Saturday, August 13, 2005 5:33 AM CDT

Hi, it’s the weekend! I have been non stop the past few days. YMCA summer camp is over, first day of school is Monday, so Jessie and I have been busy, having fun, and getting work done, too. This will be very short & sweet(yeah, right! I start out that way, at least), as I am very, very tired.

Prayer request for dear friend, Angela. Husband of many, many years left over a year ago...sometimes talks of getting back together. Pray that God would reunite these two, and their two children, into one happy family again. He was an elder in their church, this was a shock to everyone, especially her. I thank you in advance, for praying for others I sometimes mention, along with praying for me. My prayer request to you? Next week is chemo week. Again, pray for chemo to leave my good cells alone...to go seek out any microscopic cells left in my body. With my CT scan and low CA-125, I believe the blob in my pelvic area is gone. The doctor will confirm this Tuesday, when she compares the old scan(from when I was first diagnosed)to this week’s scan. It will be a miracle, and I hope she recognizes it as such. That is my prayer. To hear her say, wow...I can’t believe this. My next CA-125, the results of my 3rd chemo, will be done next week, should get results on Wednesday. I’m praying for an 8. Last one was 11. And continue to pray for my surgery incision to heal....less than an inch, but it’s going so slowly! I yearn to jump in the pool, but I can’t! I hope to be healed & closed up by Labor Day weekend, for our family reunion in Kentucky!

Praises! My old morning show partner, Gary McCoy, had 2 heart attacks recently, and is now back at work. Pray for his health, pray for him to continue his fight against smoking. It is a hard addiction to overcome. But he is very motivated, with sons, a wife, and family who loves him so much..friends, too, like ME!

And a special thank you and praise to Newnan Classical School. We had planned to put Jessie in this school, this fall. But when I had to give up my YMCA job, which meant losing $1600 a month income, we told them we couldn’t afford it. Tuition balance was $4,900. They believed so much in Jessie being there, that they asked to raise money. Sent out letters to families within the school, and it was all raised. I was blown away. Jimmy never doubted, neither did the staff and others who were close to us. When they were at $1500, I said, oh, that’s nice. On the inside, I’m thinking, boy, that’s still a long way away. And again, thought, no way. But I thought, maybe I’m supposed to be like Jimmy, not worry, to believe. So, I quit worrying. And it happened. Again, oh, me, of little faith! Many of the staff from Newnan Classical also came to our house, the night before my major surgery at Emory, to lay hands on me, annoint me with oil, and pray for a miracle. They have prayed, had their churches praying, had other families praying. I met many strangers(now friends)at the school picnic tonight, who let me know they were praying...and had just met me for the first time. What an incredible faith the school has. I want to thank Newnan Classical and its families for their prayers, for financially giving, so that Jessie would get a great Christian education this year. “Greater love hath no man...”

Ok, as I wipe away the tears from the love I feel, I remember I said short & sweet. Rarely in my vocabulary. But it will be tonight! Please continue to pray. Remember, it is BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS, that God is giving me life, energy, HAIR(ha, ha), another chance to live life differently, my second half. Thank you again, for your love, for your prayers. I will never be able to repay you, to say thank you enough. I wish I could, but I don’t think there are enough words in our language! Oh, and my birthday is in two weeks....what a celebration day that will be!!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


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The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:07 AM CDT

Well, today I had my CT scan done. Won’t know “officially” until next Tuesday with my doctor, but someone that saw me in May, said this. “You’ll be fine,” and “it looks a lot different than the one before.” You know people aren’t supposed to tell you anything, except your doctor. But I accepted the hints as good. Bloodwork today, showed again, my red, white, & iron levels all good. Amazing, what your prayers are doing...keep praying that future chemo goes straight to any microscopic cells, any cancer left in my body. Next chemo is Tuesday, next CA-125 is Monday.

Have a couple of prayer requests...for Keisha, the daughter of a friend of mine, internal bleeding, has been having problems about 6 weeks, went to ER, in intensive care. For the marriage of friends of ours, that they would each meet the other’s needs, to show love to the other, in each other’s love language. Read The Five Love Languages, for good marriage advice! Actually, friends and kids, too. We all have a love language that makes us feel loved, and we must speak to our loved ones in their love language, not ours. That’s challenging at times.

Ever noticed how we are so good at thanking and appreciating everyone, but not the ones closest to us? I realized today, I’ve spent so much time thanking you for your prayers, your food, your cards, your financial gifts, your acts of service, for all you’ve done for my family. But I’ve not spent everyday thanking Jimmy for being my hero, for being Jessie’s hero. It came to mind a bit the other day, when we had a coyote in our back yard. For the past week, it’s been eating off our fig tree, and kept getting closer to the house, then wasn’t running away when the dogs came out. Jimmy shot it the other night, to make sure we were safe when we went outside. (it’s not illegal, in Georgia, they’re listed as a nuisance animal) He, along with most men, just want to be the hero. It’s in their blood, even when they’re white collar workers. Read “Wild at Heart,” by John Eldredge, you’ll see what I mean...good for men & women to read. Real down to earth reading, not some big psychologist kind of guy.

Jimmy has been my hero through this. From the beginning, when he hugged me and said, “promise me we’re going to beat this together.” To now, when he takes care of most of the house, the bills, so I don’t have to worry about much. He has continued to believe God will take care of our finances, when I’ve wanted to freak out, over losing my job that brought home $1600 a month. (and I still sometimes want to freak out!) He works hard to keep the yard nice, it’s his pride & joy. He spent time talking with me, this past weekend, deep talks that don’t happen often with men & women. He loves me so very much. He thinks I’m sexy, with soft skin. Even with my thinner hair, even with tape scars all over my belly, even with a huge patch of gauze, as my tummy continues to heal. He sees me with God’s eyes. He sees what I don’t. He has believed from the beginning, that I will get well. He is Jessie’s hero, in loving her, holding her in his lap, of doing night time prayers as she crawls into bed. I’ve not told him often enough that he is my hero. So, publicly, in front of many reading this, Jimmy, YOU ARE MY HERO!

I’ve been reading a book, almost finished now, called “90 minutes in Heaven.” Recommended & given to me by my friend & author, Mae Nunn, and again this past week, someone back in Louisiana, on the message board recommended it. OK, God, I get the hint, I’ll read it. A true story about a pastor in a horrible accident, where he was actually dead, came back to life in 90 minutes. Even the EMT people said he was dead, didn’t even try to get him out of his car. One thing that really hit me, that as a pastor, when people offered to help him(he was in bed forever, not able to move), he always said thank you, no. Never let anyone help him, with a magazine, a drink, anything. A friend told him he wasn’t doing them right. That they wanted to help, to show their love, and he wasn’t letting them do that. He realized his pride, his desire to “be strong for everyone,” was making him say no. In reading that, I thought, wow, I’ve been doing that. Not all the time, but quite a bit. As I’ve gotten better, I’ve not wanted to be a burden, cause everyone is so busy, because everyone has done so much since all this began. I still have another surgery, so it’s like I’ve been “saving up” favors, offers, when I “really” need them. So forgive me, if you have offered to make dinner, clean our house, run to the store, have Jessie over, anything to help me, to help us out—and I’ve said no, thank you. If you still want to help out, I will say yes from now on. It’s kind of scary, because I know this fall, I will REALLY need help. I’m stronger than in the beginning, but I know my energy level isn’t anywhere it used to be. So, I really still need help, now & then, here & there...I just know everyone has their own needs, their own lives to take care of. Again, forgive me. If you still want to help, just call, 770-253-2536.

Thanks again for your prayers! Remember, the reason I feel so good, the reason my CT scan looks so different, the reason my immune system is so strong, the reason my CA-125 is ELEVEN, no longer 1800, is BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS!! God hears all of our prayers. I know this is going to be going on for a long time, so please continue to pray when you can. Next week, prayers are extra needed, as it’s a chemo week. If you need me to pray for you in any way, please don’t hesitate to let me know! YOU ARE LOVED!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


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The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Monday, August 8, 2005 6:04 AM CDT

How was your weekend? Everything was great here at our house....good quality time with hubby, Jessie, friends, church family and God. It’s so funny, I bump into people I’ve not seen in a long time, they say hi in passing, then they REALLY say HI...Sheila! No one really recognizes me at first, with the short hair. Plus, I think people are surprised to see me up and walking around, feeling good, smiling, enjoying life. I’m certainly not the picture of who I thought I’d be, when I found out I had cancer. I’m still amazed, after 8 weeks, that I still have hair. Once I started losing it, got it chopped off, ready to shave it the next week, it quit coming out. Though today, I noticed other body hair is gone, from my knees up, my toes, and I haven’t plucked my eyebrows since I don’t know when. Losing some hair, is a good thing..only girls understand this, though!!

