Pastor Update

Praise! The Lord Jesus continues the healing process in me.
• Please pray for increased energy as I move back into the regular routine of the Thomas Team.
• Please pray for me as I continue to try to stabilize my blood sugar.
• Please continue to intercede for me through the final rounds of chemo that the medicine will do its work in a miraculous way.
• Pray that my immune system will stay strong through the process. We go back to MD Anderson at the end of the month for a check-up on everything.
• Pray that the Lord would reveal through all the tests His miraculous hand of healing grace. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for me and my family as we journey together through this chapter of our lives. You are loved!

Chemo Has Started

Dr. Thomas started chemo on Monday, and he is doing very well. Thank you for praying! He is doing a three-hour drip of chemo which he will do one time every three weeks for the next three months. In addition to this, he also takes chemo pills every day – 5 in the morning and 5 at night. After chemo is done, he will be scheduled for radiation. He came and led our staff meeting on Tuesday (we were so glad to see him back in the saddle!) and we are trusting God to continue doing incredible things in his life for His glory alone. Please continue to pray that the normal side effects of chemo would have no effect at all as Pastor recovers. And continue to pray for those in our church family who are struggling with the same cancer issues. God is the Great Physician and He is able!

Also, we are looking forward to welcoming Pastor back into the pulpit this Sunday, February 17. He has been cleared by the doctor to come back so we are thrilled that he will be leading us on Sunday.

Many of you have asked about Pastor’s parents. They are doing much better. His dad is in a “collar” so please continue to pray for his recovery.

Chemo Begins On Monday

Our Pastor will begin chemotherapy treatments on Monday, February 11. We have been petitioning God mightily that his immune system might stay strong. Please continue to pray for that as well! He is doing lots of research to find ways that he can stay as healthy as possible and to continue to strengthen his body. Ask the Lord for grace when Pastor starts chemo on Monday. Pray that the “normal” side effects of chemotherapy would have no effect at all! This is our prayer for many at Cottage Hill who are going through the same thing as Dr. Thomas. We know our Lord is the Great Physician and we are trusting in Him.

Please Continue to Pray

After talking with MD Anderson in Houston on Tuesday, Pastor’s doctors told him the chemo and radiation treatment that he would need to begin taking soon was aggressive because they believed he was at high risk of the caner returning. His doctors have found cancer cells in his fat cells around the pancreas. Please continue to pray for God’s supernatural healing on our Pastor, and pray that all the details of the chemotherapy and radiation scheduling will go smoothly and quickly.

Second Follow Up Visit

Pastor and Karen received a great report from the doctors and MD Anderson yesterday. They considered the surgery to be "bar-zero" meaning that visually they removed all that needed to be removed and left nothing considered to be problematic. Also, Pastor had not had any of the common complications associated with the surgery. Praise the Lord!
In approximately two weeks he will begin chemotherapy for three months and radiation in the area of the tumor. Both of these procedures are for precautionary measures to be sure all of the cancer has been removed from his body. Following this he is expected to make a full recovery!
Pastor's scheduled date to return to the pulpit is February 17th. Please continue to pray for strength, energy, and continued healing.

A Thousand Thank Yous!

Thank you for praying for our Pastor. He is home recovering from his pancreatic cancer surgery and is doing well. Here is a quick update. He will be heading back to MD Anderson on Wednesday, January 23 to discuss follow up options regarding chemotherapy, etc. Please pray for the appointments that he has on that day, and that the Lord will continue to work out all of the details for His glory alone. Thank you for all your prayers!

A Slight Correction

While Pastor will be going back out to Houston in two weeks, it will be to meet with the Oncologist only, not for chemotherapy treatments.

When Pastor does do chemo, it will be here in Mobile. Thank you for all your prayers! We praise the Lord for each and every one of you and all your encouragement.