Time has marched on. The weekend has past and a new work week has begun. However at the de Boer households many are on vacation. The P. de Boer clan, in particular is away from work. As you probably all know the venue of our holiday has changed. For me a week was spent in hospital and our sons and daughters have spent hours there too, However, this past week end was hospital free and church focussed.
At Willoughby Heights we celebrated the Holy Supper of the Lord. The three out of town de Boers (with attestations ) joined Mom and Dad.
The wonderful news of salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ alone was heard, seen and experienced.
The word proclaimed and applied by Rev. Souman was comforting for both the ill and those who love them.
It was good for me to meet Jackie Wubs, a member in my district who has been challenged with cancer for some years now. Her steadfastness, patience, as well as readiness to die has been a constant comfort to me before and after I was diagnosed with a different form of cancer.
On both Saturday and Sunday evenings we (the P de Boer clan) were invited to Kent and Belinda's home (Belinda being our only daughter) for dinner. The togetherness, 'gezeligness', communion of saints, fellowship and family unity in faith was wonderful to experience and to witness.
No new medical news was received and so our worship of God went on uninterrupted. The time for congregational worship as well as family and individual woship were taken advantage of. Each one had opportunity for edification and to thank the Lord for His near-ness. God has been good, is good and will be good. We trust him in all things.
Pieter de Boer
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
August 13, 2010
A calendar check shows that today is indeed, August 13, a Friday. For a person being in unfamiliar territories and moving from place to place without previous plans to do so an excuse can be made for not exactly knowing what day it is. Still we are sure it is a day of the Lord; and that gives us great comfort.
The past ten or so days have been a whirlwind of unusual activity. Doctor visits, one CT Scan after an other, xrays, and intoduction after introduction to one specialist after an other. At the same time family was arriving from out of province; visits were a pleanty when we were at home and just right when we overnighted in hospital.
As most of you have heard, I have an agressive cancer. The news of illness and cancer, and then one that has spread, all came in a very short time. The news was difficult to absorb. It was difficult for me, my wife, our children as well as many other family and friends. Yet, the Lord has not forsaken us but has been with us everystep of the way. He has been there with His Word, He has been there with His Spirit, He has shown us the strong and loving communioin of saints, He has clarified His free grace, His salvation, based only on the suffering and death of His only Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The prognosis by the doctors is calculated in months, but all of our times are in the hand of the Lord.
In all the recent developments, we have increasingly seen the hand and plan of the Lord - He is Majestic!
For the present we will be monitored by blood tests at the local bio-chemical labs and my local GP. If and when other blood transfusions might be necessary they will be done on an out-patient basis.
There is also a palliative care group in Langley, headed by a Dr. Maureen Adamson. I have not met this specialist yet, but she will be calling me soon. I have met Dr. Lo, her compatriot in White Rock while in Peace Arch hospital. He is a very wonderful and sympathetic man. He has told me it is his hope to guide me with respect to pain, on the contiuum from this lfe into the next. We all, family, friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord, pray that our God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - will lead us through the contiuum from mortal life to eternal life.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
The past ten or so days have been a whirlwind of unusual activity. Doctor visits, one CT Scan after an other, xrays, and intoduction after introduction to one specialist after an other. At the same time family was arriving from out of province; visits were a pleanty when we were at home and just right when we overnighted in hospital.
As most of you have heard, I have an agressive cancer. The news of illness and cancer, and then one that has spread, all came in a very short time. The news was difficult to absorb. It was difficult for me, my wife, our children as well as many other family and friends. Yet, the Lord has not forsaken us but has been with us everystep of the way. He has been there with His Word, He has been there with His Spirit, He has shown us the strong and loving communioin of saints, He has clarified His free grace, His salvation, based only on the suffering and death of His only Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The prognosis by the doctors is calculated in months, but all of our times are in the hand of the Lord.
In all the recent developments, we have increasingly seen the hand and plan of the Lord - He is Majestic!
