Words From Rex

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

The Best… of my love….

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… Last night, in the Christian church sanctuary, I watched my dear, sweet Melissa, my beloved wife of 22 years weep with me as we watched two of our older daughters, Hannah and Grace sing together with their fellow student an original Christmas song composed by our own L. Grace Espiritu and performed with her sister Hannah at their high school’s annual holiday choirs concert. We watched and listened, a sight and sounds to behold, indeed, as our eldest child, Christina and I held on to her mother’s hand with deep love and affection. We experienced the joy and the reason for the season of celebration as the hope-filled words of the gospel rang through the lyrics of timeless songs, echoing the good news of life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Light of Life that has come into the world shone upon us in a fresh, new way that brought tears to our eyes in light of terrible news concerning the recent plight of the body of my dearly held loved one.

Given the grave situation at hand, I cannot help but tremble as I write. My God, these ought to be the best days of our lives together when the best of our love in life would shine brightly before us for the glory of God. Newly, never before witnessed, unfathomable depths of grief in our immediate family have come upon us as we now together cry out with heartfelt prayers to the Lord our God, the One Who heals us and in Whom alone do we find our healing, comfort and peace. In the Lord alone, we find strength to carry on in the face of such stark, unsettling news. Melissa has been diagnosed with an unusual form of stomach cancer: a rare type of gastric adenocarcinoma with Littinus Plastica. A Google search brings up the following singular web page excerpt:

Describe diffuse type gastric adenocarcinoma

=subtype of gastric adenocarcinoma

Features

1. Tumor infiltrates as single cells

2. Signet ring cells

3. Diffuse lesion with littinus plastica/ leather bottle appearance

4.Seen in younger pts with equal male: female

5. less clear genetic/environmental association

6. worse prognosis

Pasted from <http://cueflash.com/decks/pathologypt3&gt;

We have been informed that there is no conventional cure currently known for this condition. Any modern medical treatment or therapy prescribed for this illness would be only palliative in nature. We have become aware of some alternative support measures that anecdotally may have some promise.

We ask, therefore, with intercessions before the throne of grace for dear friends and family to join with us in pleading before God, calling upon the Lord. At this time we are in urgent need of your prayers for healing, wisdom, grace and mercy. In this our time of need, we place our hope and trust in the Lord our God Who is able to make all grace abound, so that in all things, at all times, having all that we need, we would abound in every good deed to the glory of God. For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love the Lord, who have been called according to His purpose. And so we take heart and courage to face these trials in a Sovereign Lord and Gracious God Whose compassions, tender mercies, loving-kindness, steadfast faithfulness and unfailing love are renewed every morning with comfort and strength for the day.

Please pray for Melissa, my beloved wife and mother of and along with our six children, Christina (19), Hannah (17), [Lydia] Grace (15), Tabitha (12), Priscilla (9), and Sara (6), as well as her husband, their father. She and these, our lovely loving precious daughters, young ladies, growing girls and tenderly treasured little ones are being upheld in prayer. We trust in the Lord Whose healing, reigning and abiding presence is ever with us even through all eternally.

Now, to the Holy and Anointed One Who is able to do immeasurably more, exceedingly, abundantly far above all we could ever ask or think or even imagine, to Him be glory in the church and throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

With The Best… of my love….

Rex (for Melissa) Espiritu

[and our girls]


23 Responses to “Words From Rex”

  1. Our heartfelt prayers will be lifted up on behalf of Melissa,
    you Rex, and your daughters. May His peace, that most truly surpasses our understanding, be with you all at this. We also ask our heavenly Father, in Jesus name, that if it is His will, Melissa will be healed. We also pray that she be kept from discomfort and pain.
    Yours in Christ,
    Mark & Bonnie Kohlmeier

