Before I go any further – remission is not our news – but it’s okay, really!
We are so thankful for the many who have continually prayed for us (especially for Linda) and the many who have inquired into our journey over the past few weeks. We told many of you that Linda would be taking a number of tests following her period in the hospital. As a result, a number of you have asked how those tests went. We were praying that her stem cell transplant would be effective and that all signs of cancer would be gone as a result. We have good news, some bad, and some great!
Good News
We’ll start with the good news. The blood work came back and looked very good. Her bone marrow test came back and the numbers were very low. We wanted low. So then, we are very thankful. For the most part, the cancer in her body was pushed back. She is feeling well and she has quite a bit of hair growing on her head. Give her another month or so and you may see her without a wig or hat!
Bad News
One of the problems was that they took the test on the side of her radiation and probably should have taken the test on the other side. As a result the test were somewhat inconclusive. As well, there is a test that is part of her blood work called “m spike.” When she went in last October it was at 3.37 which apparently is pretty high. It is now at 0.12. For her to be in remission, it would have had to be at 0. So then, she is not technically in remission, but is doing very well presently and much better than she was a year ago. For that we are thankful.
With that said, we have come to realize that remission isn’t quite as exciting as I would have initially thought. They told us upfront that Multiple Myeloma was not presently curable, so being in remission would mean that at the moment there are no results that would indicate the presence of cancer. That could change at any time. Of course, we desire remission, but even if she were to be in remission at some point, that would not mean her cancer wouldn’t come back in the near or distant future.
Great News
Romans 3:24-25 Justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his bood, to be received by faith, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
I don’t flippantly or trivially connect the remission of cancer to the remission of my sins. As I considered the disappointment that came as we came to realize that Linda is not in remission, it struck me how profoundly grateful I am that my sins have been put in remission. That remission is of much greater and long lasting value.
Crowdedship 
Thank you for the news… We’ll take it and be grateful. Remission of sins is the ultimate and for that we can be 100% sure!! Prayers will continue for precious Linda and your fam. 💜
Thank you for the update. Will continue to pray for all of you as you continue this journey. It was so great to see Linda at the open house. She looked great and had that same lovely smile. Blessings to all of you.
Our constant love and prayers always!
Thanks for the update….I’m glad for the good numbers in her lab work but pray that remission will still come. Blessings and my love to Linda!
Dear Sturgill Family,
I so agree with what Pastor Aaron said about remission. My mother died on June 14, 1995 from Lymphnoma cancer after coming out of remission the second time but the great thing is that I hear from family and friends is that although she was diagnosed as being terminal and then when in the hospital she thought of others and not of herself and witnessed for Jesus that she was in HIS hands and that she knew she was going to be with HIM. This is because she believed in HIS redemptive work in her life and sending ALL her sins into remission.
Chuck Harvey
The older we get and the more we go through the more meaningful the concept that “God is in control” becomes. We are truly grateful that He has brought Linda through the treatments and has taken the pain away and that she is continuing to recover. We can only hope that the cancer will not come back and pray God will help you to live each day without fear. It was so good to see Linda at the beginning of summer. Hopefully we’ll see you all again real soon. Love, Mary Jo