Is stage 4 bone cancer a hopeless situation?  At 51-years-old with three children aged 22, 17, & 5, David thought so!  After a multitude of doctor visits, lab tests, hospital visits, and second opinions, all of which recommended chemotherapy, David didn’t want to put his family through that ordeal.  He didn’t want to put his family under a huge financial debt that would only lead to an inevitable death.

David & Merlinda are members of New Life Community Church, have a strong faith in the Lord, and Merlinda has a stable job as a caterer (picture above is of one of her events).  But was it worth it to go through chemo, and most likely, radiation after that?  The whole family said “Absolutely, it is worth it,” but David was not convinced.  After a couple of weeks of earnest praying and counsel from others, David has come to the point where he is willing to start chemo treatments.

Will you pray these verses over David & Merlinda as they enter this trying time:

Romans 15:13, "May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you TRUST in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Our hope comes from God Himself and not from circumstances.

Hebrews 6:19, "We have this HOPE as an ANCHOR for the soul, firm and secure."  Our hope in Christ steadies us when life feels uncertain.

Psalm 42:11, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your HOPE in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."  When we are discouraged, we need to remind ourselves that our hope is in God.

David has completed three months of chemo and 39 days of radiation. The plan is to wait a month for another dose of chemo and in the subsequent weeks go in for testing to see what has happened with cancer.

Thank you for standing in prayer with David & Merlinda in their time of great need!