Speaking of surprising people, by how well I’m doing (thank you God for OUR MIRACLE!)....I mentioned 2 very dear friends came down, Donna & Renee. Both expected so much less of our time together than what really happened. Here’s what Donna said, when I asked her what she did expect....””guess I expected for you not to be able to get out, be very weak, and just feeling, well, SICK! I know you're not feeling 100%, but I thought you'd be, well...SICK! I did expect to have a great time, just thought it might be depressing, but, it was just the opposite. I'm not depressed for you anymore, I'm thankful for the miracle you're experiencing, and I see life and being healthy as a gift which I've probably been guilty of taking for granted. I am so blessed. Life is good!””

Went to our friend Kris’s today, to swim in the pool. Everyone but me, that is. I’m such a doer, a participant, that it was hard to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone having fun. My stomach incision still isn’t healed. My big prayer now is that it heals quickly, so I can go back to the YMCA pool, so that my Uncle Ray, during a family reunion Labor Day weekend, can take me to the lake, out on his boat. Now, if I’m going to be at a lake, I definitely would like to be able to JUMP IN, and relive my younger days, when the family all met at Rough River for camping, boating, and swimming! Yes, I’m grateful to be doing so well, so alive, so full of energy, but I hope & pray that my healing process happens really fast now. See, in case you’re just joining in, I have to have another surgery, to remove my female parts (ooooh, yea!)....and I’m guessing that will be in mid-October. I’d like to have a month or so, to not worry about my stomach...to be able to bend over, sit up, etc. The things we all take for granted!

Here’s what’s coming up in my life: Tuesday, my next bloodwork (to keep eye on my immune system & more)....plus a CT scan. It’s kind of like an MRI, that shows things like cancer. That’s what was done back in mid-May, where the doctors found the original tumor and mushy pile and cancer scatters. Then, the following Monday, I have bloodwork drawn for next CA-125, I’m praying for an 8!! Tuesday, the 16th, my 4th chemo. By Wednesday, should know results of CA-125.

And again, in case you don’t know about CA-125...FEMALE FRIENDS!! PLEASE, talk with your doctor about ovarian cancer. This bloodtest tells the amount of sugar proteins in your body from cancer. 35 & below is normal. I thought your ob/gyn checked all possible cancers when doing your yearly female physical, not so. I was so faithful, every year. If I’d known to talk with my doctor about this test, maybe they would have discovered the cancer in Stage 1, versus Stage 3-C, next is final Stage 4. Might have been easier to get rid of. If there is colon cancer in your family, this is a risk factor for ovarian cancer. If you’ve never had a child, this is a risk factor. Being obese is a risk factor, according to many studies. I urge you, please, to talk with your doctor about possible cancers that you might be at risk for. Your yearly pap smear only tests for one kind of cancer. OK, off my soapbox. I only do this some, because I wish someone would have warned me, to know more about risks, to be more proactive, to ask questions of my doctor. I NEVER had any female related problems, always a clean bill of health, every single year. No high cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.

I’m going to try & quit writing so much each day, or every other day. I tend to ramble, but I feel like I’m really talking to you, as I write these words, every single time. I know your life is busy, I know this isn’t a quick fix thing. Six months is a long time to hang with me, to pray, to see my progress. But you know how much I appreciate your love, patience, and prayers! My kid sis, Leila, is probably more ready than me to get this over with, ha, ha! You oughta hear her ramble on about the doctors should do this, when are they doing that, etc? But I’m the same way. God is teaching us both an extra serving of patience!!

Here’s MY WISH for YOU, from my very first Christian song, that at the time, my sister crammed down my throat. Nice message, but I wasn’t ready for God then. But she was very patient back then, and kept praying, kept shoving God in my face, every chance she got! And I am so very thankful that she, and our mom, never gave up praying for me, to come back (after about 17 yrs away) to a relationship with the God that created me, and never gave up on me, either. It’s a 1989 song from Billy Sprague, I Wish. “I wish you joy, I wish you peace, I wish for you all the good you have been to me. I hope you find what your heart is dreaming of, but most of all, my friend, for you, I wish you LOVE.

YOU ARE LOVED!!


Sheila/Kelli


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Friday, August 5, 2005 8:01 AM CDT

Hi!

Well, I have just finished one of the best weeks of my life. Hanging out with life long friends, and my more recent friends, too. They all mixed so wonderfully together, it made me so happy to see that. I grew up 3 doors down from Renee, since little kids, known Donna since high school. Renee was here a week, Donna a few days. If you have lifelong friends that you’ve not seen or talked to for a while, be encouraged to call, to visit, to write, to something. There is something so refreshing to be with people you’ve known forever, laughing about old memories, amazed that your friendship has lasted so long. We stayed up til 1:00 in the morning...got up this morning and said, “ok, it’s finally catching up with me.” But, I’ll sleep tomorrow. To quote Scarlett O’Hara, “after all, tomorrow’s another day.” We laughed, we cried, we cleaned out closets and Renee did her past to help her friend get organized. We were always like the Odd Couple tv show...she, neat & organized, me not. We hope to get all of our high school friends together next June, as Renee will be in KY for a family reunion.

I want to thank my friend Wendy Gilbert for forwarding this email, about life, to me. I normally don’t like forwards(I get waaaayyy too many), and delete many of them, but I read this one, and am glad that I did. Here ‘tis...

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was.

I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special.

Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.

For the past year, I’ve been working full time at the YMCA, working a couple of hours a day for KLOVE(usually 6 days a week), plus I became an instant full time mom last year June. Do you think I was overloaded, stressed? Yes, but I was raised by a superwoman, and I’m “supposed” to be one, too. God got my attention, shut down my life totally. For me to see what really matters most. Oh, He gave me plenty of opportunities to change, send me warning signs, etc. But I had to make money, worried about not making what I used to at my old station, J93.3. I missed out on so many moments for fun with family and friends. If I wasn’t working, I was tired. Are you where I was? People matter, and a job is something we do to make money to live. A job isn’t there to hug you when you’re lonely, it isn’t there to celebrate good news...it’s just a job. Share and enjoy life with people around you. After the week I’ve had, I know you won’t be sorry.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Even though I feel great...remember it is because of you that I feel this way. I get my CT scan next Tuesday, and my next CA-125 is August 15th. Look forward to hearing what the next results are, what the doctor says about my CT scan. I will, as always, share it with you. Thank you for being there for me, it’s been since mid-May now, and you’re still hanging in there! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you, please. I DO HAVE ONE SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST FOR ME, PLEASE. As Renee & Donna can testify(Renee changed my stomach incision, Donna watched), my stomach incision is still quite large. While I’m finally off my wound vac, after about 9 weeks, I’m still on gauze, changing it twice a day. Chemo slows down the healing process, and while it has healed tremendously since the beginning, and still look healthy and red, it is finishing up the last inch deep & wide, and 8 inches long, at a very slow pace. Pray that it will heal quicker than it is, pray that I am more regimented about my daily protein..it’s very hard to get up to 100-120 grams of protein a day, what they recommend to me for healing. I so want to be able to go swimming with Jessie, to do my water walking exercises again. I’m come so far, and honestly feel a bit selfish asking for this, when there are so many who need so much more, but I’d like to have a healed stomach for a few months, before they have to go back and cut me open again. The saving grace is next time, they can sew me up, rather than let me heal with an open incision. YOU ARE LOVED!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


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The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Wednesday, August 3, 2005 6:48 AM CDT

What a great week I’m having! Two friends with me that have known me forever!!! Renee, since kids, Donna since high school. And they’ve also had a chance to meet my “grown up” friends! It’s such a joy, seeing how blessed I am with friends and family who love me, no matter what. What’s that old Girl Scout song, “make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Who’ll fly & drive across country to be with me. Funny, they thought they’d be coming here to hold my hand, to make me feel better, to take care of me. I’ve responded so well to this chemo, it is amazing. My latest bloodwork today, is still NORMAL RANGE!! This is huge!!! I’ve had more energy than in the past, haven’t been totally shut down. People are so amazed when they see me, “you’re glowing, you look so happy.” It is God, shining thru me. It is because of your prayers. Thank you for your prayers, and please keep praying. I know this is a wait & see thing...get hit with chemo, build back up, get hit again. But I still have another major surgery ahead of me this fall.

