Laurie-ann was diagonosed with inflammatory breast cancer stage 3B on August 16, 2019
We Copples have completed more than two thirds of our mission, teaching, and ministry work here in South Africa. We had a successful and busy home visit in eastern Ontario, a family visit in Toronto (where L-A's family is based), and a special time in Virginia with dear family friends (Williamsburg and Richmond). Shortly after we arrived back in SA, L-A began experiencing shooting pain in her left breast from the nipple to the chest wall. She could find no lumps. She went to her replacement GP to be treated for mastitis, and was given a large antibiotic injection, which did help, but not for long. At the same time, she was diagnosed for an unrelated illness (hidradenitis supertiva), which is a debilitating auto-inflammatory skin disease. This was confirmed by her new dermatologist in Paarl. That doctor was concerned about the inflamed breast, but that was not her area of expertise.
L-A returned to one of her wonderful GPs, who was concerned and booked her into the local MediClinic (private hospital) right away, so that ultrasounds could look at the breast and she could be on antibiotic drip and pain meds. This was done for four days, with a followup ultrasound. The technicians could find no lumps, just a "massive amount of inflammation." They were concerned about the size of the lymph nodes in L-A's left underarm. These responded a little to the antibiotics, and when checked again in a week, they grew again. On August 6th, Dr S discharged her due to financial reasons, and gave more meds. We were to followup very soon. The next course of action was to check for the possibility of a rare form of cancer. L-A heard that comment, and thought to follow up for info online, with her symptoms. She found breastcancer.org, which is a reputable site. Other sites were scary.
We called for an earlier appointment for August 13th - when Dr S performed core biopsies, using a laptop ultrasound. L-A prayed softly for Holy Spirit to fill the room, and after the doctor told her that she would hear a sound from the device, she imagined it would be a whirring sound. Instead it sounded like a staple gun, which L-A found hugely funny and she began to laugh. The picture she had in her mind was of him stapling posters to her chest. We love it when God brings joy into the room and brings peace into the situation. Then she was given more pain meds and sent to get a diagnostic mammogram. The techs were very gentle, even though it was difficult getting the side-scans of the left breast. But again, prayers were answered and they could accurately tell what was going on in all the images. Then we had the third ultrasound. This thing was growing FAST.
On August 16th, Dr S personally called with the diagnosis, and while we wanted to see him to talk options, it was important to get the treatment process right away, with staging imaging (to determine how far the cancer spread), meet the oncologist (who is based in the northern Cape Town suburb of CapeGate an hour away), an echocardiagram to see if L-A could handle the chemo treatment), port-insertion surgery and more. We began responding quickly, and appointments were laid out quickly. We are amazed how fast this timeline was moved up to get ahead of this cancer. We aren't sure how fast the Ontario system would have responded. Perhaps we are to be where we are - and continue with ministry.
We went away on a pre-arranged break to the West Coast to see the spring wildflowers, sea and a friend who lives in Yzerfontein. This was a perfect time away, not to draw as L-A had hoped, but to reflect, pray, be by the ocean and receive peace. We had trouble with our special travel medical insurance once they found out that the HS-boils claim was morphing into a bigger illness. We were asked to start a new claim for cancer - they wanted all diagnostic reports, doctors' notes etc. The doctor and oncologist both wrote letters pleading that L-A be allowed to stay for treatment. This was ignored. After more than two weeks of decision making, the case manager phoned Tony twice. First that they they would not support us staying for treatment. The second that L-A must leave within the week, without the first chemotherapy, and fly to Ottawa. Then she would have to present herself (even with no place to live, transport or carer) to the nearest hospital ER as a walk-in. This would put us back over a month of treatment (although the hospital doctors would have fast-tracked her somewhat due to xrays, ultrasounds, mammograms, doctors' notes and a perfectly new port surgery). Still, this would have been very traumatic. L-A insisted on having Tony stay due to so many unexpected loose ends. She would have had to travel on her own.
