Back to life!

Pentru limba romana cititi mai jos!

My dear friends and family                                                                      December 18, 2009

Greetings and lots of love to all of you in the Name of my dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
I’m sorry that I let this go for so long again without communicating to those of you who truly care and read this blog. Thank you for reminding me to write on it again. On the other hand you might guess that I am doing so much better and got so busy with my work and life again, that I forgot to let my friends know how God answered their prayers.

A year ago I was dying with colon cancer! I’m sure you remember that. On Dec. 3rd 2008, was my surgery. A year ago around this time I was coming home from the Cleveland area, where I spent some days (after surgery) in my dear friend and nurse – Crina Floruta’s house. My brother Victor and his wife Mihaela were with me. I was still on morphine and took it regularly for a long time (almost 5 to 6 months). I had no hope to get well soon. The doctor and my friend/nurse, told me that it will take a while to heal and get completely rid of pain and discomfort. And … it took a good while, but not as long as I was anticipating! Praise the Lord! I am so thankful!

I do remember just being quiet and walking for hours and hours around my living room, just because I was tired of laying even in bed uncomfortably. I couldn’t sit for too long, so, I had to lay down on my sides or on my back. I couldn’t read much, I didn’t feel like praying, but I was listening to sermons and sweet, soft, Christian music. I also crocheted scrubbies,  (something with which you wash the dishes, or scrub potatoes, clean your dirty, greasy hands, etc.). The Lord blessed even that work of my hands and gave me some money to spend on my immediate needs.

God is so good and worthy to be praised for small and big things that He allows to happen in our lives!

Well, that time is past now! It is over and all I can say, with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart, is: Praise the Lord! He alone is worthy of all my praises, and thanks, and honor, and glory! He worked another miracle in my life and your prayers had been answered concerning me.

I don’t remember how much I prayed at that time… I felt more like listening… and oh, how I wished I could hear His audible voice speaking to my mind, and heart, and soul… But He seemed  to be quiet, too. I don’t understand even now Why I had to go again through that valley and What was God trying to say or teach me…?

Yet, I didn’t want to waste my cancer thinking Why? and Why ? again. Why me? and Why this and Why that…? Did God answer when Jesus asked Him on the cross:”My God, my God, Why did You…? NO! God didn’t answer, but Jesus accepted it and waited… dying on the cross for all my sins.

I had my times when I asked Him the same question… Yet, I accepted it and I am still waiting and trusting in Him, though He might never answer me on this side of heaven! I knew what is says in Isaiah 40:29-31: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. … But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.“ …  I knew these verses… But now, I had to put it into practice!

My friends, or my enemies (if I have any, I don’t know), might think yet that they know “Why?”, just like Job’s friends, but have no courage to say it in my face, or loud enough for me to hear about. But I don’t worry about what they think. I’m not curios to know about anyone’s   thinking… I wish I would know what God is thinking about me and what He is doing with this earthly body of mine… Well, I don’t know, but I guess I’ll be in the “waiting room” yet for a while!

What gives me peace and joy through all this, is that I know also, Who is “THE DOOR” to and from the “waiting room”. The Lord Jesus says in John 10:9 : “I am the door;by me if any man enter in, he/she shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture“. I did find pasture even in those low valleys of my life. The Lord was very near and He heard my cries and mourning. He gave me endurance and patience, not only to me, but to those around me who cared so faithfully for all my needs.

Thank you to all you ladies/sisters, who gave up your time and families and came to care for me.

Now I feel well and I can even run up and down my lane here in front of my house. I thought that I might never even walk fast…, not running… !!! But I do run up and down the stairs of my house, walk fast to exercise and do things in the house and around the house (bringing fire wood from the pile on the other side of my drive way). I have energy and I feel like living again.

God is good and I feel that He lended me more days on this side of heaven. What else should I desire more than to live for His glory and honor and be a light in this darkened world we live in.

Thank you for your prayers, and love, and concern for me! Your prayers have been answered! Bring Him Sacrifices of Praise and Thanks! He brought me up and restored my health. Alleluia!

After I stopped taking morphine and my mind was clearing, I felt like going back where I dropped everything a year ago, and pick up the first thing I got my hands on. First I picked up the phone when it was ringing and I could hold a longer conversation. Then I cleared up my tables and desk in the new office above my garage. As I cleaned more and more I got so busy that I forgot about myself for hours. I was so exited! Then… the book came up. The second book : “God Knows My Path!”. I picked it up and… I knew I have to do something about it and send it to the printer.

The story is long, but God provided “help from above”and around!

Rose Stoltzfus, a very nice Christian Mennonite girl, from Pennsylvania took a sabbatical from her long time activities as a missionary in Romania for 5 years (with her whole family), then as a teacher in Belize and Oregon for other two years (in each place), and upon my request, she decided to come and help me with my abundant work in and around the house, in the office and where ever I need her. I own to her a lot! She moved in September and thought that she will help me for a couple months. But as the time went on and the amount of work didn’t diminish very much, decided to stay indefinitely. Praise the Lord! There is here plenty of work for both.

As she took care of all the things around the house: phone calls, juicing for me, cooking, washing and even entertaining guests and company, I could concentrate more upon the book and by the grace of God, I could take it to the printer the second part of November.

December 7, was the BIG Day, when my “first baby” (as a good friend put it) was born. The first book “God Knows My Path” came out from the printing machine, bound together, glued, and was cut to its proper size. I hardly could contain myself. It’s the first book I dared to write by myself in English.

It’s true that without the help of my friends who know so much better English, I could not take it to the printer.

So, again, thanks to all who had helped!

Yes! My second book, “God Knows My Path” is available for sale and you can look for it in your local Book Store in USA, or you may order at this address:

God Knows Ministry, Ltd.    E-mail: silvia@godknowsministry.com  
P.O. Box 326     www.godknowsministry.com
Millersburg, OH 44654          Phone: 330/776-8805 

Price: $ 12.99 + tax (6.5% for Ohio residents) 

S&H  $ 3.00 dollars for one book.
$ 4.00 dollars for 2-3 books.
$ 5.oo dollars for 4-7 books.

Now I am busy and very exited to finish the Romanian version of it and take it to the printer before too long.

One more thing and I will let you go to your other responsibilities;

Please continue to pray for me and Rose. We are planning to go to England for a week between Christmas and New Year.
The children we worked with and spent lots of time in Romania at the Nathanael Orphanage, are grown up and left not only the orphanage, but the country, too. Romania could not offer them good and steady jobs to make a living. Almost half of them decided to go to England because they knew the language and learned how to work very well.

Steve Stoltzfus (not related to Rose), also from Pennsylvania is the one who initiated this trip, since he is more in touch with these young boys and girls with whom he worked for ten years while he was a missionary in Romania. I am so glad that he is keeping in touch with them and encourages them to follow the Lord and keep His commandments.

I can’t wait to meet them and spend some quality time. I covet your prayers for my health and courage to leave my comfort zone to be a blessing to them. I know that God is in control. But pray for me! I need God’s wisdom in all the details of this trip.

May God continue to bless each and every one of you who will read these lines. I pray that you will enjoy and have a great time celebrating the Birth of our Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, Who was obedient unto death, we can come into the presence of the Father.

With love and great appreciation for all of you,

Silvia Tarniceriu

————————————————

Dragii mei, dragi

Va imbratisez si va salut pe toti in Numele Domnului Isus, a carui Zi de Nastere o sarbatorim din nou si anul acesta.

S-a mai scurs un an din vietile noastre, si iata ca si eu ma numar inca printre cei vii.

Parca nu-mi vine sa cred ca anul trecut pe vremea aceasta multi credeau ca voi muri. Abia acum imi spun lucrul acesta, dupa ce-a trecut tot greul. Si slava Domnului ca S-a indurat si, ca raspuns la multele dumnevoastra rugaciuni, mi-a redat viata si sanatatea.

Chiar ma simt sanatoasa si am momente si zile cand uit de faptul ca am fost bolnava.

Va multumesc din nou, la toti, pentru rugaciunile fierbinti inaltate la tronul ceresc pentru insanatosirea mea.

Au fost zile grele si lungi de tacere si doar mers continuu prin sufragerie, de jur-imprejur, pentru ca nici lungita in pat nu mai puteam sa stau. Nu ma puteam concentra nici la citit, nici la scris, si nici la nimic altceva. De cand am trecut pe morfina, eram mereu ca in transa. Si aceasta perioada a fost destul de lunga: aproape 6 luni. Am putut asculta doar muzica linistita si sa crosetez.

