Missionary Steve Willoughby - URGENT request

[Blubayou]

Praying for this family.

[Ron]

Thanks for the updates!

[LaVonne]

Thank you for the updates...we will continue to pray for Bro. Steve and Sis. Barb!

[jdm05]

Lets continue to keep Bro. & Sis Willoughby and their children in prayer.



Update on the Willoughbys. 22 November 2008
Friday 21st November 2008

Dear Friends

"Thus far the LORD has helped us."

This note tonight starts with a big thank you to Rev Anthony Mangun, Senior Pastor, The Pentecostals of Alexandria who ministered to the leaders of Tabernacle of Joy Friday evening. Bro Mangun gave the right word at the right time. Thank you POA for allowing your pastor to minister to us here in Singapore. Ministering from 1 Samuel 7:12, Bro Mangun encouraged the leaders to remember the provision, the healings, the deliverance, the miracles, that God had performed in their own lives. 'Go back to your memorials and remind God of His promises.' A special anointing was also prayed for Pastor Timothy Lee as he shepherd's Tabernacle of Joy in Bishop Willoughby's absence.

And after a powerful service, God released a miracle. I am so pleased to inform you that we have been able to arrange for Bishop and Sis Willoughby to see a specialist at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York on Monday, 24 November 2008, 9.00 - 10.30 am. I was very fortunate in being able to obtain the assistance of doctors in Singapore to prepare medical summaries for the Willoughbys and with Sis Willoughby's oncologist's help with a MSK contact, we were able to secure the appointments. This is indeed a miracle as it takes months to obtain an appointment at MSK and next week is the Thanksgiving holiday. So what's next?

Sis Willoughby will resume her chemotherapy. Today, she saw a physician and her blood pressure has come down. For Bro Willoughby, we are hoping that his case will be reviewed by Dr Stephen Veach, that additional investigations will be ordered and a referral made to the most appropriate specialist oncologist. Please pray that the peace of God will encompass Bro Willoughby. Sis Willoughby has informed that he has been suffering from severe anxiety attacks and he is afraid to go to sleep.

I have said it before, but I will say it again - your prayers are making a difference.

May you have a blessed weekend with your family and friends!

Leaning on Him

Sandra Subner
On behalf of Pastor Timothy Lee and Tabernacle of Joy

[LaVonne]

Continuing to pray for the Willoughby's.

[HADDOCK]

latest post from Tabernacle of Joy:

Dear Friends

We are thankful that Bro and Sis Willoughby were able to see an oncologist at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, New York on Monday, 24 November 2008.

Currently, Bro Willoughby has two tumours in his brain. In order to arrive at a accurate diagnosis, the doctor ordered a PET-CT scan. This scan will be performed on Friday, 28 November and the results will be known on Monday, 1 December. This result along with the results from the investigations performed at Georgetown will allow the doctors to determine whether the two lesions in the brain are secondary tumours (metastasis) from a primary tumour (i.e. lung cancer) or primary tumours. If the PET-CT scan comes back clean, the doctor has recommended whole brain radiation.

Sis Willoughby is recovering from the flu. She will be resuming her chemotherapy regime on Monday, 1 December.

Prayer pointers for this week:

§ That the PET-CT scan will show no traces of cancer in Bro Willoughby's body including his lungs
§ That when a another scan of the brain is performed, no lesions will be found
§ That the side effects from the brain lesions will cease
§ Wisdom to choose the best treatment option in the best place
§ For physicians who will not only treat but minister to Bro Willoughby at this time
§ For complete healing for Sis Willoughby

This Thursday, our American brothers and sisters will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is a day set aside to give thanks, to remember God's blessings and grace in our lives and to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. There is much to give God thanks for. Yes, even at this time. We, at Tabernacle of Joy, pause during this Thanksgiving week to say thank you to all of you around the globe who are praying and interceding for the complete healing and deliverance of the Willoughbys. Your prayers and words of encouragement have brought much comfort to Tabernacle of Joy. Lastly, we give thanks to God for providing us with a Senior Shepherd who with his wife who has given so much of himself to Singapore and to Asia. We love you Bishop Willoughby!

With a grateful heart

Sandra Subner
On behalf of Pastor Timothy Lee
and Tabernacle of Joy

[HADDOCK]

The following is the latest update on Missionary Steve Willoughby posted on his church's website. Please continue to pray for Steve, Barb and the children. The youngest remains here in the States with Steve and Barb, but the two oldest returned to Singapore. Barak is serving in the military and only had a one week leave. Megan is in college there.


