We have been away in the Cederberg since Christmas and are home for 1 day before heading out to camp in Kleinmond where Pete and I are participating as a team in the Totalsports Challenge (a multisport event). Were doing the "Terra Firma event". Pete is doing the road and mountain biking and I am doing the road and beach run. We need prayer for our heads! The South Easter is set to be pumping and it's all into the wind. So keep us in your prayers pleeeez :-)

I just had to share the latest news with you before leaving. Nikki got her test results back yesterday and her doctor says that she has never had a patient respond so well to treatment. The cancer in her liver has reduced to a tiny spot. Also, the breast tissue is almost looking normal again. I am not sure about the areas in the bone at this stage but we are rejoicing nonetheless.

Because she has responded so well, Nikki's doctor would like her to continue a few more sessions with the liver chemotherapy. The only "bad news" is that the medical aid have refused to pay for further chemo treatments. Nikki's doctor is motivating for more treatments but please keep them in prayer regarding this.

Gotta run...family are waiting in car to leave for Kleinmond. More news when we get back.