We now have a more definitive word about Linda. She had a significant bleed in the tumor that spilled outside of the tumor into the brain. Dr. Lacin, her neurosurgeon, is surprised that this bleed did not do much more damage than it actually did. Swelling in the brain is impinging on the optic nerve, not so much cutting off her vision, but cutting off her ability to process what she sees.
Dr. Lacin also confirmed, by the CT scan, that the tumor is growing. He will keep her at the hospital for two or three days for observation. If she remains as stable as she is now (stable is very much a relative term), she will be released to go home. There is always, of course, the possibility that the tumor will bleed again. Blood vessels inside (affected by?) the tumor are weaker and more susceptible to bleeding (at least that is what we understand) than normal blood vessels, so bleeding is always a possibility.
I do not believe there has been one doctor or nurse unaffected by Linda’s testimony for the Lord. She radiates the love of Jesus, and, unbelievably, the joy of the Lord, even as she struggles to maintain contact with reality. I write these words at the moment I would normally be preaching at Grace Community Church - thank you brothers and sisters for your support! I also write through tears as I bless the Lord for giving me SO MUCH BETTER THAN I DESERVE with my sweet Linda.
Thank you, dear brother or sister (we do not know who you are – it’s OK, you pointed to God, anyway!), who wrote in the wee hours of the morning a verse of strength from Nahum: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knoweth them that trusteth in Him. (1:7) The Lord is with us at the hospital, even as He was with us last night in our moment of confusion when the seizure began. May we all experience His strength in our respective days of trouble.
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7 comments:
Thank you so much for the updates. There was an awesome spirit today in worship as we lifted you and Linda up in prayer. I am praying for Linda and your family. God continues to use her for His glory even in the hospital! What a witness and testimony for all of us!
In Christ,
Vickie
Praying for Linda and the entire family. Words seem so useless and yet God knows our heart and desires. May He continue to give the strength needed by all. We hurt with you at this new development. We know God has a reason and Linda is being a tremendous example for Him. Her testimony affects many. Many is RR are praying. Much love,
Ann Martin
Brad, Linda, Elizabeth, Autumn and Michael... The prayers of Mt. Calvary Church in Banner Elk are going out constantly on your behalf. We love you!
George and Debbie Wright
Just last night at 7:00 in Virginia at my Mom's church, Kaitlyn was able to sing "By His Wounds". It was a true blessing... her sweet six year-old voice and eyes that said she believed. She learned the song the night before as Scott practiced it in the car. I so wish she could come sing for precious Linda. Truly, Brad, as you both testify, "By His wounds, we are healed." And He is healing Linda in His way and His time, for His healing is perfect. Oh how you bless our lives with your unfailing love for Jesus! God bless you and Linda. May you rest in Him.
We love you.
Keisha, Scott,and the kids
Dear Brad and Family,
Piete at the AAE shared with me about the heavy but sanctifying Cross you are carrying with such grace. I am touched and blessed by your and Linda's example of trust and obedience within an experience of such excruciating pain and distress. Know that I am adding my prayers to those of so many who are beseeching God for healing and wholeness according to His designs.
Perhaps you would be blessed by a document on the meaning of Christian suffering of which I recently became aware. Salvifici Doloris (The Christian Meaning of Suffering) is an apostolic letter written by Pope John Paul that is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful documents of his pontificate. Although I have not read the full document, I have been introduced to parts of it and will paste in an excerpt below.
Those of us who have not encountered intense suffering can only hope that we can pray the scripture faithfully that you shared with us in your blog: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
My prayers are with you.
Peace in Christ,
Cindy
From Salfivici Doloris:
Down through the centuries and generations, it has been seen that in suffering there is concealed a particular power that draws a person interiorly close to Christ, a special grace....
When the body is gravely ill, totally incapacitated, and the person is almost incapable of living and acting, all the more do interior maturity and spiritual greatness become evident, constituting a touching lesson to those who are healthy and normal.
This interior maturity and spiritual greatness in suffering are certainly the result of a particular conversion and cooperation with the grace of the Crucified Redeemer. It is He Himself who acts at the heart of human sufferings through His Spirit of truth, through the consoling Spirit....
People react to suffering in different ways. But, in general, it can be said that almost always the individual enters suffering with a typically human protest and with the question "why?" He asks the meaning of his suffering and seeks an answer to this question on the human level. Certainly, he often puts this question to God and to Christ. Furthermore, he cannot help noticing that the one to whom he puts the question is Himself suffering and wishes to answer him from the Cross, from the heart of His own suffering.
Nevertheless, it often takes time, even a long time, for this answer to begin to be interiorly perceived. For Christ does not answer directly, and He does not answer in the abstract this human questioning about the meaning of suffering. Man hears Christ's saving answer as he himself gradually becomes a sharer in the sufferings of Christ.
The answer...is above all a call. It is a vocation. Christ does not explain in the abstract the reasons for suffering, but before all else He says: "Follow me!" Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering! Through my Cross.
Gradually, as the individual takes up his cross, spiritually uniting himself to the Cross of Christ, the salvific meaning of suffering is revealed before him.
He does not discover this meaning at his own human level, but at the level of the suffering of Christ. At the same time, however, from this level of Christ the salvific meaning of suffering descends to man's level and becomes, in a sense, the individual's personal response. It is then that man finds in his suffering interior peace and even spiritual joy....
Those who share in the sufferings of Christ preserve in their own sufferings a very special particle of the infinite treasure of the world's Redemption and can share this treasure with others....
There should come together in spirit beneath the Cross on Calvary all suffering people who believe in Christ, and particularly those who suffer because of their faith in Him who is the Crucified and Risen One, so that the offering of their sufferings may hasten the fulfillment of the prayer of the Savior Himself that all may be one.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris_en.html
Pastor Brad,
I am a member of Marvin and Virginia's church family. Last night he spoke for our pastor who was sick and unable to preach. What a testimony of God's love he is. I have a hard time calling him Marvin so I always say Mr. Faile. That is almost insultive when I think of the Godly man he is. Anyway as he spoke of Linda and you he just ministered to my heart as a parent and showed me that the best thing I can do for my son, who still lives at home with us, is to minister to him in Jesus name. He is struggling with a lot of life issues, he is a wonderful son, just had some hard times, and when Mr. Faile talked about his bathroom duties at your house, he said he had told Linda it was his way of "washing her feet". That he used that as an act of worship and he was priviliged to be able to do it and I just began to weep. How blessed you and Linda are to have them as parents. They love you so much as I know you know. We are praying even harder for you and Linda. I know our Father knows just what He is doing in your life. He is reaching so many people by Linda's suffering ministry. As another person wrote may He continue to strengthen you and your children as you minister to Linda. We love you although we have never met.
With much love,
Lisa Ayer
To the Talley Family:
Lifting you up in prayer.
There is only one love that can hold us with an everlasting embrace.
"As a mother comforts her child,so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted," says the Lord. Isaiah 66:13. May God's love and the love
of family and friends bring you comfort at this difficult time in your life. Love,Donna Baker
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