Today, a former pastor of mine, Bill McDonald, when I went to Kings Hwy Christian Church in Shreveport(he’s now in Lexington, KY)...said this to me... ~~ ”Kelli, my bright-eyed friend, great to read your webpage and hear good news. Even greater just to recognize your personality through your words. I can almost hear your voice speaking them. I don’t have much to say except that you are on my mind and in my prayers. Though there are miles between us, I am standing right beside you. And it’s crowded here!! There are so many other people doing the same thing!” ~~ I thought wow, that is so true for everyone of you and me. So many of you live so far away, the closest 5 minutes away, the farthest, perhaps at KLOVE, in Sacramento, CA. Whoops, I forgot my military friends, in England and Iraq. But you are each, with your prayers and love, standing right beside me. When I go in for chemo, I know I am not alone. When I feel discouraged, and want this all to be over, to be “normal” again(like I was ever normal!!!)...I know you are there, hugging me long distance. When I think about another major surgery(now that I know what it’s like)....I know you will be beside me there, too.

I want to again remind everyone, that if you want to read previous journals, and catch up...you do that by going to the bottom of the journal page, to “read previous journals.” And that Kelli & Sheila are the same. I’ve been in radio forever, and many of us have two names. Just in case you’re just know coming to this webpage! So you won’t feel lost or wondering!

I’m asking for prayers for a young college student, Heather. She was in car accident, avoiding a deer, and is in a coma, with head injuries. Her dad had head injury quite a few years ago, and has had issues since. Pray for her and her family. Plus, a 29 yr old former teacher at Jessie’s school(Newnan Classical) died 3 weeks ago...within a week of discovering she had leukemia. Pray for her mom who is left behind, her dad has already passed away. Why does God let some live, others not? I don’t know the answer. Only God does. But I do know that He makes good things come out of bad. Everytime I hear from you, over the phone, email, in person, how this website encourages you, I know God is using me, this yucky cancer, to make a difference in your life. My only prayer is that through this, you are closer to God, you make more time for relationships, including yourself, that you live life more fully, and most importantly, if you have not given your heart & soul to God being the leader of your life, that in this miracle He is doing in me, during this time, you will come to say yes to Him, yes to having Him as your best friend, yes to spending forever in heaven with Him.

Oh, one more prayer request...and thank you, too...for praying for these others in need, too. From my friend Carmen, in Savannah, GA... ~~ "Angie Nix is a friend of mine. She is in her 40's and back in October she had to have a breast removed and reconstructed due to breast cancer. She has undergone both radiation and chemo treatments. The doctors are concerned now about the pain that she is having in her bones and a bone and brain scan was scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, but now....she was in a car accident where they said that she should not have suffered any major injuries and she broke a bone in her neck. Instead of having the scans tomorrow, she now has to go into surgery to repair the damage in her neck. She is a mom to elementary age child and a wife." ~~ See how blessed we all are? Are you breathing, are you alive? You are blessed, and have the ability to change any circumstance you might be unhappy with.

Thanks again for your prayers, your love! I am having such fun with Renee & Donna...missing my other high school friends...Pam, Anita, Deana, Debi! Wish you were here...remembering the old days...Renee brought photos and notes from grade school, up to college....what a hoot!! Did we really wear those clothes back then, and did they really bring them back???!!! YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Monday, August 1, 2005 6:38 AM CDT

It’s been the best chemo week I’ve had! All my body aches, I kept under control with ibupropen. I’ve had Renee here since Thursday, having a life long friend around, who knows all my life, has been energizing...someone to play with!! Thanks for your prayers, of directing the chemo directly to the cancer, and away from my good cells....God is hearing them!! Again, I wish I could come to see each & every one of you in person, to give you a hug, cry with you, love all over you, to say thanks for your love and your prayers. I can’t, so just know that I WOULD IF I COULD!!! You are part of my life, in a such a huge way, thank you!!!!!

We went back and visited our old church Sunday, Heritage Christian. We haven’t been there since last spring/summer...and have missed everyone so much. We have lots of friends at our new, closer to home church, Community Christian, but we were at Heritage 3-1/2 yrs. We had a chance to get lots of hugs, and to thank everyone for their prayers. Plus, Renee, my friend since about age 4, got to meet friends that have been part of my life for quite a few years. She wanted to meet our friends that have been praying for us.

Renee & I took Jessie out, trying to teach her to ride her bike without training wheels, and we walked the track. Renee, who exercises almost every day, jogged. She inspired me to just give it a try...ha, ha....don’t TRY JOGGING, when you’re still recovering, and have an long, open incision! Ouch! I only jogged about 5 steps, quickly learned, not a good thing! But I did go around the full size track THREE TIMES!! Whoo-hoo!! I almost went for 4, but thought I needed to pace myself. Exercise is a great thing...I’m hoping you’re joining me, and doing something physical, as often as possible. Let me brag on Renee for a moment...she exercises almost everyday, every week. For her 50th birthday, happening on December 31st(she is the first of all my high school friends to hit that mark!) she has been training to do a “14-er.” That is hiking up 14,000 feet into the Rocky Mountains. 14,000 feet...that is her goal. Wow, way to go..and what an inspiration for all of us...age shouldn’t hold us back!! Oh, another part of our adventure, we saw a turtle on the side of the road, HAD to go back, pick it up, take pictures, watched it try to bite us with his big wide open mouth. Such kids we are..but that’s a good thing, let your heart go, and play!!

I heard a song on the radio, that fit me a few years ago when it came out, means even more today. I hope it reminds you to grab the brass ring, step outside your comfort zone, live life to its fullest, carpe diem—seize the day! “I hope you dance....”



I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance


I hope you dance, too! Whatever dance God calls you to...to not be so busy, to take time for life, to take time to play. I’m learning so much through having cancer, through being forced to slow down my life, to re-examine my life, my priorities. Learn from me. Don’t let God slow you down, shut you down, to get you to change, if change is what you need. He will. Sometimes it’s just a cold, when you’ve been going non-stop. He tries to warn us, to live as He wants us to. But we don’t always listen. I know I was too busy to listen!!

Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for praying for me, for loving me. I heard something pretty cool in church today...we are salt shakers, to provide “God seasoning” to the world. We often stay inside our safe salt shaker...why not shake yourself out? Let someone see Jesus, feel Jesus in you today!!

YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!

@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Thursday, July 28, 2005 7:09 PM CDT

Hi, well, here I am, a couple of days past chemo, and thanks to your prayers, I’m having little effects. Some achiness, but nothing like last time. I continue to pray for energy and strength, while Renee is here, who arrived safely today from Colorado, and when Donna arrives, on Monday. I know they’re here to visit with me, no matter how I feel, but I would personally like to have some play time. Renee & I have been friends since about age 4, Donna since high school. Have you had play time lately?

I learned of a young man with leukemia, from a KLOVE listener. She sent me one of his bracelets, to bring awareness to bone marrow transplants, which he has had, in his battle against leukemia. Here’s his website, it encouraged me, with the first scripture I saw...you might want to see his smiling face, and send up a prayer for him. www.justincude.com. The scripture that really went straight to my heart, is “Romans 9:17 ---I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display MY POWER in you and that MY NAME might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

I immediately thought of me, what I’m going through. What you see in me. Each and everyone of you is seeing God using me. God has given me my positive attitude(Yes, my MOM did much growing me up, about having a Positive Mental Attitude!)....my strength to handle pain(I am such a BABY when it comes to physical pain)....all that you see through this, is God giving me strength, hope, love, patience, encouragement, and a miracle, to show you Him, His power, His love. I am the vessel God is using to touch you, your heart, your soul. To draw you closer to Him. To believe in Him more. To believe in Him for the first time, I don’t know. It is so humbling and honoring to have God use me like this. Especially when I look back on my life, and for so many years, didn’t acknowledge Him, didn’t love Him, didn’t have Him in my life. He can use anyone, we just have to be willing. No, trust me, I HATE having cancer. Last night, I cried myself to sleep in Jimmy’s arms...I was starting to have body aches, where my wound vac is, there is a tube inserted into the middle of my stomach, I feel so ugly and like a freak, with some thing growing out of my stomach, and my skin has carpet burn places, where the tape has been put on & pulled off for 8 weeks now. But God gives me strength, to push through those moments of weakness. It is in my weakness, He shines through. I’ve been told I’m glowing, in my photo on the website, that such joy shines through. That I look pregnant, even, by someone else. I’ve always wanted to have His joy shining on my face, in my eyes...it must be there for you to see. I see just me, my 48 yr old wrinkles and bags under my eyes, ha, ha!!