For the present we will be monitored by blood tests at the local bio-chemical labs and my local GP. If and when other blood transfusions might be necessary they will be done on an out-patient basis.
There is also a palliative care group in Langley, headed by a Dr. Maureen Adamson. I have not met this specialist yet, but she will be calling me soon. I have met Dr. Lo, her compatriot in White Rock while in Peace Arch hospital. He is a very wonderful and sympathetic man. He has told me it is his hope to guide me with respect to pain, on the contiuum from this lfe into the next. We all, family, friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord, pray that our God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - will lead us through the contiuum from mortal life to eternal life.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
August 9-10
What a blessing Sunday was! An opportunity for all of us to worship our heavenly Father and praise His holy Name! As a family, we continue to rejoice in God's steadfast love and faithfulness!
On Monday, August 9th, the children and grandchildren of mom and dad were able to spend some time together at a children's indoor playground. It was nice to be together in this way and to enjoy each other's company. Mom went to visit dad at the hospital and she and dad had an excellent time together. They both really enjoyed this time together.
In the afternoon dad was visited by his five children. This was a hilight for dad and for us his children. It was a relaxing and gezellig time together. After Derrick showed up, Dad sat up and asked who was getting the coffee. There we were, dad and his five children have a coffee together. These are moments that we will continue to cherish in the time that God allows!
On Monday, we were hoping that Dad would be able to come home on Tuesday afternoon. The doctors wanted to test his hemoglobin levels and make sure that they were high enough. Well, after testing the blood on Tuesday, August 10th, Dad was given the option of having more blood and going home on the Wednesday, or going home today and having to go back next week Tuesday for the transfusion. Dad chose to stay in the hospital today and has received the assurance from the doctor that he can go home on Wednesday morning! We look forward to seeing dad sitting in HIS chair tomorrow, D.V.
On Tuesday, dad received a visit from a nephew and neice and their two guests from Brazil. It was a great experience for all the participants of the visit. The Brazilian brothers expressed gratitude to dad for teaching them things about life that can't be learned in a seminary and the one brother also was moved at dad's ability to speak in such a confident and comforting way, a way that brought comfort (and tears) to dad's guests while they intended to encourage dad... which they most certainly did, too!!
In the busyness of all sorts of activities we continue to rely on God's faithfulness every day. Of particular strength today was when dad read Psalm 86 after he had had his dinner. It fit in so nicely with a conversation that was had earlier in the evening. We can be assured that God has saved ME; each of us; all those who fear His Name!
And... while dad was sitting on the edge of his bed, looking out the window he simply said, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." Indeed!
On Monday, August 9th, the children and grandchildren of mom and dad were able to spend some time together at a children's indoor playground. It was nice to be together in this way and to enjoy each other's company. Mom went to visit dad at the hospital and she and dad had an excellent time together. They both really enjoyed this time together.
In the afternoon dad was visited by his five children. This was a hilight for dad and for us his children. It was a relaxing and gezellig time together. After Derrick showed up, Dad sat up and asked who was getting the coffee. There we were, dad and his five children have a coffee together. These are moments that we will continue to cherish in the time that God allows!
On Monday, we were hoping that Dad would be able to come home on Tuesday afternoon. The doctors wanted to test his hemoglobin levels and make sure that they were high enough. Well, after testing the blood on Tuesday, August 10th, Dad was given the option of having more blood and going home on the Wednesday, or going home today and having to go back next week Tuesday for the transfusion. Dad chose to stay in the hospital today and has received the assurance from the doctor that he can go home on Wednesday morning! We look forward to seeing dad sitting in HIS chair tomorrow, D.V.
On Tuesday, dad received a visit from a nephew and neice and their two guests from Brazil. It was a great experience for all the participants of the visit. The Brazilian brothers expressed gratitude to dad for teaching them things about life that can't be learned in a seminary and the one brother also was moved at dad's ability to speak in such a confident and comforting way, a way that brought comfort (and tears) to dad's guests while they intended to encourage dad... which they most certainly did, too!!
