Prayer Updates for Buntheep

Buntheep Performing The Blessing Dance		Buntheep Playing Molly in Annie

Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

In November, 2007, when 12-year-old Buntheep arrived in Jacksonville, Florida for brain surgery at Wolfson Children's Hospital/Baptist Health, there was (humanly speaking) no guarantee that she would ever celebrate another birthday. But, by the grace of God working through gifted doctors, Buntheep miraculously survived to celebrate her 13th birthday on April 15, 2008, at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, while undergoing follow-up radiation treatment.

Now, in a few more days, Buntheep will celebrate her 14th birthday on April 15, 2009, here in Cambodia with her CCAM family in our new home. Praise God! Her birthday wish is to eat stuffed frog at a restaurant overlooking the river.

We are now about half way through the two-year daily Calcitonin injection regimen, which will culminate about this same time in 2010. Of course, we hope and pray that by that time, the tumor will have completely disappeared, never to return. However, humanly-speaking, there is no guarantee that the tumor will not grow back when the injections cease. But we trust that God will save her life once again, so that she can grow up to serve Him with all her many gifts. Please continue to pray for that. In a few more weeks, we will do another MRI to check on the remnant of the tumor.

In the meantime, Buntheep continues to bloom. A few days ago, she performed "The Harvest Dance" in front of guests with her team for the first time since 2007. All of us were deeply moved to share that moment. As flawlessly as she danced, none of the guests could have guessed her medical condition or history, or that she has sight in only one eye. Also, her dancing is becoming even more graceful than before, as she matures into a young woman.

Another milestone for Buntheep is that her guitar playing has become so excellent that she has been chosen to lead the singing with her guitar in the worship. We want to especially thank Dale Cockley, a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, who allowed Buntheep to borrow his beautiful guitar and patiently taught her new songs and strumming techniques whenever she was able to participate during her long recovery there. In those days, sometimes her fingers were numb from the malfunctions of numerous IVs, or sometimes she had no stamina to finish the session, or sometimes she was just too sick to get out of the bed. But on good days, Buntheep and Dale made beautiful music worshiping God together, and now the seeds planted are bearing fruit. Praise God!

Our prayers for Buntheep are being answered, so please keep praying!

Gratefully,
Gioia and Buntheep

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