Anyway, things are going well today, everyday I’m so glad to have another day to enjoy life. To talk with a friend, to tell someone I love them, to let someone see God in me. Another day to live. That’s what excites me these days, just another day to LIVE! YOU ARE LOVED!! Thanks again for your prayers...I’m still so excited about my latest CA-125 number....ELEVEN!!! I’m still so blown away!! Keep praying, til it’s all gone, please!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:09 PM CDT

OK, BASEBALL FANS!! When it’s close to World Series time, everyone talks about the magic number, right? How many games for one team to win, one team to lose, to get into the playoffs. I think this is right anyway...I love the sport, don’t care about the stats. BUT, NOW, my MAGIC NUMBER is ELEVEN!! Wow, thank you God, AGAIN!! I got the results this morning, that my NEW CA-125 number dropped after the next chemo, from 39.6, down to ELEVEN!! I was praying for a 10, but in my mind, would have figured a 20-25. God figures differently than I do, YES!! He continues to amaze me, and that’s how I always want to be, amazed by His love, His power, and never take it for granted!!

I had a wonderful prayer sent to me, from my young friend, Kat, in Virginia, who has leukemia and liver cancer, fighting it for past 20 months, and recently lost her older brother in a car accident, and her little brother is still in ICU. Someone sent it to her for comfort, I hope you find comfort in it, too..or maybe you know someone who needs to read the words, too. Here ‘tis...

Lord, here is Your child on bended knees

I'm in another storm, I need your strength

Jesus whispers " Child" I'm sitting near by,

I know your hurt, I hear your hearts cry.



Precious Lord, help me be strong

To trust You, now as I drive along

Lord, I feel your presence oh so real,

My love for you no tongue can tell.



Jesus says, I'm in your storm... I understand

I'm with you, hold onto my hand;

You are my child, I love you so,

I'll journey along with you as you go.



Don't fear my child, I'll see you through

That's why I gave my life for you.

Just roll on me..... Your every care,

I'm sitting by, I'll catch your tears.



I thank you Jesus for all you've done

You are my strength, I'm never alone.

As You opened the rock and water came out,

For all You've done, I will continue to shout.



"Prayer Warriors", called out to You in prayer

You saw my hurt and drove my fears.

You said to trust, I'll take your load.

For You walk with me, along life's road.



How can I thank all my friends so dear

They lifted me to God's throne in prayer,

God listened as each one spoke my name,

Hug them, "Jesus, I love each one the same!"



I have a prayer request, from my father’s step-son, Jimmy. I’ve never talked with him much beyond hi, may I speak to Daddy? But tonight, as I shared with him about my new numbers to tell my dad, I was also giving credit to prayer, to God. He paused, then said, “Can I ask you something?” Keep in mind, he rarely starts a conversation...I was blown away. He asked me to pray for his “Grandma Mac,” who is 80, and just diagnosed with breast cancer. Can you imagine, getting to that point in your life, with all the effects of just getting older, then having to fight cancer, too. So, would you please remember Grandma Mac in your prayers, and Jimmy, too? Thanks!

It’s been a great day, no ill effects from chemo. I’m sure getting OUR Number Eleven, has kept me jazzed up all day! I pray hard for energy the next week, as Renee, my friend since age 4, is coming in from Colorado Thursday, for a week. And my other high school friend, Donna, comes in Mon-Thursday. It’s been a long time since seeing each other, we are all excited! Wish the rest of our Southern High School gang could be here, but we’ll take pictures to send along!! Relationships, that’s what matters. I’ve ignored many over the past year plus, working, working, working, worrying about money, since losing my job at J93.3. All for naught. I’m making up for lost time NOW!!

I hope you’ve had a great day, like I have!! Live Strong, to quote Lance Armstrong!! Thanks again for all your prayers for me, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE!! Most importantly, THANKS to my DADDY in heaven, for hearing our prayers, for giving me, little ol’ me, another miracle. I honestly thought, I’d go from 1100, to 800, to 500, etc. Never in my little mind, did I think I’d be from 1800 down to 11 in 2 months. Wow. Remember, 35 & below is normal, for a CA-125 bloodwork. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, God’s ways are not our ways. I’m so glad.

YOU ARE LOVED!! Thanks for keeping in touch with me through this website. Again, I wish I could write everyone back, call you on the phone and tell you how much I love you. Just know that everytime I read your message(and it’s ok to write each week, each day!!), it makes me SMILE!! And smiles are good!! Oh, and if you’re just joining in on this journal page, you can access at the bottom, previous journals, to catch up. Someone hadn’t done that, and thought that Sheila and Kelli were two different people. Sheila is my God-given, birth name. Kelli was my name is country radio, for about 15 years. Two names, same person!! Some people reading/writing know me as one, others know me as the other. I respond to both!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:50 AM CDT

Well, here I am, at the end of my chemo day. Feel great, but it’s the days following that are iffy. I am very motivated now to do everything I can possibly do, to lessen its effects on me. Of course, prayer is at the top of the list...always, please join me & pray the chemo goes STRAIGHT to the cancer, and bypasses the good cells. After that, I’ve become a bit lax about drinking my 40grams of protein each day shake, though I am still drinking some. I’m going back to drinking ALL my water, all my vitamins, etc, etc, etc. Lance Armstrong’s story has really inspired me, to LIVE STRONG. He was at 40% chance for survival, his testicular cancer had spread to his lung and brain. Look what he’s accomplished. He took care of his body. While I’m taking better care of mine than I used to, I’m going to bump it up the next level. I encourage you to take care of yours, too...without it, you can’t do all the things in life you want to do!!

Big news today, I spoke with my doctor, about what all is going on. She is very impressed, says its fantastic, exciting, very unusual, doesn’t happen very often, etc...about dropping from a CA-125 of 1086, down to 35.9. It does mean there are fewer cancer cells in my body. We get the results from the 2nd chemo Wed or Thursday. She says we’ll talk then. But her plan is, even if my numbers are below normal, she wants to complete the cycle of 6 chemos. There is a chance for microscopic cancer cells to exist, and she wants to make doubly sure they’re gone, as I had much cancer in my body in the beginning. I was Stage 3-C, which means I was at the highest level of Stage 3, before going on to Stage 4. Stage 3-A means little sized cancer, Stage 3-C means bigger clumps, tumors, whatever. Not good, but now, as the chemo is doing as we’re praying, attacking the cancer so well, everything is good, and getting better!

Long story short(sorry, rambling is my weakness)...My last chemo will be Tuesday, I believe Sept 27th. She is, to make me feel better, going to do a CT-scan before the next chemo on 8/16, so we can discuss it, and we can determine that the cancer has shrunk 50%, 75%, however minute it is now. She goes more by the CA-125 bloodwork, but wants me to feel comfortable, too. I’m glad she’s doing that. The CT-scan is what discovered the cancer mass in the beginning. It will be good to compare the two. She says I am strong, with no health issues, beyond my being overweight and the cancer. (don’t smoke, drink, I’ve been exercising), that having the complete cycle won’t have permanent effect on me. She is very impressed with how my iron count,(without iron pills! I hated them, the effect on me), and my red & white cells are staying normal. She also doesn’t want to stop the cycle too soon, then have surgery, and find out that there is still some cancer in there, and have to do more chemo, as I’m recovering from surgery again. Cancer can build up resistance to chemo, and she says I’m responding so well, she wants to knock it out now. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS, THANK YOU!!! GOD IS LISTENING TO US!!!

That is why I ask you to not stop praying til its gone. This is a long process. You’ve been praying for me since mid-late May. I know your life is busy, but I please ask you to keep praying. Basically, I’ve learned, hit me with the chemo, I’m blah for a while, then start building back my energy. Since I know this continues through September, and there’s nothing really new to report each day(though I can ALWAYS think of something, the talker I am!)...I’m going to maybe not write everyday. But then again, I might, as it’s my way of “talking to you,” even though I’m really not. So, if I don’t write a couple of days in a row, just know that I’m ok, I’m just doing life! Being busy again, but NOT TOO!! I hope to go back to the YMCA part time, maybe this fall, when they find a spot for me. I won’t be able to get my old job back...but my boss feels I have lots to offer in other areas in dealing with people, that he wants to use me in. Maybe I’ll also get more voice work. But this time, I’m WAITING ON GOD...not jumping ahead of him. If He wants me to take it easy, and just do KLOVE, I’ll do that. I’m trying not to worry about finances, Jimmy is handling all that now. And being the control person I am, it’s been a challenge. BUT, I’m doing it, yea! I don’t have to be in charge of everything, right? Ha, ha!!

