God Is STILL Good To Gary

My father led an amazing life-always serving others, loving unconditionally, and bringing so many to Jesus. I am so honored that God chose him to be my earthly father, and I cherish each and every moment the Lord allowed me to be with him.

As I say goodbye to my father through this blog, emotions flood. I am grieving that I cannot see him on this earth anymore, sad that he can't physically hold my children and hurting that my mother is alone after 38 years with her "heart". But through that I praise the Lord that my father is where he has dreamed of all his life, and I am so happy that his legacy continues here through his family and friends.

I got to spend the last night Dad had on this earth with him. We thought we had more time with him, so we were "taking turns" to stay up with him and make sure he wasn't in pain. And God allowed some amazing memories during that night-we prayed, we read scripture, we sang, and we even had "church" with David Jeremiah that Sunday morning. Daddy couldn't speak by that point, but he was able to communicate through body language. And even then, his last hours on earth, he focused on his passions-Jesus and family. God even granted his "girls" to be with him in his final moment-and I am SURE we witnessed my Daddy seeing his Lord and Savior! What an awesome moment that I will never forget. And now his passion has realized all of our hopes for him!

Our only wish and prayer now, as Gary's family, is that you create and continue a legacy through your family. Family was the most important thing to him; I remember our "family time" we had when we went on vacations, went out to movies or to eat, or even just watched TV together as a family. I remember what my dad gave up to be with us-he could have had a big career, traveling and speaking all over the world. But he chose to come home every night to be with his bride and children. And now we will continue that-choosing family over all the wordly things that do not mean as much. We pray you can do the same.

Please visit his memorial site at http://www.mem.com/. Simply type in his name in the "Search" section on the left side. You can leave messages, see pictures, and we will even try to put some of his "spots" from Faith Radio on there that you can hear! I will work to keep updating that as find things here and there in the future.

We are honored that you chose to remain in touch with us through this blog, and it is hard to say goodbye to you as well. I have learned about those who have posted comments-Daddy always asked if anyone left one and then told me all about the people who did. We know you will not forget Gary, and please praise our Redeemer that we can see him again one day!

In closing, please read one of Dad's favorite passages (for all of them at one time were his "favorites"!). He wanted to live his life according to this passage, and I believe the Lord told him "welcome my good and faithful servant, full of integrity" when Daddy met him.

We love you.


Psalm 15

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy
hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

I Haven't Forgotten

For those who are daily checking, I have NOT forgotten about what I have promised! I am just not able to get access to the slide show still, but I will make every effort to obtain it in the next 48 hours.

Thank you for being patient!

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving

I apologize for not getting something out to you sooner to let you know I have not forgotten about the slide show and the final words. Unfortunately the slide show is still not yet available, and I am still mewling (my dad has always liked that word) over how to express to you what my dad wants me to say.

Besides that, we had a very THANKFUL Thanksgiving. For weeks before we had labored over how to have this holiday (a favorite for our family) with Dad but not overwhelm him with all the children around all day. But because Dad celebrated his first Thanksgiving with our Brother, we were able to share this holiday as a whole family, knowing that Jesus AND our father were with us. We thanked God for giving and honoring us with Gary Hundley as a husband, father, father-in-law and Papa for as much time as He gave us. It was a peaceful and beautiful day.

My mother wanted me to express her endless gratitude to all of you and your overwhelming love and kindness you have shown us this past week. It touches our hearts to know Gary had so many who love him so dearly. We know how special he is, and it's nice to see others feel the same way! Special thanks to Ken Chaffin, Jack Hicks, and the Vaughn Forest Baptist Church for honoring Dad so with the celebration service and graveside service. Dad always planned WONDERFUL events, and these were no exceptions!

Please remember that Dad will always love each of you, and I know he will enter the Throne Room and plead for you if and when that time is needed. Just because he is not with us here does not mean he cannot still go to the Father on our behalf. One of the things Dad struggled with all this time was how he was going to "make a difference" with my children's lives (they are 3, 2 and 8 months). He was able to be there for all 4 of his other grand children's baptisms and even baptize Brooke's two youngest. That is why he wanted 10 more years-to baptize my children and lead them to the Lord. But Randy and I assured him that he will make much more of a difference when he is in the Almighty's presence-he can plead on their behalf AT HIS FEET! What more could we want for our children than a witness who will run to the Father when our children need Him the most? And we praise God that Dad can do that now. His legacy will continue for generations to come, should the Lord decide not to come and gather us all before then.

Again, words cannot express how thankful we are for all of you. We prayed for you on Thursday; please know you will hold such a special place in our hearts even though Gary is not here on earth with us. We pray now for a wonderful beginning to this Christmas season; never forget WHY we celebrate it!

Slide show and final words to come, I promise!

Indebted Gratitude

We as Gary's family wanted to sincerely thank all of you who left comments, called, sent notes or food, and came to his visitation last night. What an outpouring of love for us in honor of Dad.

We are blessed last night to have hugged the necks of all those whom Gary has touched over the years. We may not remember your names, but you will forever be in our hearts simply because you love Gary and honored him by loving us too. Thank you.

We look forward to today-the celebration-where we remember Gary as he is NOW. He is with the Lord, at His feet, worshipping. Finally.

We hope to see many of you today, but we know may not be able to attend due to the holiday. Gary definitely would want you to be with family today and not with us-that is his legacy, and he wants it to be the same for you. And Thanksgiving was his favorite time of the year.

Please stay posted for a little longer; we have a slide show of Gary I would like you all to see, but it is not ready. And I was also charged by my father to say a few more words. Please forgive me if I am not yet ready to do that-I miss him so.

We love you and are forever thankful for you and your faithfulness to our Creator.

Arrangements

Final arrangements have been made for Gary.

A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, November 21, 2007, at 2:00PM at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church. We will have visitation on Tuesday, November 20 from 5-7PM at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Faith Radio (PO Box 210789, Montgomery AL 36121). This was Gary's legacy and his Kingdom work-we can't imagine anything more that he would want than for you to help continue this ministry in his name.

We love you. Please stay posted for details about a special slide show and final words.

Gary Is Finally Home

At 7:10 on November 18, 2007, Gary Hundley went home to receive his inheritance from the Lord. The Lord chose to keep him from suffering too long, and we are so blessed because of that.

We were so grateful that Hope and his two daughters were there to help send him to the one place he longed for. And we can't wait to see him again when the Lord brings us home with him.

There are no set plans for the funeral; please stay posted for those as soon as we know.

Words cannot express the love we have for those of you who prayed for Gary during this journey. We are so honored.

God May Be Calling Gary Home Soon

This morning Hope had to rush Gary to the hospital-he was having a very difficult time breathing.

Yesterday Gary did make it to the doctor for his last visit with his oncologist. Dr. Davidson said there was no more scientifically to do for him. So Dr. Davidson recommended Hospice be brought in to help Hope care for Gary during this time.

We had no idea that the Lord would possibly call Gary home so soon. We knew every day was getting a little worse-Gary struggled to move, to eat, to do any physical activity at all. But when he couldn't breathe this morning, he asked Hope to call an ambulance.

Since he has been admitted, the doctors have sedated him (he was VERY agitated and anxious) and have given him pain medication. Because of this Gary has slept almost the whole day. The doctors suspect he will not be with us much longer than a few more days.

We know and feel the Lord's presence in Gary's room; we know He is holding Gary in his arms. We praise Him for all He has done for Gary through this journey, and we know God can heal Him again on this earth. But we do want what is best for Gary, and he is tired.

We ask for prayers for peace for Gary as he makes his final preparations to go home. He said he is very excited to be going to the Throne Room of the Father, at His feet praising Him. As he has said so many times before, THIS is what he has worked all his life to acheive: to walk with the Father and finally see Him. We know God has many jewels for his crown waiting for Him in His mansion above.

We love you and Gary is so grateful for all of you who have prayed for him through this journey. We know if the Lord wants him to remain on earth longer to do more Kingdom work, HIS HANDS will heal him. And if the Lord wants to bring him home to be with Him, we can't imagine a better place for him. May God forever be praised for all He has done.

Some Prayer Needs

Just wanted to ask you briefly to pray for Gary and Hope right now. Gary's body is degenerating at a rapid rate at this time, and we are not sure there will be a recovery physically at this point.