Dupa ce-a plecat fratele meu, Victor, acasa in Romania, Mihaela – cumnata mea, statea sus, singura si linistita, ca sa nu ma deranjeze pe mine, jos la parter. Nu ma deranja, dar nice de vorba n-am avut chef o vreme destul de indelungata.

Dar vremurile acelea au trecut si acum ma simt bine si chiar foarte bine. Am energie chiar mai multa decat m-am asteptat.
Domnul a fost si este inca foarte bun cu mine, desi inca n-am inteles De Ce? a trebuit sa trec din nou prin aceasta vale intunecoasa si foarte adanca. Si acest “De Ce?” l-as intreba din nou si din nou… si toti am vrea sa stim (poate) De Ce? ingaduie Dumnezeu ca unii dintre noi sa trecem si prin acest fel de suferinte…

Dar am inteles ca Dumnezeu nu I-a dat un raspuns nici Unicului Sau Fiu, cand murea in chinuri cumplite pe cruce pentru pacatele mele, si striga: “Dumnezeul meu, Dumnezeul meu, “Pentru Ce M-ai parasit…?”

El a trait ca si noi “in lume” si printre oameni, a fost ispitit ca si noi, dar a fost si a ramas neprihanit!  Avea tot dreptul sa-L intrebe pe Tatal :”De ce?”

Eu nu ma pot compara cu EL nici pe de parte! As merita orice pedeapsa ptr. ceea ce “nu-s” si ar trebui sa fiu… sau pentru ceea ce sunt si “n-ar trebui” sa fiu… Ce har nepretuit indeajuns am eu si avem noi, sa stim ca “ni-e iertata vina” tocmai pentru ca El, Domnul Isus, a acceptat voia Tatalui, dandu-si viata intr-o ascultare deplina, pana la moarte. Si gandindu-ma numai la acest fapt nu-mi pot stapani lacrimile.

Poate ca unii ar putea sa-mi spuna “De ce” am trecut pe-aici, ca si prietenii lui Iov, dar n-au curajul. Si asa de usor ne lasam ispititi si am gasi motive pentru care Dumnezeu parca ar trebui sa-i pedepseasca pe unii… Dar Dumnezeu nu gandeste ca noi, si e foarte bine.

Iata care sunt gandurile Lui cu privire la mine si la noi toti:

“Caci Eu stiu gandurile pe care le am cu privire la voi, zice Domnul; ganduri de pace si nu de nenorocire; ca sa va dau un viitor si o nadejde.” Ieremia 29:11

Nu ma intereseaza asa mult ce gandesc altii despre mine. Este mai putin important. Ceea ce ma intereseaza cel mai mult, si uneori ma framanta, este ceea ce gandeste Dumnezeu despre mine. Si nu de putine ori as “pali” sau m-as rusina in fata Lui.
Cand ma compar cu neprihanirea Lui, ma simt ca o carpa murdara si as putea sa cad intr-o depresie adanca. Dar fug inapoi la locul acela trist si greu de privit, dar “mantuitor” (vindecator) de la cruce, unde a fost iertata si vina mea.

“Pedeapsa care ne da pacea, a cazut peste EL, si prin ranile Lui suntem tamaduiti.”Isaia 53. Si asa ma simt si eu tamaduita: “prin ranile Lui!”  Slava Lui!

Dragii mei, cum m-am oprit de luat morfina (desi durerile au continuat), mintea a inceput sa mi se limpezeasca si incetul cu incetul am inceput sa vad lucrurile care trebuiau facute. Una cate una, le-am luat la mana pana cand Domnul mi-a trimis un ajutor potrivit. Stati linistiti! Nu fugiti prea departe cu gandul! …

Mi-a trimis-o pe Rose Stoltzfus, o fata credincioasa Mennonita, din Pennsylvania, care-si cauta un loc unde sa slujeasca pe Domnul ajutand  unde ar fi nevoie.

Pot sa spun ca de la venirea ei din luna Septembrie si pana acum, am facut mari progrese: si cu sanatatea si cu lucrul.

Am reusit sa dau la tiparit si sa si scot de la tipar volumul 2 : “Dumnezeu Imi Cunoaste Cararea” (God Knows My Path), in limba engleza. O am deja pusa in vanzare. Slava Domnului, ca dupa aproape 4 ani, a iesit de sub tipar.

Ma straduiesc acum s-o dau si pe cea in lb. romana la tiparit, ca sa ma pot duce  la primavara in tara, ca s-o distribui.

Pentru romanii din America o voi tipari-o aici in USA si veti fi anuntati prin biserici, sau pe internet la Roboam sau pe pagina mea de web: www.godknowsministry.com. Acolo veti putea primi informatiile despre mine si despre ce va urma sa fac cu timpul pe care Domnul mi l-a mai imprumutat pentru o vreme.

Pentru cei care cititi si intelegeti limba engleza si vreti sa faceti cartea cadou la vreun American, puteti procura ambele carti in lb.engleza, la adresa de mai sus.

E vorba de vol.1 si 2: “God Knows My Size” si “God Knows My Path”.

Va pun adresa si aici:

God Knows Ministry, Ltd.
P.O. Box 326
Millersburg OH 44654

E-mail: silvia@godknowsministry.com

www.godknowsmysize.com

Phone: 330/776-8805

Va imbratisez pe toti si va doresc o sarbatoare frumoasa la Aniversarea Nasterii Domnului si Mantuitorului nostru Drag!

Cu iubire si pretuire,

Silvia Tarniceriu

NO NEWS – GOOD NEWS

Pentru Limba Romana, cititi mai jos!

My very, very dear family and friends!                         August 26, 2009

Greetings to all of you in the Name of our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and from my heart to each of yours.

I feel to apologize – first of all – for this long, long silence on my part. Please forgive me!

I know you care for me and want to know how I am doing… and I should have been more faithful to this blog and keep you informed. But as I felt a little better each day (after my last chemo-therapy), I moved along and got busy with lots of work in the house and around it, plus in the office. I was so happy to feel well enough to do some correspondence and clear up a few things in my new office (above my garage), that I forgot all the other things and duties. I was on Morphine for almost 6 months, and you can imagine how careless I became about the things around me.

My whole being feels like living again. God has been very good to me and I praise Him for it. I also want to Thank You – all – for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your financial support, too. Without God’s love and care through you – for me – I could not make it.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Since I am so busy at home yet with many things left undone since my sickness started, and emotionally and physically not fully recovered, I’ve decided not to take any Speaking Engagements or long trips this year. I need to get more used with my new way of life and gain more strength and confidence in myself.

Tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 27, I am going to a doctor’s office to take my port out. The port is a small “thing” under my skin through which I was given chemo-therapies and took my blood for tests.

Two weeks ago I had taken my annual mammography and everything showed “normal”. Praise the Lord! Then, last week I had my fist blood test after I was done with my 4 months of chemo and my oncologist said that there is no sign of cancer thou my “platelets” are still low. I must be careful of cuts and hurts because I will get blue very easy. After tomorrow I don’t need to go anymore to the doctors unless I feel something does not go right. My first office visit will be some time in February!

I am so glad to know that I can live again almost a normal life… I feel that God “added” to my life a few more days, months, years? He knows only and I am sure, for a reason. Pray with me that He will reveal it to me that I might do His will and serve Him serving you and all to whom He will sent me.

It was a hard and a deep valley, but I am glad He hold my hand and let me put my trust in Him when I didn’t know even how to pray or what to ask for!

I am so glad that I am over all chemical treatments. I feel more sympathy and sorrow now for those who are addicted to drugs. It is not an easy thing to get rid of it. It took me a while to get used with pain and get rid of Morphine…

With so much chemo and Morphine I suffered( and still suffer ) a little bit of a short memory. At least I have something to blame on, but truly I realized how forgetful I am… I missed two weddings in my neighborhood giving up two other weddings the same days in order to go to these ones closer to home and to some very special friend… I still feel very bad about it, but I can’t turn the time back.

Lord’s willing, the nurses told me that with my chemo done, I will recuperate and my memory will work better. I hope and pray for this to happen.

I am working now very hard to finish and to publish my 2nd book : “God Knows My Path”, in both languages: English and Romanian. They should have been done loooong ago and I had them done from my part, but it took a much longer time the proof reading and the corrections done into computer. I had to do most of them by myself.

So pray with me that this project might be done this late summer and into the fall before the Thanksgiving.

I will let you know when the book will be available for sale.

I must close now and get some rest, because tomorrow I am going to have a long and very busy day.

Please do continue to pray for me and keep me in your prayers.

In Christ and living for His glory

Silvia Tarniceriu

PENTRU SCUMPII MEI CARE CITESC LIMBA ROMANA

Dragii mei, de aproape si de foarte departe

Va imbratisez pe toti in dragostea Domnului Isus si va salut pe toti din toata inima.

