On the Path part 1

On the Path part 1

On the Path by Cheryl Schatz on Women in Ministry blog

This is an update to my transitions post.  On August 6th I was scheduled for surgery to remove cancer. The surgery did not happen. At the time that the surgeon came to see me, and before I was wheeled into the operating room, he rechecked the site and he was concerned that cancer might have spread to the skin. If he were right, then surgery would be a risk because the wound may not heal and that would delay the chemotherapy that I need. He consulted with a cancer specialist at a nearby Cancer hospital, and he was advised that the treatment plan should be reversed and after taking a biopsy of the skin lumps, I should have chemotherapy as a first line of attack against the cancer. We have been praying for wisdom for the surgeon and so we must believe that God is involved in the process. The disappointment was that I had waited three weeks to get into surgery and there would be another wait to find an available doctor who could administer chemo. I live in a small community with only one cancer doctor, and the oncologists at the nearby cancer clinic are all booked up with new patients waiting three weeks to get into the system.

Yesterday my family doctor came to the rescue and he got the ball rolling by pulling some strings on my behalf. I will enter the “path” of cancer treatment today with a specially arranged appointment at the hospital with the cancer doctor’s assistant. He will begin the work to stage the cancer to see how far it has gone and get all of my tests and blood work up to date so that the day the cancer doctor comes back from vacation I can be bumped directly into the chemotherapy program without a wait to be processed.

Bumps along the path

I am experiencing leg pain, and I have a concern that the cancer has already spread to the bone. Or it could just be my sciatic nerve acting up. I am also experiencing tiredness, but this is likely from the new cancer-fighting tea that I was recommended by a friend. The tiredness may just be the way my body is fighting the intruder who has invaded my body. For those who have subscribed to my blog and are following my progress, could you please pray that this aggressive cancer is held back from spreading until I can get treatment to shrink and destroy this cancer? Please also pray for strength as I have much ministry work to do, and I would like to carry on unhindered.

Update from August 24, 2013

On Friday I was rushed to emergency with abdominal pain and my body had gone into shock with very low blood pressure, a low heart rate, and I was as white as a sheet as I struggled to keep from passing out. The tests showed very high lipase in my blood, ten times the normal high rate. The doctor is not exactly sure what went wrong. It could be my pancreas, but the thought is that it was a withdrawal from the steroids that I was given during the time of my chemo treatment and the days afterward. My prayer request is that God will help the doctor to find out how to manage my drugs so that I do not have a reaction like that again. It was a very scary experience.

Update from September 20, 2016

All future updates on my health will be at my personal blog called On the Path found here.

23 thoughts on “On the Path part 1

  1. Dear Cheryl,

    Received your prayer request, and have lifted you up before our Father, asking the doctors would be given wisdom in carrying out your cancer treatment program, and also asking the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to give you new strength and health of mind and body, so you can carry on the ministry to which you have been called by the Triune God.

    Sincerely,
    Frank Geis

  2. Frank,
    Thank you for holding me up in prayer. it is a time like this that I need the body of Christ in a way that Ai have never needed before. I very much appreciate it.

  3. Cheryl,God keeps you constantly on my mind. This morning however I lifted your name in prayer as I sang the song you recommended. That song is so powerful and I pray so many things for you and your family. If you ever need anything please let me know

  4. Cheryl,

    I have been praying for you since your first post and will continue to pray for your healing. I also want to let you know that I have read many of your writings this past year and have been truly blessed by them. Thank you for all you do.

    Kristen

  5. Kristen,

    Thank you for letting me know that you are supporting me in prayer! Also knowing that I have encouraged you over the last year is a huge encouragement to me!

  6. Cheryl, I am very sorry about all you are going through and am praying that God will move powerfully in your life, both physically and spiritually. When you are weak and tired, it is hard to pray and concentrate and I am praying about that, too.

  7. I just got a phone call from my doctor. I had a CT scan and a bone scan today, or commonly known to me as the doggy bone and cat scan 😉 There is NO obvious sign of cancer that has spread in either one of the tests!

    He did say that he saw an abnormality in the shoulder and wants to have a shoulder xray tomorrow, but because of the very good report, I will be going ahead with the aggressive chemo to kill the cancer, then surgery, and hopefully a clean bill of health!!

    Thank you all for praying, and keep praying for me while I go through the chemo process. I will keep you updated.

  8. Praying that our heavenly Father will keep you in His loving care as you face this onslaught of the enemy. Praying for healing and strength for you. Thank you so much for this blog which has encouraged me as a Christian woman in ministry, especially in times when I;ve faced opposition and discouragement. May the Parakletos, the One who comes alongside, be beside you all the way through this. God bless, Jo.

  9. On Friday I was rushed to emergency with abdominal pain and my body had gone into shock with very low blood pressure, a low heart rate, and I was as white as a sheet as I struggled to keep from passing out. The tests showed very high lipase in my blood, 10 times the normal high rate. The doctor is not exactly sure what went wrong. It could be my pancreas but the thought is that it was a withdrawal from the steroids that I was given during the time of my chemo treatment and the days afterward. My prayer request is that God will help the doctor to find out how to manage my drugs so that I do not have a reaction like that again. It was a very scary experience.

    I am also going to add this to my post above as part of my “path”.

  10. I’ve been remembering you and your family in my prayers, Cheryl. I’m so happy and grateful to hear that your cancer hadn’t spread, but I’m also so very sorry to hear that you had to go to the E.R. 🙁 I know you’re going through a painful, frightening time in your life now, but do remember that you’re loved by many, and please do try to keep hanging in there even though I KNOW it’s got to be very hard. HUGS.

  11. Cheryl, I just found out about your situation. I am praying for your strength to fight this. I pray His tender mercies on you, sister.

    You have blessed so many of us with your research on setting women free in ministry.

  12. Thank you Lydia for your prayers. I am starting a whole new set of chemo medication tomorrow that is very harsh. I am concerned about the severe side effects, but laying my life in God’s hands for His protection. Updates will be on my personal blog at http://mmoutreach.org/cheryl I will show my husband how to moderate my blogs and add info to my personal blog should things take a turn for the worse. There is also a subscribe to updates by email if you would like to be notified of updates.

  13. Lydia, I should also add that I very much appreciate your kind words about the work I have done on women in ministry. There are so many things that I would still like to contribute in many areas of ministry. I am asking God for an extension on my life so that I can give out what has been given to me. I want to finish well.

  14. Cheryl
    1Co 3:17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

    The living cells of cancer has defiled the temple of God, and God will destroy them, for the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.

    You will finish that which the Lord God has given you to give unto His Church. You will not leave planet earth until you are ready to leave.

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