Prayers 4 Val

11/23/2019

6 YEARS ANNIVERSARY “Indonesia Mission Trip”

Sometime in August 2013, I remember looking up of the ceiling on my City of Hope hospital bed thinking to myself “Man I’m supposed to be doing a mission trip in Indonesia right now.” My daze quickly got interrupted when my hematologist walked in to tell me that they have not found a match for my stem cell transplant yet. It was such disheartening news. I wondered if I’d ever go back to Indonesia and serve, let alone see another month. After the hematologist left I told my friend who was visiting at the time, “Did you know I was supposed to be serving I n Indonesia right now?” My friend looked at me confidently and said “ Val you’ll have another chance but this time with a powerful testimony to share! Keep your head up and keep fighting” At first I wasn’t very optimistic because during that time I was struggling with the side effects of the chemo and discouraged by the fact that out of a bank of 3 million people, I have yet to find a match. Nevertheless, I continued to pray about it. That night I made a promise to God that if I get through this fight against cancer I will go back to Indonesia and share my testimony to glorify His name. To my surprise and His faithfulness, 6 years later I was able to fulfill that promise and share my experience as a cancer survivor. As many were blessed by God’s miracles I found myself even more blessed. I was truly humbled by my experience there and was given several opportunities to share my testimony. It was at the Hospital in Bandung where I was touched the most. I had a chance to meet a lovely little girl struggling with the same battle. In the middle of sharing my testimony I see her father wiping his tears off his face, but next to him the little girl kept a brave smile on and it instantly brought me back to the beginning. I knew Christ was strengthening that little girl because I saw myself in her. I told her we could do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Charity clinic was done in a small island in Indonesia. Blessed to be a part of this experience. The community was in need of medical help and they were very...

08/05/2019

Update News: Interview Val 2019
For all her supporters.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

07/20/2018

5 Years Cancer Recovery “Update”

“Valerie, what’s your last dying wish?” the lead oncologist asked. I could tell it was hard for him to ask a person in their 20s, physically fit and healthy girl that question at the time. Life was really going well for me, I was working as a nurse, traveling, and in the best shape of my life. I was at my peak, or so I thought. Then the oncologist follows up his question with, “If the cancer that has been multiplying in your body was not caught in a timely manner, I’m afraid you wouldn’t live to see another week.”

Although it was a hard pill to swallow, that night I contemplated his question. I thought, “Valerie, if anything could starve your fears, calm your anxieties, and quiet your worried thoughts, what would that be?” The next morning the doctor came in, assessed me and asked if I thought of my wish. I said, “Doc, I wish I could be in Hawaii, surrounded by the people I love most. The ocean is my favorite place to be and gives me a sense of tranquility and peace no other place can provide.” He looks at me reluctantly and says, “Well I wish I could tell you you’ll get to fulfill your wish soon, but even if you reach remission, you’re likely to need a transplant and transplant patients need to wait at least 5 years to touch any body of water.”

His answer was far from what I wanted to hear but in a strange way it made me more determined to fight and reach that goal.

The journey getting here, these past five years, was definitely not an easy one. There were sleepless nights, hospitalizations, health scares, and disappointment. The wait was challenging but also the most character building experiences of my life. The peace, joy, and satisfaction I felt from fulfilling my last dying wish, with the perspective of it being my first of many life-giving wishes, was immeasurable and an experience I want to share with all of you.

Although this wasn’t shot in Hawaii, I’ve come to realize it’s not the destination that makes it but the people and I’m beyond thankful for the love and support of my family.

All this I share in hopes to encourage those of you who are struggling with the wait- the wait for a new job, new move, new lifestyle, new relationship, new strength. Take courage, for the suffering we now face is temporal and nothing compared to the joy that comes for eternal.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

*All music credit goes to Petit Biscuit* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuxVFn94f6Neyix7KPzyTg/featured “Sunset Lover” Petit Biscuit (Google Play • iTunes...

10/18/2017

4 Years BMT Anniversary

Taking a moment to be sentimental and profess my immense love and respect for this woman right here. Today marks her 4 year transplant anniversary and she's achieved so much. While working full-time and spending weeks at a time in the hospital cause of minor health scares, she managed to get her Masters in Nursing with high honors. She's a living, breathing miracle and this year I've been blessed to live in her shadow. Thank you Bald for continually shining God's light to every person you encounter & for teaching me perseverance no matter how tough the fight. Your kindness humbles me, strength empowers me, and faith moves me. The person that I am today and the way I perceive and love people the way I do would not be possible without you. You changed my life Victorious Val and I'm beyond thankful for yours. I love you forever sissy..til we're old and gray 😘.