Imi pare rau ca n-am mai scris de mult aici. Se pare ca am inceput sa ma simt tot mai bine si m-am luat cu treburile, uitand de voi care poate abia asteptati sa vedeti cum ma mai simt.

Oricum, rugaciunile v-au fost ascultate si Domnul m-a pus din nou pe picioare. Am fost aproape 6 luni pe morfina si va dati seama ca am devenit ca o drogata careia nu-i mai pasa de nimic din jur. As fi putut face multe lucruri de birou, dar nu m-am putut concentra la nimic. Apoi chimo-terapia m-a topit si mai mult, asa ca am functionat ca un om fara chef de nimic.   … Dar a trecut si ce bine imi pare.

Acum 2 saptamani am facut mamografia anuala si rezultatul este: normal. Slavit sa fie Domnul! Apoi saptamana trecuta am avut analiza sangelui la 2 luni dupa chimo-terapie. Si aceste analize au iesit bine, desi numarul trombocitelor este inca scazut, in urma chimo-terapiilor. Sper sa am mai multa grija de mine si sa ma refac in curand.

Maine, 27 August, ma duc sa-mi scoata portul: un aparat mic pe care il am sub piele deasupra pieptului si prin care mi s-a administrat chimo-terapia direct in vena principala. Dupa aceasta mica operatie, NU mai am nimic de-aface cu doctorii pana in Februarie cand ma voi duce la un alt control.

Deci, ma indrept spre mai bine. Cu cat ma simt mai bine si am un pic mai multa energie, ma apuc de lucru prin casa, pe-afara si mai ales in birou. Lucrez de zor si vreau sa termin si a 2-a carte: “Dumnezeu Imi Cunoaste Cararile” inainte de “Sarbatoarea Roadelor” sau “Sarbatoarea Multumirii”. Va voi anunta pe toti cand va fi gata de vanzare.

Simt ca-mi revine iar dorinta de a trai si de a porni la drum. Domnul mi-a mai adaugat zile, luni, sau poate chiar ani! Numai EL stie! Stiu ca are si un scop inca cu viata mea. As vrea sa traiesc pentru acel scop care este Voia Lui pentru viata mea. Si ca si Pavel sa pot spune ca: “Nu mai traiesc eu, ci Christos traieste in mine (sau prin mine).”

Voi incerca din cand in cand sa va mai comunic cate ceva despre activitatea mea, dar deocamdata, anul acesta m-am hotarat sa nu ma duc inca prin biserici sau scoli sa-mi prezint marturia.  Atat fizic cat si emotional, inca nu ma simt in stare. Deasemenea, am renuntat si la calatoriile prea lungi cu masina si chiar si cu avionul. Ma concentrez asupra cartilor ca sa le dau la tiparit cat mai repede, iar dupa aceea voi pleca la drum ca sa le vand, sau mai bine prin posta.

Va imbratisez pe toti cu multa dragoste si va multumesc inca o data pentru dragostea cu care v-ati rugat si m-ati ajutat pe toata aceasta perioada grea prin care am  trecut.

As aprecia inca rugaciunile voastre si Domnul sa v-asculte si sa va binecuvanteze cu tot felul de binecuvantari.
Cu dragoste,

Silvia Tarniceriu

Only 4 treatments left

Pentru limba romana cititi mai jos.

My dear and very special family and friends.

I can’t believe we are close to the middle of May and I didn’t write yet on the blog. Sorry! But this shows that nothing out of ordinary happened. Yet, it did, but I had not the time and energy to write this on the blog.

My chemo-therapy treatments went well and I was not exammed of any; which means my hemoglobine was farely good and my platelets not too law.

I had 8 treatments and I have 4 more to go. I can’t wait to feel better toward weekends and stay better the following weeks.

As I probably told you before, I am taking 3 treatments one after another each Monday of the week and the 4th Monday I am OFF and again 3 and the 4th is OFF. I was expecting to feel better the 4th week without a chemo, but so far, I felt worst… vomiting, cramps, insomnia, and all the other side affects. But the Lord was close and I managed to go through adding a couple pounds even to my weight.

My brother Danut was denied visa, but the Lord granted visa to my niece Magdalena (Victor’s youngest daugther), her husband and baby Joshua 11 months old, to come to a conference :”Children Desiring God” at the Bethleem Baptist Church in St. Paul, MN.

They had a very good time and lots to learn. They visited some other friends in MI and AL, and now they are with me this week.

I can’t say how much I enjoy them here. Little Joshua is a sweet angel sent from Heaven to refresh my spirit and see God’s perfection and love in creating LIFE! He is so good and friendly with everybody. I’ve never seen him before and he smiled rightaway to me and stretched his hands to pick him up from the stroller. I loved that thou I couldn’t hold him for too long.

Ohio is cloudy today but it is always Sun (and Son) Shine inside my heart knowing that I am hold safely in His arms.

Keep praying for me. I am just about to the end of this journey. The Lord is faithful and I feel sooo blessed by God through you my dear family and friends in Jesus.

I will be back here, hopefully sooner.

Love,

Silvia

Dragii mei din familie si prieteni scumpi.

Nu-mi vine sa cred ca suntem deja la jumatatea lui Mai si eu inca n-am scris pe blog. Asta poate insemna ca nu s-a mai intamplat nimic mai deosebit, si ca timpul a trecut atat de repede incat n-am avut timp sa scriu sau nu m-am simtit foarte bine.

Am trecut cu bine prin 8 tratamente cu chimo si mai am inca 4. Slava Domnului ca sunt inca in viata si am supravietuit situatiilor mai dificile. Asa cum v-am mai spus, mi-am pus tratamentele in fiecare Luni, ca spre sfarsitul saptamanii sa ma simt mai bine sa pot merge la biserica.  De fapt am 3 tratamente pe sapt. consecutive si a 4-a sapt. nu fac tratamentul.  Ma gandeam ca o sa ma simt mai bine si voi avea mai multa energie. Dar n-a fost asa pana acum. M-am simtit chiar mai rau si am vomat in sapt. fara tratament decat in saptamanile cu tratament. Stiu ei, medicii ce fac si de ce mi-au dat o sapt. libera. Se aduna destule chimicale in 3 sapt. ca sa-si faca efectele in a 4-a. Oricum au trecut si mai am inca 4 de luat.  Asta inseamna ca hemoglobina si “platelets” sunt destul de bune ca sa nu-mi amane nici un tratament. Abia astept sa scap de ele si sa-mi revin la mai multa energie.

Mai nou, este vizita nepoatei mele, Magdalena (fiica cea mai mica a lui Victor si Mihaela) care a venit la o Conferinta (Children Desiring God -St. Paul, MN) organizata de bis. pastorita de fr. John Piper.  Dupa cele povestite pe scurt au avut un timp bun si multe lucruri de invatat.  Inainte de conferinta au avut harul sa viziteze o alta biserica mare din Michigan unde au multi prieteni si o alta biserica si alti prieteni buni in Alabama. Tare m-am bucurat pentru ei si acum ma bucur sa-i am in casa mea. Micutul Iosua (11 luni) e o dulceata de baiat: cuminte, vesel si foarte usor de intretinut avand in vedere desele calatorii dintr-un loc in altul si de la o casa la alta.

Imi pare rau ca venirea lor s-a nimerit intr-o zi de chimo-terapie, plus primele zile dupa chimo-terapie cand nu ma simt prea bine. Oricum, azi sper sa ma simt mai bine si sa iesim undeva la “cumparaturi”.

Domnul e bun cu mine si cu noi toti si inima mea Ii canta si-L lauda pentru tot Harul dat.

V-as scrie mai mult dar s-au sculat si ei si vreau sa ne pregatim de plecare.

Va imbratisez si pe curand.

Silvia

Pentru Limba Romana cititi mai jos!

Half way through my chemo-therapy!

Praise the Lord, yesterday I passed the 6th treatment and I have 6 more to go. This is my second day after chemo treatment when I don’t feel the best, but I can survive it much better than the 24 hour treatments I had before the surgery. I have no energy to do BIG things but I am determed to write on my blog today.

Another reason to praise the Lord is that I got rid of Morphine after 4 or 5 months. I feel  very much now with those who use drugs to “feel good”. May God give them the grace, strength and the will to get rid of it, as He gave it to me. It takes God’s grace to renouce drugs, which ever it might be it: Morphine, Cocaine, Coffee, etc…. and lots of repentance. This doesn’t mean that I have no more pain; but I don’t want to stay on it and “feel good” on it and not on God’s grace and strength. The pain I have is lighter than it was and the temptation is BIG yet to go, at least at nights, and take a few more drops to fell asleep and feel better. But I pray and make it without any pain pills right now. That is a BIG reason to praise the Lord with me!

