OUT OF THE HOSPITAL! PRAY FOR TEST RESULTS

What a blessing it was to walk out of the hospital today. I praise God that I wasn't afraid going into the surgery. Honestly, I was a little unaware of the post surgery pain. That surprised me. After the surgery I was pretty talkative with friends and family in the recovery area. I was feeling like, "Hey, this isn't too bad." That was Thursday, then came FRIDAY and SATURDAY! Man, I felt terrible after the painkiller from the surgery wore off and the soreness set it. I felt so bad I didn't want to talk with anyone. All I wanted to do was push the morphine button and float off into painless land. Thursday and Friday nights were the longest nights in my life. Time just seemed to crawl by every time I looked at the clock. My son Branson said, "Man Daddy, you looked so great the first day. You look terrible now." : ) The little guy has a way with words.

Saturday night the pain start to subside. I slept great that night. Sunday morning I started walking. I walked up and down the long hallway 3 times to get my body working again. Normal body functions returned and I kept feeling better. The most painful part of the whole experience was when they took out the tube in my side for drainage of the area around the pancreas. I thought I was going to faint it was so painful. Later I asked why it was so painful and they said, "Because the tube went pretty deep down inside you." So I'm glad to have that behind me.

The biggest shock was when the nurse removed the bandage over the wound. I looked down and saw an 8-10-inch wound with 22 metal staples in it. They explained that the staples decrease scarring and aid in the healing process. I should get these staples out in a few days.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 I have an appointment to see the surgeon and learn the test results on the tumor. So, please continue to pray that it will not be cancerous.

Thank you for sticking with me in prayer through this whole situation.

God bless, Robert
P.S. The next update will be on Wed. Oct. 8, 2008

SUCCESSFUL SURGERY!

Robert was wheeled from his room to the surgery room at 9 am this morning. He had a sccessful surgery and was out of the surgery room at around 11.30 am. After resting for a few hours, he was transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit for observation. He will be there for a night.

The surgeon took out the tail of his pancreas and his spleen. The tumor taken out with the tail of the pancreas will be sent for tests. The results will be out next week.

Thank you for your prayers and concern. And join us in thanksgiving to God for a successful surgery!

Before Surgery

NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET - PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!

There are shout of joy and praise going up to our Father from around the world because of the report I sent out yesterday saying there are no signs of cancer on the head of the pancreas and that on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, the surgeon won't have to remove the whole pancreas, but only cut off the tail which has a tumor on it. I have received an abundance of short emails praising God. As I was reading through them I got a sense that some may be tempted to think that all is well now and stop praying. However, we are not out of the woods yet.

After the surgery to remove the tumor at the tail end of the pancreas, the tumor will be tested for cancer. If it is cancerous, then I will probably have to undergo chemotherapy treatments in case it has begun to spread. Even if the tumor at the tail end shows no signs of cancer, I will still need to do follow-up P.E.T. Scans in the months/years ahead to make sure the "atypical" cells at the head of the pancreas do not turn cancerous.

Some are still asking how to financially help with the medical expenses. Without us ever asking a single person to help financially, God has moved the hearts of so many to give toward our medical expenses. It is the responsible thing for me to inform you that I have discussed with David Culp, an elder from the Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, Texas (who is currently with me here in Singapore) that if the giving exceeds our current medical expenses, then the remainder will be set aside into a medical fund for my future expenses since these funds are being donated for my medical expenses.

In Asia, the Bedok Church of Christ in Singapore has agreed to be a collecting church. They have requested that all cheques be payable to "Church of Christ- Bedok" and put "for Robert Reagan" behind the check. The Bedok address is: Bedok Church of Christ 1260 Bedok Reservoir Road,Singapore 479222Republic of Singapore

In the U.S.A., the Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, TX has agreed to be a collecting church. Make checks out to Westover Hills Church of Christ and attach a note to the check that says "for Robert Reagan medical expenses." The Westover Hills address is:Westover Hills Church of Christ8332 Mesa DriveAustin, TX 78759(512) 345-6386

God has used this situation to stir hearts to prayer. Whatever the outcome of the operation and the tumor testing, may God give me the faith to trust "Thy will be done." It would appear that God is beginning the grant my request for 30 more years of service in His Kingdom. (By the way, my son Branson asked, "Daddy, why didn't you ask for 40 years? : ) I told him I didn't want to be greedy.)

So, please keep praying! Maybe this "not totally out of the woods yet" feeling will keep me thankful to God each day for the precious gift of life.

I've been overwhelmed by the love of thousands of people from around the world who have been praying, fasting and pleading my case before our loving heavenly Father. When the doctor told me on Sept. 17, 2008 that I have a cancerous tumor in my pancreas I experienced shock and fear and I was driven to the point of facing the fact that this might be the time when God is calling me home. I set me house/life in order and asked everyone to start praying. I'm amazed at how many people have told me, "I don't feel this is your end. I feel this is only a time of testing and that God will use you for another 30 years as you have requested."

A few days ago, just before going under anesthesia for the biopsy, I had one thought going through my mind over and over, "God is in control. God is in control. God is in control." Today, even though I was anxious and my hands were sweaty while waiting in the surgeon's office to hear the results of the P.E.T. Scan and biopsy, I had one thought going through my mind over and over, "Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Thy will be done."

When the surgeon entered the room, the first word out of his mouth was, "Negative!" Then he explained that the biopsy on the mass at the head of the pancreas showed no signs of malignancy! So, this is an answer to prayer that the whole pancreas does not need to be removed, but only the tail end!

The biopsy did show some "atypical" cells. So, we will have to do more tests in the future to check on these cells, but it does not necessarily mean they will develop into cancer cells.
On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 I will have a two-hour surgery to remove a tumor near the end of the pancreas. A biopsy will then be performed on this tumor to determine if it is cancerous. Please pray that it will not be cancerous.

After receiving this good news, I went to meet my family (Jan, Erika and Branson) who had just flown in from Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was so happy to share with them the good report.

God is graciously answering the prayers of faith from around the world and I feel so excited to tell you this good news. Please continue to pray for a safe surgery and quick recovery. Also, pray that there will be no cancer in the tumor near the tail of the pancreas. Thank you for partnering with our family during this difficult time in our lives.

The next update will be done by one of my friends on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 after the surgery.
(For those here in Singapore, as I will be recovering from the effects of surgery and anesthesia, I would like to request no visitors at the hospital until Saturday, 4 Oct. 2008.)

To God be the glory. - Robert Reagan