Gary asks for prayers for the strength and courage for what lay ahead of him, that he continue to run this race set before him. He asks that you pray that he be prepared for whichever path God has chosen for him.

The family simply asks for peace and assurance that God is completely in charge, and He is doing what is best. We KNOW this, but sometimes the heart does not receive the same message as the brain.

God is so good, and we know He has us safely in His arms. May God be praised for what He is doing and is about to do in our lives.

We love you.

No Changes

I just wanted to update you and let you all know that there are really no changes since Gary's transfusion last week. He is still very weak and fatigued. His left arm is still swollen, and his back is still infected.

We were very hopeful that this transfusion would be just the thing to help him begin to heal and gain strength. I must say we have been disappointed that it has been almost the exact opposite.

Please continue to pray for Gary and Hope-the disease and the effects of it are taking its toll on them emotionally and mentally now. We still hope for complete healing here on earth so that he can continue his Kingdom work; God only knows what the future holds.

We love you.

Still "Plugging Away"

Just a quick note to let you know that Gary is still plugging away (as he likes to call it).

Yesterday he received the 2 pints of blood to help raise that hemoglobin level. We see no signs yet that it is working except the color that is back in his cheeks. He is still extremely fatigued and has a hard time getting up and down.

He is, however, healing on his back. He says the wound is not as painful, and he is starting to scab some. This is good news! We pray God continues to heal those sores so that he can be more comfortable.

Beyond that there is nothing new. He is immensely grateful for the comments that you leave-he asks every day if there are new ones. I am getting to know those of you who do leave comments-he gets so excited to hear your names, and he tells me all the stories that he remembers about you! And it is a joy to know that so many godly and loving people have touched my father's life.

Please do not forget about fasting on Friday. I chose this day so you could have time to prepare for it. My mother will also be participating; Dad offered, but we decided it was best to give him all of our food that we are choosing not to eat that day!

We love you all, and please know that those are not just words. We cherish all of you who continue to think of us in this time. As Paul wrote to the Philippians:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Finally A Visit to the Doctor

Gary and Hope finally saw Dr. Davidson today at the Cancer Center. We are disappointed that there was not much good news that we received.

Gary is not in much pain anymore, but he is suffering from an infection where his radiation burns are on his back. Because of that and his lack of good veins, he won't be able to have any scans in the next two weeks. The doctor is very concerned about what he assumes is an edema in his left arm that is causing that arm to swell about 2 1/2 times the size of his right arm. Gary's blood work was not good either-he was severaly low on hemoglobin and red blood cells but high on his white cell count. The only good news-his oxygenation is at 100% (he is still taking oxygen 24/7).

The results of all of these: Gary goes tomorrow to try to have a pick line put in his good arm that can stay there up to three months. This will help when he needs medication, transfusions, blood drawn and he will finally be able to have a CT scan. After the pick line is inserted, he will have to stay to have a blood transfusion-this time 2 pints. He is on antibiotics for his back and steroids for the swelling in his arm and back.

We were hoping for a better day, but it seems God has something else in mind rather than a miraculous healing (at least for today). What can we do? Gary is going for his transfusion tomorrow, and you can go and give blood in honor of him either at LifeSouth or at the Red Cross. What else? PRAY. And I would like to request something special this week. On Friday, November 9, I am asking all of you (if you can) to fast and pray for my father. And pray for healing-whether earthly or eternal. Pray for peace and hope. If you cannot fast food, I hope you can fast something else to take special time in the throne room with our Lord. I know this is asking a lot, but we honor God when we fast. And I truly believe we can hear God better.

You have been relentless in your prayers and love for my father and our family. Praise God for His saints who rise to action! We are forever grateful, and we know God is glorified because of you. May He bless you this week and especially on Friday. (And please let us know how it goes!) We love you.

Slight Delay in the Update

Unfortunately Gary and Hope did not make it to the Cancer Center today. Hope misread the schedule, and the appointment was earlier than they realized. So Gary will go on Monday morning. We will let you know what happens then.

There is nothing really new to report since the last few blogs. His strength is still lacking, and he is still in pain in the legs and left arm. That arm is swollen, and we are not sure why. And we may not find out why anytime soon-he is unable to do scans since the nurses cannot find a vein in his arm to put in an IV line. But I already told you that!

On a more positive note, Gary told me yesterday he wants you all to know that he has not given up hope that Jesus will pull him through this. He "wants to get back in the pulpit" again. So he is doing what he can to fulfill his dream of preaching again for you. We are joyful that he has something to look forward to, and we will do whatever we can to help him reach this goal. It will be an uphill battle, but we have the Great Physician on our side, so NOTHING is impossible.

We will let you know what happens Monday! We pray an enjoyable first weekend of November for you. May you make wonderful memories with family and friends that will last a lifetime.

Updates Coming Soon

Just to let you know, Gary goes to the doctor tomorrow morning. So I will be able to update you after that! Gary also wants me to say a few words on his behalf, and I will honor that in the next update as well.

Thank you again for your prayers; we are encouraged by them daily. We love you.

It Is What It Is

It seems like every time I tell you things are getting better.....

I hope none of you mind, but I think I may not be posting as much in the near future. Dad's condition is NEVER the same each day, and sometimes it changes several times each day! So I would have to update daily to let you know exactly how he is feeling.

We thought he had turned the corner after his last hospital stay, but that is not the case. He woke up yesterday hurting a little in his legs, but he thought it was just the change from his "movement-less" life to exercising several times a day. But when he woke up today, the pain was worse, and he says it is a "different pain". He knows his body well, so we don't doubt his word.

Pain is usually the first symptom of cancer for my dad, so we could be facing another journey. He is scheduled to have a CT and bone scan tomorrow (maybe not both on the same day, but there is at least one scheduled), but he may not be able to endure it with this leg pain.

We don't know anything, and we have learned not to jump to conclusions. But I think I am correct when I say if the cancer has already returned, Mom and Dad may make some different decisions this time. Pray for wisdom on their part and pray that God is CLEAR as to what they are to do.

I have no more encouraging words for myself or for you in this post. As my father says "It is what it is". It is not that I have given up; we are all clinging to the promises our Father has given us. We KNOW God is in charge, and He is holding my father close through all of this. But maybe I am a bit wiser or just a bit less emotional-I am reserving my feelings for when we know something more.

I also have no requests to make, other than to just remember Gary and Hope in your prayers. They feel peace when you pray, and that is all we can hope for now. That is eternal, and praise God for it.

WHY?

Gary was finally released from the hospital today! We are so excited to have him home. And the results from the ultrasound showed there was NO clot. To us this is good news, because that means the filter is working and clots are not forming elsewhere in his body.

Gary is still VERY tired, since his hemoglobin is still low even after the transfusion. But that will continue to be the case while he takes chemo. But this week helped Gary to see that he will have to start working very hard to heal and improve. A physical therapist worked with him while he was in the hospital and reminded him that he has to exert energy to gain energy and muscle so that he can feel better.

Since returning home today Gary has started some exercises to get the blood moving and muscles working again. He is trying to walk around the house more and just essentially move! He is already sore, but I reminded him that we all are when we first begin-it takes time to build up the stamina and muscle again, especially in the situation he is presently in.

Your prayers are helping, and we daily praise God for all of you who take time from your busy days to take my father before the throne. What a blessing to know Gary is loved that much! God is good, even when we doubt his actions. And we praise Him that He puts up with us when we question those actions! But that is what creates more faith and trust-when we ask why and then just rely on His power and knowledge. He will bring comfort and peace even if we never know the why.

May He forever be glorified, especially when we don't know the "WHY".

Newest Changes

Just a quick note to let you know that Gary is still in the hospital. He had a transfusion last night, and we hoped he would be released today.

New complications arose last night and early this morning. His left shoulder began to hurt immensely more than before, and his legs have started hurting as well. The doctor believes there may a clot in his left arm, and that is what is causing the pain. He will be having an ultrasound sometime today. The leg pain we attribute to the lack of activity.

Regardless, Gary is struggling with breathing again, and if he has a clot, that would be a normal side effect. If there is no clot, the difficulty breathing may just be a "resolve of cancer". We just don't know.