My mind is more clear; I see things that needs to be done and I care to do them with the little strength and energy I have. Some days I am very frustrated because I want to do more and I can’t concentrate on it and I have to give it up and lay down for being so tired. Yet, I praise God for His abundant grace and love.

Mihaela, my sister-in-law, left to be with her dear ones back in Romania. We talk on the phone often and keep in touch. My neighbors and friends are very sweet and when ever I need help they “jump” and give it to me. Some ladies are lined up to take me each Monday morning, noon or afternoon to my chemo treatments in Wooster, Ohio, which is about 30 to 40 minutes away. They go shopping or just stay there with me while I get my treatment which takes about 4 to 5 hours. It is a good half day and I appreciate very much their effort in doing that for me.

Last night I couldn’t sleep well. I woke up almost every hour. At 3:AM I felt like I had enough sleep. I turned my lights on and called Romania. Maybe that is why I could not sleep. My younger brother, Dan (call him Danutz) was going to the American Embassy in Bucuresti, for a visit visa here in U.S.  I am by myself, so to speak, about 3 weeks. The weather is nicer and it gets warmer each day. I see a lot of things that needs to be done outside around the house and to my lawn. I used to do some of it by myself, but now I can’t. So, I tried to get my younger brother to come for a while and help me. Well, he got a “negative” answer and another $ 130 dollars less in my pocket, paying for his fee to go there. This is the 3rd time, I think when he receives a negative answer. I have no idea why some people get a visa for 10 years and some, like my family, never gets one. Victor and Mihaela got a visa after an American Church and Pastor insisted to the US Embassy in Romania to let them come for a Bible Conference or something like that. But whom ever I invited for a visa, was denied.

I was saddened but I am taking that back because I did ask God for His will to be done. So, this might be His will for now and I accept it.

Thanks again to all of you who didn’t write but called and prayed for me. God is listening and I do feel your prayers. I am looking forward to be done with these treatments and get back on a higher level of strength, energy  and desires to do God’s will and fulfill His plan for my next day.

May God bless each one of you and feel free to call or to write. Here is my address in case not all of you have it:

Silvia Tarniceriu
P.O. Box 326
Millersburg OH 44654

Pentru romanasii mei dragi.

Au trecut deja 2 luni de chimo-terapie si mai am inca 2 luni, ceea ce inseamna inca 6 sedinte. Astazi este a doua zi dupa a 6-a chimo-terapie. Ma simt fara chef de nimic si fara energie dar slavesc pe Domnul pentru ca “puterea Lui este desavarsita in slabiciunile mele”. Oricum, aceste chimo-terapii sunt mai suportabile decat cele de di-naintea operatiei, care actionau 24 din 24 de ore, plus radiatiile de Luni pana Vineri, in fiecare dimineata.

Un alt motiv de lauda pentru Domnul este faptul ca am scapat de Morfina. Am luat-o aproape 4 sau 5 luni de zile in fiecare zi. Ma simteam bine, dar datorita ei, devenind chiar dependenta. Nu mai stiam cand mi-e rau de-adevarat si cand mi-e rau ca nu mai am drogul in mine. Ii inteleg acum foarte bine pe drogati si Domnul sa se indure de cei care vor sa scape de ele, sau care vor sa se pocaiasca. Este foarte greu sa renunti la “a te simti mai bine.” Ispita este inca foarte mare si pentru mine, sa ma duc la frigider sa iau doar cateva picaturi si sa ma culc seara si sa dorm o noapte intreaga si linistita. Dar ma lupt sa nu ma intorc la ea.

Asta nu inseamna ca nu mai am dureri. Am destule si in continuu, dar sunt suportabile. Am insomnii puternice, dar incerc sa le depasesc luand doar ceva natural si, daca adorm bine, daca nu, macar nu sunt agitata; si cand adorm, dorm si cand nu dorm, nu dorm.

Oricum, slava Domnului pentru aceasta biruinta, pentru ca si mintea imi este mai limpede, vad lucruri care trebuiesc facute si ma apuc sa le fac atat cat pot cu energia pe care o am. Cand nu mai pot, ma opresc si ma intind cateva minute ascultand o predica sau Biblia pe CD-uri. E tare frumos. Ma simt si frustrata de multe ori, ptr. ca as vrea sa fac mai mult, dar nu am destula energie… Dar si asta va trece!

Asta noapte m-am trezit la fiecare ora, iar de la ora 3 dimineata n-am mai putut dormi. Poate si pentru ca voiam sa sun in Romania sa vad ce-a facut fratele meu mai mic, Danut, la Ambasada.

Mihaela, cumnata, a plecat acum 3 saptamani si am ramas singurica… cum s-ar zice, dar nu sunt singura; Domnul Isus e cu mine impreuna cu Tatal si cu Duhul Sfant, iar ingerii Lui pazitori sunt foarte ocupati cu mine, ptr. ca atunci cand vreau sa fac mai mult decat pot,si ma clatin si cad, ei ma ridica ori pur si simplu, imi amortizeaza caderile…

Credeam ca am scapat de carat lemne in casa, dar se pare ca mai am nevoie de-o gramada sa mai aduc de sub acoperisul magaziei. Maine s-a anuntat inca un pic de ninsoare. Sper sa fie ultima pe iarna asta aproape trecuta. E rece afara desi este soare chiar acum. Bate vantul de vijie pe la geamuri. Apoi, de adus si intins “top soil” (pamant cernut) pe alocuri unde viermii mi-au mancat iarba si constructia de asta vara mi-a stricat “gazonul”. Dupa aceea tufele din jurul casei de tuns si pregatit spatiile pentru flori.

In fine, am sunat  in tara si Danut n-a primit viza. Sunt cam dezamagita, dar inteleg ca aceasta a fost voia Domnului. Ne-am rugat multi pentru aceasta viza si se pare ca asa a hotarat Domnul, ptr. ca motivele celor de la ambasada n-au logica.  Imi pare rau ca s-au dus in vant alti bani ($ 130 de dolari acum) care m-as fi bucurat sa-i pun fratelui meu in buzunar si nu la Ambasada Americana. Se pare ca este al 2-lea sau al 3-lea negativ pentru el, plus vreo alte 4 negative nepoatei mele si tot asa.

Multumesc pentru telefoanele primite si pentru felicitarile trimise, ca si pentru darurile voastre plina de dragoste si compasiune. Slavesc pe Domnul pentru fiecare din voi si va asigur ca rugaciunile va sunt ascultate. Sper in curand sa ma simt tot mai bine si prin harul Lui cel mare sa va vizitez (poate pe unii, in drum spre altii). Nu promit, dar am dorinta si Domnul imi cunoaste cararile si-mi calauzeste pasii.

Fiti binecuvantati si chiar rasfatati de El!

Imi puteti  scrie pe adresa:

Silvia Tarniceriu
P.O. Box 326
Millersburg OH 44654

Va imbratisez pe toti cu dor si drag.

Silvia T.

2nd Round of Chemo-Therapy

Pentru romani, cititi mai jos!

My dear ones form far and close!

Praise the Lord for His great love and mercy to all of us!

We are back from Florida and on the 2nd round of chemo-therapies. How was Florida? GREAT! Praise the Lord for good cheep tickets, for great friends who took us in their house and offered us the best of it, and for a great, good, nice weather which made our stay very enjoyable.

Mihaela, my sister-in-low, enjoyed very much the beauty of the palm trees and the ocean waves.

Thank you, Traian and Luci Petrila from Hollywood, and Betty and Jim Thorne from Ormand Beach for offering us such a nice place to stay for the time we were down there.

Sister Luci Petrila provided a wheel chair for me and, Mihaela, kindly pushed me along the ocean shore a few days when I was too tired to walk. Then, Bro. Jim and his dear wife, Sister Betty Thorne and her daughter Ann, reserved us a very nice room on a golf Hotel with a very nice view all over around. I felt treated like a queen!

Thank you-all, for making our trip to Florida so enjoyable! This trip got me out of my pyjamas, since I didn’t feel comfortable to lay down in bed all day long in my friend’s house. I’ve been weak and sick, but I was determmed to get up every morning and ware everyday clothes. I felt even healthier, just wareing regular ones. Then, coming home, I took out the bed in the living room and moved into my bedroom downstairs.

Good signs of getting better!

Thursday we came home and Monday I went for my first chemo treatmant. My doctor was so pleased to see me doing so much better that he decided to give me one more week to stay home and rest well before I start chemo for the next 4 months.  I enjoyed the delay and blessed the Lord for another weak of recovery.