Today, as I sat looking at others receiving their chemo, I thought again, how blessed I am. So many have it so much worse than me. Why does God heal some, not others? To quote Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, God is God....”God is God, and I am man(woman!), so I’ll never understand it all, for only God is God.” I heard this the other day, and it hit me differently...If I had all the answers, I’d be God, too. Not going to happen!! So it’s ok not to know, not to understand. He sees the big picture, we just see a tiny snapshot. I’m just thankful He’s hearing our prayers, and healing me, giving me a miracle story, to encourage others someday, to help you believe in Him more and more. My thought to share with you tonight...take care of your body, as I mentioned earlier. I am learning so much that food is fuel. I’ve known that, preached that, believed that, but couldn’t “get it.” I ate for emotional reasons. We only get one body. If you have bad knees because you’re overweight, you can’t run & play with your kids, grandkids. You can’t go hiking up a hill on a fun vacation. If you go to your ob/gyn and are overweight, they can’t feel all your body parts, to know if there is anything wrong inside you. If you’re overweight, you can get diabetes, and it will alter your life forever, it could cause you to maybe have amputations, it could cause you to lose your eyesight...imagine, never seeing your loved ones, never seeing a rainbow or a colorful sunset. I know it’s not easy, and even though I’ve lost about 30-35 pounds I’ve got a LONG way to go. But without healthy bodies, we miss out on so much in life. I know that while I still have a great life, I was limited on what I could do, compared to 10 yrs ago. Take care of your body...think not just of now, when “it’s not that bad,” to 20-30 or more years down the road. Look at other older people around you..you have a choice, to be healthy in your old age, or living a “less than life.” It all begins with something as simple as a daily 10 minute walk, then grow from there. We are emotional, we are spiritual, we are mental...you probably take care of those parts of you..but remember, we are physical, too. Take a few minutes each day, to nuture that side of you. Know that I’ll be right there with you. And if you are already doing that, good for you! Encourage someone else to join you...lead them down the path to good health with you! But start them off slowly, let them learn to love it like you do!

Thanks again for your prayers, til IT’S GONE!! Know that YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Monday, July 25, 2005 8:25 PM CDT

Hi, hope you had a great Monday! We often grumble about Monday, back to work, etc...but I look forward to EVERY DAY!! Every day is another day closer to being completely healed(thanks, Darlene Evans!), everyday is another day to let someone know I love them, everyday is another day to breathe, dance, soak up every moment of life God gives me, to see the sun(I know, it’s HOT!), flowers, smiles, children playing. So many things around us, we’re too busy multi-tasking, and miss out on some cool things! I know, I’ve been on both sides of the fence now, super busy, now with about all the time in the world...I see so much more in life.

Praise to God, for another great bloodwork today...NORMAL white & red cells, NORMAL iron level. My doctor will be happy, I know. I had blood drawn today for next CA-125(I’m ready for 10 or less!), should have Wed or Thurs. I will let you know IMMEDIATELY what God is doing in my body!!!

Pray for a dear friend from high school, Deana, part of my group of friends from childhood. I’ve been blessed with friends that have known me forever, Deana, Renee, Debi, Donna, Pam, Anita, that have loved me, in spite of all my shortcomings..and boy do they have memories and stories to tell, ha, ha!! Boy, haven’t we all changed so much???!!!! Deana is having some heart issues, palpations, etc...they’re aren’t thinking she’s going to have a heart attack, but just please pray the doctors find out what’s causing her heart to beat differently, and find the remedy! All my friends had hoped to come for one big reunion this summer here at our house, but it didn’t work out...life, family, work, etc. But Renee was able to get away for a week, so she said she’ll have fun for everyone else who couldn’t come. She is coming in from Colorado this Thursday, and we’re hoping Donna can drive down from Kentucky for a few days, too. My prayer is the chemo effects me the least ever, so I can have energy to play with my lifelong friends! I love all my newer friends, too...but there’s something about someone who sticks by you, for a lifetime, no matter what. What was that old Girl Scout song, “make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Both precious jewels in my life!

I’d like to share with you a bit from my heart, most of you don’t know this, and I’m learning more about it this week. I’m doing a Beth Moore study, Believing God, with a few friends, at my home on Thursday mornings. It’s about increasing your faith, and really believing God. I have always believed that God can do ANYTHING, but would He do it for me? I mean, He made me tough, strong...I can take it, or maybe I need more character building, etc. Not that He doesn’t love me, but I guess, do I deserve a miracle? For 17 yrs, I was away from God. I believed in Jesus, as a good example of how to live your life. The Bible was a collection of stories, on how to live your life. Good people go to heaven, bad people go to hell. All religions have the same God, only a different name for Him, because we all speak different languages, therefore a different name for God. God said in April of ’91, “we need to talk.” That began a journey that has me where I am today. My walking away from God, began at age 17, when my grandaddy(mom’s dad—I actually lost both grandfathers about 6 weeks apart)passed away with heart problems. Up til then, growing up in the 70’s, I was into Jesus. Saw Jesus Christ Superstar about 15 times. Had posters on my wall. Talked with Jehovah’s Witnesses about the real God, etc, etc, etc. Totally sold out to Jesus. HOWEVER, in April of ‘74(ok, for those who don’t know my age, now you do!!!), grandaddy had another heart attack...everyone said, “he’s not going to make it this time.” I was so adamant, so positive...I said, NO, GOD WON’T take Grandaddy! He might only live 31 days, but he WILL LIVE 30 days to see his oldest grandchild graduate highschool. Guess what, everyone else was right, I was wrong. So, the one time in my life, I BELIEVE so much in God, against everyone else’s thoughts(though they were hoping he’d live, but they were all grown up and much smarter than me—they knew how bad off he was)...God let me down. That time in my life, shaped my image of God, that He does miracles, but not for me, no matter how much I believe in Him. This bible study has opened my eyes to see that my image of God, all these years, is not the God of the bible. The bible is where you learn who God really is...much, much, much bigger than I ever imagined. I see it, know it everyday now.

I didn’t really mean to ramble on, and share so much. I just wanted you to know, that I realize now, that God does miracles not only for you, and everybody else, but for me, too. He loves me that much. He loves you that much. He gave His only child to die on the cross, because He loves me, you so much. Even if someone doesn’t love Him, He loves them. For those 17 yrs I was not acknowledging Him at all, He always acknowledged and loved me. Thank goodness He forgives and loves unconditionally.

Prayers? For Dr. Moller, as she guides me through this process. For the chemo to again go straight to the cancer, and bypass my good cells. That my next CA-125 is even LOWER, to again, make the doctors go WOW, and anyone else that might say the same thing. And this is a selfish prayer...that I will have energy to spend quality time with my girlfriends on their visit this week and next. And always, prayers for Jimmy, Jessie, and everyone else that is involved in taking care of me, doing for me right now, whether long distance or here.

YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila Richards Harper
AND
Kelli Richards
(1 & the same!!!!)

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Saturday, July 23, 2005 6:47 AM CDT

Good weekend to you! Can you believe, July is almost over, and school starts back WAAAAYYYY too soon? I love you, and hope you find time for people and life this weekend, and don’t go non stop all weekend...oh, like you never do that, right? Ha, ha!! Takes one to know one!!!

Let me do my important prayer requests. And thank you for praying for my additional prayer requests, too. I think, well, if you’re already praying for me, maybe you’d take a moment to pray for someone in my life, that you may or may not know.

1) My former morning show partner, Gary McCoy, had a heart attack this week, but is now home from the hospital. I don’t know any details yet, but I will find out. We’ve known each other since ’86, and were partners on the air for many years...and have gone through much together...happy, funny & sad. He’s been there for me with my cancer, asking listeners to pray....now I want to be there for him. We won a CMA together(that’s like an Oscar for country radio people), in ’95, we celebrated that incredible blessing together...and he once threw me out of his Ranger boat, didn’t realize I’d fall out(he was only going 10 million miles an hour, then cut to the right quickly)...and thought Jesus had come back, and he was left behind! We laughed so hard when I got back in the boat! A memory neither of us will forget.

2) This comes from a dear friend, Angela...” My cousin, Alyssa Peterpaul, was just diagnosed with brain cancer. The tumor is so large, covering nearly 50% of her brain, that they cannot operate. At this point the plan is chemo and radiation. She lives in Johnson City, TN.”

3) In my mom’s Sunday school class, Mary Frances, about 75, has just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I know how tough chemo is, what it is capable of doing. Pray that God will give her body strength to take the effects of chemo, pray like we pray for me, that the chemo goes straight to the cancer. It’s working for me, I pray it works for her!