While Tony was trying to figure out a plan, L-A was inspired by Holy Spirit. She already had a dream the night before of gold falling at her feet. That meant to us, alternate funding. We would crowd fund, as soon as allowed by our Iris supervisors in Canada and South Africa. Both approved, although with the stipulation that any funds that would come through Iris Ministries Canada have to go to our ministry work/living expenses rather than medical costs. We still pay out more in ministry than comes through IMC, so that's not a problem. We set up the campaign poster, which is further down this page. We went ahead with the first haircut (the middle picture of L-A above), arranged a wig, and the first chemotherapy treatment on September 5th. L-A didn't have too many side effects other than tiredness and nausea, but the side effects are cumulative. Later on, neuropathy in the right thigh, and sharp pains were added to the nausea and exhaustion. Hair loss began to incur in mid-September, so we had the supplied chemo hat (see above picture on the right), as well as a few more hats. The wig arrived on 25th September. We ordered a few more hats, (although our friend Michelle knit three more hats, which arrived in early November from Canada.
So Holy Spirit's inspiration came with a beautiful compromise: we could stay in South Africa for the chemo treatments, and followup imaging (mammogram, xrays etc) and then return to Canada in early April. We would have half the process in SA, and half in Canada. We would need cooperation from doctors on both sides of the Atlantic. We shared with Dr S, who was compassionate and willing to work with our Canadian GP, who will likely refer us to an Ottawa surgeon and oncology team (maybe Ottawa Civic or Ottawa General Hospital)? If so, Dr S and this surgeon could work well together, and the transfer of care would go well. We may have found a willing Ottawa surgeon already and are making that option available.
However, there are possibilities that L-A could be healed completely by March. Also that we would have more than enough funding for the masectomy and follow-up to be done in South Africa. We completely trust Dr S and respect our oncologist. We love our South African doctors, our churches, our South African Iris team, our friends, and the children, teens and inmates are very dear to our hearts. We don't want to leave them until we have to do so.
L-A is continuing to work with light children's ministry, writing, art and website work. Tony will do the bulk of everything else with help of others. So both of us need prayer - not just for healing, and ministry but also daily life as Canadian missionary-expats in South Africa.
UPDATE!!! On November 8th, Dr. Laura S examined L-A before her fourth chemo session. She was amazed at the reduction in the lymph node in the left underarm, although there is still some swelling. But the tumour itself has shrunk 60%!!! She kept saying she couldn't believe this was the same person from Hanlie's notes! This was more than just the chemo, this is God accelerating the process. Our prayers are being answered. We need to keep praying, and we do still need financial help too. Dr. Hanlie T was very happy with L-A's progress during the December 2nd visit and wanted L-A to go on a companion drug to Herceptin called Perjeta. She explained that chemo alone will get the job of killing the cancer done. However, it's like a bakkie (pick-up truck); Taxol with Herceptin is like a Mercedes, and Taxol, Perjeta and Herceptin is a Rolls Royce. A Rolls is a good metaphor, since it's a very expensive injection - out of our league! And we're happy with Mercedes.
The next chemo was December 23rd, where L-A was given a three week dose again, which will be weekly from January 13th on. It turned out to be better in the long run due to car problems that would have prevented L-A receiving chemo. However, the combination of so much Taxol, and the Neulastin injection gave L-A severe bone pain for two days - Christmas eve and Christmas day. Thankfully this wore off before preparing to have a Canadian Christmas-style dinner for the family of one of the girls we love and disciple. The following chemo was shorter with no neulastin shot, since Dr. K decided that L-A didn't need the extra boost for the white blood cells. The combination of extra Taxol and neulastin was likely causing the increase of bone pain. L-A returns for chemo weekly now on Monday mornings.