This past Monday I had my 2nd chemo, already. I am glad to say that the dose of chemo is half of what I was given before the surgery. Praise the Lord again that the side affects are not so severe. I am doing fine thou I have 2-3 days after fatigue, vomiting symptoms and other side affects which I tolerate good enough. The hardest ones are the sleepless nights and days; but I will survive them, too.

Thank you-all, for your prayers, cards and gift. I appreciate each one of them and cherish your friendship. May the Lord, our God bless you richly and supply your spiritual and material needs abundantly. I thank God for each one of you.

My chemo treatments will continue until the 2nd part of June. I hope and pray that my younger brother, Dan, will get a visa to come and help me with the work around the house, driving me to chemo treatments, and the things I can’t handle yet. He is a widower since last summer. His wife died while I just found out I have my colon/rectal cancer. I wasn’t able to go for her funeral. He has 2 sons, married and a grandchild on the way to come in this world. I would really love to have him around. Please pray for his visa.

Mihaela feels more and more needless to me and would like to return to her home and family sooner. I feel deeply saddened that she will have to leave me some day, but I am willing to let her go where she is needed the most. She was of a great help to me. She did more and beyond I was ever expected her to do for me. I pray that God will bless her and reward her the best He knows for her kindness, patience and love for me. Please keep her and her family in your prayers when ever you remember.

May God bless you all!

Love, Silvia Tarniceriu

PENTRU SCUMPII MEI ROMANI DE DEPARTE SI APROAPE

Dragii mei, dragi,

Va imbratisez pe toti in dragostea Domnului Isus si va multumesc la toti pentru rugaciunile inaltate, pentru cardurile frumoase trimise cu cuvinte de incurajare si daruri pline de dragoste. Numai cerul va va descoperi valoarea lor pentru mine in vremea de-acum. Ma simt coplesita de dragostea Domnului din inimile voastre si El sa va binecuvanteze din belsug.

Ne-am intors din Florida unde am avut un timp foarte bun si frumos. Cumnata mea, Mihaela, ca si eu de altfel, ne-am bucurat nespus de frumusetea palmierilor si a razelor de soare care ne-au incalzit nu numai trupurile dar si inimile.

Sora Luci Petrila ne-a facut rost de un carucior cu rotile si cu el m-am putut bucura si eu de briza oceanului. Mihaela, cu rabdarea si dragostea unui sfant m-a impins usor pe malul oceanului bucurandu-ne de galagia pescarusilor si a valurilor oceanului.

Am stat aproape o saptamana la Fam. Traian si Luci Petrila iar restul de 3 zile l-am petrecut impreuna cu fam. Jim si Betty Thorne la Palm Beach si Ormand Beach. O noapte am petrecut-o undeva la un Hotel tare frumos si elegant pe un teren de golf, cu o vedere tare frumoasa de jur-imprejur. Ultimele 2 nopti le-am petrecut cu Fr. Jim si Sr. Betty in Ormand Beanch. A fost foarte frumos si ne-am intalnit cu multi si buni prieteni romani la conferinta de iarna a pastorilor. M-am bucurat sa ma intalnesc si sa stau cateva clipe de vorba cu fr. Pitt Popovici care a trecut de mult de 80, daca nu cumva chiar 90. S-a rugat la sfarsitul serviciului de inchinaciune cu acelasi duh si putere spirituala ca intotdeauna. Slava Domnului pentru toti sfintii Lui  – slujitori ai Cuvantului scris si propobaduit!

Pot spune ca aceasta iesire din casa, m-a scos si din pijamalele in care am stat mai tot timpul de cand m-am imbolnavit. La intoarcerea acasa in Ohio, am desfiintat si patul din sufragerie, mutandu-ma in dormitor.

Acum am inceput deja al 2-lea rand de chimo-terapii. Slavit sa fie Domnul ca nu sunt chiar atat de acute ca si cele di’naintea operatiei. De fapt, imi dau doar jumatate din doza pe care am primit-o inainte.Ma lupt cu efectele secundare mai mult a doua si a treia zi; dupa aceea se pare ca incep sa-mi revin.

Rana de la spate inca nu este inchisa, dar se va inchide si ea la timpul ei. Probabil ca chemo-terapia va mai inceteni vindecarea, dar va trece si asta.

Sunt foarte bucuroasa de venirea primaverii si atmosfera frumoasa de-afara imi da noi sperante. Mihaela se simte tot mai nefolositoare, iar eu tot mai independenta. Ar vrea sa plece mai repede acasa la cei dragi ai ei, iar eu… trebuie s-o las, desi tare as mai tine-o! Sa vedem cum gasim o penalizare cat mai mica ptr. schimbarea biletului.

As vrea sa-l aduc pe fr. meu, cel mai mic, Danut, pentru cateva luni. M-as bucura daca v-ati ruga impreuna cu noi pentru o viza de vizita si macar numai pentru 6 luni. Mi-ar fi de un mare ajutor.

Multumes pe aceasta cale, tuturor celor care ne-au facut sederea in Florida atat de placuta: fam. Petrila, biserica unde este pastor fr. Florin Vancea si biserica pastorita de fr. Titus Coltea, plus o sora scumpa care ne-a dus de la Hollywood la Palm Beach cu masina sa-i intalnim pe Fr. Jim si Sr. Betty Thorne din Ormand Beach. Fiti binecuvantati de Domnul pentru tot ce-ati facut pentru noi.

Va imbratisez din nou si va incredintez pe toti in bratul Domnului nostru drag si tare bun!

Cu dragoste si pretuire,

Silvia Tarniceriu

Home again!

Pentru romani, mai jos!

Blessed be the Lord our God for He is so good and worthy of all our praises!

Monday morning 6:30 AM, br. Gicu Cotlet drove in front of the Cleveland Clinic Hospital building. I was taken first for my gastroscopy test to check if I have a bleeding ulcer. I forgot to take my Morphine in the morning and also forgot it to take it along to the hospital to reduce my hospital bill…

I was weak and worried about my blood transfusion. How will that be, and who’s blood I will be receiving. We both (Mihaela and I) were praying for a good, clean blood, so that I might not have any other complications later on.

I was admitted in and taken up to a room on H50. Doctor Kiran (my surgeon) came and talk with me, then a nurse came and drew my blood. The results came in a short while and my hemoglobine was now, down to 6.2.

Praise the Lord for my port inserted under my skin from the chemo, that the nurse didn’t have to poke my arm looking for a strong vane. I was given 2 pints of blood. Before that, I was warned that I might have some reaction, with colds, head and back aches, etc. But the nurse said that if I don’t get them in the first 15 minutes, I’ll be all right. My eyes were on the clock! 20 minutes past and the nurse came to check on me. I was fine! Praise the Lord!

Towards afternoon, the nurse withdrew more blood to see if my hemoglobin was going up or if I need more blood.  Praise the Lord, again! It went to 8.4. I was getting better.

Yet, Dr. Kiran wanted to know where from came my bleeding, and ordered a colonoscopy, checking my left piece of colon. Since I had already my brakefast next morning, I had to get into another day of only liquids and a gallon of “uggly staff” to drink to clean up my colon, for the following day colonoscopy.

I can’t say what a great “displeasure” I had trying to get that gallon of staff on my throat! It was midnight next day and I still had to take 2 cups. I gave it up.

Next morning I was taken down to the section for my colonoscopy. Back into my room and waiting to be dismissed to go home. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Soon the doctor came with my colonoscopy report and said that “diverticulosis” in the entire colon and inflamation of the mucosa with loss of vascular pattern and edema. I don’t know all what this means, but I was given a more strict food rejim for the next 4 weeks: no raw fruits of vegetables or any hard foods that will iritated my colon.

With all these said, I took my belongings and back home I turned on Wednesday evening.  So, I am home and enjoying my own home environment.

Another recommendation of the doctor and other friends was to get out of the house and go somewhere in a warmer place and forget a little bit of my sickness, before I’ll start my 2nd round of chemo on March 2nd.

Keep on praying! God is listening and I am blessed!

Be blessed! I love you, all!

Silvia

Pentru romanasii mei cei dragi.

Scumpii mei,

Slavit si binecuvantat sa fie Domnul nostru bun si drag, care e vrednic de toata slava si cinstea din partea noastra!

Luni dimineata la 6:30, fr. Gicu Cotlet a oprit masina in fata cladirii Spitalului din Cleveland unde m-am dus de urgenta pentru o transfuzie de sange si ceva teste sa vada pe unde pierd sange si de ce.

