GOD'S GOT THIS!!

Daniel, Teresa, Carlton, and Joshua Mathews

GOD'S GOT THIS!

I want to first say thank you to Carrie for sharing about what our family has been going through the past 3 weeks. I also want to say thank you for the prayers that I know have been going up on Carlton's behalf. I will start at the beginning to inform anyone that hasn't seen my posts on Facebook.

My husband Carlton has been having back pains since mid-May; he thought it was a slipped disc so he visited a chiropractor a few times and when the pain wasn't subsiding I took him to Urgent Care. The UC Doctor suggested he go to see an orthopedic doctor, this was on Sunday June 1st.

Monday morning I called the office the UC doc suggested and I was told they only had two back doctors and it would probably be a long wait for an appointment, but the lady double checked and there was a cancellation for the next morning. I had prayed if this was what GOD wanted for Carlton they would have an appointment. We saw the doctor on Tuesday and he scheduled a MRI of Carlton's back and told us to come back on Friday.

Friday when the doctor walked in we were still thinking a slipped disc or maybe just arthritis, we were not prepared when he walked in and said "It's nothing like we thought!" Of course Carlton asks "what is it?" We still had no idea he would tell us "it appears you have two malignancies on your spine." To say we were shocked is a major understatement but GOD put the words in my mouth when I looked the doctor in the eye and said "GOD'S GOT THIS" I also told him "we have been here before fifteen years ago and GOD got us through then and He will again." Did I feel like our world had turned upside down? Absolutely!! Did I break down and cry and wonder why? Yes, I did, but I still KNEW that GOD would take care of us.

That same night our youngest son, Joshua and I prayed for Carlton and while I was praying in the spirit I was impressed to speak the words "You Shall Live and Not Die!" After Carlton went to bed that night I was reading the Bible and I found a scripture that went along with what I had just spoken over him; (Psalm 118: 15-17, 21). During that same time we had been praying for Carlton, our oldest son, Daniel was at our church crying out for his dad. God brought the story of Hezekiah to his mind (2 Kings 20:1-11). Hezekiah had been told by the Prophet Amoz he was going to die, so he started praying and GOD granted him another 15 years. On Saturday morning I was again praying and I heard GOD telling me "stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord" I got up and found the scripture (Exodus 14:13), this was where Moses and the Children of Israel were at the Red Sea and GOD led them through on dry ground. When I read that verse I felt led to replace the word "Egyptians" with the word "cancer". Once again I had gotten confirmation that GOD had everything under control.

On Monday, June 9th, we went to the Oncologist's office and they did blood work and took three bone marrow samples so they could diagnose the type of cancer. We went back on the following Wednesday and we were told it was Multiple Myeloma, (cancer in your bone marrow) stage 2.  I don't think I had ever heard of this cancer before, so being a curious person, and having a stack of books on it given to us by the nurse I researched it. As I was reading about it, it was like I was smacked in the head by GOD and told "stop, you don't need to read all of this if you are praying for me to heal Carlton" and once again I had scripture come to me "it shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:8) I looked it up and read that verse, then I backed up and read verses 1-7 and continued on through verses 9&10; Carlton's health, our finances and everything we need was covered in those verses.

On Tuesday of last week (17th) when Carlton went for his first chemo treatment I asked the nurse about the x-rays and blood work they had done the previous week; the Nurse Practitioner came to speak with us and told us that Carlton has the least aggressive type of MM and also he was only a stage 1 not the stage 2 that we had been told. She also mentioned that after he is in remission, he will need a bone marrow transplant and then he should be cured! That is so incredible because they don't usually say the word "cured" with MM. I was so excited when she told us that good news, I looked at Carlton and said "I told you GOD'S GOT THIS" Then I wanted to run out of the building and across the parking lot praising God; I figured out what David meant when he said "For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall." (2 Samuel 22:30) There wasn't a physical wall to leap over but we had leaped over the wall of despair that satan had tried to put up in our path!! PRAISE GOD!!

I was talking to my brother on Wednesday of this week and he was telling not to worry about anything, GOD took care of him four years ago (he fell off a roof on his head and was in a coma for 9 days) and GOD will do the same for us. I told him I am not worrying anymore about what is going to happen with Carlton's health, our bills, etc...; because I can't change anything and I do know that GOD is going to take care of us. Then I made mention again of the story of Hezekiah and how GOD proved His word to Hezekiah by turning the sundial back 10 degrees and it hit me out of the blue that GOD had done the same thing for us by downgrading Carlton's cancer from a stage 2 to a stage 1. WOW!! GOD is so good and yes, yes, yes GOD'S GOT THIS!!!

I will be giving updates as we travel down this path that GOD has chosen for us and I appreciate every prayer that you will pray for Carlton. While you are praying for him pray for the other people that have this same horrible cancer that don't have the hope of Jesus Christ. Carlton and I have been praying that someone will come to know Jesus because of this situation and that GOD will receive glory and honor and praise!!

Here is several links about Mutiple Myeloma;
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. 
American Cancer Society
Mayo Clinic

Thank God Carlton did not have any of the normal symptoms; he only had the back pain which was a blessing because this was caught very early, there was NO sign of MM in his blood work. This is a disease that usually plagues older people but Carlton is only 52 so this can happen to younger people. 

Pray for those with Multiple Myeloma

Carlton Mathews, Teresa's husband

This past week we learned our precious Teresa Mathews' husband, Carlton, has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  We are asking our readers to pray for Carlton and the Mathews family and to also pray for others who are battling this disease. On OWG we previously posted about how the Mathews family was given provision by God in 1999 to get through a great many trials, including when Carlton had cancer.

There are several organizations that address this illness One is the International Myeloma Association.  IMA has publications and something called the Myeloma Minute a free email newsletter.  The American Cancer Association also has a section for Multiple Myeloma. Of course we are directing our attention to the Great Healer and His Word, as well.

Will you join me in lifting up Carlton, Teresa, and their sons? Will you commit to praying weekly for them as God brings about full healing?  Let's also pray for other families battling this illness, particularly for those who need to know the Lord.  I don't know why God is allowing the Mathews family to go through this valley but I do know He will be with them. And I know He will use it for their good. Valley times are not fun times they are growth journeys in Christ. Please surround Teresa, Carlton, and their sons with prayers and an encouraging word.

Can you please leave a prayer for Carlton and those suffering with myeloma?