Newsletters
So if you would like to be added to our ministry newsletters (note whether for prayer and general update), please email us at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca
If you would like to be added to the health updates, please email Laurie-Ann at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca
Help us financially (to help cure the tumour, but also for our ministry if you feel so led)
UPDATE on fundraising: As of January 20th, we have raised $22,356 Canadian! We have already spent as of January 20th: $23,114). The insurance company came through at the end of 2019, so our friend Lynn called us in the middle of the night to give us the good news! They covered the early diagnostic treatments from late July and all of August! This includes a surgery and the hospital stay but not the surgeon or any chemotherapy. We have four - five more chemos to go! After the chemo is done (February) we will need to have more scans (possibly breast MRI/PT scans). We also just received a non-Iris honorarium, which will pay for the next chemo on January 30th, and pay off the rest of the previous treatments. Yay God!
We found out the info on the upcoming chemo cycles (but there are increased expenses to come in 2020). We have good news - Taxol is cheaper than the previous A/C chemo. But the necessary herceptin injections are $840 Canadian each, which will be administered every three weeks. L-A's oncologist also recommended a brand new drug called Perjeta. It is excellent but very expensive. We discovered that four rounds of Perjeta would be $18,537. Our estimate (of the new meds, chemo, Herceptin, neulastin, and increased costs of oncology fees and 'facility fees' at CapeGate) is approximately $16,000 PLUS Perjeta This is more than we expected. This makes our new total without Perjeta is now closer to $35,000. (With Perjeta, our new total would be over $53,000!!) We decided that we won't go for this drug, since we can't comprehend paying that much, when Herceptin will work well enough.
Meanwhile, we are thankful that there haven't been any secondary infections other than a cold during the A/C chemo round, both financially and for L-A's health. We also have any further imaging in March before we return to Canada in April. If you are interested in how perjeta works, follow this link to breast cancer.org. It works when paired with herceptin injections, and the patient is taking Taxol/paclitaxel chemotherapy. It's very good on HER positive inflammatory tumours. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/targeted_therapies/perjeta
Everything is noted for income tax purposes, including our donor's gifts, and the insurance company payout for costs incurred in August (the testing period).
Just a note that the medical costs we have already paid include: 4 day Hospital stay with the meds, GP doctor's visits, surgeon visits (hospital), medications (many), five ultrasounds, two mammograms, two sets of xrays, port-insertion surgery, anesthesia, day hospital fees, surgical fees, biopsy fees, lab-work/blood-work fees (many), swabs for more lab-work, oncologist fees, the chemotherapy meds/consumable meds fees for four A/C cycles, 8 cycles of Taxol (Jan 20), Herceptin (Jan 13), cancer clinic fees, cardiologist fees (echo-cardiogram), surgical fees, two wigs, 9 cancer hats, pain and nausea meds, Lyrica, Panado, re-usable ice packs and more. We have nine more weekly chemo sessions to go, with doctor follow-ups, oncologist follow-ups, meds, blood work and more. The chemo should be finished by the end of February, with further testing in March, before we return in April.
Thanks so much to those who have helped us financially (first names only): Ellen, Bev, Luanne, Minx, Mella, Claire, James, Kathy, Cindy, Diane, Gaets, Don, Miriam, Koliah, Samantha, Terri, Cathleen, WC, Dave, David, Henry, Jennifer, Keith, Tanya, Harry, Stewart, Christine, Richard, Susan, Dennis & Lee, Carolyn, Johan & Marie, Melissa, Phil & Maureen, Elaine, Chris, Alma, Rob, Karen, Deborah, Dave, Laila, Myriam, Anthony, Pat, Beth, Neesa, Sandy, Worcester Primary School grade ones, Peter, Rob, Suzette, Karen, Sarah, Pat, Beth, Anthony, Gary, BHCC, Maureen and anon. We are so, so thankful for your kindness and loving hands reached out to help carry us through.
Here's how you can give financially:
DIRECT GIVING TO THE COPPLES (For Medical expenses, NO TAX RECEIPT)
Canadians can contribute via our regular Canadian banking account by e-Transfer to tonycopple@gmail.com
South Africans can contribute via Tony's South African account. via EFT to: FNB (First National Bank) Account Number 62757609494, Branch Code 200407 Account holder: Mr Anthony C Copple.