M-am dus mai intai sa-mi faca o gastroscopie in caz ca aveam un ulcer sangeros. Dupa ce-am iesit de-acolo, am fost admisa in spital si m-au dus la camera. Hemoglobina imi scazuse deja la 6.2, si de nu m-ar fi impulsionat Domnul sa-mi schimb programarea la medicul oncolog, cine stie cand imi dadeam seama de anemia in care eram.

Nici n-am ajuns acasa de la clinica, cand asistenta m-a sunat pe drum si mi-a zis ca trebuie sa ma duc imediat si sa am o transfuzie de sange.

Era Vineri si nu voiam sa stau in spital 2 zile de geaba. Mi-am facut progr. ptr. Luni si iata-ma in salon, la Cleveland.

Mi-au dat 650 gr. de sange pentru care si eu si Mihaela ne-am rugat sa fie curat si sanatos ca sa nu am vreo complicatie mai tarziu.

Marti dimineata, hemoglobina s-a ridicat la 8.4; si pentru ca servisem deja micul dejun, n-am mai putut face colonoscopia. Asa ca, am intrat pe lichide si un galon de o solutie pe care trebuia s-o beau ca sa-mi curete colonul. Nici nu va pot spune cat de greu mi-a fost sa bag atata lichid pe gatul meu, dar cu exceptia a doua pahare, l-am baut.

Miercuri dimineata, mi-au facut colonoscopia si mi-au gasit pe colon, diverticuli, un fel de pungulite, care iritate de anumite mancaruri tari, cum sunt samburii sau semintele de la fructe si legume, pot duce la infectii care cauzeaza alte probleme mai serioase. Acesti diverticuli sunt inflamati la mine si unii chiar sagerau.

Mi s-a dat un regim mai strict: fara legume si fructe crude, iar mancarea sa fie bine mestecata pana la pasta. Asta pana se vindeca si dispar inflamatiile. Oricum va trebui sa fiu f. atenta si pe viitor.

Doctorul si multi altii mi-au recomandat sa ies din casa si sa ma duc undeva la cald, sa mai uit de boala si de dureri, pana incep cu al doilea rand de chemo-terapie din 2 Martie si pana pe la sfarsitul lui Iunie. Asa ca Marti, 17 Feb. plecam in Florida ptr. 9 zile. Rugati-va sa pot rezista la zboruri … si sa gasesc doua locuri libere sa ma pot intinde putin…

Oricum, va voi tine la curent.

Multumesc din nou pentru rugaciunile d-stra, si dragostea pe care mi-o purtati. Ma simt mereu coplesita si cu ochii in lacrimi va citesc cuvintele de incurajare de pe blog, sau prin cardurile pe care le primesc.

Fiti binecuvantati in multe feluri si pentru darurile d-stra financiare care m-au tinut pana acum la zi cu cheltuielile necesare: medicamente, alimente, si bilurile lunare. Domnul sa va inmulteasca de unde ati dat si uleiul si faina sa nu vi se termine niciodata din casa.

Va imbratisez cu drag.

Silvia

Back to the Hospital

Pentru romani, cititi mai jos, dupa mesajul in lb. engleza.

Dear family and friends.

Praise the Lord for He is Good! What would I do without His comfort and love and “Where could I go, but to the Lord!”?

It is Sunday afternoon. This last night I was sick again on my stomach, but it was my own fault. I had too many salted and rosted peanuts!!!

Anyway, that made me look forward to tomorrow doctor’s office and hospital visit. As I was trying on my own to reduce the take-in of Morphine, for my pain and discomfort, I discovered that my strength and “get up and go” was a false feeling of getting better.  If I don’t take my Morphine on regular ours, I feel very weak, with no energy and it takes a longer time to get to feel again better. I take my walk daily, but when I have not my doze of Morphine, I am no able to walk too far. I must come in quick and lay down.

Well, last week I went for a blood test and to meet my onchologyst and on my way home, his office called and said that I am very anemic and that I need very soon more blood. So, I called my surgeon in Cleveland and Monday I will be hospitalized for a couple of days to get 2 units of blood. They promissed me to feel much better, more energy and sooner healing of my back wounds, yet.

SO, I am looking for this “better” next week. I am getting tired of being tired. I hope you know what I mean. There are almost 10 weeks since my surgery and I am still in my P.J. laying in bed most of the time.

Please pray for me and for the ones who will do that blood transfussion.

I forgot to say that I will have a Gastro… (I don’t know the rest of the word) test, which will show if I have and internal bleeding somewhere or an ulcer on my stomach. Maybe that will help to end my cramps and nousea from time to time.

Thank you for writing back to me and I appreciate each one of your comments. I was not strong enough yet to answer to all of you, but I do love and appreciate each one of you who wrote.

Keep praying for me and I know that God listeans!

Love, Silvia

Dragii mei din familie si iubiti prieteni

Azi e Duminica dupa pranz si profit de faptul ca “incep” sa ma simt un pic mai bine dupa ce am luat iar Morfina acum o ora si ceva.

Am avut o noapte mai grea cu crampi si dureri de stomac, dar a fost numai din cauza mea, ptr. ca am mancat aseara prea multe alune prajite si sarate. Nimeni din casa, n-a avut nimic, numai eu m-am trezit cu greturi si dureri cumplite.
In fine, am luat niste ‘pilule’ sub limba si mi-a trecut.

Mihaela, cumanata mea, s-a dus la o bis. Baptista, aici in Millersburg, impreuna cu sora si cumnatul ei, si m-a lasat pe mine acasa cu fam. Yoder (Larry si Cherie) care au venit sa ma vada in drumul lor de la copii spre casa (Tennessee). Cand mai vine cineva in vizita si poate sta mai mult, ma bucur ca-i pot da Mihaelei o pauza.

Saptamana trecuta am fost la oncolog ca sa discutam despre chimo-terapie si mi-a facut si o analiza a sangelui. Nici n-am ajuns inca acasa, si asistenta m-a sunat si mi-a zis ca sunt foarte anemica si am nevoie de transfuzie de sange.

Am ajuns acasa, am sunat la chirurg in Cleveland si m-a si programat pentru Luni sa-mi dea 2 unitati de sange. Mi-au promis toti ca ma voi simti mult mai bine, voi avea mai multa energie si rana de la spate mi se va vindeca mai repede.

Asa ca acolo vom merge Luni si voi fi spitalizata ptr. 2 sau 3 zile.

Am inca nevoie de rugaciunile d-stra,pe care le apreciez foarte mult.

Multumesc tuturor celor ce mi-ati scris pe blog. Imi pare rau ca inca n-am avut destula energie sa va raspund la fiecare in parte.

Morfina mi-a dat impresia falsa ca sunt mai bine, dar de fapt, hemoglobina mea scadea.

Tot Luni imi vor face si un test la stomac si intestine sa vada de unde privine aceasta pierdere de sange pe care o am. S-ar putea sa fie un ulcer si, in acest caz, sper sa-mi dea ceva ca sa scap si de crampi si greturile pe care inca le am din cand in cand.

Va imbratisez pe toti cu dragostea Lui si va multumesc ptr. rugaciuni.

Cu iubire si pretuire,

Silvia T.

Out of surgery and back home!

Pentru Romani, cititi mai jos!

My dear and special brothers and sisters in Christ,

Dear Friends because of Jesus in me and in You!

Praise the Lord the worst is over! I am back home sleeping in my own bed surrounded by my own family memebers and God’s family members from near and far.

I don’t know how long will I be able to sit in this position but with a few interruptions I might be able to finish this first update since my surgery.

December 2nd I received a phone call that I was admitted as a guest (cancer patient) at the Hope Lodge for the time I will be at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital for the surgery. I received the news with tears and much gratitude to God and to Polly Johnson from the Wooster Cleveland Clinic who, like an angel, followed me as a patient without medical insurance. The Lord has touched her heart in a special way and she pass it on to me.

So, in a couple hours we (my Bro. Victor and his wife Mihaela) had to pack and go to claim the room before 7:PM the evening before the surgery.  I was on the liquids day and had no idea when to leave in order to make it on time to the Lodge.

We made it and couldn’t believe how welcome we were and what a nice place to spend before a hard surgery. The Hope Lodge provided every day transportation to the hospital and back, so my Bro. and Sis. in low could take turns in coming and spending time with me.

The surgery went well from what I hear. I was carried in by 2 dear Romanian friends and brothers in Christ who are working at the hospital: Peter Vidican and Nick ?. God’s presence was right there and I felt no fear or any anxiety.  I know I was prayed over and over, again and again, until I entered the operation room and after. I looked at those big lights coming down from the ceiling and hear the people around me speaking in soft voices. I remember moving from the bed on a stable table under the lights. After that, everything was vanishing to nothing.

