Darren LeBlanc

This week has been a huge battle. Misty’s speech has deteriorated everyday and she has progressed to the point where she needs help walking by herself, going to the bathroom or taking a bath. We are fighting a formidable physical battle and an even harder spiritual and emotional battle. I explain the specifics later on this “spiritual” battle I’m referring to, but I wanted to share one thing with everyone.

The Bible in James Chapter 5 says: 
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray… Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord with raise him up.

And in the first chapter of that same book, says:
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

So many of us say, “yes we believe in the Bible”…or “yes, I am a Christian”. But really, when we call ourselves Christians, we need to accept the Bible in it entirety. Clearly, the Bible says that a prayer offered in faith will make a sick person well. This is mentioned other places in the bible as well. So, if I base my faith on the Bible, shouldn’t I expect that God will follow through on its promises? Well, a peace has come over Misty these last couple days as has she has begun to accept this. Other than the usual “basic needs” conversations, misty only said about 3 things today. It takes her quite a while to get a point across as we basically just guess what her “yes” “no” or other sounds are trying to tell us. But tonight Misty managed to tell us that she wants us to pray…and really believe it. So to the literal thousands of you that check this page every week, and send me emails and messages about how you are praying…. Thank you. Honestly, you are all such an encouragement. But, I’m really looking for prayers from those of you who actually believe God will listen…and act.

When I was young, I saw a boy who had been mute from birth receive his voice and start to yell because he was so happy he had been healed. My faith was built from that. But now, its almost as though I have forgotten the simple faith of my childhood. These last years, my prayers have gone from “heal the sick” to “help me understand why you wont heal the sick”. Well…the tides have turned. This week marks a significant change in my life and the lives of just about everyone in my family.  We have begun to find joy in the suffering, beauty from the pain. We are learning about how much we still need to grow and our faith is being refined. There is still pain, don’t get me wrong…but there is growth from it and that is encouraging. No longer am I planning for the worst…now I am expecting the best. Misty is believing in the promises of God and is so strong…it amazes me. As per her request, we prayed that tomorrow will be significantly better than today…and I’m expecting to wake up to that. We finally believe what we preach…

So am I stupid?? I don’t know…you’ll just have to wait and see :)

Not much has changed in the last couple days, except maybe Misty’s speech getting a little worse. BUT, tonight was a nice night. I can’t explain it, but I think Misty was comforted. Thanks so much for everyone who prayed for her today.

Its Wednesday, which means today is Misty’s prayer day. Join us.

By the way, I got the MRI back from Misty’s Monday scan. Its strange. I looked at it and spoke with the doctor to confirm. Seems the cancer has rapidly grown (hence all the new symptoms) since 2 weeks ago, BUT the scan actually shows a significant reduction in the high grade tumor. So overall, its worse, but somehow most of the new cancer isn’t showing up on the contrast scan (the contrast helps isolate high grade tumor). Our neuro-oncologist didn’t really have an explanation for this. Its almost like the aggressive cancer is receding but the lower grade is growing…I’m going to talk with the neuro-surgeon today.

Like I said, the doctor doesn’t see this as good news…but at this stage, anything “strange” is always reason for hope! She is pretty much at the same spot she was on Sunday…but we are extremely hopeful. Lets pray that this “anomaly” in her MRI is really just God taking care of things :)

In the world of a someone with a Glioblastoma (GBM = stage IV brain cancer), things tend to change quickly. Unfortunately, today was another bad change. We woke up this morning and she has lost just about all of her speech and her right ear is starting to go in and out. Basically, when she talks now, its just to let me know to start giving her guessing options. We do the yes/no elimination. It limits our communication, but its working for now.

The reason I’m writing is because I feel like people are losing faith. At times, I have lost faith myself…so I understand that place. But, it is NOT time to lose faith. If you aren’t a Christian, then I appreciate your browsing and staying on top of Misty’s status…but these words are for those of us who put our trust in God.

In John chapter 16, Jesus is talking to his disciples, telling them that he has to leave but that he will still be in control. In verse 33 he says:

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

As seemilngly impossible as this situation is, we need to remember that Jesus already overcame the world. Curing cancer is nothing for him. So today, we are believing that God is going to do something big in Misty.

Tonight we will be at a prayer meeting, expecting to get something from God. I’m really trusting him to heal her. If you have any faith at all, join us in prayer anytime from 7pm to 11pm tonight.