Pray for a quick and astute diagnosis. Gary would like to come home, but we won't be doing that until we ascertain what the issue is. Pray for peace and comfort for him and for us, his family. As we have always prayed and believed, Gary is in the Lord's hands, and we want Him to do what He sees fit.

We love you and may God be praised in all we say and do.

Some Minor Changes

Well, Gary spent one night in the hospital, and nothing has really changed. His coughing fits have subsided some, and that is the best news. The breathing treatments he has been having every four hours seem to help the spasms (which result in the coughing).

We also just found out that Gary's hemoglobin is low, and he needs a blood transfusion. Please pray that this helps him to feel better. Lately he has been feeling BLAH, for lack of a better word. The anemia is keeping him from feeling better, which seems to send him on this endless cycle we have been on the past 6 months-he seems to do better, we get good news, and then he gets sick again with another complication.

Pray for the cycle to end! It is taking its toll on all of us, not just Dad. We know Dad is the one who fighting the most, but we are all tired at this point. We hate sitting and just watching-we can do nothing to physically help him. And those who have endured this know what I mean when I say the praying is even hard to do at times. God just doesn't seem to be saying yes to our pleas for healing. It seems God is choosing for us to just remain where we are at, not making any progress for Dad. And that is so hard to deal with after a time.

To all of you who have gone on this journey with us in spirit and in prayer, I feel we can be honest about this. Knowing what to pray for is half the battle! So please pray for comfort for those of us who are caring for him, especially Hope. We are all feeling defeated that Gary is not at least a little better. And pray this transfusion is just what he needs to improve. Thank you so much for being faithful in this battle.

Another Battle

Well just when I thought I would not be posting as much simply because Dad was doing okay.....

Gary is back in the hospital this morning. Mom took him around 4:00AM because he was struggling with his breathing. It appears to be bronchial spasms; there may be more, but some tests haven't been ordered while we are waiting on results from others. He is being admitted, and we are not sure how long he will stay this time.

From what we understand the cancer SHOULD be gone. The radiation did its job and took away the tumors in the back and shoulder. The pain in his hips has diminished as well as in his back and shoulder. So it seems the treatment is almost worse than the disease now. He is really struggling to heal, since his immune system is almost completely shut down due to the radiation and chemotherapy. The anemia is not helping him either.

I believe I speak correctly when I say that my father is just ready-ready to either feel better or for the Lord to take him home. He is restless with sitting all day, but he does not have the energy to attempt to do anything more. He knows the Lord has brought him this far but he, like the rest of us, are not sure why He has brought him to this point to live like this.

So I ask this from those of you who are praying for Gary-pray for a CLEAR picture of the work God has left for him on this side of heaven. The Lord would not leave Gary here to do more Kingdom work and not give him the strength to do so, at least that is our viewpoint. So God must have something for him to do, even when he is this weak. Can you pray for God to reveal that to him and to my mother? We feel Gary needs his purpose, his drive, his motivation back for fighting this disease and all the effects of it. He is just existing right now, and that hurts all of us who love him to see that when we know he is so much more.

I know God still says this of my father:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has used Gary for extraordinary things in His name-I know Dad can continue that, even now. May God be glorified by His servant even in the midst of this battle.

Day by Day

Every day seems to be different. We cry over defeats, no matter how small. And we celebrate over victories, no matter how small. These past two days we have celebrated over several small victories.

Gary's doctor appointment on Wednesday was a small victory, for we received NO bad news! He is anemic, but he is now taking shots to help boost his red cell count. His chest X-ray was clear, his blood oxygen level was 100%, and the doctor is not overly concerned about the spot on his hip that is causing him pain. He believes it to simply be a bedsore from Gary's sedentary life style. But Dr. Davidson has scheduled a CT scan and a bone scan in two weeks, just to check.

Another small victory was last night and today-Gary slept well and he woke up feeling better than he has felt in a week. His nausea is gone, and he was actually hungry for the first time in days! He is still feeling tired, but that is from the anemia.

And the last small victory we celebrate is that Gary only has TWO more treatments of chemotherapy! And prayerfully we will be done for good! We thought the chemotherapy would continue until Christmas, so we were thrilled to hear he only had two more.

God continues to be good, in the victories as well as the defeats. But it sure is easier to praise and thank Him for the good! We are grateful to Him that He has given us some good things these past few days, no matter how trivial they appear to be. We know God is still in His will and plan for Gary, and we continue to hold on to that.

May He forever and ever be glorified for the victories and the defeats-for in both we can see His all powerful hand. Blessed be His Name always.

New Pain

Gary is no longer throwing up, but he is in pain again, this time in his hip. Please pray fervently right now that it is not cancer. We won't know anything for at least a week.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Still Having Ups and Downs

Well, we thought it would be smooth sailing now that the radiation is done. How quickly our minds can change!

Gary's pain is much better; he just "complains" of stiffness now. But that is truly a praise-he is so thankful that the pain is almost gone. However, we had no idea Gary would be sick all weekend with nausea and throwing up. He began to feel "wormy" (as my mother calls it) Thursday afternoon, and it got worse until Saturday morning. He seems to be doing better this morning, but we are holding our breath.

We have talked with some who have endured radiation therapy to see if they had similar effects; it seems this is the "norm" for cancer patients. As the amount of radiation in his body increases, so does the inability to eat and keep the food down.

This newest symptom is not helping Gary to heal; he desperately needs strength, and the lack of food causes him severe fatigue. Please pray for immediate relief from this. As he says everyday, he just wants to begin living again. He is looking forward to returning to WLBF and "making a difference" again. I keep telling him he is making a difference every day that he chooses to fight and gives God the credit for everything that has happened.

If you feel led this week, please send Gary and/or Hope a note, letting them know how much they are appreciated and what they have done to help you in your life. God tells us to encourage each other daily, and both Gary and Hope need that desperately right now. Both are working so hard to follow what God requires of them, even though this road is very difficult right now. It is always a blessing to know their efforts are noticed.

We, as always, praise God for His mountain of blessings. May He be glorified forever and ever for His wondrous ways.

Praise God For His "Mighty Miracles"

Forgive me for not posting earlier on how my father is doing this week! We have been attempting to potty train our 2 1/2 year old son! What a job!

What a mighty God we serve, for He has taken away my father's pain again! The radiation is taking effect, and the pain is dwindling more every day.

Thursday is Gary's last day of radiation. We should know next week if the cancer is gone completely. When we talked about this earlier, I told my dad- "Let's hope this keeps the cancer at bay for a while!" My dad quickly responded: "A while? How about for good?!" There's the old Gary, back after being away with all the pain he has been enduring this past month. His hope was always there, but the pain kept him from speaking of it too often. I praise God my father is back and ready to start living again!

As we have stated numerous times and, because of recent history, we cannot say definitively that this radiation therapy is a "success" and he is healed completely. But isn't that what faith is about-trusting even when you can't definitively know?

So that is what we hold on to-the faith that our God is a mighty God who performs mighty miracles! For we sing today as we have done throughout this journey:

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!
The Lord's right hand is lifted high;
The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!"

Praise to the One who saves us and makes us saints, so we can worship and adore Him!

One More Week

Gary has one more week of radiation, and the Dr. tells us that it has been going very well. The radiation is doing exactly what it is supposed to do-shrinking those tumors. Dr. Franklin told Gary he should begin to feel certain relief this week.

I must say that I have never been more proud of my father's bravery and courage. This past year and a half as he has dealt with cancer has been filled with fear, uncertainty and physical as well as emotional and even spiritual pain. But my father has faced all of this head-on, with such a peace that all will be okay. I have never heard him say he was afraid to face anything that came his way. He always told us it would be okay, that He knows who is in control.

This most recent attack of cancer has brought the most significant physical pain, and none of us can imagine what Gary is going through each day. My mother and I have said we could not have survived what Gary has endured these past two months. When I tell my father that, he simply says- "It is what it is. This too shall pass!" What confidence!

My parents are amazing; they have taught my sister and I to be the women we are today. We praise God He allowed us to be raised in such a godly and loving home. And they have led us by example all of our lives. But I must say I have learned more from my father these past months about courage and trust than I did all my growing up years. He has lived Scripture like:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

and

"Tho He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
He also shall be my salvation."

and

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."

