03 Jan Pray for Sharon Cherry

Sharon Cherry, wife of Pastor Kevin Cherry of Heart O the Lakes UB (Brooklyn, Mich.), has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, January 7.

Kevin writes:

The doctors are not greatly concerned, but cancer is cancer.  Hers, fortunately, is one of the four better kinds and is highly treatable. She will begin radiation after surgery.

However, she also is to have an MRI [probably Monday or Tuesday] to check out the other spots that are deeper in her chest.  If they are found suspicious, a more radical surgery will likely take place on January 7.  If more is discovered, then she will receive chemo as well.

We are both very much at peace with this, knowing our God is able to heal,  and able to see us through whatever comes. His strength is ours.  We are His. We are not losing sleep,  we are not anxious (I keep asking her and don’t sense it in her),  but there are moments of emotion.  This is your invitation to join us in prayer!

Please do join in prayer for Sharon. Sharon is the daughter of Russ and Nellie Birdsall, who spent their lives in service to the United Brethren church as missionaries in Sierra Leone, at Huntington University, in the pastorate, and as short-term missionaries in Macau and Jamaica.

18 Dec Sandie Birdsall Exits the ICU

Sandie Birdsall, who suffered a brain aneurysm on December 1, is now out of Intensive Care–though still in the hospital. The following is from Brent Birdsall’s Facebook post. Brent and Sandie served as UB missionaries in Africa, and Brent pastored both the Emmanuel and College Park UB churches in Indiana. He is now on staff with a church in Minnesota.

GREAT NEWS! At 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, Sandie was released from ICU!!!! We are so grateful. Many indicators show that Sandie has come through the worst of her brain hemorrhage and its aftermath. The Interventional Neuroradiologist team who performed the initial emergency surgery on December 1 and the subsequent angiograms/interventions have released Sandie from their care. An appointment will be scheduled for June 2009 to check her aneurysm and the coiling procedure they performed in such a timely manner.

Prayer request: Sandie has been diagnosed with ICU psychosis. Check www.medicinenet.com for an article explaining the ailment. In laymen’s terms, it means, “Get me out of this darn place!!!” Sandie’s symptoms were primarily anxiety, agitation, or some paranoia. The other day when talking about the nurses, she said to me in hushed tones, “I don’t trust them anymore.”

Hopefully, as Sandie moves to a quieter section of the hospital and is allowed more rest and less interruptions, her recovery will be more speedy. Let me say, lest you worry, I am nominating many of these ICU nurses for sainthood. They truly have been “angels of mercy” who lovingly, faithfully, and competently cared for Sandie as she was snatched from the brink of death.

I’ve been told that Sandie will forget most of what has happened these last 16 days. I will never forget and am deeply indebted to the staff of Fairview Southdale Hospital and to the first responders from the city of Apple Valley.
Sandie’s not out of the hospital, but this is a great leap forward. Oh, by the way, she did better with her swallow test. With a little more rest and study [ lame joke], maybe she’ll pass tomorrow.

Thanks again for your prayers and notes. They play a huge part in Sandie’s recovery. We’ll keep you posted from fifth floor. Adieu, Room 350, may we never meet again.