By now you may have heard that
I was diagnosed with acute myeloid
leukaemia on Monday 7th April 2008.
I believing that my recovery will
come gradually in 3 stages. I am
now into stage 3.
Stage 1 April 2008 - August 2008
: Hospitalisation: involved treatment
of 14 intensive chemotherapy injections
divided into 4 courses plus transfusions
and courses of the anti-cancer drug
ATRA.
Stage 2 August 2008-December
2008:
Remission, convalescence and treatment
as a hospital out-patient with regular
monitoring through blood tests.
This does involve a massive amount
of pills. I have to take 126 ATRA
pills over a 14 day period repeated
every 3 months. When not on ATRA
I will be taking daily chemotherapy
pills 2 one day, 3 the next and
an extra 8 each Wednesday. I will
have to take 1 Allopurinol pill
each day for the rest of my life
to stop the gout. The side effects
so far are fatigue, tiredness, nausea,
soft nails, dry lips and itchy dry
skin. During this period I am managing
to do a small amount of preaching,
teaching and music ministry but
keeping fairly local.
Stage 3 January 1st 2009 – September
2010:
I am now continuing to be in remission
and getting back to normal. I have
started doing some distance travel
and have recommenced my music/teaching
seminars. I am also really enjoying
getting back and doing some Praise
Parties / Family Services and concerts.
Each month I return to the hosptal
for a blood test and monitoring
and every 3 months have a bone marrow
biopsy. Daily I take 300mg of Allopurinol,
and my chemotherapy tablets consist
of 50mg of Mercaptopurine daily
and every Tuesday a further dose
of 30mg of Methotrexate. Every 3
months I stop the chemotherapy tablets
to take 90mg of Tretinoin (ATRA)
tablets daily for 2 weeks. The main
side effects at present are slight
nausea, slight fatigue and slightly
dodgy taste buds but these are nothing
compared to the side effects of
the past !
Mid 2010:
Hopefully (God willing) given the
all clear, stop the chemotherapy
and ATRA tablets and hear the word
cured!
I praise God for the speed of my
recovery so far and give thanks
for the consultants, nursing staff,
medical science, prayer from Christians
all over the world and of course
for my wife Irene, our children,
family, cathedral clergy and congregation
and our close friends.
You will probably never realise
just how much your love and support
has meant to us as a family. We
have been overwhelmed by your wonderful
messages, prayers and practical
giving. You have carried us through
the darkest time of our lives.
Please be assured, your prayers
are being answered although I realise
that I still have a long way to
travel on my cancer journey. I am
convinced that a miracle is happening
and I am so pleased to still be
alive and I am assured that God
still has more for me to do yet!
Part of the treatment is maintaining
a positive attitude so if you would
like to continue sending messages
please use the following email address:
If you would like
to continue supporting us in prayer,
please add your name to the mailing
list and I will keep you informed
of the latest news.
Until 2010, I will be available
to visit your Church and I will
not be charging a set fee for any
ministry that I do. It will just
be a joy to be well enough to visit
Churches again and hopefully be
a small blessing to others. If you
feel that you as an individual or
your Church would like to offer
further practical support then please
either contact me direct or see
the Jeff Lucas section further down
the homepage.
On the 7th April Ish was admitted into hospital
and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
He was hospitalised for several weeks while
undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment.
Ish had been feeling tired and unwell since
January and we just assumed he had been overdoing
things as usual. The week before he went into
hospital he began to have headaches and came
out in bruises all over his body, including
in his mouth. That was when we began to get
alarmed. He was admitted into hospital on Mon
7 April for tests and we were shocked to discover
that he had cancer as there had been very little
advance warning.
We were advised by Ish’s consultant, who is
a Christian, that thankfully this is a type
of cancer that can be treated and the treatment
has a good success rate. This was we believe
an answer to prayer.
Since then our children and I have kept a journal
by maintaining Ish’s web site and posting updates
daily while he was in hospital. As a family
we have been able to gain strength and encouragement
from all your messages which have been printed
off and filed for Ish to keep as a positive
incentive to get well. Words cannot describe
how grateful we are to you for your prayers
through what has been the most difficult time
of our lives. God has touched us so very deeply
through you.