I have spoken several times how my father wants to continue in his "Kingdom work" here on earth for another 10 years. But even if God chooses to deny this request, his "Kingdom work" will continue through us! My father has created a legacy through his children and grandchildren, and we pray we carry on his "Kingdom work" even after the Father takes him home. I know the Lord has given me an example through my earthly father, and I pray I can carry his name and legacy to those around me, especially to my children. For I am proud of who I am and where I came from.

I pray my father has touched you as he has touched me. May the Lord be glorified forever and ever because of my father's "legacy".

Doctor Brings Good News and Bad News

Gary and Hope returned home this afternoon with mixed emotions. It becomes harder and harder to "believe" everything you hear.

Gary's oncologist tells us that the radiation is working "very well" and killing the cancer in the spine and shoulder, according to his most recent X-rays. But he did say the extreme fatigue and increased pain will remain a little while longer. He is estimating substantial relief from pain next week.

It is difficult to believe that the pain will decrease when, after a week of radiation, the pain has actually increased in the past three days. It most certainly can be due to the medication he is on along with the chemo and radiation. We just feel (especially Gary) that what is supposed to "heal" is actually causing all this!

Unfortunately this is the "nature of the beast"; cancer's most potent medications can damage the most as well. But we know that cancer is not in control here; Gary has relied on the guidance and strength of his Savior for over 45 years, and He will continue to do so. We firmly believe God has a reason for this, that is just not a random thing that has happened to Gary and our family. God has used and will continue to use Gary for His Kingdom work, even as Gary fights for his life. God must have more work for him on this side of heaven!

We ask for continued prayers, and we praise God for each and every one of you who has knelt before the throne daily for Gary as well as his family. We, as his family and especially his wife, are becoming more and more tired. Sometimes it is difficult to watch Gary hurt so much, knowing we can do nothing to help ease his pain. Pray we rely on our Father to comfort and heal our spirits as we help Gary fight.

We love you all. Praise God for another gift of TODAY.

More Pain

We are on day 8 of radiation, and not much has changed. As I stated earlier, Gary had a great weekend. Unfortunately this past Monday and Tuesday have not gone so well.

Gary is in more pain now than last week, and this has caused us some concern. Every time he feels pain there is more cancer. We pray this pain is simply from the IV he gets every three weeks to ensure the integrity of the bone, but we can't be sure. The doctors told us bone pain is a possible side effect of the drug.

Gary sees the doctor today. Pray he is released from this pain even today. For we know God can heal immediately! Praise Him for that.

We Are Constantly Praising God!

God keeps answering our prayers to give Gary rest, rejuvenation, and healing. And our biggest request was that he and Hope have a good weekend. And God did just that for them!

Gary had his best Friday-Sunday he has had in some time. He didn't feel really good the whole weekend, but there was no life-threatening catastrophe that occurred! And we know that you, his friends, family, and prayer warriors, are to be thanked for that. We asked you to pray for this, and God heard your pleas. What a wonderful God we serve!

Gary does feel stiff, however, and he did get sick some over the weekend. This is normal for him now with the new chemotherapy he is on along with the radiation. But he has nausea pills that Hope makes sure he takes before eating.

Gary was able to enjoy some football this weekend as well! Usually he is too tired to watch a game, but he loved every minute of the Michigan/Penn State game! Go Big Blue!

The best part of the weekend was that the whole family got together on Sunday. We praise our Lord for bringing Bill, Brooke and the kids so close to us so that we can see them more often. And with Gary's oldest brother there too, it was almost like a family reunion! Gary truly enjoyed just sitting with all of us and talking for a few hours. It wore him out, but we know this helps his spirits.

Pray for our family this week-Alan is returning home to Michigan, and Brooke's family is going on a much needed vacation. Pray for safety for them.

God is good all the time, even in the midst of tragedy. This we know, but we certainly enjoy when he heaps blessings over us to help us overcome the tragedy! We remind ourselves daily that God has had His hand over us every step of this journey. And even when it has been the most painful, we have felt Him watching and loving us. We know this is not how God intended for us to be, but this is the lot we chose when Adam and Eve took the fruit in the Garden. Sickness, pain and death are certain, but what glorious praise that it is not the end! For we serve a risen Savior who conquered all those to give us an eternity with Him!

As the elders sang before the throne in Revelation, so we sing today:

You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.

On Day Five

It appears as if Gary has successfully completed a full week of radiation. The first three days were pretty bad-it takes some getting used to to get on that hard metal table and lay for 20-25 minutes completely still.

Yesterday, day four, was much better. Gary stated the nurses and technicians know how to get him on the table without causing more pain; he said that helped get through the therapy. Gary also began his chemotherapy again yesterday afternoon. That too went well. We think the reason he did so well yesterday was because he has to take steroids for a few days before and after chemotherapy. But we know your prayers for him these past few days have been the reason for this improvement. We ask that you continue!

Some other new things happened yesterday after Gary's visit with Dr. Davidson. Gary is on some new medication to help his body endure the chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We pray it gives him some relief and helps him heal faster. He has begun some other medications to help with fatigue as well. We pray that "kicks in" immediately!

Gary is currently taking his last radiation for the week. Pray for a good weekend. It seems all the horrible events occur on the weekend, so we ask God now for a safe, healing and restful weekend for the whole family.

God is good, and we praise Him for TODAY, this day, to share with those we love. May you be blessed with a good TODAY with family and friends as well! We love you.

Relying on our Rock and Fortress

Gary successfully completed day three of radiation. Each session causes him more pain and weariness, due to the hard metal table where he must lay and be completely still. The doctor hopes the pain will begin to subside by next Friday, but every day becomes more difficult to look that far ahead. Gary is walking less and eating less but sleeping more and trying to do more for himself.

Gary also went to see his oncologist, Dr. Davidson today. The nurses and the doctor both agree that Gary is actually doing well for a man who suffered a pulmonary embolism a week ago. Since his oxygenation is 97% while he is on oxygen, the doctor suspects a clot still may be present somewhere in his leg or lung. This could also account for his weariness and pain. But one nurse said she was amazed that this man went through all he did last week and was sitting in front of her! But we are not amazed, for our God can cure any ailment.

Dr. Davidson really wants to begin chemotherapy again, because this cancer has spread so quickly and ferociously. So Gary will start his chemo again tomorrow after his round of radiation therapy. Please pray for less pain and discomfort tomorrow as he will spend a much longer day at the Cancer Center.

We can see that God wants Gary to remain on this side of heaven a little longer! While we rejoice that we have more time with him, we grieve that he is in such pain. Please join us as we pray for pain free days. My father so much wants to enjoy life and not just "endure" it.

He praises God for every minute God has granted him to spend with his family and friends. And we are so blessed to have Gary's older brother with us for a time. Dad told me he is "tickled all over" that his big brother is here. Please pray for a joyous visit for both of them. My uncle lives in Michigan, so these visits do not come often enough.

I have shared the passage my father held onto after he found out about his brain tumor. I hope you will allow me to share with you one of the passages I have frequently found myself praying and reciting as we walk this journey. It comes from Psalm 18:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

And later on, David writes:

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord ? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.

God can make all things possible; I simply must believe. And when the days seem long and my father's pain worse, I hold fast to these words. I know the Lord is holy, and His ways are perfect, even in this seemingly "imperfect" time. And even when it seems my father can't do anymore than just sit, my Father is arming him with strength and enabling him to stand on the heights. For he has already won and gained the shield of victory! And when I remember that I can praise God for all of His wonders, today. Truly that is how my parents raised me-to look up when things look so horribly down. Yet another wonder from God.

Thank you Lord for such a family as the one I have. You have given us more than we have ever deserved. May you be glorified forever and ever.

Day One...Again

I apologize for the tardiness of this post; my husband had to go away on business for 5 days, and I had to care for our three children (all under 3) alone! I hope you all understand!

After a hard and painful weekend, Gary returned to radiation today. We were blessed that his time in the hospital and week away did not wash away his markings for that radiation. So it was a relatively easy morning at the Cancer Center. Unfortunately, it causes Gary even more pain to stay completely still on a metal table for 30 minutes.

We also spoke with the doctor, and he is hoping this radiation will begin to relieve the pain as early as the end of next week. We are praying it happens even sooner, for Gary is suffering immensely.