I don’t remember anything from that time until I opened my eyes in the room and my bed was sorounded by a “host of angels” with smiles on their faces… ! … and again I lost my contact with this world.

The first 2 days after surgery were fine but, the 3rd day I had for a few seconds the thought of giving up. I never could imagine such pain. As I was struggling with my thought, I heard Gicu saying: “Silvia, please don’t give up! Please, hang on!” He intercepted my thought or the Lord was speaking thru him to me!? I do remember saying: “No, Gicu, I am not going to give it up!” Then I prayed for God’s grace and mercy.

Sunday night the doctor said that he will let me go home on Monday. Wow! …

Monday morning I was again sick and in terrible pain. By the evening, when my dear sweet friends and Romanian sister in Christ – Crina Florutza ( a nurse) said that she will come and take me into her home, I took a deeper breath knowing that I will be on good hands.

I spent the rest of the week with Crina Floruta and her sweet Mom, at their sweet home. I can’t express in human words my gratitude for all the care they showed toward me, not to mention my sister’s -in -law nights of watching and caring. Victor went home with our Romanian Pastor, Viorel Clintoc who visited me almost every day.

Saturday I came home to a nice room prepared and decorated by MaryAnn Smucker, a dear friend, sister in the Lord and neighbor. A Murphy bed was fixed for me in the living room downstairs where I can watch through the window the snow and any other activities outside. I love it! My neighbor boys are biking when ever the weather permits.

Now it is over a month since my surgery. I’ve seen the doctor about 3 times since then. Because of the demage done by the radiation before the surgery, I got an infection on the back of my surgery. I have no position to sit than to lay down on sides or stand.

I went back to the doctor after about 3 weeks and he took out the staples and cut a few stitches from the back of my surgery to let the wound there drain and dry/heal from inside out. Mihaela is changing my dressing two times a day. She does an excelent job being very gentle and with a deep compassion.

Yesterday, Dec. 5th I went again in the doctor’s office, I had a CT (cat scan) to check out my bladder and kidneys. Both looks good, but my blood tests showed a very law Iron and hemoglobin (7.8 when the lawest should be 12). I am taking now Iron and the doctor and everyone says: “You must eat well!”. I know that, and I wish I could, but I can’t eat more than my body asks right now.

Last night I tried it again and I throw up all I eat. As a result of it, today I felt so much better. Yet, Victor cooked for me some green beens with chicken liver and corn-mush. Just like Mama home in our childhood. I ate half of what he placed on my plate. I can’t more. I drank some Giger-ale half with water (I am diabetec) and I feel great.

Here is my request: Please pray for my hemoglobin to go UP and for my nausea to disappear! I need lots of proteins and I must it better. I know God can do it! I pray too, but please help me in this. Thank You! and God bless you for caring so much for me….

I love you, all!

Love, Silvia

Dragii mei

Sper sa mai am energie sa va pot scrie si pe limba noastra, romaneasca, pentru acei ce nu inteleg inca pe cea englezeasca.

Cu o zi inainte de operatie, am primit un telefon de la un Motel foarte aproape de spital, numit “Hope Lodge” unde am fost admisa ca pacienta cu dreptul de a sta acolo cu familia mea, sau insotitor pe perioada spitalizarii. Am  primit aceasta oferta cu lacrimi de bucurie si multumire catre Atotputernicul care a lucrat la inima unei doamne care m-a ajutat sa obtin aceasta camera ptr. Victor si Mihaela care au putut face cu randul stand la capataiul patului meu, si au putut sa se si odihneasca cate putin. Mihaela a stat noptile cu mine, iar Victor era adus de un autobuz in fiecare dimineata si pleca seara.

Operatia a decurs bine si in numai 3 ore si ceva in loc de 4-5 ore cum mi-a zis medicul. La Sala de Operatie m-au dus pe rand 2 frati scumpi, romanasi de-ai nostri care lucreaza acolo la Spital: fr. Petrica Vidican si fr. Nick…? Se cunosteau cu toti pe-acolo si pe fiecare ii ruga sa-mi dea toata atentia de care am nevoie, fiind romancuta de-a lor.

M-am trezit in salon inconjurata de o ceata de ingeri vizitatori: romani si americani. N-am putut tine ochii prea mult deschisi, ptr. ca morfina ma transporta pe alte unde.

A treia zi, mi-a fost foarte rau si ma ispitea gandul sa “renunt” si sa plec. Numai ca vocea fr. Gicu Cotlet m-a trezit din gandul meu: “Silvia, nu renunti! Asa-i? Nu te lasi invinsa! Te rog, nu ceda! E greu dar vei trece cu bine!”

Ma-ntrebam de unde stie ce gandesc chiar atunci? Dar era ca un ecou si raspuns la intrebarea mea: Oare cum e sa renunti? Nu mai pot! Durerile sunt prea insuportabile. Nu mai rezist…” Si ca un ecou il aud pe Gicu: “Silvia, nu renunti, nu? Sa nu renunti!”

Si stiu ca m-am intors si i-am zis ca NU renunt inca la viata… si m-am mai inviorat cateva secunde….

Duminica seara la vizita, chirurgul mi-a zis ca ma lasa acasa a doua zi, Luni. Wow! Chiar asa de repede. Parca nu ma simt bine inca… Apoi au venit durerile cumplite si voma, si toate celelalte… Cum sa ma duc asa acasa, fara asistenta la domiciliu, ptr. ca nu am asigurare, etc., etc.

Teama mi-a disparut cand sora Crina Florutza, asistenta medicala m-a sunat si mi-a zis sa nu-mi fie teama ptr. ca ma duce la ea acasa unde voi putea sta pana cand cred eu ca ma simt in stare sa merg.

Am fost ingrijita ca o printesa de toate trei: Mihaela, cumnata mea, Crina si Mama Crinei, Sora Viorica. La sfarsitul saptamanii m-am simtit destul de bine ca sa vin acasa. Acasa mi-am gasit sufrageria de jos decorata si pregatita asa de frumos ca sa stau acolo. MaryAnn Smucker, o sora scumpa, americana, mama a 8 copii sub 19 ani mi-a pregatit totul ca sa ma simt cat mai comoda.

A trecut deja o luna de la operatie. Am fost de 3 ori la medic la control si ca sa-mi scoata deja copcile si sa ma vada cum arata. Totul e bine: cu rinichii, vezica urinara, etc. Singura problema este infectia din spate care inca mai continua.

Inainte de operatie am avut chemo si radiatii. Radiatiile m-au ranit/ars in adancime si acum, dupa operatie, dupa ce m-au cusut de sus pana jos au descoperit infectia.

Mi-au taiat cateva fire ca sa lase loc sa se vindece din launtru in afara. Exact ca si la prima operatie. Mihaela imi schimba un pansament pe care-l introduce acolo de 2 ori pe zi, pana se va inchide rana. Acolo ma doare cel mai des si cel mai tare. Iau inca morfina zi si noapte.

Slabiciunea mea si anemia vin de la nivelul scazut al hemoglobinei (7.8, cand limita cea mai de jos ar trebui sa fie 12.) Deci trebuie sa iau “Fier si sa mananc mai bine si mai multe proteine. Nu prea pot din cauza starii de voma pe care o am mai tot timpul cand aud sau vad mancare. Asta noapte am mancat si spre dimineata am vomat totul.

Iata ce va rog fierbinte: Eu stiu ca Domnul imi asculta rugaciunea mea, dar parca simt nevoia unui ajutor mai substantial in rugaciune, ca Domnul sa faca El cum stie sa-mi creasca hemoglobina si sa-mi dispara greata.

Multumesc din nou ptr. toate raspunsurile voastre, pentru telefoane, carduri si cadouri si ma rog ca Domnul sa va rasplateasca pe toti cu tot ceea ce stie El ca aveti mai multa nevoie.

Cu iubire multa si pretuire,

Silvia Tarniceriu

Noutati despre Silvia de la fratele ei, Victor

Dumnezeu sa fie slavit in veci ! Amin.

Inainte de plecare la spital pt operatie, am fost cu Silvia la Wooster, la clinica unde a facut chimoterapia si o doamna a simpatizat pe Silvia si a intrebat-o cine va fi cu ea, cine o va insoti. Ea a spus ca a venit fratele ei cu sotia. Atunci, doamna respectiva a spus ca va incerca sa rezolve cazarea noastra la Cleveland cat timp va sta Silvia in spital.