    Like

    Mark Kohlmeier said this on December 19, 2009 at 4:04 pm | Reply

    • Thanks, Mark & Bonnie. We are indeed praying along with many others for Melissa’s complete healing in the power and presence of the Spirit of the Lord, knowing God answers prayers on this and/or the other side of eternity as our ultimate healing is in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He Who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it… by God’s grace, abounding in love, with you, we remain and continue

      Still in One Peace,
      Rex (and Melissa)

      Like

      rexespiritu said this on December 26, 2009 at 12:33 pm | Reply

  2. Rex, we are praying for Melissa and for all of you. May the God who comforts us in all our troubles (2 Cor 1:4) give you peace and strength and healing for Melissa.
    Don & Pam Imbimbo

    Like

    Don Imbimbo said this on December 22, 2009 at 3:08 am | Reply

  3. Rex,
    While my heart (and stomach) hurt for you and Melissa, I know that the 2 of you will bring God glory in this ordeal. Knowing the faith you have, I am also certain that you and many others will be touched by our amazing God in ways yet to be fathomed.

    You and your family will be on our church’s prayer list–Yorktown Presbyterian, as well as several small prayer groups I am involved with. Love, Heidi & Ruud Haring

    Like

    Heidi K. Haring said this on December 23, 2009 at 12:02 am | Reply

  4. Rex,
    My prayers are with you, Melissa and the rest of your family.
    God’s Peace & Grace,
    Ron

    Like

    Ron Ragsag said this on January 1, 2010 at 9:43 pm | Reply

  5. Rex My Brother!, You know all too well that I know what you are going through. The second best moment of my life was looking up and seeing you arrive the day of Joan’s rest. I have contacted whoever I can think to support you and “the girls” and for healing for your blessed wife, Melissa. I too tremble as I write this but I look forward to trembling when I hear of HIS mighty works that he will do for you and yours. All I can do is pray and be here for you my friend as you were for me. My the Lord bless you(& all), and keep you, may His face shine upon you1, and give you PEACE! Your brother in Christ, Greg

    Like

    Greg Stiles said this on January 2, 2010 at 10:12 am | Reply

    • Thanks, Greg… Melissa continues to witness what she refers to as “God sightings” in her journaling. The Lord is with us! Praise God!!! Prayerfully yours, and His, we remain steadfast…

      In the Grip of Grace,
      Rex (and/for Melissa) and the Espiritu family

      Like

      rexespiritu said this on January 3, 2010 at 12:17 am | Reply

  6. This is from Andrew Budek-Schmeisser, Greg Schmeisser’s brother in law.

    Dudes, hang tough. You’re in my prayers.

    Like

    Andrew Budek-Schmeisser said this on January 2, 2010 at 4:06 pm | Reply

  7. Since mid-December, when I heard the news, I have been holding you and your family up in my prayers. I cannot fathom what are you experiencing daily … but know that God has his loving arms wrapped around you and your family, enveloping you daily and in His arms, may you find comfort. Please know that we will continue to lift you up in our prayers.

    Love,
    Karmen

    Like

    Karmen McKillip said this on January 5, 2010 at 3:05 pm | Reply

  8. Rex and Melissa – you and your family are in my prayers. Hold fast to faith in God’s power to do a new thing. May your congregation, friends and loved ones be present to support you in this time of crisis.

    Like

    Boni Quandt said this on January 6, 2010 at 5:56 pm | Reply

  9. Rex, Melissa,and Family,
    We continue to pray for all of you and I look forward to being with all of you soon.
    Love and God Bless, Louise DeMerchant

    Like

    louise demerchant said this on January 12, 2010 at 7:16 am | Reply

  10. Rex, Melissa, and Girls,

    We are praying every day for your precious family. We are so happy you are so surrounded and loved in such practical ways.

    Showers of Grace, Mercy and Love in the name of the most powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christyl & Justin

    Like

    Christyl Brown said this on January 13, 2010 at 9:12 am | Reply

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    Day 7: Stomach Cancer | Prayers For Melissa said this on December 9, 2019 at 7:53 pm | Reply

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