Anyone can contribute via Tony's Paypal via this link: https://www.paypal.me/WaystogrowinGod
MISSION GIVING TO THE COPPLES (Online Tax receipt through Canada Helps for Canadians, IMC Tax receipt sent later for those donating directly through Iris Ministries Canada office)
Due to Canadian charity laws, our ministry (or 'work') funds from Iris Ministries Canada has to be kept separate. IMC is not a sponsor of L-A's medical needs. IMC is however, the sending agency of the work we do.
Iris Ministries Canada online portal at Canada Helps - please scroll down to South Africa-Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/2555
If you are in Canada and prefer to donate to our mission work by cheque, please visit this page and find out more from the Iris Ministries Canada office. http://irismin.ca/giving
Mailing address:
Iris Ministries Canada, 10 - 1425 Abbeywood Drive Oakville, Ontario L6M 3R3 Canada
Telephone: 905 847-7749 Email: info@irismin.ca
Thank you for considering us and keeping us in your prayers!
PRAYER SECTION at bottom of the page!
L-A returned to one of her wonderful GPs, who was concerned and booked her into the local MediClinic (private hospital) right away, so that ultrasounds could look at the breast and she could be on antibiotic drip and pain meds. This was done for four days, with a followup ultrasound. The technicians could find no lumps, just a "massive amount of inflammation." They were concerned about the size of the lymph nodes in L-A's left underarm. These responded a little to the antibiotics, and when checked again in a week, they grew again. On August 6th, Dr S discharged her due to financial reasons, and gave more meds. We were to followup very soon. The next course of action was to check for the possibility of a rare form of cancer. L-A heard that comment, and thought to follow up for info online, with her symptoms. She found breastcancer.org, which is a reputable site. Other sites were scary.
We called for an earlier appointment for August 13th - when Dr S performed core biopsies, using a laptop ultrasound. L-A prayed softly for Holy Spirit to fill the room, and after the doctor told her that she would hear a sound from the device, she imagined it would be a whirring sound. Instead it sounded like a staple gun, which L-A found hugely funny and she began to laugh. The picture she had in her mind was of him stapling posters to her chest. We love it when God brings joy into the room and brings peace into the situation. Then she was given more pain meds and sent to get a diagnostic mammogram. The techs were very gentle, even though it was difficult getting the side-scans of the left breast. But again, prayers were answered and they could accurately tell what was going on in all the images. Then we had the third ultrasound. This thing was growing FAST.
On August 16th, Dr S personally called with the diagnosis, and while we wanted to see him to talk options, it was important to get the treatment process right away, with staging imaging (to determine how far the cancer spread), meet the oncologist (who is based in the northern Cape Town suburb of CapeGate an hour away), an echocardiagram to see if L-A could handle the chemo treatment), port-insertion surgery and more. We began responding quickly, and appointments were laid out quickly. We are amazed how fast this timeline was moved up to get ahead of this cancer. We aren't sure how fast the Ontario system would have responded. Perhaps we are to be where we are - and continue with ministry.
We went away on a pre-arranged break to the West Coast to see the spring wildflowers, sea and a friend who lives in Yzerfontein. This was a perfect time away, not to draw as L-A had hoped, but to reflect, pray, be by the ocean and receive peace. We had trouble with our special travel medical insurance once they found out that the HS-boils claim was morphing into a bigger illness. We were asked to start a new claim for cancer - they wanted all diagnostic reports, doctors' notes etc. The doctor and oncologist both wrote letters pleading that L-A be allowed to stay for treatment. This was ignored. After more than two weeks of decision making, the case manager phoned Tony twice. First that they they would not support us staying for treatment. The second that L-A must leave within the week, without the first chemotherapy, and fly to Ottawa. Then she would have to present herself (even with no place to live, transport or carer) to the nearest hospital ER as a walk-in. This would put us back over a month of treatment (although the hospital doctors would have fast-tracked her somewhat due to xrays, ultrasounds, mammograms, doctors' notes and a perfectly new port surgery). Still, this would have been very traumatic. L-A insisted on having Tony stay due to so many unexpected loose ends. She would have had to travel on her own.