Another unfortunate "side effect" of this radiation is nausea and vomiting. It is not a normal side effect, but Gary has it. Pray this will wear off as Gary continues the therapy. It is difficult to go each day knowing you will throw up that entire evening.

My father and I spoke today, and we realized that we are praying for another miracle. It is a miracle that God has healed Gary from cancer three times now, and it would be a miracle for God to take it away again. BUT it is, in our opinion, an even greater miracle to go home and be with the Father. Had our brother, Jesus Christ, not chosen to bear the cross over 2000 years ago and then rise again, there would be no hope of eternity. And what a miracle that all we have to do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior to receive it! So we praise God and our Brother for this gift.

So as you pray for Gary today and every day, pray for a "miracle". Gary will continue to fight this cancer, since he feels that is what the Lord wants him to do. But we can already worship the Lord for whatever He chooses!

Day by Day

We have learned a lot as we continue on our journey with Gary. And one of the most important things this trial has taught us is to take it a day at a time. It's useless to look back and there is no way to determine what can happen ahead of us. We understand the latter much more since May 11th (Dad's pneumonectomy). Basically, to recap:

• The doctors discovered cancer in the lung again in April of this year.
• Dr. Cerfolio performed the pneumonectomy on May 11.
• The ER at Baptist East found the brain tumor on June 1.
• Certain death loomed from June 1 to June 3, until God shrunk his tumor.
• Dr. Guthrie removed Gary's brain tumor on June 6.
• Dr. Davidson began preventative chemotherapy on July 9.
• The nurses and doctors at the Montgomery Cancer Center discovered an oxygenation level of 65% less than 2 weeks after Gary begins chemo. All treatment stops.
• Gary begins chemo again August 23. He begins to have shoulder and back pain.
• Doctors order a MRI on the back and shoulder September 5. We see cancer again, this time in 5 spots on the spine and vertabrae and 2 in the shoulder.
• Dr. Franklin begins radiation on September 7.
• Hope rushes Gary to the ER with low oxygenation again September 10. Certain death looms again as Dr. Bode scrambles to determine the cause.
• God heals Gary's body again, from the apparent blot clot in his lung and definitive clots in his leg.

It seems that every time we started to gain some hope in this process, something else happens to send us backward rather than forward. And so we must remind ourselves that all we have is TODAY. And every TODAY that Gary is with us is a blessed day. And we continue to pray for a TODAY with no cancer and no pain.

In the meantime we hold on to what Jesus taught on His sermon on the mount:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We must remember that seeking first His kingdom will "cure" our worry for tomorrow. And because Gary has always sought His kindgom, there is no worry for tomorrow. And that makes every TODAY a gift for all who believe and seek.

Praise God for such wonderful things!

Yet Again....God Is Good!

As if we should be surprised....

Gary is home! He got home around 2:00 this afternoon and was tired, sore, but happy to be in a MUCH more comfortable place. He has improved significantly, and only God is to be praised for that!

That does NOT mean he is altogether well; but he improved enough to try it at home with Hope there. She has taken a leave of absence at school to take care of Gary for a while.

Gary had to be on 15 liters of oxygen on Monday morning when he arrived at the ER. His heart rate on Monday morning was 158, his respirations per minute were as high as 50, and his saturation level was 71%. Today he went home on 3 liters of oxygen, a heart rate of 105, respirations at 22, and a saturation of 97%. So he is significantly better-we assume the clot in his lung broke up. But he is still very slow moving, and the doctor said to not do much more than walk to the bathroom and bedroom for the next week or so. Only God can take a man who was essentially suffocating to this level in less than 48 hours!

Gary is going to try radiation again on Monday. His spine and shoulder are VERY sore, and the only pain killer is radiation. So he really wants to get back to that. So pray he can so this cancer won't grow any more and cause him even more pain. We are not sure of the chemo at this point; we can let you know that later.

We are grateful God has taken away some of Gary's pain. We pray that God takes away this cancer so that Gary can continue with his "10 year plan". We know God can do anything, and we claim that.

May God forever be praised for all He does for His children.

"Though He Slay Me"

We praise God for His glorious grace and mercy!

Gary has improved tremendously over the past 18 hours. He is breathing much more steadily, even though he cannot yet breathe on his own. His heart rate as well as his respirations per minute are almost normal, and the doctors have dropped his oxygen from 12 to 6 liters. He may even go home tomorrow!

We have talked a lot today about Gary's life, his impact and his ministry. We can see in so many places where God has touched us or touched others through Gary. He has truly spent his life bringing honor and glory to the Lord. Today has been a blessing for him and his family.

When I tried this evening to compare his battle this past year with some of the battles Job faced in Scripture, Gary became uneasy. But he did say he hopes he has glorified God in this process and then quoted Job:

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

We then prayed that Gary's journey has indeed revealed this in all that has happened. I assured him that I, as his daughter, have learned more about walking in the path of God from him this year than I have in my life. I thanked our Lord for such a godly father to teach me how to walk in the will of God. I know Gary has done this for others.

We don't know what the future holds. But we do know it's in the Lord's hands. And we know that in Christ alone can we hope in times like this. And in that we find peace and rest. And we know, in the end, our Father will tell our earthly father "welcome my good and faithful servant". There is no greater reassurance than that.

God is truly good, and may He be glorified forever and ever.

Prayers for Pain Relief

For those who don’t know, my father was rushed to the hospital this morning because of his inability to breathe on his own. After a long and painful day, the doctors discovered a clot (at least one, maybe more) in his left leg. Because of his condition they were not able to do a scan to definitively say one was in his lung, but it is safe to assume it is, due to his labored breathing.
He had a procedure done tonight to prevent any more clots from entering his lungs. But we have to pray he can break the clot up in his lung on his own. At this point, because of his previous and present tumors, he cannot go on high doses of blood thinners to help in this process.

Please pray he breaks this clot up quickly. Every day he is fighting this he is not taking his radiation and chemo treatments. And that means his tumors are continuing to grow.

He is in severe pain still, especially with this newest symptom of labored breathing. Please pray for relief of this. We don’t know what God wants, but we do know He can do it all! Pray for His will in my dad’s life. He has fought the good fight. And he diligently worked for the Kingdom all his life. We know the rewards are waiting for him in a much better place. But we also know God can continue to use him here.

May God be glorified every day. And may we, as my Daddy always says, remember that every day is a gift.

Day One Is Done

Gary's first day of radiation is over. I think we were all a little fearful of how he would handle this; it's unknown territory! But it seems to go smoothly, simply, and quickly. Every day will last no more than 45 minutes, except for next Thursday when he takes his chemo as well. He didn't seem to be feeling ill effects of the radiation; he did get a little sick, though, from the pain killers he is currently taking. Please pray he feels better with that.

I wish we could tell you more, but that is really all the new news! Gary is in high spirits, still going to work and praising God every step he takes (almost literally!). He knows God's hand is in this, and we belive in the promise that:

in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.

God didn't "cause" this cancer; we believe Satan uses diseases like cancer to attack us. But we do know God can use it for His glory. As one of Gary's co-workers said this morning: "Think of all the people Gary touched at the Cancer Center because of this!" And we as Gary's family agree. God has been glorified, and surely people have come to the Lord because of Gary's faithfulness.

We pray for God's quick hand of healing and complete remission of this disease. But, most importantly for my father, he wants God to be seen in every step of this journey we have taken. God has been faithful and has not left our side. And we praise Him eternally because of that.

Another Battle Begins

We are so sad to tell you that Wednesday night the doctors discovered cancer in Gary's body again. This time the cancer is in the bone in his back, his shoulder and the bone next to his esophagus. This is why he was in so much pain for the past few weeks.

Gary begins a daily regiment of radiation for the next three weeks. He will continue his chemotherapy along with that. Please pray for relief from the pain and complete healing from the cancer. The doctors are confident the cancer was caught early enough so that they can kill it before spreading more. And his radiation oncologist is a believer and has prayed over him and over this course of action. He prayed for a complete remission of cancer and more than 10 years for Gary to continue his Kingdom work.

We will do our best to keep you updated. Thank you again for you constant prayers.

