"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all. God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken." Ps 34You may have already seen this information. If so, please pass it along to others in your life who know and love Tom & Deb Smith of Ashely, IL and Cincinnati, OH, and would want to know about their situation.
Deb Smith was just in the last several weeks diagnosed with cancer. The cancer is already very advanced and is in her bones, lungs and lymphatic system. The doctors initially gave her 6 to 18 months, depending on treatment and so forth. I think it has been much more aggressive, though, than even they foresaw, and she is now (just in the last few days) hospitalized and in a lot of pain, which they are trying to control with a morphine drip. She also has difficulty swallowing, presumably due to the radiation treatments. The doctors say they expect her to stay hospitalized. She is in Creve Couer (God is close to the broken hearted), and Tom drives 200 miles round trip to be with her. Insurance is covering some, but not nearly all, of their expenses. The expensive medicines and the travel are especially taking their toll on their finances. A number of Tom and Deb's friends are calling on those who know and love them and suggesting ways we can all get involved to help. And quickly. Here are some ways.
PRAYER. God still heals, and Deb needs healing. Her daughter Charity said that we should pray for healing, for hope, and for freedom from pain.
MONEY. Tom's sister Darla is taking charge of processing contributions to help them. Checks should be made out to "Grace Community Church" and sent to:
Darla Wexstten
16738 N. Tolle Lane
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
CARDS. Deb receives great encouragement from the cards and notes she receives from friends. Calls, visits, and e-mails are out. She has very little stamina right now. So an encouraging note or card to remind her of the many ways she has blessed you over the years both personally and through support of Tom and the church could help brighten her day. Here's her address at the hospital:
c/o St. John's Mercy Medical
615 South New Ballas Rd.
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Tom could use encouragement too. Here is his contact information:
pastortomsmith@yahoo.com
Tom and Deb Smith
10517 N. Panzier Lane
Ashley, IL 62864
There may be an opportunity for an informal fund-raising get-together of some kind in Cincinnati in the very near future, so that the local folks here could meet, maybe get some musicians among them to ply their talents, gather picnic-style, pass the hat, and pray. We'll see what comes of that, and let you know.
STAY INFORMED. Read this blog for updates. Also, in you wish to be added to the e-mail update list, send a message to me or Barb Hine.
GET THE WORD OUT. If you have the e-mail addresses of others who need to know about this, that would be most helpful if you could let us know or spread the word yourself, even using this note as a start.
You may receive this note from other folks who love you and Deb and Tom. If you do, it just shows the unity of the Body of Christ, the truth of John 13-17. Might be a good idea if you could also send this note to folks in your life who might want to know this information or be able to help Deb and Tom Smith in some way in this time of great need. Please ask them pass along to their networks as well.
Hope and prayer that all is well with you and yours.
Thanks.