While Tony was trying to figure out a plan, L-A was inspired by Holy Spirit. She already had a dream the night before of gold falling at her feet. That meant to us, alternate funding. We would crowd fund, as soon as allowed by our Iris supervisors in Canada and South Africa. Both approved, although with the stipulation that any funds that would come through Iris Ministries Canada have to go to our ministry work/living expenses rather than medical costs. We still pay out more in ministry than comes through IMC, so that's not a problem. We set up the campaign poster, which is further down this page. We went ahead with the first haircut (the middle picture of L-A above), arranged a wig, and the first chemotherapy treatment on September 5th. L-A didn't have too many side effects other than tiredness and nausea, but the side effects are cumulative. Later on, neuropathy in the right thigh, and sharp pains were added to the nausea and exhaustion. Hair loss began to incur in mid-September, so we had the supplied chemo hat (see above picture on the right), as well as a few more hats. The wig arrived on 25th September. We ordered a few more hats, (although our friend Michelle knit three more hats, which arrived in early November from Canada.
So Holy Spirit's inspiration came with a beautiful compromise: we could stay in South Africa for the chemo treatments, and followup imaging (mammogram, xrays etc) and then return to Canada in early April. We would have half the process in SA, and half in Canada. We would need cooperation from doctors on both sides of the Atlantic. We shared with Dr S, who was compassionate and willing to work with our Canadian GP, who will likely refer us to an Ottawa surgeon and oncology team (maybe Ottawa Civic or Ottawa General Hospital)? If so, Dr S and this surgeon could work well together, and the transfer of care would go well. We may have found a willing Ottawa surgeon already and are making that option available.
However, there are possibilities that L-A could be healed completely by March. Also that we would have more than enough funding for the masectomy and follow-up to be done in South Africa. We completely trust Dr S and respect our oncologist. We love our South African doctors, our churches, our South African Iris team, our friends, and the children, teens and inmates are very dear to our hearts. We don't want to leave them until we have to do so.
L-A is continuing to work with light children's ministry, writing, art and website work. Tony will do the bulk of everything else with help of others. So both of us need prayer - not just for healing, and ministry but also daily life as Canadian missionary-expats in South Africa.
UPDATE!!! On November 8th, Dr. Laura S examined L-A before her fourth chemo session. She was amazed at the reduction in the lymph node in the left underarm, although there is still some swelling. But the tumour itself has shrunk 60%!!! She kept saying she couldn't believe this was the same person from Hanlie's notes! This was more than just the chemo, this is God accelerating the process. Our prayers are being answered. We need to keep praying, and we do still need financial help too. Dr. Hanlie T was very happy with L-A's progress during the December 2nd visit and wanted L-A to go on a companion drug to Herceptin called Perjeta. She explained that chemo alone will get the job of killing the cancer done. However, it's like a bakkie (pick-up truck); Taxol with Herceptin is like a Mercedes, and Taxol, Perjeta and Herceptin is a Rolls Royce. A Rolls is a good metaphor, since it's a very expensive injection - out of our league! And we're happy with Mercedes.
The next chemo was December 23rd, where L-A was given a three week dose again, which will be weekly from January 13th on. It turned out to be better in the long run due to car problems that would have prevented L-A receiving chemo. However, the combination of so much Taxol, and the Neulastin injection gave L-A severe bone pain for two days - Christmas eve and Christmas day. Thankfully this wore off before preparing to have a Canadian Christmas-style dinner for the family of one of the girls we love and disciple. The following chemo was shorter with no neulastin shot, since Dr. K decided that L-A didn't need the extra boost for the white blood cells. The combination of extra Taxol and neulastin was likely causing the increase of bone pain. L-A returns for chemo weekly now on Monday mornings.