Last night Misty managed to convey to me that she wanted people to pray. Her words were “Please Pray”. She is believing and trusting in God. She actually conveyed that she is excited about tonight prayer. Lets join her in believing…

PS – on a different note, I’m amazed by the outpouring of love from so many people. Really, while we are down and out (sorry about the lack of thank you cards) it is encouraging to have such support.

I wish so badly that I had some good news for the world….but it hasn’t come yet. Misty has lost a little more function in her hand and her speech has deteriorated a bit more over the last few days. We may end up making some big decisions on treatment changes over the next few days….so keep us in prayer. Speaking of prayer, I got a note from my good friend Megan Z. I copied it below so the literal thousands of you who visit each week can read. She is asking all of us to join together on wednesdays and fast something for Misty. I’m in :)

Throughout the Bible, God responds in powerful ways when His people fast and pray/intercede.  There are numerous examples where corporate prayer in faith is promised to be powerful.  Both the Old and New Testaments speak of the power of  combined prayer and fasting  with examples of how God intervenes and delivers people from ungodly influences and harmful situations again and again.  There are present day examples to prove this as well.  So….. since so many people are praying for Misty already, let’s make it even more concentrated & strategic by consecrating (setting apart) a fast once a week on Wednesdays that people can participate in.  On these days, people can seek God about what they could/should give up.  For some,  it may be going without any meals from sun up to sun down.  For others, it may just mean going without one meal, a favorite activity or their coffee for the day.  Maybe some will get up an hour earlier than usual to pray.  The point is that we will be sacrificing our own human wants/needs as an act of faith as we pray believing that Misty will be healed.  In addition to fasting that day, each of us will really try to give extra time to interceding on Misty’s behalf for healing.  Combined, this will be an awesome corporate effort that will open the floodgates of heaven and rain a breakthrough in healing and restoration.  God will be glorified as many see, and take part in, His power at work in both Darren and Misty’s lives! We wont stop until we see results!

Love yas,  Meg

I just got a disappointing email. Misty’s neuro-surgeon said that he doesn’t want to do surgery now. I guess that seems like it would be good news, but to her its not. Surgery has always been a scary thing, but it brings results. You get a large mass of the tumor out immediately and can relieve a good bit of symptoms. So Misty is a little more discouraged this morning. I have to think of some creative ways to encourage her…

Misty called me at like 10am and told me that she wanted to go to the park. So I cancelled my afternoon meetings and drove home to meet her and her mom (and of course miss olivia). Misty’s dad bailed on his work responsibilities too and we hopped in a van to head up to Branch Brook Park in Newark. Apparently, this is famous for its huge Cherry Blossom Festival. Well….lets just say, the festival was over – I’m not sure there was a single blossom left on a tree up there. It didn’t matter though. we had a picnic lunch in front of a curiously green stream and watched Olivia pick dandelions. She hand delivered a fistful to her mommy who was sitting on the blanket and then proceeded to wipe her yellowed hands on everyone. She is really getting big…its freaking me out :)

For Misty, the time was ok. Not great….but ok. Its hard  for her to communicate so even a quick picnic lunch at the park becomes a bit of a struggle. Overall the last few days have been better though. I mean, there were some threads of hope in her. That’s about the best I can ask for lately. Its a tough time for her. She is however, trying desperately to have faith in God.

It’s been a rough week. Its hard for me to really describe the “place” that we are at right now. Its a place I’ve never been before and a place I’d wish on no one. A place where you could cry at any second, but you never do. Misty has had some rought times in the past: 4 brain surgeries, 18 months with hives all over her body, countless hospitalizations and a nearly terminal drug reaction are on the top of that list. But tonight she told me that this week has taken the cake as the worst week in her life. The reason is simple…hope has left the building.

The glimmer of hope that came with a few good hours after she started the steroids, was soon to pass. She has little feeling in her right hand, and very little function in it. The right side of her face is also gone and hangs a little lower than the left side. The majority of sentences she tries to speak, just don’t come out. And if she actually does communicate something to me, its usually because either I guessed it or she tried 5 or 6 times to say it. She is past the point of depression…it’s almost a numbness about reality that has started to set in. How long can every waking minute be filled with a prayer for healing before you start to lose hope? But its not over…I mean, I’m certainly not giving up or anything. I read to misty for about an hour tonight and I think there may have been a spark of hope there. For that, I’m happy.

We need prayer for 3 things:

1) Complete healing for Misty
2) Faith, Hope and Strength for the journey there
3) Wisdom for me and Claudia (Misty’s mom) as we are with her most, and we often don’t know how to encourage her

It’s been a rough week, but I don’t intend to stay down. It’s friday…but Sunday’s Coming…