In the busyness of all sorts of activities we continue to rely on God's faithfulness every day. Of particular strength today was when dad read Psalm 86 after he had had his dinner. It fit in so nicely with a conversation that was had earlier in the evening. We can be assured that God has saved ME; each of us; all those who fear His Name!
And... while dad was sitting on the edge of his bed, looking out the window he simply said, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." Indeed!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
August 5-8
The Pieter and Rita deBoer family reunion scheduled for the week of August 8th in Hecla, MB was moved to Langley, BC because of the news that Dad deBoer has cancer on the kidney. With this sudden change in plans, the children from Ontario and Manitoba made quick plans to fly to BC to be with the rest of the family during this challenging time.
On Thursday, August 5th, the children from Ontario (Derrick and Chris' families) arrived in BC and were able to greet mom and dad. On the way to mom and dad's home dad received a phone call telling him that his calcium levels were too high and that he needed to check himself into the hospital after a scan that was scheduled at the hospital. This dampened our mood as we had hoped that we would be spending a lot of time with mom and dad at home. Nevertheless, when we got home, dad and mom called the doctor and were told of the plans that the doctor had for them, namely medication through IV to get the calcium levels down and then get some more scans completed that were scheduled for the following week.
Dad and mom went to the hospital, got the scan completed and then he was admitted to the hospital. Providentially, dad got room 401, the nicest room on the 4th floor and a private room too! The family is able to come and go as we please and we can fit quite a few guests in the room, for which we are grateful.
On Friday, August 6th, Dad got the result of the previous day's scans. His head scan was all clear... nothing to see! A few jokes were made and we were pleased with this result. However, the scan of dad's chest identified a number of nodules on the lungs and we were disappointed with this result. In the meantime, we were also told that while dad's calcium levels were too high, his hemoglobin levels were falling and if they fell too low, dad would need a blood transfusion. Dad also had a bone scan on Friday. The results would be known on Saturday.
Saturday, August 7th, was a tough day. Mom and a few others went to visit dad in the moring. Uncle Harry (Dad's oldest brother, although younger than him) was there already. When the rest arrived we were impressed with how well dad looked and we were hopeful that the calcium levels were dropping and that the hemoglobin levels were stabilizing. After Uncle Harry left, Belinda dropped by quickly to wish Dad a good day and then she had to jet off. In that brief visit the doctor stopped by with an update on dad's condition. He had the results of dad's bone scan. Much to the surprise of the doctor and thus, also us, it appeared that the cancer was spread much further than anticipated. Dad's sore hip, which he has been complaining about for some time and which doctors had suggested had nothing to do with cancer, was apparently full of cancer and was indeed the cause of this discomfort. The doctor expressed concern that dad could quite easily fracture his hip if not careful because of all the damage the cancer had done already. This changed dad's prognosis quite considerably. The term "palliative" care was mentioned in passing but it stung all the same.
When the doctor left we were able to shed tears and express our confidence in God's goodness. Reading Psalm 121 and praying together was a great source of strength and we were able to leave Dad's hospital room with confidence that God would provide all of us with the strength we needed.
On Sunday, August 8th, the doctor and palliative specialist came to visit dad. The doctor and dad discussed further steps first and then the palliative specialist was able to talk to dad about pain management.
At this moment, it looks like dad will be transferred from Peace Arch hospital to Vancouver General Hospital on Sunday evening or some time on Monday. The specialists at that hospital will discuss a plan of action for dad's treatment and will see what treatment plan is best for dad. We expect dad to be in VGH for a day or two and then have him come home. It was also during this discussion that the doctor gave dad a life expectancy of about five months. It was longer then some of us expected and was a sense of relief for dad and the family. It means dad will probably be home and able to take care of some of the things he would like to do before he might be taken home.
There has been a lot of crying, praying, scripture reading, laughing, praying, and more laughing during these days. We never doubt Dad's confidence of his salvation in Christ nor do we ever doubt God's faithfulness. He is so good and the overflowing fountain of all good. He is perfectly wise in all His ways and this is a great source of comfort for dad and the rest of the family and his loved ones.