Newsletters
So if you would like to be added to our ministry newsletters (note whether for prayer and general update), please email us at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca
If you would like to be added to the health updates, please email Laurie-Ann at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca
Help us financially (to help cure the tumour, but also for our ministry if you feel so led)
UPDATE on fundraising: As of January 20th, we have raised $22,356 Canadian! We have already spent as of January 20th: $23,114). The insurance company came through at the end of 2019, so our friend Lynn called us in the middle of the night to give us the good news! They covered the early diagnostic treatments from late July and all of August! This includes a surgery and the hospital stay but not the surgeon or any chemotherapy. We have four - five more chemos to go! After the chemo is done (February) we will need to have more scans (possibly breast MRI/PT scans). We also just received a non-Iris honorarium, which will pay for the next chemo on January 30th, and pay off the rest of the previous treatments. Yay God!
We found out the info on the upcoming chemo cycles (but there are increased expenses to come in 2020). We have good news - Taxol is cheaper than the previous A/C chemo. But the necessary herceptin injections are $840 Canadian each, which will be administered every three weeks. L-A's oncologist also recommended a brand new drug called Perjeta. It is excellent but very expensive. We discovered that four rounds of Perjeta would be $18,537. Our estimate (of the new meds, chemo, Herceptin, neulastin, and increased costs of oncology fees and 'facility fees' at CapeGate) is approximately $16,000 PLUS Perjeta This is more than we expected. This makes our new total without Perjeta is now closer to $35,000. (With Perjeta, our new total would be over $53,000!!) We decided that we won't go for this drug, since we can't comprehend paying that much, when Herceptin will work well enough.
Meanwhile, we are thankful that there haven't been any secondary infections other than a cold during the A/C chemo round, both financially and for L-A's health. We also have any further imaging in March before we return to Canada in April. If you are interested in how perjeta works, follow this link to breast cancer.org. It works when paired with herceptin injections, and the patient is taking Taxol/paclitaxel chemotherapy. It's very good on HER positive inflammatory tumours. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/targeted_therapies/perjeta
Everything is noted for income tax purposes, including our donor's gifts, and the insurance company payout for costs incurred in August (the testing period).
Just a note that the medical costs we have already paid include: 4 day Hospital stay with the meds, GP doctor's visits, surgeon visits (hospital), medications (many), five ultrasounds, two mammograms, two sets of xrays, port-insertion surgery, anesthesia, day hospital fees, surgical fees, biopsy fees, lab-work/blood-work fees (many), swabs for more lab-work, oncologist fees, the chemotherapy meds/consumable meds fees for four A/C cycles, 8 cycles of Taxol (Jan 20), Herceptin (Jan 13), cancer clinic fees, cardiologist fees (echo-cardiogram), surgical fees, two wigs, 9 cancer hats, pain and nausea meds, Lyrica, Panado, re-usable ice packs and more. We have nine more weekly chemo sessions to go, with doctor follow-ups, oncologist follow-ups, meds, blood work and more. The chemo should be finished by the end of February, with further testing in March, before we return in April.
Thanks so much to those who have helped us financially (first names only): Ellen, Bev, Luanne, Minx, Mella, Claire, James, Kathy, Cindy, Diane, Gaets, Don, Miriam, Koliah, Samantha, Terri, Cathleen, WC, Dave, David, Henry, Jennifer, Keith, Tanya, Harry, Stewart, Christine, Richard, Susan, Dennis & Lee, Carolyn, Johan & Marie, Melissa, Phil & Maureen, Elaine, Chris, Alma, Rob, Karen, Deborah, Dave, Laila, Myriam, Anthony, Pat, Beth, Neesa, Sandy, Worcester Primary School grade ones, Peter, Rob, Suzette, Karen, Sarah, Pat, Beth, Anthony, Gary, BHCC, Maureen and anon. We are so, so thankful for your kindness and loving hands reached out to help carry us through.
Here's how you can give financially:
DIRECT GIVING TO THE COPPLES (For Medical expenses, NO TAX RECEIPT)
Canadians can contribute via our regular Canadian banking account by e-Transfer to tonycopple@gmail.com
South Africans can contribute via Tony's South African account. via EFT to: FNB (First National Bank) Account Number 62757609494, Branch Code 200407 Account holder: Mr Anthony C Copple.