Triumph, Even Through Doubt

We are overjoyed to tell you that there is NO new (or old, for that matter) cancer in Gary's body! We praise Him that he made that spot disappear! His doctors consulted specialists, and they determined that there is nothing unusual about what the MRI revealed. So God is to be praised; He made this happen!

We are relieved that we don't have to fight cancer again; however, Gary is suffering miserably from a very sore back and shoulder. He is now unable to walk very far without being in considerable pain. We believe, like the shoulder, that the muscles in his back have tightened severely due to lack of movement during his recovery time. He is going to a physical therapist on Tuesday to determine what can be done to alleviate his pain so he can move forward. Please pray this can be remedied quickly. Gary wants to be healthy so that he can withstand his next round of chemo on the 13th.

We also ask that you pray the family of one of Gary's dear friends: Keith Kilgore. He was an elder at a local church and a cancer survivor like Gary. They spent considerable time together taking chemotherapy, praying for each other, supporting each other, and loving each other. They made each other stronger the fight. On Saturday evening, Keith passed away from a blod clot that traveled to his brain. He was a young man, determined to not let cancer beat him. We can only take comfort that Keith is with our Creator and Savior, praising Him at the throne. What a glorious beginning to eternity! But we are sad that we cannot see him on this side of heaven again. Pray for peace for his family during this time. We know Keith is where he belongs.

As always we praise Him for you and your willingness to pray for Gary and his family. May you realize the blessings He has promised to you:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Please continue to pray

I know my parents will disagree with me writing this post, but I would like to call on our prayer warriors to begin in earnest prayer for my father.

The MRI Gary had on his shoulder revealed a spot there. It is relatively small, and the oncologist is not sure exactly what it is. Because he lost all his muscle mass due to his illness, the muscle may have just grown into a large ball around the shoulder area. So Dr. Davidson would like an orthopedist to look at Gary and the film before moving ahead with a possible diagnosis or biopsy.

This could be nothing, or this could be our next journey with cancer. But we have SEEN God shrink tumors in Gary's body more than once, so we know God can remove this "spot", no matter what it is. And that is what I ask and call on everyone who knows and loves Gary to do. Pray for healing in his shoulder! He is in a significant amount of pain, and we ask that you pray for that pain to be removed along with that "spot".

God has done so many amazing things throughout this adventure, and we praise Him for seeing His hand in everything. And we know He will continue to be with us, no matter the outcome. Thank you for the prayers, and I look forward to telling you how God answered them!

A New Prayer Lifted

What an amazing God we serve! We praise Him for the abundant blessings we have received from Him on a daily basis. We know some things are "blessings in disguise", but God is good through it all.

Gary has had an incredible couple of weeks! He got to speak for the first time in a church since April, he ran a VERY successful golf tournament (with a lot of help from the other staff members at FAITH Radio), and he has worked almost full days every day.

Gary went to his oncologist today, and we had a mixture of good and bad news. The good news is that Gary has gained 16 pounds this past month and is physically much healthier. The bad news is his red cell count is down as well as the amount of vitamin B12 in his body. He had to have shots today to try to boost those. He also has been suffering from a painful shoulder. No one has thought much of it because of the good results of the CT and bone scans. The oncologist just assumed it was a pinched nerve or torn rotator cuff. But Dr. Davidson was alarmed that his shoulder had not improved in the past month. So Dr. Davidson has ordered yet another MRI, this time for the shoulder.

So here is what Gary has the rest of this week:

• Preventative chemotherapy tomorrow morning. This will be with new drugs that hopefully will not irritate his lung, and it will only be once every three weeks.
• An appointment with an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow afternoon for his shoulder. He will most likely receive a cortisone shot that should alleviate the pain he is having.
• A MRI Friday afternoon of his shoulder. This will confirm there is nothing growing on the bone or in the muscle of his shoulder. (He has a large knot right under his left shoulder bone.)

We ask that you pray now for good results for all three things. We know God is in this; He has been with us every step we have taken in this journey. Thank you for your faithfulness; we hope to update you soon with ALL good news!

We love you all very much and are humbled by your consistent prayers.

Truly Blessed

God is so good! We cannot stop praising Him enough for the abundant blessings He has showered on our family. And God is not stopping with Gary's health!

Last week was Gary's best week yet! We are so excited to see Gary return to work for almost full days, see him speaking again in churches, and to see him successfully complete his biggest job for Faith Radio: the annual Faith Radio Golf Tournament. All of this happened last week, and Gary feels great! He is truly thankful for what God has done in him and for him. He is shouting God's glory from the rooftops! He is shouting praises just as David did:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Please continue to praise and thank God for all He does. We also ask that you think about Gary on Wednesday; he is returning to his oncologist to find out when he begins chemo again. This time chemo will only be once every three weeks. Gary is happy to know he will most likely feel bad only one week and have two weeks of strength and health and time to heal before the next dosage.

What has God done in your life this past week? The blessings may not be as apparent as they have been for our family, but we have learned God is always there, no matter what the circumstances may be. We pray you find Him in all you do, and we pray you hold on to Him in the good and bad. We cannot imagine life without Him, especially with all that has happened this summer. We certainly want the same for you!
May you see His hand on you today.

We Have Seen Him

This is one of the few times I am so excited to let you know how Gary is doing! We cannot praise God enough for the wonderful news Gary's doctor gave us today.

Gary went to the oncologist yesterday for a bone scan, as I reported earlier. We were told we would not hear anything for two weeks. We can only assume that that doctor was so excited himself by the news that he called Gary right away to tell him he is CANCER FREE!

We are awed that we can all breathe a little easier, walk with lighter feet, think of things other than cancer. Satan can really use this disease to steal and destroy everything we know to be good and godly. But God granted us reprieve from that today and in the future.

We all know that the battle is not over and that Gary must return to chemotherapy and continual tests that will cause us to hold our breaths until we hear the results. But we praise God that we can see and feel His plan for Gary on this earth a little better now. We KNOW God has healed him of his cancer three times, and we KNOW God can keep the cancer from returning. We hold on to that promise that God knows every hair on our heads, and that promise brings us peace and comfort when dealing with things like cancer.

We know several of you who are praying for Gary and his recovery are also dealing with cancer or a number of other physical or emotional tragedies. Please know we also keep you in our prayers as we pray for our own family. And our prayer is that you can also claim the following:

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

May God bless you in all you do for Him this week and, as always, we praise our Savior and Healer that you continue to lift up Gary and all of us when you enter His presence.

A New Direction

Your prayers have been effective, and we earnestly ask you to continue.

Gary and Hope went to see Dr. Steve Davidson at the Montgomery Cancer Center this past Wednesday. We are thankful for knowledgeable staff who are caring for Gary as he heals.

Here is the good news:

• There is NO new cancer seen in the CT Scan taken last week.
• Gary's oxygenation levels were back up to 95% WITHOUT using any oxygen.
• Gary's blood levels look good.
• Gary is feeling much better this week.

Here is the latest:

• Gary will have a bone scan to confirm no cancer in the bone.
• Gary will have a brief hiatus from chemotherapy for healing and strengthening.
• Gary will receive new chemotherapy drugs that will hopefully not irritate his lung as much.
• Gary's treatment will be every three weeks rather than every week for two and then off one week.

We, the Hundley family, feel confident that this is the best course of action. We are fervently praying for Gary's healing, especially for his strength to be renewed so he can continue in this battle. It was only May 11 when he went in for a pneumonectomy at UAB. June 6 was his craniotomy to remove his brain tumor. And he began this latest round of chemotherapy on July 9. That did not give him much time to heal, physically nor emotionally and spiritually.

Please join us as we go to the Father on behalf of this son of His. We know the Father cares deeply for him, and we know God has plans for him, whether on this earth or in the new heaven and earth. Please remember that my father has asked for 10 more years; we believe God would not have caused such miracles if He hadn't intended on granting his request. But the reality of this fallen world causes us all doubt and fear for what's ahead. Pray for an extra measure of courage for my father, so that he can see all that God has in store for him.

We constantly praise our Father for all He has done. May He bless you today.

Still In The Race

It seems like we keep asking for prayers or thanking you for praying! The doctor gave us a good analogy, though; this is not a sprint-it's a marathon! So continued prayers are necessary for Gary's continued recovery and healing.