4) Finally, another dear friend that I must keep anonymous. (he’s so saying thank you right now) This guy is incredibly gifted by God to be a communicator, a speaker, a teacher. Pray that he will start using his gifts the way God wants him to. That he will surrender, and say, Yes, God, whatever you want. I pray this, and told him today, that when I found out I had cancer, I thought of ALL the things God has whispered in my ear to do..to write, to visit someone, to do whatever...that I was too busy to do. I knew I’d have to face God someday, and explain to Him why I wasn’t using the gifts He gave me, to their fullest, or anywhere near. I told my friend today, that I love him, and don’t want him to have to answer to God someday, either. To learn from what I’m going through.

Maybe you have gifts you’re not using, that you know in your heart, God wants you to use. If you do, I encourage you to think of that moment when you’re at heaven’s gates(ok, not literally, but you know what I mean)....imagine telling God why you didn’t do this, you didn’t do that with the talents He gave you at birth. Ouch. It’s motivating me, for sure.

Prayers for me, oh, yeah, almost forgot. Next chemo is this Tuesday. I also see the doctor. Pray that she will do a body scan, before the 4th chemo, to determine if I need it or not. I really believe God is doing things that she can’t explain, and I want her to give God a chance to show her what He’s done. Her name is Karen Moller. Pray for me to have patience, too. I trust her so much, and believe in her abilities.

Thanks for your love, thanks for your prayers. You are SO LOVED by me!!! Have a great weekend!

Love,

Sheila


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


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The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Friday, July 22, 2005 6:33 AM CDT

Hello, everyone!

Wow, what a busy week! That’s why you’ve not heard much from me. As next week is a chemo week, I’ll slow down then. 100 mph or 5 mph...no in between, hm? Gotta cut that out! It’s just when you feel good, you want to do things, especially now in my life! I didn’t feel well, I didn’t have energy, I hurt for so many weeks, that now that I’m feeling better, look out world. ‘Course, I’m still limited by my stomach not yet healed, but that is just a matter of time!

Tonight, since I feel so good, I want to focus on some prayer needs for others. Know that I pray for you, it’s a small way that I can say thank you for praying for me. Because of your prayers, God is doing a miracle in my body, in my life, for which I am ever so grateful. Please pray for: teen drivers to know they’re not immortal(trust me, I had my share of wrecks/fender benders when I was high school/college)...my 16 yr old cousin Whitney, was in a car wreck, rolled the car over, when she ran off the road, and overcorrected. The biggest killer of teens come from car wrecks. I know many of you have teens driving, or about to be, including my almost 16 yr old niece, Kelsey. Pray for Shirley Pritchett, the wife of Dan Pritchett, who works in the tennis dept at the YMCA, just diagnosed with breast cancer. And pray that when God puts someone in my life, and talks about God, my cancer, etc...that He’ll give me the right words, to let them see Him in me, to see Him doing so much good, in spite of my yucky cancer.

Thanks, too, to those who feel a desire to give to help our financial situation. Every dollar is appreciated, every dollar is used carefully. God is truly blessing us, and teaching me to trust Him when it comes to finances. It’s very scary, losing $1600 a month from the YMCA, and having all these bills coming in. God is letting me see Him at work, at His best. He is control, not me. He can beat cancer, I can’t. I’m sure you’ve seen the Polar Express movie, it’s all about BELIEVING!! Believe God...He is so much bigger than we think He is!!!!

I continue to thank you for posting messages...they mean so much to me, each one makes me smile. “Oh, __________ thought of me today!!” I know, I’m so silly!! Your card, I have a huge basket, love reading them, and your personal notes inside. Over and over and over again, thank you for your love, for your prayers. God hears each and everyone, I know. Pray til it’s gone!! YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 5:23 AM CDT

Wondering where I am? Time flies, and then it’s 10:30 at night, I say, “I’ll do tomorrow,” then life gets busy again. Which is a good thing. It means I’m feeling better!! YEA to you for your prayers, YEA to God for His miracles, for His love, for His hearing our prayers!

Went to the YMCA today, to see my friends there, I miss working there so much! Dr. Moller said I could do some light exercising, 5-10 lbs weights on my arms....woo-hoo!(I had built to so much more!!) See, you use your abs for just about every single exercise...they are core muscles, keep you straight. My stomach is so close to being healed, but not quite yet. It’s like losing that last 10 pounds...it healed fast at first, now it seems like it’s taking forever. ‘Course, in the beginning, I was so drugged up, I can’t remember! I still laugh at stories at the hospital from my family...my favorite---from my mom & sis...I guess someone from Shreveport, where I was Kelli Richards, at KRMD radio, had called or something. I said, “Oh, Shreveport, I lost my best friend there, I really miss her so much.” And I went on & on about missing my best friend. They asked me, who was your best friend there? “Kelli.” I was talking about missing, Kelli, and my life in country radio. Ouch. Another time, I was moving my arm, pointing at the wall(in ICU)..they asked, what are you doing? “I’m playing a game with Darrell.”(my brother) So, if you came & visited, and I acted weird, now you know it wasn’t you!!

Dr’s update...she left message today. I was wanting to know the effects of this 2nd chemo, but she doesn’t want to do til next week, to see full effect of chemo. So, more patience is needed. My red & white cells are still strong, she is glad to see that. Plus, my hair has quit coming out....even when I pull it, nothing. This is a huge wow! Before, I’d shampoo my hair, end up with tons of hair in my hands. Now, nothing. Why is all this? Because we are all praying for the chemo to go straight to the cancer, and leave my good cells alone! I have a SUPER INCREDIBLE LOW CA-125 number, yet still have my hair and healthy red & white cell count. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS!

I have another prayer request...I mentioned a few days ago, about a KLOVE listener I met thru my message board...her name is Kat, has been fighting leukemia & liver cancer for 2 yrs, 17 yrs old. Night before last, her 22 yr old brother, along with 15 yr old brother, and 3 other friends, left a party...at 3am, single car crash into a tree, burned car. 22 yr old and 3 others killed. 15 yr old is in intensive care. Imagine what the family is feeling right now. She’s asking for big prayers. Please pray for this family, they live in Virginia. His name is Edward Guion. She says, “i can barely hold back the tears here.”

People often ask, how can I stay so positive, while having cancer? Because so many others have it worse. I’m so blessed to have you in my life, to have so many love me, pray for me. It is again, very humbling, and honoring. I used to worry about enough money, catching the latest sale, etc, etc, etc. None of that matters now...living life, being with, talking with, keeping in touch with family & friends..that’s what matters most. Thank you, through this message board, cards, calls, visits, for letting me know that I matter to you.

God continues to answer our prayer for a miracle. Don’t give up believing. He is bigger than cancer, He is bigger than losing a job, He is bigger than anything, any obstacle, struggle, challenge in our life. I am learning that and living that, each and every day. Keep praying til it’s gone!! And know that YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

The girl with two, yes count them, TWO names!! Ha, ha!


You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Sunday, July 17, 2005 3:27 AM CDT

Weekend, time to do yardwork, housework, veg out time, head to lake, beach, wherever. If you’re headed toward the water, jump in for me! My stomach isn’t completely healed yet, so I can’t jump in water yet, only short showers allowed—otherwise my tape would come off! We’re saying goodbye to friends, who are moving back to Florida, Linda & Billy Howard, plus lots of other odds & ends.

My energy keeps coming back, more and more, as the chemo is leaving my body, giving my cells a chance to recover and get ready for my 3rd chemo, maybe my final. I’m going to actively pursue(even if I have to page) Dr. Moller, early next week, to find out if my super low, MIRACLE, CA-125 numbers mean a different strategy, than she originally thought, of maybe up to 6 chemos. I will keep you posted!

Having cancer is no fun, trust me. But I have been learning over the past few weeks, to see the good God is bringing from this. Wow, I’ve talked to, spent time with more friends in the past couple of months, than in the past year(cause I was so busy!!!)...including friends I’ve not talked to in forever...and getting to see friends that I normally wouldn’t, like Renee, my friend since age 4, who’s coming in next week. I’d hope to have all my best friends from high school come in, but life sometimes prevents us from doing what we want...money, time, etc has limitations. GREAT THINGS HAVE BEEN COMING OUT OF THIS... I hope you see/feel it as I do. My sister called me after crying while reading a prayer, about having bad things in our lives....here it is: (oh, and yes it made me cry, too)

“God, I have never thanked thee(you) for my thorn. I have thanked thee(you)a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorn. Teach me the glory of my cross, teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to thee by the path of my pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows.

