As Irene has ventured out of the house more frequently she’s been sporting colorful scarves on her shoulder/neck areas.  Not only is she somewhat self conscious of her nearly black skin from the chemotherapy and stem cell transplant but she has 3 very distinct SCARS on the side of her neck from the temporary “Quinton” dialysis access port (3 lines) during the UCSF stay.  The Quinton was ultimately removed and replaced with the Tesio which is the existing dialysis access port which was surgically implanted directly into a heart artery.  (One quick side-note: please recognize that the darker hue is not a defining matter for Irene or me; she merely wants to return to her natural olive complexion).

As Irene and I examined her skin and discussed the scarring on her neck, this passage came to mind:

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Mathew 20:24-31

Over the last several months Irene’s FAITH has amplified to stratospheric levels. As we conversed about the scarring, she made the following observation regarding the steroid treatment wherein she lost vision in both of her eyes from detached retinas, completely baffling the UCSF medical team.  You’ll recall that she lost her vision for several months.

It is truly by God’s grace that I made it through those days, but God gave me contentment that I cannot explain …. my vision was so blurred that I simply had to trust Him and hope that I would see again ….

Consider Irene’s phenomenal perspective within the context of what she was facing at that time …. then contemplate the following:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6

Irene had an early morning dialysis treatment and rested most of the afternoon.  The nausea reared its ugly head in a way that it hadn’t for several weeks but she endured the episode …. thank you for your continued expressions of concern for Irene during this season of recovery.

While hospitalized at UCSF, Irene experienced the peace that transcends all understanding that can only be in God Himself.  Her anxiety was replaced with His Presence as she prayed and rested in Him.  She walks in that same place today, trusting Jesus to completely heal and restore her body.  The marks on Jesus’ hands and side are clear evidence of the price he paid for dying on the cross.  The darker hue and scars on Irene’s neck are visible reminders of the price she paid with the diagnosis of Amyloidosis yet also that of God’s faithful provision, using the medical miracles of our day to preserve her life.

Caminando con Fé

Dave