Gary went on Monday for chemotherapy but was not able to take it. The nurses found the cause for Gary's lack of energy and apetite. They discovered that Gary's body is not creating enough oxygen. His oxygenation level was not high enough to sustain his daily activities. This is what caused him to sleep so much and not eat. So Gary is now on oxygen for the time being to boost his oxygen levels.

This can be a side effect of the chemo, and it was exacerbated because he only has one lung. So some decisions will need to be made as to whether continuing chemotherapy is a good idea. Please pray for wisdom and strength for Gary and Hope during this time. They see the doctor within the week to discuss options for treatment.

One good thing has come about due to this side effect: Gary had another CT scan. And as far as we can tell, there is NO cancer in his body! We praise God He has kept the disease at bay; we pray God chooses to keep cancer from ever entering his body again.

We know God still plans for Gary to continue his "Kingdom work". Gary fully relies on passages like Acts 20:24:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Gary and his family don't feel his task is complete! He has asked God, as Hezekiah did, for more years. So pray God brings about perfect healing so he may finish the race set before him and he can say after the years God has granted:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Happy Birthday Gary!

Today Gary turns 61 years old! We praise God He has chosen to give him another year. We did hope Gary would feel great, wanting to celebrate this wonderful occasion. But it doesn't seem that will happen.

Please send out prayers for Gary today and daily. He is in desperate need of strength and rejuvenation. Each day this week Gary has become progressively more tired, not being able to work or even eat much. He is also suffering from shortness of breath and coughing, due to his chemotherapy. He wants to feel better so badly, and it just doesn't seem to be happening. Please pray for God's immediate healing touch; Gary just wants to do his Kingdom work!

Thank you Lord for this celebration of Gary's life-please give him extraordinary strength and energy to live for You like he has never done before.

God Is Healing

We apologize for the lack of posts recently. Due to the stress of every day life, we have not been able to maintain regular posts.

Since the last post, nothing has really changed. Gary just finished his first "round" of chemotherapy-chemo once a week for two weeks and then a week off. The oncologist insisted on platelet shots on his week off because the drugs he is on typically lowers the platelet and white cell count drastically. But God has been faithful to answer yes to your prayers; Gary has done relatively well with the treatment thus far. His only consistent side effects are a low grade fever and fatigue. The doctor told us both are very normal.

Please continue in your prayers for Gary. His oldest daughter likes to describe the prayers we ask for as "knee dirtying prayer". We KNOW God has great plans for Gary in the future; Gary just wants to feel good enough and have sufficient energy to fulfill those plans. He is frustrated with his lack of energy, but He knows God is working it out. We have to simply wait and watch.

One thing we want you to celebrate with Gary is his upcoming 61st birthday! This particular birthday on July 21st is one we are so excited about! We praise God He has given us another year with one of His children on this earth. Please send cards and well wishes! If you do not have Gary's home address, please send cards to FAITH Radio. He will be so happy to hear from all of you!

God is good, and we are grateful for each day together. May God bless you and yours richly today.

Plugging Away

It has been a week since Gary had his first round of preventative chemotherapy. So far, he has done very well! We praise God He heard our prayers for minimal side effects with the new drugs.

He goes in again on Monday for another type of chemotherapy; he rotates two drugs every three weeks. We pray the side effects will not grow as he receives more and more of the drugs. Please pray for that with us.

This week Gary has been able to return to work for at least half days every day. He is so glad to return to work and become productive again. You will hear him every Tuesday morning on FAITH Radio talking with Andrew Leuthold. Please tune in and listen.

As we have already posted so many times, we are truly thankful for your continued support and love for Gary and for his family. We hope you will continue to leave comments on this blog as well as call and visit with Gary. We love you all so much! As Paul writes to the Philippians:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

May God continue to bless you daily, for each day is a gift in and of itself.

God Says YES!

Gary and Hope are on their way back from Birmingham after a MRI and an appointment with Dr. Barton Guthrie. It is obvious you prayed for him today with us-he is CANCER FREE in his brain! We cannot praise God enough for this good news. It feels as if a weight is lifted off our shoulders. Gary finally feels able to move forward, recover and begin to live life to its fullest.


Again, as you have read in several of these posts, we cannot thank you enough for prayers on behalf of Gary. God has chosen to say yes to the continual prayers lifted up for Gary; we will never know how many thousands of people prayed diligently since June 1st. But please don't stop!


Chemotherapy begins Monday as a preventative measure for the lung cancer God healed through Dr. Cerfolio at UAB. Pray for success and no side effects!


Please don't forget our passage of hope in Isaiah 43, and may this remind you of the ultimate gift God has given us through Jesus:

But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you,O Jacob, he who
formed you, O Israel:"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name;you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.For I am the LORD, your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Prayers, Prayers, Prayers!

Gary and Hope go on Thursday, June 28 (their youngest grandson's 3 month birthday!) for a MRI and appointment to see Dr. Guthrie, the neurosurgeon. Please pray that no new tumors are found in the brain!

We also ask you to intercede on Gary's behalf for Monday, July 2. He begins "preventative chemotherapy" that morning. Please pray for success with the chemo as well as minimal side effects. In fact we ask that you pray for NO side effects! God is able to do that.

Gary is doing well! He has gone to work 2 days this week for half a day each. His oldest daughter and family are coming down for the weekend to visit, so we will most certainly be busy! You will see the Hundleys with their WHOLE family on Sunday at Vaughn Forest Baptist, and we praise God we can worship together as a complete family here on earth for one more Sunday!

Thank you for staying up to date with Gary's recovery. It has truly been a miracle journey. And we praise God you love and care for him enough to want to know and desire to pray for him on a daily basis. We love you all!

May God be glorified in everything. Thank you God each day for the gift of life. May we never again take today for granted.

Out and About

What a blessed day yesterday was for the Hundleys! Gary and Hope went to worship at Vaughn Forest Baptist yesterday morning for the first time since Gary's lung surgery in May! We praise God for those who facilitated the worship-Gary and Hope were touched and changed not only by the service but by the outpouring of love they received from all the members there. Gary, I believe, got some "good energy" from being there, and it gave him courage and motivation to continue in this fight.

Gary is so excited to be out and about finally! He wants you all to know that he looks forward to seeing you; God is providing him strength to finally do what he has been wanting to do for weeks now. Please continue to call, send cards, and visit Gary! We all know his energy comes from you! And we praise God you have been faithful friends to pray for him and check on him.

On a sadder note, please pray for the Aldridge family, the pastor's family at Thorington Baptist Church. Gary, the pastor there, was found dead in his home yesterday morning. Gary and Gary were good friends who spent much time with each other. The family, as well as the church, are in a true state of mourning over this loss and the brutality of it.



Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in all that happens in your own life. But praying for those around you can help to ease your pain as well as make a dramatic difference in the lives of those you are praying for. As we have gone through these past three weeks with Gary's illness, we have "forgotten" others are hurting as much as or more than we are. But when we look outside ourselves, we still see ways to help others, even in the midst of our own pain. As Paul teaches in Philippians 2, he says:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The perfect avenue for this is in prayer, for you can do no greater good for others than in front of the throne of our Father. And then God brings about healing, for the one being prayed for and for the one praying. God is so good to create us in that way! And we know firsthand the power of prayer. And we praise God for it.

Thank you Jesus for prayer. There is no greater healing for the soul or the body than this.

May God be glorified in everything.

Yet again we see "God's DNA"

For those of you who know Gary and have heard him speak about his journey with cancer this past year, you know what I mean about "God's DNA". That is all Gary has asked through this process-that God be SO apparent in this battle that people can't help but praise Him for what HE has done. And we saw it again today.

Gary's oncologist finally spoke with the neurosurgeon who performed Gary's tumor removal in his brain. They both agreed that Gary needs to begin a preventative treatment immediately, but they want to make sure to do what is best for Gary physically. Gary's neurosurgeon just "happened" to be attending a seminar today and tomorrow with oncologists and neurosurgeons, dealing with specific cases they have seen. Dr. Guthrie decided to present Gary's case before this large group of specialists to determine the best course of action. Could God not be more apparent here? We have been praying for the best care possible for Gary, and God arranged that for us! All of us who are believers know that God provides all we can ask for or imagine and, ultimately, He is the great Physician. But we praise Him that He brought men and women into Gary's path that He designed for these earthly matters.