Our love and thanks,
Irene, Joss, Dan, Suzy and Adam.
Ishmael's Revival Band (minus Ish) performed
a gig at Spring Harvest this year to honour
Ish who had just been admitted into hospital
suffering from leukaemia.
If you enjoy the set, do buy the CD and
also consider booking the band (with Ish)
to come and do a concert in 2009. Click
HERE
for further 'Ish's Revival Band' details.
We think that 'A Year According
To Ish' will be a great short
daily study book for any teenager
/ adult and also that God will
speak to them as they read it.
Each of the 365 pages carries
a Scripture verse, a short compelling
'Ish' story, a brief statement
of the point being made and a
one sentence prayer.
The great news is, you don't have
to start this book on January
1st, you can start any time of
year!
Click HERE
for a sample page and order it
online today
Peter said, Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother ? (Matt 18 v 21)
When my children were little, sometimes they would do something wrong and I would tell them off and warn them not to do it again. I felt very sad if after a short while they did the same thing again and if they ever did it a third time I would be very upset and sometimes even a little angry.
I am so glad that Jesus is not like me. I realise that often I do the same sin over and over again, even though I try not to, and the wonderful news is that He will never stop forgiving me. Of course this does not mean that I should not worry about doing wrong, of course I should, but it does mean that Jesus never stops loving me if when I do things that make Him sad.
Thank you Jesus for forgiving the wrong things that I do and say.
Ish's
Leukaemia From Jeff Lucas. How You Can Help Ish.
By now many of you have heard the good news
that Ishmael is in remission but our continuing
prayers are still vital.
I’m writing again to address the specific practical
needs in the light of Ish’s medical condition
and his future ministry.
Although it is thrilling that Ish will be well
enough to do a limited amount of engagements
during 2009 / 2010 whilst he is still receiving
chemotherapy treatment and convalescing, this
will provide nowhere near enough finances for
his living expenses. This presents the need
for continued financial support until September
2010 when Ish should be fully recovered.
I’ve suggested to Irene and Ish that this financial
challenge is a burden that we as friends can
lift off of them. It’s more than enough for
them to fight this battle, without being weighed
down by the additional challenge of finances.
Rather than sending cheques through to Irene
directly, there are three ways that you can
support them at this time:-
1. A fund has been set up, that is being overseen
by Nigel Singleton, Sue Mills and myself. We
therefore want to invite any one who would like
to make a donation to make cheques payable to
I. Smale and send them to:
Mrs Sue Mills
New Barn House
2 Braemar Way
Bognor Regis,
West Sussex
PO21 5DP
2. If you wish to pay money directly
to their Stewardship Services Account, you can
do so. The account number is 70775207.
Ish and Irene are especially concerned that
this appeal is an invitation and not a pressure
to their friends, and so by organising the fund
this way they will immediately receive the help
they need without knowing the details of who
gave what amounts; they will not be burdened
with the need to write thank you notes, and
also this will help those who just prefer to
give anonymously anyway. A list of donations
will be made for accountability purposes and
each gift will be acknowledged.
Ish and Irene have not only enriched the lives
of countless thousands with their tireless faithfulness
in travel, but they have been carriers of great
joy to so many of us who are privileged to call
them friends. Now we have an opportunity either
as individuals or as Churches who have benefited
from Ish’s ministry, to bring some practical
joy to them with our gifts, large or small.
Thanks for your prayerful consideration of this
request.
Ish called his cat Ben Hur. It was originally called Ben, until it had kittens.
To keep up to date with Ishmael why not join his mailing list?
Just enter your email address in the box below and click the join button.
"In the company of those who play it safe, Ishmael is a dreamer who goes for it with all his heart. I love him ! " - Sheila Walsh (Author, speaker, singer, television host in the USA)
Click
HERE
to view Ish's full book and discography.
This page also contains some interesting
little known facts about Ish's recordings!
A resource to help you to both to teach and learn a different Bible song every week of the year. Make it a regular feature in your children’s meetings. Each Sunday we will give you the song, the music, the guitar chords and tell you CD the song is taken from in case you have no musicians and want to use the music track. This will allow leaders 6 days to have it ready to teach (and make up actions) before the following Sunday meeting.