Love,

Vanessa Hutauruk

09/08/2017

What is life without jumping through obstacles... countdown to 4 years begins

06/28/2017

06/28/2017

Last few years have been one of the busiest years for me in a good way. About two years after recovering from my bone marrow transplant, I was given some time to think about what I wanted to do next. I asked myself “what would you do if you were healthy?” Then it hit me, I always wanted to pursue my education further. As a result, about two years ago I applied for grad school. But the question that kept lingering was “would I be able to tackle school and my health at the same time?” I prayed and prayed and I finally decided you know if God knew I would not be able to handle both, he would show me it wasn’t meant to be. Throughout the course of the program I was admitted to the hospital four times and each time I was told that maybe the load of school was too much for me and that I should slow down. Although the odds of me moving forward to the next quarter seemed impossible, God pulled me through it all, through every obstacle, setback, and health scare. Ultimately, through the support and grace of an awesome God, the faith of my family and friends, and the empathy and consideration of professors, I was able to accomplish one of many goals that seemed unattainable given the cards I was dealt.
So I just want to encourage those of you who feel like your dreams or desires are too far to reach or too difficult to accomplish, remember that you serve a God who's plans for you exceeds all of your expectations so long as you believe. PC: Jaymakinboy : Jasson Hutauruk

01/15/2017

2017: A New Year, A New Start

Happy New Years to you all! I know I may be 15 days late. Reflecting back at 2016 I faced many blessings, changes, and challenges. I was blessed to celebrate another anniversary of my bone marrow transplant. My sister moved back from Michigan. Majority of you may know that I am a nurse, but these last few years I was able to feed my curiosity and I went ahead and started studying real estate because back when I was younger I always wanted to try it. I eventually received my license in Real estate. I have made new friends and met new people throughout the year. From there on there have been blessings after blessings. God is so good. I also faced some challenges with my health, I was admitted to the hospital for almost a month due a flu. After an episode of being in hospital I was able to jump right back up.

I started this 2017 telling myself “Val this year your goals are to slowly do the things you love to do that you have been restricted from”. The decision that determines whether I would be allowed to go back to the gym or the water depends on my health condition. Coming into 2017 I received great news, The Dr. told me that immune system is strong enough to go back to the gym. My Doctor’s goal was for me is to live a normal life. He kept reminding me that I am still young and I still have a long way ahead of me.

On January 3, 2017 I started going back to the gym and play basketball with my friends. We set a goal to go to the gym at least 3 times a week. I also started cooking my own meals with healthier ingredients. But one of the biggest things so far this year I have experience is facing my fear and do something I did not think I was going to ever again. My first time snowboarding was 7 years ago, and that was the only time. I had a bad experience at the time, snowboarding left me in pain for a week from all the soreness from falling too much. Yesterday I had the courage to challenge myself and face my fear and try it out again, my friends convinced me to go on the intermediate slope even though I insisted on trying the bunny slope. They stated that if I was not able to get down on my own they would call the snow mobile. Going on the ski lift my heart was beating so fast and I was so afraid, that I asked my cousin to pray. I got up off the ski lift immediately falling on the ice. The hardest part of it was trying to get up on the board; I probably fell more than 20 times. I was still learning, thankfully, one of my closest friends stood by me throughout the way encouraging and coaching through it telling me that I can do it. It was discouraging knowing that I had a long way down, and there were times I fell hard. There were also moments when I was out of breath and I needed to take a breath. But I kept getting back up after each fall and episode of shortness of breath and eventually made it to the finish line. What kept me from giving up was that I kept telling myself out loud “ Come on Val, get up!”

Joshua 1:9New Living Translation (NLT)
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

12/07/2016

VANESSA USED AS A VESSEL..
This last sabbath I was so proud to see my sister give a sermon. Something she's never done before. In preparing for her sermon, we both went through our instagrams, facebook, and this prayers4val page and it was very emotional. Emotional in a good way. It reminded us of how amazing you guys have been through it all and we just wanted to take the time to say thank you. We've come a long way. From my little sister being away from my family for two years, to her finally being home, preaching on her perspective of the journey with me. God has been so good to my family and I know your prayers have a lot to do with it. So thank you from our family to yours. We forever appreciate the support. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I continue to fight. God Bless!

10/29/2016

1st Haircut in 3 years

10/23/2016

3 year Bone Marrow Transplant Celebration cont.