George Matheson, Scotland (in a previous century)

Right now, my cancer is my thorn. You are part of my rainbow. Everytime God uses me, to share His amazing power & love with someone, is part of my rainbow. I have many times now, thanked God for this cancer, because of the rainbow. Because I’m trusting Him more, depending on Him more. I NEVER thought I would ever thank God for cancer....but I have, again, many times. What is your thorn? Is it possible God has turned your tears in rainbows, but you don’t see it? I hope you do see, that God makes all things good.

I ask for prayers for a young woman I met through the www.klove.com message board, where listeners leave me notes of encouragement...like this one, but they’ve never met me, except on the radio. Her name is Kat, from Norfolk, VA. How can I stay positive through this? She’s 17, about to be a senior. Has been fighting cancer for 20 mos....leukemia and liver cancer. Liver cancer from 2nd hand smoke from her parents, who have smoked their whole lives, but she is excited to share, they’ve now quit. High school senior, her whole life ahead of her...what do I have to complain about? Please pray for my new friend, Kat. Here’s the original note she sent me: “Hi Ms. Sheila. My name is Katherine-Rose. Or Kat for short. I've been a cancer patient for over 20 months now. I am alot younger than you probably are, and I can tell you that it's not really all that fun. I am only 17 years old and been fighting this for a long time. But I wanted to tell you to keep up your faith. Believe in Christ Jesus and He will keep a smile on your face. I'm on my third round of Chemo Therapy right now, mixed with my second round of Radiation Therapy.”

I hope you remember her in your prayers. Thanks again, for your prayers for me...someday, I hope to find the right words to say, to let you know how much you are loved by me, and how much I, and Jimmy both, appreciate your prayers, gifts, love, cards, everything for us during this time. NOW GO HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Love,

Sheila

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Friday, July 15, 2005 4:16 AM CDT

Hello!

I’m still saying WOW about God, how my CA-125 number is down to 39.6. Doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet, but it certainly means we can see the HUGE LIGHT and PARADISE on the other side!! (that translates to long, healthy life for me!!!) It’s because of YOU and your PRAYERS to God....you are a part of this wonderful miracle! Don’t quit praying, because things are looking so good....please join me in prayer til the cancer is all gone!! Also, my bloodwork this week, found both my red & white cells in the normal range! Yea, the prayers to direct the chemo directly to my pelvic area, where the blob of cancer is, and to bypass my good cells, have been answered! Keep up those specific prayers, I appreciate them SO MUCH!!!! I get such comfort in knowing that I am NOT ALONE in this...you, me, and God. Wow.

It seems so weird, but again, I say. I hate having cancer, but I’ve seen so many incredible good things come out of this, I’ve said to God, “I hate this, but so many blessings keep happening, you’ve made me tough...I can hang for a while longer.” I felt that so strongly yesterday, as I was speaking to a set of twins I know....in case they might be embarrassed(they’re young!)....I’m not giving their names. They hadn’t seen me since all this started, and I was sharing the God story, about my numbers coming down from 1100 to 39.6. They were teary eyed. They knew God was a part of what’s happening in my life. We stood and shared for about 15-20 minutes. They had so many questions, they shared they hadn’t been going to church for a long time...and that they’d never known anyone to get better while having cancer. We hugged, we shared goose bumps and tears. They talked about listening to Christian music, then fighting later...I told them one bit of advice, I got years ago, when I was a baby Christian...”the closer you get to God, the more Satan wants to beat up on you.” God used me in their lives yesterday, I have no doubt. They told me I had them thinking about church, about God. I wanted to stay & talk with them forever, to share more, to hear more of their hearts, but they were working. My prayer, and I ask you to pray for them, too...is that they return to church(not that you HAVE to go to church to know God)...get involved with others who believe like them, and let God start using them, to influence others in their lives. I love you, girls...and I’m praying hard for you!! Our time together is forever in my heart...and I thank God that we “accidentally” bumped into each other.

My hair? Well, haven’t shaved yet. I was on the verge of it last week, then it quit coming out. Or rather, it might be 1-2 hairs, instead of 30. I had thick hair, plenty to thin out, so I’m going to hold on a bit longer, and see what happens. We prayed for God to direct the chemo to the cancer, not to my cells...and the cells are what keep the hair in place. I am so blown away(but WHY????) by what God is doing in my life. He continues to draw me closer to Him, to learn to trust & believe in Him more. Right now, a couple of girlfriends & I are doing a Beth Moore bible study, “Believing God.” It’s all about REALLY believing God. Not saying, God, make a miracle happen...and then hope for an 800 on your bloodwork. 39 is a miracle...800 isn’t. He’s talking to me, big time, through all this. I’m learning to redefine God in my mind...I’ve had Him way too limited!

Thank you again for your prayers and your love. For stopping by my website when you can, to keep up with my life, to post a message. YOUR MESSAGES make me smile, whether one little line, or a synopsis of your day. I read each and every one, daily. So please don’t stop posting...this website has been one HUGE source of encouragement to me, it’s been so good for my soul. Believe me, there have been moments, when you think I’m so strong, that I’ve been in tears, saying, God, I can’t handle this. But because of your constant prayers, I’ve been able to be strong, and take so much more than I could ever imagine. YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Love,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 10:07 PM CDT

Hello, read below!! God is AWESOME!


Sheila


39.6 Did I say 39.6?



Yes, I, Sheila, did say 39.6. What does that mean? It means God is hearing our prayers!! Ok, here’s the scoop...I like to build a story, but I’ll be quick. CA-125 is the marker for ovarian cancer. If your numbers are ABOVE 35, you might have it. Well, mine in the beginning was 1,800, and I definitely had it. After surgery, when doctor was able to take a small bit of the cancer out, it dropped down to 1,086. My bloodwork was drawn at the time of my 2nd chemo, a week ago, just got the results this morning...my doctor left this message(I had just taken Jessie to camp)...”This is Dr. Moller, I’m calling to give you the exciting news, your CA-125 is down to 39.6.” WOW. Silly me, I deleted the message, because I began to sob uncontrollably. I was hoping for maybe an 800(God said, WHAT, you want to limit me?)...to know it was down so low, I was just in awe of our God. And this number is before my 2nd chemo!! Who knows what it is now?

Because I didn’t get to talk to my doctor, I don’t know what happens next. I did talk to her assistant, who said, that this is exciting, but she wants to have it lower with my next CA-125 test, which will be 7/25...the day before my third chemo. I’m going to ask to have it a few days earlier, to get the results back, so maybe I don’t have to have a 3rd dose of chemo. I don’t know what God’s final plan is, but I know I was thanking Him all day long, for this miracle today.

One of my prayers, too..has been to make my doctors go “wow.” Today, in the hallway at Newnan Hospital(which I normally stay in the lab to talk, you know me...but I decided to let them work, and sat outside in hall with a magazine)....in God’s perfect timing, as I’d already been to hospital once in the morning, had to go back later, cause they didn’t have my paperwork yet....Dr. Kajani, who was the original doctor I went to see, was walking down the hall toward me, actually toward doctor’s lounge, which was right across from me. Again, I NEVER sit in the hallway!!! I was so excited to see him, I asked him, was it him or the other consulting Dr. Parks, who thought to test me for ovarian, it was him. The other doctor thought it was stomach, from my CT scan. I thanked him, a gastro doctor, for having the foresight to think of ovarian cancer because of my abdominal symptoms. He’s not a gyno, he’s a gastro specialist. I told him about my numbers, how they’d dropped from 1100 to 39.6, he said, “WOW, WOW, God is good.” My prayer. To have my doctors say Wow, over what God was doing in my life. Wow.

I may not write tomorrow, as I want to have as many people as possible to read about this exciting news. Know that I’m feeling stronger everyday. Especially today!!! I love you, and cannot find the right words, to say thank you. God is hearing our prayers. He knows our hearts, He knows how much I love you, and how much you love me. Please keep praying, I know it makes God smile, when we take time to talk with Him. Thank you for taking time out of your busy, busy life, to remember to pray for me. I love you so much.

Sheila

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Monday, July 11, 2005 9:42 PM CDT

Hello, everyone!

Couple of funky days, that’s why I’ve not written. Just kinda blah, riding out the effects of the chemo. See, you get hit hard, like in a football game(tackle the quarterback!)....then you slowly recover, build up your energy, then get knocked down again. Every 3 weeks, I’ll be knocked down. But your prayers are keeping me strong, chemo can have an even stronger effect on people. I’ve been blessed, because of your love, your prayers. Please don’t stop praying, til the cancer is gone.

