The Struggle Has Ended

Greg Hewlett passed away on January 17th after nearly eight years of battling colon cancer. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted to know that he is with his Lord.

If you would like to leave your thoughts on Greg, please see this thread.

If you would like to make a charitable donation in Greg's honor, please see this thread.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Full throttle ahead, tank on low

Quick update:

After more discussion this week with my oncologist, we've decided to move forward with chemotherapy to attempt to control (shrink!) these two lymph node tumors. The PET scan this week confirmed they were cancerous. They are in the center of my chest near where the windpipe splits into a branch for each lung. Three times we've seen an inoperable situation followed by chemo response that surprised the doctors. We need a fourth.

Chemo begins tomorrow. Christine puts it this way, "the tsunami is coming Monday." Dripping starts at around noon. Please pray that these tumors will respond and that the door will open up for surgical removal. Also for our strength.

Tonight, Christine and I are going out - to celebrate life.

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On another note - send your Simpson avatars this week to be included in the group shot!

19 comments:

Scott Rogers said...

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Greg, I love you, and am trusting God to bring you and Christine through this. Thank you for being a good brother in the Lord, and for the example that you've set.
-Scott Rogers

Fran said...

Prayers for your mutual strength are at the top of my list!!

Sarah said...

We are praying for you and Christine. May you have the endurance and strength to get through this one. Let us know if we can do ANYTHING for you. I am so glad to hear that you are out tonight - good for you guys!!

John said...

We are pulling for you Greg.

Jeni & Dick Wiggers said...

Dear Greg and Christine,
We continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers each and every day. You will especially be in our prayer this week as you begin your next round of treatments.
Blessings,
Jeni & Dick

Bud and Suzanne Hopkins said...

Greg,
Bud and I echo the sentiments noted by your friend Scott. Nothing could be more appropriate than that hymn.
We will be praying for you and Christine this week and in the weeks to come.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow...
God Hold You in the Palm of His Hand!

Shannon said...

Thanks for the clear visual - praying for tumor shrinkage, for a fourth miraculous time, and I am praying that I will visualize with the same prayerful intensity the Lord shrinking my sin. I rarely do. Love you both.

Mike Shepard said...

Greg - you, your family, and your doctors are in each of my prayers. God be with you.
Mike

Henry Chu said...

An old hymn by Horatius Bonab
I heard the voice of Jesus say
"Come unto Me and rest
Lay down, thou weary one
lay down thy Thy head upon my breast!"
I came to Jesus as I was
Weary worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad."
Greg, thank you for the courage and inspiration. May you feel the serenity and security of His loving compassion, for you as His Son and towards Christina.
Recently, I have really come to become better grasp of the verse in Psalm-103: As a father has compassion on his son, so is the Lord upon those who fear Him. It seems that the compassion is always covering weakness and iniquities.
Henry

Lynn Scroggin said...

Greg:
I am praying for your strength, endurance and patience. "Ride the waves of this Tsunami just like you have the previous ones." God is riding this one right next to you to give you strength and courage. The prayer chain and all of Tualatin Pres. are praying for you Greg. I hope you can feel the strength of our community holding you up in prayer. Lynn

Mona Mendenhall Jackson said...

Greg,
You, your mom, dad and Cristine have been in my prayers since hearing of this recent news.Hold fast to your trust and just find strength in the fact that so many are offering prayers for a successful outcome.
You are such an inspiration to everyone who keeps informed. Wow! what courage you have and I can't tell you how much you have given to others as we go on this journey with you.

leyla said...

Greg,
Greetings from Istanbul. I think of you often and know in my heart that you will get the desired outcome from this round of chemo also. One has to look at it as another bump in the road. There have been many other times things looked bleak, but you did admirably. Not easy being a poster child for this cause : )) Yes, who needs it, but it seems to be a role you shine in !! Your attitude is admirable and it is going a long way to help you rise to the occasion consistently. Good luck Greg. My prayers continue to be with you .
Leyla

Carl said...

Greg and Christine
Your faithfullness to the Lord who made us gives me and others the hope we need to keep on hoping and praying in Jesus's Holy Name.

BoB E. said...

Happy Monday Greg & Christine:
We have you in our prayers. Trusting you will once again know success.
God Bless,
BoB E.

Josh said...

Dear Greg & Christine,
I hope you guys had a great time last night - celebrating the blessing of life. Our family will join in praying for the 4th miracle. We love you guys and we will be praying for you on Monday, Greg.
With you in His grace,
Josh

Stephen Taylor said...

Dear Greg and Christine,
Praying for your physical and spiritual endurance. And for a miraculous result!
Steve

Peg Waeckerle Crandall said...

You continue to be an amazing person Greg, in so very many ways. Another challenge - but I know it will also be another success. My prayers are with you!!!!!!
Peg (Mom's and Dad's Drury friend)

Jim Williams said...

I just got back from a trip and read your latest. I also received this from Spurgeon's Daily Devotions:
John 11:4
This sickness is not unto death.
From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of His people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat.
1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of Him who numbers the hairs of our head.
2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard-the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child"; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that He who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation.
Continue to be blessed in the Lord!
Jim

Daniel and Jaeok said...

Dear Greg and Christine,
The fourth miracle... I pray for...
Your strength and courage is inspiring us and to all who loves you.
Our prayer for His mercy and grace will continue.