We’ve all had those gift buying moments where we wonder what to buy someone who seemingly has everything. Today, reading this blog, we face a more difficult conundrum: How can you serve someone who spends every waking moment and every ounce of energy serving others?
If you have followed Real Hope for Haiti any measure of time, you realize life in Haiti is raw and real. It is our joy to share stories of God-ordained, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered restoration of life and health for patients and children in our care. These stories often spring from hard places. An acutely malnourished child’s recovery is miraculous precisely because they were near death. For every “Wow God!” moment, there is a corresponding “Why God?” question. There is too much injustice in this world. Far too much in this sinful, fallen world.
There are hosts of reasons why such injustices occur and why they perpetuate. There is only one hope for justice to be established forever, and that is the person and work of Jesus Christ. I could tell you countless number of stories of unjust, unfair things happening to beautiful people here in Haiti. Though, today, I only want to tell you of one such story. My sister Lori has recurrent uterine cancer.
A brief history is that Lori received a diagnosis of uterine (endometrial) cancer some time ago. She consulted doctors here in Haiti and had two surgeries, a hysterectomy and then an oophrectomy. Doctors believed she was cancer free. Unfortunately symptoms returned in late 2016. She consulted again with doctors in Haiti, they confirmed she needed treatment that is not offered in country.
Lori is a private person, who wants the focus on others and the spotlight on Jesus, so she has kept these matters hidden in her heart and committed to prayer. With the most recent diagnosis and her displacement from Haiti, she felt it the appropriate time to share this trial with people who love her. She covets your prayerful support and covering.
At this time, Lori is staying with Briana’s parents (my super awesome in-laws!) just south of Seattle, WA. She is working through the details of insurance, but already has a treatment plan that begins later this month (February). CT scan showed probable lymph node involvement in the pelvis. The current plan involves 8 weeks of both chemotherapy and radiation.
God made Lori into a beautiful, selfless follower of Christ. God gifted Lori through education and her own diligence to develop excellent clinical skills. God uses Lori to bless the people of Haiti in ways that cannot be communicated on a blog. If you’ve been here, you’ve seen it and believe it.
I will stop showering Lori with compliments because she will just edit this blog post and delete every one. But if you know her, you love her. Many of you treat us like more than just another organization. We hope you know we view you as more than a donor. We are a family in God, the body of Christ. It grieves us that Lori is enduring such a hardship. It is a heavy burden for her to bear. And in a family, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we help to bear one another’s burdens. Lori needs our help bearing this burden. And we know the best thing to do with burdens is to take them to the Lord in prayer.
We know many of you have a deep love and respect for Lori and the work she does and would like to bless her in some way. Here are a few ideas:
Pray for Lori.
For health and healing and restoration of her body.
For encouragement and nourishment of her soul.
For provision and wisdom regarding healthcare.
For peace that passes all understanding, that is a result of sensing the nearness of God.
Caring Bridges blog – you can follow Lori to see what is happening in her cancer journey
Amazon wish list – you can bless Lori with some items that will help her during her journey through chemo and radiation.
gofundme page-If you would like to support Lori financially during this time, we would be so grateful. Funds raised will be used to pay for insurance premiums, out of pocket medical expenses, gas, parking fees, and other unexpected expenses related to her treatments and relocation to the United States.
For more info – you can write to us at prayingforlori@gmail.com to find out some personal ways to help Lori during this time. We want Lori to be able to have time to heal, rest and process. We have some ideas that will help her along this journey and we want to share them with you. We want you to feel free to write her at her email address (lori@realhopeforhaiti.org) but please add at the end of the emails “no need to respond” so that she does not feel like she needs to answer each email she receives.
In the midst of grieving for our friend and sister, there is still much work for us to do here in Haiti. Lori is the clinic-director, CTC-director, GVADK founder, RHFH Director of Development, and current RHFH Board President. So, there are many hats and shoes to fill around here. I am grateful for the extra hours and effort Licia, Briana, Deanna, Jody, and our intern Erica have invested to enable us to continue to deliver quality care to our patients. Please pray for strength, wisdom, and perseverance for the staff remaining in Cazale.
