Waiting is a discipline that God has been teaching us in the past number of weeks. On the day of Markus’ last scan he wasn’t feeling well and had a slight fever. In the process of finding out what was causing the fever it was determined that he had COViD. Thankfully the symptoms didn’t worsen but it did mean that the next course of treatment had to be postponed for a week. Having decided to pursue further chemo treatment aimed at cure we knew that the sooner this could happen the better chance the treatment will be successful. Aside from the waiting, it was good to see Markus get out for a few days of work after isolating for a week.

This past Thursday Markus was back at BC Children’s for a biopsy on his lung. The procedure went well, and the surgeons were able to do it laparoscopically, so it was not very invasive. So far he’s recovering well although he has a fair amount of pain in his left side.

There is a chance that the research analysis may uncover health information which could directly impact Markus’ medical care although this is not the main reason for the biopsy.  The primary reason is to assist in cancer research. The oncologists are perplexed because the tumours in Markus’ lungs have not responded to the chemo, while everywhere else in his body they have. The tumour sample they took from Markus will be used in research studies that God willing will enable successful treatment in future young cancer patients.

Tomorrow begins the first of three more rounds of chemo. This time Markus needs to take it through his port (the last three rounds were given orally) so he’ll be at the hospital for five days straight, but as an out-patient so he can be home in his own bed every night.

We have been on this journey for nearly a year now and we are constantly amazed at God’s grace, especially as he showers it on us through his Word and the preaching of it. Our church has a practice of gathering for worship twice on the first day of the week but for the past two Sunday’s we’ve come home completely filled up from the first service. This morning we had a guest preacher who expounded on the well-known verses of Isaiah 40:27-31. As much as we wonder where God is (we pray so often that God would make his power known by healing Markus), we know He is aware of our situation and has ordained it; therefore, we can rest our heads in the pillow of God’s sovereignty. Even though we grow weary, He doesn’t. What comfort from a loving, merciful, and gentle Saviour!

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29