Marti seara am ajuns la Cleveland si am mers la adresa data de doamna de la Wooster si acolo am gasit o casa mare cu etaj cu multe camere  si multe facilitati, donata de o familie spitalului pt persoane ce insotesc pe cei ce au cancer si necesita operatie. Doamna care a donat este vaduva acum ,si a ajuns la varsta de 105 ani.

Seara, Silvia a luat ceva prafuri care a declansat eliminarea prin ,,scaune” a  alimentatiei. Au fost dureri mari.

Dimineata la 5.30 a trebuit sa fim la spital pt pregatire. LA 7.30 ne-am luat ramas bun si am incredintat-o din nou in mana Domnului prin rugaciune. Prima bucurie a fost aceea ca un roman care lucreaza la spital, era acolo, ne-a cautat si a spus ca el o duce la sala de operatie.

La 8.26 a inceput operatia si la 12.39 a fost dusa la terapie intensiva, pt 2 ore,  insa a fost tinuta 5.30 ore. Am vazut-o si am plans mult. Era in afara controlului personal.

A fost mutata la salon pt ingrijire si acolo a stat pana luni,  dec. 8. Dumnezeu ne-a facut bucuria sa constatam mult personal crestin, care s-a ocupat frumos de ea.  Joi si vineri au fost zile deosebit de grele. Eu stateam ziua cu ea, iar sotia mea, Mihaela, toata noaptea. Ea avea un fotoliu langa geam in salon. Spitalul a pus transport gratuit pt persoanele ce stateau la casa aceea speciala ,,HOPE LODGE” si duceau rudele la spital si le duceau la odihna . Deasemenea, parcarea masinii pe perioada spitalizarii a fost gratuita. Slavit sa fie Domnul. Ma intalneam cu sotia dimineata si seara.  Sambata a rasarit putin soarele, pt ca Silvia s-a dat jos din pat, s-a spalat pe cap si a fost foarte fericita. Mai tarziu, a facut cateva ture pe holul spitalului.

Au fost foarte multi musafiri si le multumesc la toti in Numele Domnului. Au fost frati draguti care ne-au adus de mancare mie si sotiei mele. (Fr. Gicu Cotlet cu sotia, Fr. Viorel Clintoc, Sora Crina Floruta, Sora Nely si sotul ei Nik, John Smuker si familia, niste prieteni de-ai Silviei au calatorit 11 ore sa poata  fi alaturi de ea, fam Ioder…)           Altii ne-au dus ca restaurantul spitalului si ne-au ospatat.

Din cauza ca Silvia nu are asigurare a trebuit sa-i faca externarea luni. Sora Crina Floruta a spus Silviei ca nu-i da voia acasa, ci va sta la ea cateva zile sub control. Asa ca luni seara Fr. Viorel Clintoc care a venit sa o mai viziteze odata pe Silvia, m-a dus acasa la Silvia si ea a ramas cu sotia mea la Cleveland la sora Crina. A avut nevoie de tratament, control, si tot odata de primele lectii de schimbare a pungii.

Maine, dec 13, probabil va veni acasa.  Are nevoie in continuare de rugaciunile voastre.  Multumim pt tot si Domnul sa va binecuvinteze.

Fr. Victor Tarniceriu    fratele Silviei

No news, good news!

Pentru limba romana, cititi mai jos!

My dear family and friends

Thank you, first of all to all of you who had written to me, as a comment to this blog, or dirrectly on my email address. It help me go through the hard time thinking that someone, somewhere is praying for me!

I feel that the worst has passed! My wounds are healed and have no more pain. I am still taking my Morphine at night since pain comes yet when I lay down and am not active. Daytime I move and go up and down stairs, meet visitors and move around the house. But at night the pain comes into my muscles and bones and hurts. The doctor told me to take Morphine and fear not any side affects or dependancy.

I tried a few times to give up but it didn’t work. I was up all night and fought pain like crazy. Anyway, I don’t take much and often; just ones before bedtime.

My surgery is scheduled for Dec. 3rd. This coming Friday, after the Thanksgiving Day, I am scheduled., early in the morning (7:30AM) at Cleveland Clinic for all the tests before the surgery. My brother Victor and his wife, Mihaela arrived safely here from Romania to be with me during this time and after the surgery. They will take me to the Cliveland Clinic on Friday.

I am enjoying a much better time with them now. They arrived here soon after my chemo and radiation treatmants were over for this time. I was still very weak and pail (they said), but now I am back “the Silvia” you always knew, just a few pounds less. That’s all!

The Lord is truely my strength and my portion! He is sweeter and sweeter to me each day of my life here among the living. I enjoy listening to many sermants on CDs or on Line. I like to listen to John Piper on :desiringgod.org . He preaches the Word and nothing else. He loves the Word and the Lord reveals Himself to him through His Word. He is preaching right now from the Gospel of John. Wonderful Word of God! Sing with me the song: “Beautiful word, wonderful word, of God!”

Thanks again for your prayers, letters, cards and many words of encouragement. Also, many, many thanks to all of you who sent along with your love and cards, checks or cash. It helped a lot! See if God will answer my prayer concerning you! I pray that He will multimply many times more all you give in His Name and for His glory!  He is faithful! Thanks to you, too!

I will write again, maybe after my surgery. How soon? I don’t know! If you want to know about me at that time, call Gicu Cotlet at : 330/231-0566 cell or home (for Romanians) 330/674-4730. His wife, Lidia, will keep you informed. My brother and sister-in-law will be with me in Cleveland.

My surgery will take about 4 to 5 hours and I will be in the hospital for aprox. 7 days: Dec. 3rd thru 10th.

Thanks for your prayers.

Love, Silvia

Dragii mei din familie si prieteni dragi

Mai intai vreau sa multumesc tuturor celor ce mi-ati scris ca si comentariu la acest blog, sau direct pe adresa de email. Cuvintele voastre pline de dragoste si incurajare mi-au facut bine si m-au ajutat sa trec prin aceasta perioada mai grea a chimoterapiei si radiatiilor, care mi-au cauzat multe dureri si nopti nedormite.

Acum mi-au trecut si durerile si ranile mi s-au vindecat. Slava Domnului! Totusi, mai iau inca Morfina seara la culcare ptr. ca ma dor tare muschii si oasele dupa ce ma asez in pat si stau linistita. Ziua ma mai misc, umblu inco si-ncoace, insa noaptea ma inconvoi de dureri. Nu stiu de ce, dar doctorul mi-a zis ca pot sa iau in continuare Morfina fara teama de efecte secundare sau dependenta.

Ma bucur de venirea fratelui meu, Victoras cu sotia Mihaela. Ei m-au gasit inca un picut mai palida si slabita, dupa cele 5 sapt. de chimo si radiatii. Dar acum sunt mult mai bine si asa cum ma stiti cu totii: doar cu cateva kg mai putin.

Ma pregatesc acum: sufleteste si trupeste pentru operatie care va fi pe 3 Decembrie la Cleveland Clinic. Vineri pe 28 Noiembrie, did-de-dimineata voi merge sa fac analizele inainte de operatie. Sper sa-mi iasa toate bine si sa intru cu curaj “la cutit”. Operatia va dura cam 4-5 ore si voi sta in spital aprox. 7 zile: de pe 3Dec. pana pe 7 sau 8.

Domnul este cu adevata taria mea si partea mea de mostenire. Il simt mai aproape si mai dulce vazand cum se ingrijeste de toate nevoile mele. Pe aceasta cale vreau sa va multumesc si voua tuturor pentru felul in care ma binecuvantati cu cuvintele voastre de incurajare din “cardurile” trimise, pentru ajutorul vostru financiar prin care vad mana si credinciosia Domnului manifestata fata de mine. Nu stiu cum sa va multumesc mai bine si la toti. Primiti deocamdata aceste multumiri modeste din partea mea, si urmariti binecuvantarile Lui peste voi, ca urmare a rugaciunilor mele cu privire la voi.

Sper sa trec cu bine si prin aceasta operatie si dupa aceea s-ar putea sa mai iau inca vreo 4-5 luni de chimo-terapie in functie de ceea ce va gasi doctorul acolo.

Multumesc inca o data pentru tot ce insemnati voi pentru mine si Domnul sa va asculte si pe voi in ziua necazului si sa va izbaveasca din Sion!

Va imbratisez pe toti cu multa dragoste si dor de a trai inca printre voi! Totusi faca-se nu voia mea, ci voia Lui!

Pe perioada spitalizarii puteti suna la fam. Cotlet Gicu si Lidia pentru informatii mai multe.Telefon: 330/674-4730 acasa, sau 330/231-0566 fr. Gicu la celular.

Cu multa dragoste si adanca apreciere,

Silvia Tarniceriu