My dad has been down since last Thursday. He painted our laundry room, I helped some today...we always have done “projects” together, ever since I left Louisville in ’86...can you believe it’s been that long??? I have an old dear friend, Chuck Finney, coming by Wed. evening, from Dallas..we’ve been friends since early 80’s...he’s corporate program director of all the FISH stations across the nations...if you listen, and like them, he’s a big influence for them. We used to do country radio together, it’s neat how God has brought our lives back together again, when he came to Christian radio, a few years after me. I AM UP FOR VISITS, so don’t be afraid to call & ask. I try to not have too much at once, but I love you so much, please don’t hesitate to ask! If I don’t feel well, I’m learning to say no.

No bloodwork results, to see how well the chemo is working, or if God has done His miracle yet. The nurse called today, but only left a message to call the office. Argh! Just leave me the CA-125 number, please! Patience is such a virtue!

A couple of prayer requests: for my stomach(from original surgery)to continue to heal...it’s been 6 weeks, seems like so much longer. I still have about another inch of depth, 2 inches width, 21 inches length to heal. It was 29 inches!! PRAY, for my friend Mozelle, who is a veteran, has to have major back/neck surgery, to relieve neuropathy, effecting her hands and legs. Pray that the VA will find a place for her, soon, versus waiting 6 mos-1 year. She is in much pain, is 68 yrs old..and $100,000 for the operation outside VA isn’t something she can do. She served our country for about 11 yrs before her neck problems, and I thank you for prayers for her. And PRAY for Jessie...she’s always been quite timid and afraid of many things, but it seems to be really bad now, with all the storms, etc...pray that she will know she is safe with us, safe with Jesus, pray to calm her little soul.

I hope that you are still looking at each day as a blessing from God. This past Sunday at church, one of our pastors talked about being thankful, that’s why we give money to support our church, to show our gratitude toward God. What came to my mind during prayer? I’m just grateful to have life. Most of you know I’m a packrat, have always been. But now I see stuff as just stuff....and that each day I’m alive, able to call & talk with you, able to kiss my husband & Jessie goodnight, able to hug someone who needs one, each day is a gift. It is for you, too. Thanks for your love, for your prayers.

KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED!!

Much love,

Sheila

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@

The Sheila Harper Fund (New info in parentheses)

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Friday, July 8, 2005 5:45 PM CDT

Well folks, the webguy that puts this on for Sheila was a little under the weather last night, so I failed to post the latest for yesterday. So, below is yesterday's post followed by today's weekend update.

My apologies to you, and especially to dear sweet Sheila.

Thursday, 9:30 pm

Hello, everyone!

Well, today was one of those days. Thought I had energy, went to bank, Walmart, post office, and YMCA. No energy left. 2 days after chemo, makes you weak. I did have strength to do my radio show on KLOVE for tonight, that was an answered prayer. Next door neighbors were going to treat us out to dinner, but I had no energy, except to sit around and be like a sloth. I’m kinda achy all over, too. BUT I’M ALIVE!! This is just the poison in my body, doing its thing. Continue, please, to pray that it goes to the cancer blob, and work there, not in the rest of my body. I’m normally very strong and full of energy, but not today, not this evening.

The weekend is almost here. If I don’t write til the end of the weekend, just know that it’s because I’m weak, that’s all. I appreciate you checking in here so often, but I don’t want to bore you with the waiting game of cancer. You are each such an inspiration to me, and each message makes me smile, sometimes makes me cry. Please continue to write when you can...it really touches my heart. I wish I could respond to each of you individually, maybe someday I can.

Just pray for strength for me, the next few days. Also, at my website, you’ll see a posting from Ruth & Buddy Stanley, part of my church family back in Louisiana. Their nephew, 23 yr old Keith, has been battling cancer for a year...pray for him, please. Thanks for your prayers for me, for others that I sometimes ask you to pray for, too. Also, pray for our finances....I’m trying not to worry about all the future bills, but when I found out one chemo treatment is $15,500, I about fell out. Pray that the doctors/hospital will work with us, they often forgive debt, when your insurance has paid 80-90%, as ours does.

Thank you for your love, more than anything. God WILL let me live, God WILL make a miracle happen, God WILL see more through this. Believe it, as I do. Pray til the cancer’s gone!! YOU ARE LOVED!!

Love,

Sheila
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Friday 4:30pm

It’s the weekend, hope you have a great one! My daddy’s in town, so we’ll be spending time with him. Jimmy is going to hunting property, getting ready for the fall. Jessie got home this evening. I’ve been a bit weak, a bit achy, but no throwing up(sorry to be so graphic!)....that’s a great thing! Thank God for answered prayers! We’ll be making the best of our weekend, as you are with your family & friends.

Know that if there is not a posting for a couple of days, it’s not that I’m terribly sick. It’s that I’m a procrastinator, and send my journal notes late, to the sweet, kind, man who updates it for me. It’s not my hubby, but someone from Heritage who prefers to be in the background, so I’ll try to leave him there! If something were wrong, it’d be posted, you’d be called. I am ok. Hate that I have cancer, but glad to be feeling so good with it. I don’t feel my normal self, but great compared to many.

Promised to keep this short....hair loss has slowed down, or maybe it’s that there’s not as much to come out! I will probably go ahead and shave next week, don’t worry, I’ll take photos! I’m such a camera girl!! Just keep praying that the chemo that is in my body now, for about 10 days total, will do its thing against the cancer, not against my good cells. Thank God, too, that He is giving me energy each night to do my show on KLOVE. My Believing God bible study, teaches me that the same power that rose Jesus from the tomb, into heaven, is available to those of us who choose to believe today. I believe in that power!

Know that you are dearly loved!! Have an awesome, enjoy & savor the moments weekend!

Love,

Sheila

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!

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The Sheila Harper Fund (New info in parentheses)

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Thursday, July 7, 2005 7:24 AM CDT

Hello, dear special ones! First, I want to say thanks to my long time employer, KRMD, in Shreveport, LA for putting a note about me on their website, and for mentioning my challenge with ovarian cancer on the morning show. I’ve heard from a few old friends, and it means the world to me. As far as the Sheila, since they know me as Kelli Richards, that was my name in country radio, Sheila is my real name, that I went back to when I left for Christian radio. Bob Moody, KRMD PD in ’86 when I first moved to Shreveport, picked that name....well, we chose it together, after going thru many “K” names, to go with KC Daniels, my partner before Gary McCoy. So, welcome to my KRMD friends, I’m so glad you’re able to keep up with me now, and thank you for your prayers and love, too!! I feel a little like being back home in S-port/Bossier!

Day 1, after 2nd chemo(if you’re just joining the message board, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 6-7 weeks ago)...good day, because of all your prayers! God hears us, the many of us that are praying for me. I’m still overwhelmed by so much love from each of you. Thank you, a million times over. Continue to pray for the chemo to work on the bad cells, leave the good ones alone. Pray for me to have no side effects. I really want to wow the doctors, for them to ask questions, “who is the God you talk about?”

Today was just a busy day, of having so much to get done, yet getting nothing done. Technical issues with my KLOVE recording, that took up some phone time, etc. Had wonderful chicken & dumplings delivered by a dear friend. Comfort food does wonders for cancer!!

Oh, a prayer request, please...a good friend has job interview Friday, a much needed job situation. Pray he gets it, his name is Scott. Anytime you have a prayer request, please let me know. I have many wonderful people praying for me, I know they’d love to pray for you, too. Daily, moment by moment, I am realizing more and more the power of prayer! Elders from our church came over tonight, to pray over me, lay hands on me, it gave me such strength.

Thanks for your continued prayers. I know I look normal, I sound normal, I have energy, etc...but your prayers are much needed. There is a big, big, yucky blob of cancer in my body, (pelvis)....that needs to be gone. Your prayers will make that happen. Pray & believe that God will do a miracle, that I may be His BIG MOUTH here on earth, about His wonderful ways, and love for each of us! YOU ARE LOVED!!

Believing and waiting on His miracle,

Sheila/Kelli

You might be the only example of Jesus someone sees today...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!


/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The Sheila Harper Fund (New info in parentheses)

A fund has been started to help with the expenses that will be incurred over and above insurance. If you would like to help (please do), here’s how you can show your love for Sheila. Go to any Bank of America and tell the teller you would like to make a deposit to “The Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. (You may have to ask for "William H. Vancil, Trustee") They will look up the account number, make the deposit, and give you a receipt.

If you are not near a Bank of America, then here’s an alternate way to give. Make out a check to "Sheila Harper Medical Fund" and send it to the person below who will deposit it for you. Be sure to endorse the back “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY – Sheila Harper Medical Fund”. Send the check or money order to:

Bill and Carol Vancil
660 Adams Road
Fayetteville, GA 30214