| Dear Ministry Partners, |
|
March 2010 |
Thank you again for all you’ve done for Tammy and me and we
have some great news! This news will not, unfortunately, get
us back to Burkina Faso, but we do believe it’s going to put
an end to an enemy that has dogged us for more than four
years now.
After having already seen a Gastrointestinal and a Lung
Specialist, we ended up in the office of an ENT (Ears, Nose,
and Throat) Specialist on Tuesday March 2nd.
A few minutes after having introduced ourselves to one
another, the doctor sat down and began reviewing the CT scan
of my head taken a couple of weeks back. As he read the scan
he began shaking his head, laughing, and saying “this is
bad”, “this is really bad”. Apparently Tammy and I didn’t
look concerned enough because he asked: “hasn’t anyone
explained these results to you?”. We explained that the Lung
Specialist had informed us that I had Pansinusitis. He
concurred, but then went on to explain that he was not
looking at a simple case.
He explained that the interior of my nose would have to be
straightened, how severe the Pansinusitis was and that he
was not at all surprised that I’d had Bronchitis so often
and hadn’t been able to fight off the Malaria and Typhoid
because my immune system had been so severely compromised.
He then went on to explain that I have a condition occurring
in about 1% of the population where the coratid artery is
passing through a sinus chamber without the protection of
bone. That being the case, he will do another CT scan next
week in preparation for an image guided surgery so as to
avoid touching the artery.
We know it probably sounds crazy to you, but this has been
one of the most exciting weeks we’ve had in a long long
time. Just a few minutes with this particular doctor
convinced us that he was, indeed, “The Man” (He knows what
he’s doing). When I told him that the doctor in Burkina had
just gotten frustrated because he couldn’t stop the cough
and told Tammy that I had “just gotten used to coughing”
indicating that it was all in my head, he laughed out loud
and expressed his surprise that no one had ever even checked
for this condition.
We’re more convinced now than ever that nothing over these
last several months has happened by chance, but that God, as
a result of your faithfulness in praying in our behalf, has
responded.
We’re sorry to say that this will be our final printed
report, but for those of you who would like to be informed
concerning the results of my surgery and the next steps in
our lives, you will find one final report online at this web
site. Watch for it regularly.
I’ve taken more of your time than I have a right to, but
Tammy and I both want you to know that you’re involvement in
our lives, both on and off the field, has given us an
entirely new perspective on the meaning of fraternal love.
To say you’ve loved us like family would be an
understatement. We’re certain that you will continue to
change lives in the future, but we can say with absolute
assurance that there are two lives that will never be the
same because of the relationship the Lord has given us with
you.
Partners,
John & Tammy Cooley |