Wack to bork!

Couldn't resist that Diane Chambers reference from Cheers. I've got the okay to get back to the classroom and plan on being there tomorrow the 25th and Friday the 26th to observe with the intention of begining to teach next Monday, March 1. As usual, Apollo is bending over backwards to help. The wonderful sub who has had my classes all year will be with me in the classroom next week to help and as a standby should I find the need to rest or go home for any reason. Again, I can't begin to convey my appreciation to Apollo for their genorisity and care.

Kim and I have enjoyed worshipping at our church this past month and hope to expand that to attending Sunday School soon as well as our mid week group that meets every other Wednesday. Our church has also been, and continues to be, an incredible blessing to us and we look forward to getting more and more involved.

sheepish monthly update

I'm definitely getting worse and worse at updating this blog. My sincere apologies. I appreciate so much though that despite my failings, the incredible ministry from you to us through prayer and other means continues. We appreciate that so much.

Had our one month checkup at Cleveland Clinic last Tuesday the 26th. The bloodwork levels all look good and Dr. Smith removed the dietary/social restrictions I was on for the first month so we celebrated by going to the Beer Barrel on Friday and were blessed so much by returning to our wonderful church family for worship on Sunday. Again, Kim and I cannot begin to express our gratefulness to our church. It was wonderful seeing everyone again.

Dr. Smith "strongly" recommended I take another 4 weeks before returning to work so I'm now aiming for a March return to the classroom and will use this month of February to continue to regain strength and easing back into public/social situations. I set up 3/weekly physical therapy today so that will also be part of this month of transition.

We love you all and continue to covet your prayers for God's work in our lives.

Rob

Back home!

Got back home on Monday. Now the hard work begins! We continue to covet your prayers and your e-mails, cards and comments have been enouragements beyond description. Actually feeling weaker now than last week in the hospital but that's to be expected according to all of our literature. They want me to steer clear of public places for at least a month until our next meeting with our doctor in Cleveland.

TRANSPLANT DECEMBER 21

Dear Friends, It's day 4 after the transplant infusion. Rob's counts are very low - as expected and in his words it's "kicking his butt". His energy/strength is very low, the chemo is continuing to affect him from one end to the other (sore throat and digestive issues) and he doesn't feel like eating. As I said, all of this is expected but we are obviously hopeful that he will turn the corner soon. And as soon as his blood counts begin to recover (the stem cells take 7-10 days after infusion to mature and to be released into his bloodstream which then improves his counts), the symptoms that I listed above should begin to change for the better. The visits from family and dear friends, the cards, emails and prayer have certainly been an encouragement to us. We realize that all those things are part of what God uses to help us. We also continue to realize that God means every minute of this to be used toward our sanctification. We hope that we will be better servants on the other side of this and that we won't forget the many ways (in areas of trusting Him, being concerned about others and realizing that a relationship with Him is all that matters here on earth) that God is currently dealing with us. We also think that underlying all of this, He has drawn us closer to Him. Not in any mystical, undefinable way but in that He is changing our thoughts to reflect His Word. Please know though that we have our struggles also. We have fears and times of anxiousness. Many times we feel that we are almost out of strength. But we remember that the apostle Paul spoke of having difficult times yet in the end, he did not despair. And that is because he was upheld by God's "gracious, omnipotent" hand. And so the same for Rob and I! God never lies, He always sustains us and never leaves us. His goodness is constant and His power unending. We love you all and are so blessed through all your support and ministry. Merry Christmas! Kim

Transplant - Day 10

The actual reintroduction of my stem cells took place yesterday and was actually kind of anti-climatic. Only took an hour or so and then, poof, I'm finished. Now it's just a matter of recovery. My blood counts will all continue to go down for another week or so they tell me and then begin to gradually increase. I've had a lot less nasuea than I expected so that's been a blessing. Spiritually my biggest stuggles have been with my thoughts. I've got LOTS of time on my hand here and I'm finding it harder to read, concentrate, etc. Sometimes I can't imagine two more weeks of this. I don't think I'd do well in any kind of solitary confinement situation!

We were blessed with a wonderful visit from our dear friends Rick and Kim Snyder the other day who, among many other ways of ministering to us, gave us some great books. Among them is a great book on Puritan writings entitled: "The Valley of the Vision". Following is an entry entitled "The All God" which was particularly challenging and encouraging to me. Kim and I covet your prayers that these pure and godly thoughts may be ours as well:

MY GOD,Thou hast helped me to see,that whatever good be in honour and rejoicing,how good is he who gives them, and can withdraw them;that blessedness does not lie so much in receiving good from and in Thee,But in holding forth Thy glory and virtue:that is an amazing thing to see Deity in a creature,speaking, acting, filling, shining through it;that nothing is good but Thee,that I am near good when I am near Thee,that to be like You is a glorious thing: This is my magnet, my attraction.Thou art all my good in times of peace,my only support in days of trouble,my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good Thy will is in all,and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it. Grant me to feel Thee in fire, and food and every providence,and to see that Thy many gifts and creatures are but Thy hands and fingers taking hold of me.Thou bottomless fountain of all good,I give myself to Thee out of love, for all I have or own is Thine,my goods, family, church, self, to do with as Thou wilt,to honour Thyself by me, and by all mine.If it be consistent with Thy eternal counsels,the purpose of Thy grace, and the great ends of Thy glory,then bestow upon me the blessings of Thy comforts;If not, let me resign myself to Thy wiser determinations.

Transplant - Day 8

Rob is experiencing more of the chemo effects today so I (Kim) have been assigned the blog. We are so thankful that Rob has just received the last of his chemo today because although he still has a long way to go it's just very good to have this part of the transplant behind us. As Rob might have mentioned, the first 4 days (starting last Tuesday) were pretty good but then the side effects began in earnest on Saturday. We knew in advance of these side effects but it isn't easy to watch as the drugs do their job. But while that is true, we think that we are truly blessed to be able to have this treatment and a possible cure. I can also honestly write that these times of suffering have helped both of us draw closer to God and see that submission to His great truths (Trust His sovereignty, His commands are not burdensome, His will accomplishes glory for Him and good for us) is not only possible but is God's goal for us. I certainly don't claim to understand how God accomplishes all His purposes through trials but He addresses this subject many times in His Word and Rob and I are grateful that He teaches and comforts us with His words. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your cards and prayers. The Bible does say that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much," and we believe we are the recipients of God answering those prayers as He strengthens and helps us. And I also want all of you to know that your concern for us has been and continues to be a source of great encouragement to us. Tomorrow we will celebrate our 20th anniversary and although we're in the hospital I think it will be one of our most special anniversaries as we have been challenged to concentrate on what really matters in life. I'll sign off for now wishing you all a Merry Christmas. I'm also including Rob's address as some have asked for it, with much love, Kim.

Rob Ratliff
G110 Bed 5
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195

Transplant - Day 2

Arrived in Cleveland yesterday (Tuesday), was admitted and began receiving the first set of chemo last night. The first chemo drug (busulfan) is the mildest one and usually doesn't cause nausea, etc so that's encouraging but the next two are more powerful and more likely to cause side effects.

Reading through the Psalms so you'll probably get a dose of those as I keep you updated during the transplant:

Psalm 13:6 "I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me."

This is my prayer today. That I would not only agree with Scripture that God has and continues to deal bountifully with me no matter what my circumstances but that I will praise Him ("sing" to Him) for His past, continuing and future goodness to me. David pens these words not in a relative time of prosperity but in the midst of an incredible trial as related in verses 1 and 2:

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?"

May our testimony in trials be like David's - not only reliance and trust in God but praise for His goodness despite circumstances.