Hi Everyone,

I continue to be amazed at God's grace and mercy in my life. As I was on the table last week getting ready to have a 3rd bone marrow biopsy, my thoughts were directly taken back to the days in the battlefield last year. It just became so incredibly real again. The Lord has given me life and has given it abundantly. I have been back at work since January 3 and able to work out for the last two months, be involved in a men's Agape group and just live and have a "normal" life. How awesome is that! However, normal life is anything but normal--it is so precious and it is only our dull perception that makes it normal. The Lord has really opened my eyes. He has changed my heart and filled it with His love and compassion. I am so grateful for each and every one of your invaluable prayers and the Lord's willingness to answer them.

I know I am here today because of your faithfulness to pray and His faithfulness to His name.

My test results for the biopsy just came back last night.

I have no lymphoma..PRAISE GOD!!

My next follow-up isn't for 3 months. Going forward, I will continually be tested every 6 months through scans and bone marrow biopsy and, of course, blood draws often.

So, what is His will for me now? Dana and I have been praying as to how to best serve Him given the last 12 months. Many have suggested, and with good reason, that Dana should write a book using her updates and our personal insight and experiences to share with all who might benefit by trusting in and putting all hope in the Lord. There really is no other way. To live.

Additionally, our family is praying to see if the Lord would have us be involved in ministry to help others. We humbly ask for prayer for God's will to be done.

Thank you so much for being there for us as I cannot imagine you not being part of our family. I pray the Lord will continue to bless you and hold you close.


In His strength,

Rick Lange
a "boot" in God's Army

(*the rock featured in the photo was blindly chosen for Dana in April of last year, just before my final diagnosis of Stage 4 MCL. God is faithful!)

"WAVY WAYS & LAZY DAYS"

Rick is going for his 1st haircut! (It's funny how one can get so excited over the simplest things...) I'm as excited about this as I was the first time he needed to use hair gel earlier this year. Oh, the precious milestones of new life. Oddly enough, the back and sides are growing faster then the top. And, to make things just a little interesting, the top is straight as always, but the back seems to be developing into a wavy flow of curl. (Can you picture it?) In Rick's constant threats to grow a mullet, a curly one at that, I look forward to his near future trip to the barber shop.

I was at a conference last weekend and happened to sit next to a woman at lunch who, consequently received a stem cell transplant a year ago February. It was a total God-thing to share our stories with each other. She revealed that her hair was stick straight before transplant. Looking at the beautiful thick curls that clung to her head surprised me. Possibly this is what he get to look forward to. Nevertheless, as Rick's hair continues to grow, I've yet to find one gray hair, unlike before. Pretty cool.

Enough about hair, although it has been quite a topic in our house.

In April, Rick made a reunion visit to Dr. Mahmood's office to "check-in" and get a "check-up" and blood work. We are so grateful that his levels are steadfast. He has been feeling pretty good overall. We are learning that the recovery process is definitely a process. The first few months after transplant seemed to be a breeze. His energy and endurance faired him well to get back to work, working out, church commitments and family time with ease. However, in just the last couple of months fatigue has moved in. Concerned at first (who wouldn't be) I began asking questions, praying harder and researching post-transplant side effects. How normal I found it to be, his tiredness and fatigue. Stable energy and immune system comes later. (Okay. Got it. Still praying hard though.) Rick was given orders to "take it easy", not to push himself. So this is where he's at- doing as much as he can the best that he can. I'm so proud of him. And so grateful to God for his continued remission.

In two weeks on May 19th Rick will be having a bone marrow biopsy at COH to test for any reoccurring. By God's great mercy this test will prove negative, so we continue to pray hard while we appreciate, more than ever, every single day.

I ask that you might join us in prayer that God will continually heal Rick, calling every cell in his body to perfect order, that the biopsy will be clean and his energy will continue to be restored.

Thank you once again, from a heart of complete gratitude, for your love, support, and prayers. We would really enjoy hearing from you and would love to pray for your needs too. Please write.

God's abounding grace and peace to you.

Humbly yours,
Dana


“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7