Anyone can contribute via Tony's Paypal via this link: https://www.paypal.me/WaystogrowinGod
MISSION GIVING TO THE COPPLES (Online Tax receipt through Canada Helps for Canadians, IMC Tax receipt sent later for those donating directly through Iris Ministries Canada office)
Due to Canadian charity laws, our ministry (or 'work') funds from Iris Ministries Canada has to be kept separate. IMC is not a sponsor of L-A's medical needs. IMC is however, the sending agency of the work we do.
Iris Ministries Canada online portal at Canada Helps - please scroll down to South Africa-Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/2555
If you are in Canada and prefer to donate to our mission work by cheque, please visit this page and find out more from the Iris Ministries Canada office. http://irismin.ca/giving
Mailing address:
Iris Ministries Canada, 10 - 1425 Abbeywood Drive Oakville, Ontario L6M 3R3 Canada
Telephone: 905 847-7749 Email: info@irismin.ca
Thank you for considering us and keeping us in your prayers!
PRAYER SECTION at bottom of the page!
L-A with Tony and our friend and spiritual daughter, Jamelia
(in Hillsong Somerset West)
(in Hillsong Somerset West)
Here are the posters that we are sharing on Facebook, and different websites. We will update it in time, but meanwhile it's sufficient for what is needed now. When you see one, please feel free to share with anyone you believe may be able to help.
Thanks and may God bless you.
Thanks and may God bless you.
Prayer Points
- For Laurie-Ann's healing – accelerated and gradual. On November 8th, We were given the great news by a second oncologist that the tumour has shrunk 60 percent. The lymph nodes in L-A's left underarm also greatly improved. Let's pray the healing is finished (however it comes). On the December 2nd chemo, the oncologist was very pleased with L-A's progress.
- For God’s glory to shine as he does something wonderful as promised. This illness was allowed for a good reason.
- For the chemotherapy to go well without complications (nausea, exhaustion, neuropathy, dizziness, loss of balance)
- For pain management (the cancer, peripheral neuropathy, knee issues) There is no longer an issue of neuropathy in the left underarm, due to the shrinkage of the tumour! Yay Jesus!
- For “good pain” days – that L-A can continue certain assigned work and ministry within the context of rest.
- For miracle provision (through crowd funding, direct gifts as needed, and stretching of funds) We are behind and have been for a while. May provision help catch up with that!
- For wisdom and direction on how to raise these specific funds. We didn’t get more specifics other than the gold at L-A’s feet.
- Debt cancellation for what has already been spent
- Wrapping up loose ends of ministry to end early
- For continued funding towards our ministry work, which we are still continuing. L-A is still doing some ministry with the kids that is not taxing, art work, and writing. They are now not allowed to kiss her, but they can hug.
- Wisdom on what ministries to drop or tie up loose ends. (L-A’s position as bookkeeper for Change Makers ended early due to the new bookkeeper's eagerness to begin, and well as her teaching art at Master Peace Academy ended in late November).
- For the children and teens we work with: that they understand the process, and grow spiritually through it.
- For supernatural grace for all the medical team working with L-A in Worcester and Cape Gate Oncology Centre.
- For Tony: wisdom, grace and strength as caretaker and missionary husband, and his health.
- Our regular finances to continue to pay for Ottawa and South Africa expenses. (non-mission related)
- For protection against secondary illnesses while going through chemo. L-A may not be covered for these by insurance.
- That L-A can be inspired and have a chance to draw more and more colouring sheets to be used in a colouring book, colouring calendar and with the children. The deadline is December 31st before we go into translation mode for the Afrikaans section.
- For preparation for treatment in Canada that will follow treatment in South Africa.
- For good communication and favour with the Canadian surgeon, his secretary and the Breast Health Care Centre in Ottawa. The first Canadian appointment is to be April 22, 2020.
- For the transition between South Africa and Canada - that the travel in different countries is as comfortable as can be, whether in stopover mode, airport or plane.
Thank you for your perseverance in reading! If you get any words of knowledge or encouragement, please do pass this on to us. We thank you for praying, loving and supporting us as you are able.
Love, Laurie-Ann and Tony