We also get a great source of strength from the various communion of saints of which we are members. It shows how we are not simply a family with a mother, father, five children, and fifteen grandchildren. No, we are more than that... we are members of a great family with our Father in heaven and many brothers and sisters in Christ who is our King. To our triune God belongs all the honour and glory.
On Thursday, August 5th, the children from Ontario (Derrick and Chris' families) arrived in BC and were able to greet mom and dad. On the way to mom and dad's home dad received a phone call telling him that his calcium levels were too high and that he needed to check himself into the hospital after a scan that was scheduled at the hospital. This dampened our mood as we had hoped that we would be spending a lot of time with mom and dad at home. Nevertheless, when we got home, dad and mom called the doctor and were told of the plans that the doctor had for them, namely medication through IV to get the calcium levels down and then get some more scans completed that were scheduled for the following week.
Dad and mom went to the hospital, got the scan completed and then he was admitted to the hospital. Providentially, dad got room 401, the nicest room on the 4th floor and a private room too! The family is able to come and go as we please and we can fit quite a few guests in the room, for which we are grateful.
On Friday, August 6th, Dad got the result of the previous day's scans. His head scan was all clear... nothing to see! A few jokes were made and we were pleased with this result. However, the scan of dad's chest identified a number of nodules on the lungs and we were disappointed with this result. In the meantime, we were also told that while dad's calcium levels were too high, his hemoglobin levels were falling and if they fell too low, dad would need a blood transfusion. Dad also had a bone scan on Friday. The results would be known on Saturday.
Saturday, August 7th, was a tough day. Mom and a few others went to visit dad in the moring. Uncle Harry (Dad's oldest brother, although younger than him) was there already. When the rest arrived we were impressed with how well dad looked and we were hopeful that the calcium levels were dropping and that the hemoglobin levels were stabilizing. After Uncle Harry left, Belinda dropped by quickly to wish Dad a good day and then she had to jet off. In that brief visit the doctor stopped by with an update on dad's condition. He had the results of dad's bone scan. Much to the surprise of the doctor and thus, also us, it appeared that the cancer was spread much further than anticipated. Dad's sore hip, which he has been complaining about for some time and which doctors had suggested had nothing to do with cancer, was apparently full of cancer and was indeed the cause of this discomfort. The doctor expressed concern that dad could quite easily fracture his hip if not careful because of all the damage the cancer had done already. This changed dad's prognosis quite considerably. The term "palliative" care was mentioned in passing but it stung all the same.
When the doctor left we were able to shed tears and express our confidence in God's goodness. Reading Psalm 121 and praying together was a great source of strength and we were able to leave Dad's hospital room with confidence that God would provide all of us with the strength we needed.
On Sunday, August 8th, the doctor and palliative specialist came to visit dad. The doctor and dad discussed further steps first and then the palliative specialist was able to talk to dad about pain management.
At this moment, it looks like dad will be transferred from Peace Arch hospital to Vancouver General Hospital on Sunday evening or some time on Monday. The specialists at that hospital will discuss a plan of action for dad's treatment and will see what treatment plan is best for dad. We expect dad to be in VGH for a day or two and then have him come home. It was also during this discussion that the doctor gave dad a life expectancy of about five months. It was longer then some of us expected and was a sense of relief for dad and the family. It means dad will probably be home and able to take care of some of the things he would like to do before he might be taken home.
There has been a lot of crying, praying, scripture reading, laughing, praying, and more laughing during these days. We never doubt Dad's confidence of his salvation in Christ nor do we ever doubt God's faithfulness. He is so good and the overflowing fountain of all good. He is perfectly wise in all His ways and this is a great source of comfort for dad and the rest of the family and his loved ones.
We also get a great source of strength from the various communion of saints of which we are members. It shows how we are not simply a family with a mother, father, five children, and fifteen grandchildren. No, we are more than that... we are members of a great family with our Father in heaven and many brothers and sisters in Christ who is our King. To our triune God belongs all the honour and glory.
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