If you use any of Ish's songs, for legal copyright reasons, please inform your worship leader of the titles so they can be included on the CCLI forms.
Taken from the album Training Up The Troops [1989]
A very personal song that I wrote when I was feeling pretty low and useless in the eyes of both God and people. It was amazing, when I first sang this song, it made me stop thinking about me and made me concentrate on the glory of Jesus. As I did so, the depression instantly left me.
This is a song I will always love singing.
If you use any of Ish's songs, for legal copyright reasons, please inform your worship leader of the titles so they can be included on the CCLI forms.
The audio tracks require RealAudio player to listen to them. This can be downloaded for free at www.real.com. If you can't find it then email ishmael@ishmael.org.uk.
People
are telling me that this
song is great to use for
all ages at Communion
gatherings. This being
the case we have provided
both the track and the
music / lyrics so that
everyone can use it. You
will note it is very simple
so your musicians should
have no trouble playing
it.
Although I am known mainly for children's songs, Father God I Wonder has remained popular with adults as well as children. Here are 3 more songs that I wrote many years ago which I am being told are just as powerful today and are really blessing adult worshippers. They are very simple so please give them a try, and see what God does through them.
At the beginning of each day try prayerfully singing this song with me. Its a great way to start each day. If we mean the words as we sing them we may start to notice a change in our day!
Lord give me a heart that's true
Help me keep loving you
Watch over all I do
This is my prayer
Be in my thoughts today
Help me in what I say
But most of all I pray
Make me like you.
(c) Glorie Music / Thankyou Music 1999 (Taken from 'Songs for little children' triple CD)
Click
HERE
to find out more about being
a Christian.
A prayer request from Peter. Dear Ishmael,
I've followed your updates since Easter 2008 and am so pleased you've pulled through - even if there is a bit further to go!
I'd like to ask you to pray for a friend of mine, Emma, who's just been diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia and has a 12 day old son.
Emma and her husband Tony are members of my homegroup, and for over 10 years.
Two days after the birth Emma was diagnosed with neutopenic sepsis and remained in hospital on IV antibiotics, while further tests were done. The result was AML and Emma's now been separated from Nathaniel and moved to a new ward.
Tony is at home caring for Nathaniel and doing his best for Emma as well.
Please pray:
Firstly for an immaculate healing by God. None of the blood tests done during pregnancy or during birth showed any cell abnormalities - they only appeared afterwards. I don't know the significance of that, but Nathaniel is healthy and doing well. I know God can and we cry out to him to heal.
For Tony taking care of a 12 day old baby (mostly) on his own, with help from family at the moment, and trying to spend as much time with Emma without bringing any infections across.
For health for all 3 - Emma has been told she can see Nathaniel if she wants at her own risk and is going to do so as she can't bear to be separated. Please pray he remains strong and healthy.
For the results of the genetic tests Emma has undergone, that they come back as low risk, and for her reaction to the chemo that starts on Thursday.
We as a homegroup are their spiritual home in the church and want to do our best to support and sustain them.
Blessings,
Peter
Click HERE
to see the dates available to
book Ishmael.
14 Nov - Eastbourne Mission Worship Conference. [Leading children in worship workshop]
28 Nov - Christ For The Nations. Bognor Regis. [Conference teaching day]
06 Dec - Ockley [All Age Service]
15 Dec - Chichester Rotary Club. [After dinner speaker]
20 Dec - Chichester Cathedral [Preach at 10.00am Service]
23 Jan - Eastbourne Children's Ministry Conference. [Session inc teaching new songs from the \'Bigger Barn\' CD]
07 Feb - Immanuel Church Chichester PM [Afternoon Family Service]
13 Feb - Herstmonceux [Praise Party]
20 Feb - Cotton End. Bedford [Praise Party]
21 Feb - Pastures Church High Wycombe. [Holiday Club Sunday]
Ninevah. All the people of the city wore sackcloth as a sign of asking forgiveness for their sins and sackcloth is very itchy ! After they were forgiven...I guess they would be able to start from scratch ! Jonah 3 v 6-9
Lord give me a heart that's true