Update on Steve Willoughby. 2 December 2008
Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Dear Friends

Many of you have been anxiously waiting to know the outcome of Bishop Willoughby's consultation with Dr S Veach, Medical Oncologist at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York on Monday, 1 December 2008. Please find below a fact sheet which will provide you with some details. This factsheet is also available for download.

Q1: What is wrong with Bishop Willoughby?
The biopsy performed on the growth removed from the space in between Bishop Willougby’s lung and heart showed that the presence of melanoma cells. Bishop Willoughby has been diagnosed as suffering from metastatic melanoma.

Q2: What is metastatic melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It begins in the melanocytes, the cells that make skin pigment, or melanin. Metastatic melanoma is a term used to describe when melanoma has spread into surrounding healthy tissue and through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body such as the liver, lungs or brain. As mentioned earlier, Bishop Willoughby has two tumors in his brain and a growth was removed earlier from his chest cavity. When melanoma metastases, it has a tendency to go to the brain and cause tumors which bleed.

Q3: What stage of cancer does Bishop Willoughby have?
Bishop Willoughby has Stage 4 cancer because the cancer has spread from the original source (unknown at this time) to the brain and previously his chest cavity.

Q4: What causes melanoma?
The main cause of melanoma is too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the skin. Additional risk factors for melanoma include many moles (more than 50) or moles that change appearance, fair skin, a family history of the disease, past severe sunburn and a weakened immune system.

Q5: What were the results of the PET-CT scan performed on Wednesday, 26 November?
The PET-CT scan showed that there were no additional malignant growths in Bishop Willoughby’s body. A 7mm suspicious spot beneath the skin of Bishop Willoughby’s leg was found. This spot will be investigated further by a melanoma specialist on Tuesday, 2 December.

Q6: What treatment will Bishop Willoughby receive?
A MRI was performed on Bishop Willoughby on Monday, 1 December to re-examine the brain tumors. Bishop Willoughby will undergo five rounds of high dose targeted radiotherapy to destroy the tumors, which are inoperable. He will also be given oral chemotherapy to prevent further recurrence of melanoma.

Q7: What are the side effects to the treatment Bishop Willoughby will be receiving?
Possible side effects of the radiotherapy include scarring of the brain tissue, tiredness and muscle weakness in the legs. The oral chemotherapy that Bishop Willoughby will be started on will have fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy (IV chemo).

Q8: What will be the results of the treatment?
With the radiotherapy, the brain tumors will start to shrink and die. It will take a few months for the dizziness and numbness in the leg that Bishop Willoughby continues to experience to subside.

Q9: Why is Bishop Willoughby having treatment in the US instead of Singapore?
Bishop Willoughby is having treatment in the US at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City because specialists in Singapore and New York have stated that it is unwise for him to travel with the brain tumors without treatment. Secondly, melanoma is an uncommon cancer in Singapore. Specialists consulted in Singapore have advised that Bishop Willoughby receive treatment in the US, as specialist expertise for this form of cancer is more readily available.

Q10: When will Bishop Willoughby return to Singapore?
Bishop Willoughby will return to Singapore once he completes his radiotherapy programme. Tentatively, Bishop and Sis Willoughby will return to Singapore end December 2008.

Q11: How is Bishop Willoughby feeling now?
Bishop Willoughby is being treated with steroids to alleviate the dizziness and numbness in his leg, which affects his mobility. The steroids will help to reduce the swelling in his brain. Emotionally, Bishop Willoughby is upbeat and thankful for what God has done is his life so far and what He will continue to do.



He's Doing It!



Sandra Subner

On behalf of Pastor Timothy Lee and Tabernacle of Joy

[Ron]

Wow! This is serious in it's scope.
Thank for helping us to focus on our prayers!
A hedge of protection for the Willoughby's is in order as well as these other focused prayer!

We serve a big God who is willing & able!

[Sherri]

Thanks for the updates, Haddock. Eddie's mom talked to Cindy and she gave her some info. I didn't realize it was melanoma though.

[LUKE2447]

What is sad is the therapy they use is pathetic. I pray God will move and he won't have to have such treatments. I wish also he would seek a therapy that won't kill him.

http://cancertutor.com/