Good news regarding Blanca

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you all know that Blanca saw the oncologist in Grand Rapids, Michigan today. The doctor said that he did not recommend Herceptin injections for her:

• Her cancer, though the most aggressive kind, was spotted at a very early stage in November
• The affected area was small, and plenty of surrounding tissue was removed in December
• Her lymph nodes had tested negative for cancer in December
• She finished radiation in a timely fashion
• Her chance of recurrence is 10% or less
• The side effects and long term risks associated with Herceptin are too great to justify the injections in this case, given for the small chance of recurrence

So Blanca will be getting a checkup every few months, but will not need these injections. We praise the Lord for this good news!

We also want to thank again the many people from Christian Reformed World Missions who showed their concern and generosity in sending Blanca up for this second opinion. “World Missions is a caring community”, one director said during this process, and we sure experienced that.

We also want to thank all of you who prayed for us, and sent us words of encouragement and advice. You guys really went to bat for us, and it is surely due to your prayers that God has answered in this way. Way to go, team, you are awesome!

Continue to pray for me as I have a lot on my plate – teaching and preaching, retreat planning, and the responsibilities of being a ‘single dad’ until Blanca decides to come home!

Blessings in Christ who is above all,

Dave Gifford, Christian Reformed World Missions, Mexico City