Wednesday night Jonathan said: “if someone wrote a case study about all the medical issues that are going on right now, nobody would believe it”. This is why. After the miraculous breakthrough he had the day before, on Wednesday we found out about another complication. Tuesday night the doctors had told us that Jonathan’s new medications are available in an oral form, and that they would remove the PICC line that was placed a month ago to administer his antibiotics. The plan then was to send us home on Wednesday morning after watching him one more night and removing the PICC. Wednesday morning Jonathan woke up with severe swelling on the arm with the PICC line. An ultrasound was ordered to make sure no blood clots had formed – because that would only complicate things… Well, blood clots had formed, so instead of going home, Jonathan had to be put immediately on blood thinners, adding a new delicate issue to the list. This new part of the treatment involves injections in his belly for a week and then transitioning to a pill with weekly monitoring of his blood for three months.
So, let me see if I can summarize this case study for you: It all started with a brain tumor. Surgery to remove the tumor led to bone infection. Antibiotics to treat the bone infection led to DRESS. And now the PICC line to administer all the drugs led to blood clots. We have not even made it to our three-month-post-tumor-resection follow up appointment and we already have the rest of the year covered with treatments and appointments with three other doctors.
But God continues to be faithful and as we meditated together on all these things, He led us to Romans 8. I just want to share some of the verses that God used to speak to our hearts:
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Our confidence is this: God is with us and in sovereign control; with or without brain tumor, with or without bone infection, with or without DRESS, with or without blood clots. Ultimately, we have been healed and will eternally walk in His presence.
We were discharged from the hospital last night. All medications in place and Jonathan feeling a lot better. The next days and weeks we will have to take it easy and continue to recover. He will be monitored through blood work and clinical examination and during that time we’ll try to be diligent to let you know how God continues to use this.
As we are rejoicing in how God has intervened to improve Jonathan’s health, we are also reminded of those who are in distress. Jason, Jonathan’s brother and his wife, Alison are now facing the difficult road to see Alison’s father in critical condition after he had a massive stroke two days ago. We are aware that you know of many others like this that continually need to be lifted up as well. As you pray for other, please include Jerry Suchman, his wife Susan and Jason and Alison’s family tonight.
Eyes on the Unseen 
Even as we rejoice with you in the realization that “ultimately, we have been healed and will walk eternally in His presence”, we are saddened at the great loss to Susan, Alison, and family as Jerry has gone to be with our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in glory. We are praying for comfort in this time of shock and grief.
Praying for you & encouraged to follow your example in Christ as you all deal with these health issues. I think about you guys throughout the day. Know that you have brothers & sisters all over the country & world who love you and are praying constantly. Thought of you when I read the following this morning & wanted to share it with you…
“…This is what the LORD says to you:’ Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
My dear friends: God is indeed good and loving all the time, in all circumstances. Thank you for your faithful testimony to God’s presence in all these days of trial and affliction. I deeply appreciate your turning to God’s Word for your reassurance and comfort. I share your confidence in the ultimate reality of Jonathan’s healing and pray earnestly for his full return to health and vitality in this life. Above all, I rejoice in that our common desire is that God be glorified, regardless of the outcome for our individual lives. You are beloved to many and a blessing beyond measure not only to your families, but to me and countless others. May God’s richest blessings be upon you, now and always.
Jonathan and Karla…I follow your journey daily and am praying for God to be glorified daily through your journey. Thank you for the blessing that you are to me…Bill and I pray for the five of you.We are praying for miraculous healing and daily comfort…the Lord is clearly with you on this journey. A friend who has experienced similar sufferings (as is with your former company)wrote something that I now keep written on my bathroom mirror as a constant reminder…”Oh, that every moment I live, may I live knowing all that I am, and all that I am not is by the mercy of God.” May you feel His new mercies every moment of every day!