Our Beloved Prayers,

Greetings in the Love, Mercy and Grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

You are wondering how all is gone with Darlene. So here are the details.

Darlene had felt a lump in her left breast. So we asked our landlady for the best doctor to see. She said she knew the best and has gone to him for 17 years. She even said she would make the appointment and take her there. Darlene was examined and the doctor found the lump and aspirated it. We had to wait for the lab exam.

The doctor asked for a Mammogram and so Darlene had that done. The Radiologist was not pleased with what he saw in the right breast. There was another cyst but then another growth which was suspicious.

So we went back to the surgeon and he aspirated the cyst on the right side. Then he did a needle biopsy on the second growth. After a couple days he called and said we should come in that AM. We then knew that Darlene had a problem. Sure enough it was a malignant tumor. He said it should come out in two weeks at the most.

We emailed our children and they wanted Darlene to come to the USA and have the surgery done there. The doctor had recommended Mastectomy rather than Lumpectomy due to the position of the tumor and Darlene's age.

The children were not sure this was the right direction to go. So they said we needed a second opinion of an Oncologist. We were recommended by friends to see an Oncologist in Pretoria. Again the Lord was leading.

Darlene saw the Oncologist and she was great and a fine Christian. She looked at all the papers and examined Darlene. She agreed 100% with the surgeon. She also did not charge us.

So we went back to the surgeon and arranged for the surgery.

We know we disappointed the children but we could not leave the RSA at this time for several reasons. We had Medicare in the USA, but no insurance here. We know the Lord always supplies.

How we thank you for your prayers for Darlene. God has heard and He has answered in wonderful ways.

Darlene went in for the Mastectomy on June 7 at 1:30PM she was back in her room with all the drips at 3:15PM. The doctor said all went well.

The doctor is well know as one of the best specialists in South Africa. He has done these surgeries many times over a number of years. His name was given to us by our neighbor/landlady. This was also an answer to prayer. The hospital where he operates is really first class and we have no complaints at all. Another answer to payer.

The hospital would not let me stay overnite so I went home to pray and try to sleep.

The next AM Dean and I were there early. Darlene was sitting up in bed smiling. I asked how she bore the pain.

The doctors and nurses said she would have excruciating pain after surgery

She said she had had no pain at all. They had hooked her up on an apparatus so she could inject pain medicine when she needed it. She never used it or took any pain medicine all the three days in the hospital. How great is our God.

We knew many were praying and he Lord was answering all of them

The doctor had to remove some nodes from her lymph glands to see if the cancer had spread. He sent these to the lab for examination. Just before Darlene went home on the 10th, the doctor came in with good news. The nodes were all negative. Thank you for your prayers and thank the Lord for payers answered. No need of Chemo or Radiation. How great.

Now she is home. There is much healing to do. She is wearing a drain tube which is a nuisance but it should be removed next Wednesday.

So thanks again and again for your love and prayers and help.

In His great love, mercy and grace,

Vernon and Darlene