We ache for a moment where God flips our “Why?” into a “Wow!” We long for the day when we can share another story of joy and testimony of God-ordained, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered restoration of life and health. This time, not for a patient in our care, but for a sister and a friend in our hearts.
Comments(15)
Nadine says
February 10, 2017 at 11:56 amI hate to hear this. Praying for healing, strength for you all, and God’s peace to be tangible in your lives right now.
Patricia Smith says
February 10, 2017 at 3:53 pmGod Bless Lori and give her increasing Faith and endurance for the journey ahead of her. I will pray for her daily.
Jackie Kirkwood says
February 10, 2017 at 3:56 pmPraying for you all and especially for her… May the LORD hear our cries and heal her and encourage her and you all…. I know this is tough. GOD please watch over all that concerns our dear sisters…. We ask that YOUR will be done on earth as it is in Heaven… Please take them by the hand and lead them into those places that YOU have carved out for them… HELP them to fulfill their destiny in YOU…. We ask that YOU work in them and through them to perform YOUR glory…as YOU do these things every day…. may they feel YOUR warm embrace not only in everyday things, but in and through YOUR children as we reach out to them and pray for them and try to extend your arm and YOUR hand to them…. please provide them every good thing that YOU have prepared beforehand…. We ask that YOUR love surround and envelope them now until the day you take all of us home… in JESUS mighty and glorious name….amen… will be praying…thanks for sharing… 🙂
(Eddie and Jenny Young now live in Washington now as well that would be another point of contact as well….love you ladies… GOD bless you!
Donna McElhany says
February 10, 2017 at 6:19 pmPraying for Lori, God is our healer and we claim in Jesus name that she receives the healing that is hers. SHE IS HEALED IN JESUS.
Lynell Powell says
February 10, 2017 at 6:22 pmI have no promising words that will bring forth healing, BUT I know God is able to do exceedingly above all we ask or think. Praying for you.
Starr Hernandez says
February 10, 2017 at 7:09 pmGod bless you Lori as you fight this battle! You will all be in my every prayer. The why is ringing through but I know our savior has a bigger plan one that may not be seen. You are in our hearts 💕
Jeffery Stoner says
February 10, 2017 at 8:18 pmOur family is praying for all of you.
Susan McAnelly says
February 10, 2017 at 8:28 pmWe are heartbroken for you all not only Lori but all of you that will go through this with her. Our love and prayers are with Lori. We will follow this blog and pray!
Janet Pender says
February 10, 2017 at 10:17 pmSo sorry to hear this Lori. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Asking God for healing as He is the Great Physician. I pray that you will feel His peace and comfort in your life right now. My love to you Lori. The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Vaughn P Gorton says
February 10, 2017 at 10:36 pmPraying for you Casey, your sister and your family. God with us. There is no mountain that He cannot remove when the whole problem is put into His hands. Mountain be cast into the sea. From close to Barahona, Dominican Republic. Agreeing with you all in prayer.
June Addison says
February 11, 2017 at 4:10 amSo sad to learn this Lori. Love prayers for you .
George & Carol Ann Truelove says
February 11, 2017 at 6:05 amThough we don’t really know Lori, we do know her Dad, Davis Zackery, and have always looked up to the man. Many times we have talked with “Zack” and he stands amazed at what the Lord does with the work they are doing here in Haiti. We certainly will be in prayer for Lori and her whole family. Our God created these bodies and if He can’t heal them, then no one can.
Marlene Ashton says
February 11, 2017 at 2:25 pmSweet Lori …love and many prayers for you and all those you love ! We rest in the arms of Jesus ! Our Father has a plan and is able ! He works in mysterious ways 💕🙏🏼 May you be touched by the Master
Dr. Minaud Dacius says
February 12, 2017 at 1:22 pmI am grateful for the blessings that Lori has brought to impoverished populations in Cazale. I will pray for her full healing. God knows how much Haiti still needs Lori.
Cindi Tigner says
February 12, 2017 at 11:14 pmPraying expectantly for one of my heroes. God is more than able!