Some of you can say that this is not a "miracle" in the true sense of the word; I beg to differ. God can make ALL things possible, and He can heal Gary with His own touch. But isn't it as much a miracle when people who have not heard of Gary come together to bring about physical healing? Did God not create these people with the minds and gifts to do just that?

Please join us as we glorify our Jehovah-rapha in what He has done in and through Gary Hundley.

No News Is Good News?

Many people say that "no news is good news". Well as we have gone through this journey with Gary and the cancer that has attacked his body, we have found that is not necessarily the case. Yet we pray this indeed is true with this week's appointment, for we know nothing new. We should not be surprised with that; it happens so often now. If you have ever gone through a long process with a disease or illness, you know what we are talking about!

At least one of the following phrases comes up at every doctor's
appointment:
1. "We need to run some more tests."
2. "We need to see the results of the tests."
3. "The results of the tests were inconclusive; let's run some
different tests."

Refer to number one when speaking of this week's appointment. So Gary goes again in a couple of weeks to run more tests to determine further treatment. The only thing we can tell you is the doctor said Gary looked good and seemed to be recovering well. He is beginning to gain some weight, and he has increased his activity level substantially. There are still some not so good days but, all in all, every day is brighter and more hopeful.

We know that those of you who pray diligently for Gary are responsible for each day being brighter. Without your prayers Gary would not be experiencing healing. Scripture tells us that the prayers of the righteous benefit much. Our Savior has heard your prayers and ours as well. We praise God He does hear us and answer us! He is faithful in that.

God is to be glorified forever and forever.

To Birmingham again

Just a quick reminder that Gary and Hope are going to UAB again today for a check-up with Gary's neurosurgeon, Dr. Guthrie. Please pray for safety on their journey. Also pray that Dr. Guthrie is wise with recommendations for further treatment for Gary, and may there be no cancer!

Thank you Jesus for all you do and may you continue to bless Gary and use his life to glorify You.

"Cabin Fever"

Happy Father's Day! For Gary's children and grandchildren we are especially grateful to have another Father's day to share with our earthly father and grandfather.

We can most certainly tell that Gary is improving-he is READY to get out of the house and get moving again! He looks better every day; his appetite is good as well as his stamina returning.
Gary desperately wants to be in contact with all of you again. However (you knew there would be a "but"), his contact still needs to be somewhat limited.

This is what we propose:

1. Feel free to call and chat! We only ask that you try to limit your phone
calls to about 5 minutes.

2. Feel free to come by and visit! In this
case we ask that you first call before stopping by. Please be mindful that long
visits can take a toll on Gary's recovery.

Gary has seen your comments, has heard your messages, and has read each of your cards. He is truly touched at the outpouring of love and prayer you have given him. Please continue to pray for healing and health.

May God bless you richly each day, for every day is a gift.

Pray for Time

In Isaiah 38 God told Hezekiah to get his affairs in order that he was going to die. Hezekiah cried and turned his face to the wall and said, "Lord, I have more I want to do for you."

God heard his prayer and gave him 15 years.

At this juncture in my life I will be grateful for a month, six months, or a year. But we are praying specifically for 10 years. When I asked Hope to marry me, I asked her dad if I could have the next fifty years of her life to try and make her happy. That 10 years will get us pretty close. In addition my daughters and granddaughters were all about 13 when they came to Christ. Mihaela Hope is 3 now, Noah is 2, and Lannom is new. But 10 years will give me an opportunity to make a spiritual deposit in their lives which I desperately want to do.

From a ministry perspective the past year has been an incredible year of God working. I look around and see people who are broken and in desperate need of hope. What I have experienced is the goodness of God and I want to share that with everyone I meet. The ministry of FAITH Radio has been my life and what an opportunity it gives to touch lives in substantial ways. I want FAITH Radio to be a better ministry when I leave it than when I came and there is still work to be done.

Friends, God's hands have been all over the ministry of FAITH Radio. I look for the next 10 years to be the greatest years of growth for this ministry and I long to be part of it. One of the greatest honors of my life has been to represent and be part of that ministry. It has irrevocably changed my life. So please join us in praying for 10 more years.

God bless you all.

A Reminder of Encouragement

As Gary's "secretary" (and his youngest daughter), I was reminded last night of Gary's favorite passage in Scripture. He showed it to me the day we went to Birmingham to see the neurosurgeon. It provided great comfort for us as we went through that whole week at UAB, and as Dr. Guthrie performed the surgery, I read this passage again and again. I want to share it now with all of you who care and love Gary as much as I do. Perhaps it can encourage all of us. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you,
O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

May God bless you richly today.

The Doctor's Visit

Gary and Hope went to see the oncologist this morning and, unfortunately, there is no new news.

We are just waiting now to see the neurosurgeon again and find out what his recommendations are for any further treatment for the brain tumor, if any is needed.

The oncologist did recommend more activity for Gary-anything he feels up to doing. So prayerfully he will be up and about more, and you may be able to see him around town very soon! Gary may also be able to receive visitors soon as well. We will keep you posted!

Continue to lift Gary and the family up in your daily conversations with the Lord; the whole family feels a little "stagnant" after such a traumatic week last week. The Lord saved Gary-we all believe that completely. But we need patience and peace to wait upon Him and see what He plans for Gary and his continuing ministry.

Continue to leave comments-all are greatly appreciated! The Hundleys are thankful for your love and care during this time. We especially praise God that you continue to go before the Father on his behalf.

News From the Doctor

We received news from the doctor today that the tumor indeed was "mestatic lung cancer". This is not the best news that we could have received, but it was also not the worst. We are grateful that a new cancer has not cropped up in Gary's body.

Gary and Hope go to Gary's oncologist in the morning at 7:30AM. Pray for Dr. Davidson as he advises Gary in the next course of action. We already know he will be having chemotherapy again, but we are not sure when that will happen.

Even though this tumor was not benign, we still know God is in control. God granted Gary his petition for 10 more years, so we know God has more "amazeable" (combine the word amazing and unbelievable, for that is what Gary's story is) things coming Gary's way.

We praise God for Gary's continued recovery; everything he does is better today than it was yesterday. The only "frustration" he feels is the inability to sleep at night. Pray the Spirit will give him peace each night so that he may rest.

Please leave comments as you read updates! Gary would love to hear from you in that way!

Every day, getting better

Well, we are in a continuous state of praise and glory to God! Every day Gary is improving. On Sunday morning he woke after sleeping a full seven hours (which has not happened in months), and he stated his headache was almost gone! He is already wanting to get back to work and get back into the pulpit. It is going to be a long month for him, since the doctor strongly recommended a full month of rest before getting back into the swing of things. But your prayers and support will help him through this time.
Today he is going to try a little exercise and more activity around the house. We are so excited to see him up and about!
Continue to pray for the pathology report on the tumor. We have not heard back from the doctor yet-we pray for a benign tumor! That means the lung cancer did not spread, and that would be another way God has revealed that He is in control!

We are home

After a very long weekend, we are home! What an "amazeable" weekend. Gary is alive and tumor free, praise be to God!

To make a very long story short, this is what happened:

Gary was rushed to the Emergency Room at Baptist East on Friday night due to a severe headache as well as disorientation. After several tests and two hours later, Gary was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the temporal lobe similar to the size of a peach. He would not live to see many more days. The ER took him to ICU where they made him as comfortable as they could, giving him high doses of steroids and morphine.

His disorientation dissipated some, and he began to pray for 10 more years, just as Hezekiah prayed for 15 in II Kings 20. After 24 hours of saying goodbye to family, God gave Gary a miracle: the tumor was not the size of a peach but of a golf ball!

So Gary went to Birmingham where Dr. Guthrie at UAB informed him he could just pull that tumor out and all would be well. And that is indeed what happened! The follow up MRI revealed the tumor was in fact completely gone! Gary went home less than 24 hours after surgery where he is recovering in his favorite place: with his wife Hope. Now all that is left is finding out where the tumor came from. We pray the tumor was just a benign mass and not cancer.

God is surely to be praised for this "amazeable" miracle. We know God has granted Gary's petition for 10 more years, and we look forward to what God will do in and with Gary's life. When Gary recovers, he himself will post updates for you!

All Glory Be To God In The Highest!