UPDATED — January 23, 2015 In regards to the surgery Sharon Ries had on Tuesday, January 20th, everything went well. Her gall bladder and stones were removed. A small cyst and a large cyst were burned off. All cancer was removed from her liver and all margins are clear. Her family covets your prayers as she recovers from this surgery and the side effects of the anesthesia. Due to her recovery process, no visitors are allowed, and the hospital does not accept flowers for their patients.

POSTED — January 10, 2014 Thank you for all the prayers for Sharon Ries, Pastor Raul and the rest of the family.  The Lord has heard all our prayers and done a tremendous work! On January 1, we received the news from the doctors at City of Hope.  Here is the update directly from Sharon:

“It is…it is gone!!! It disappeared!!! The doctor was shocked. They will radiate the area where it was located and keep giving me hormone blocker shots. The LORD spoke to me heavily last night. I read a lot…and he just kept speaking to me out of His Word. I read, ‘to those who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing on His wings.’

I said, ‘I am one who fears Your Name LORD!!!’ “

If this is the first time you are hearing about Sharon’s bout with cancer, following is a brief account of her battle with cancer since March 2009, when she was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. At that time, she had surgery and they removed the cancerous breast. She had follow-up treatment with medication to prevent a reoccurrence of the cancer.

Over the past few years, she has been very diligent in healthy living, to keep her body strong, and until recently, no cancer was found. In September 2013, Sharon had CT Scan done at the City of Hope and the doctor found two highly suspicious areas on her liver. They followed up with an MRI and a biopsy on Monday, Sept. 30.

Sharon and Pastor Raul received the results of her tests on October 17, 2013 and she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which spread to her liver. Another CAT scan and a bone scan were performed to determine whether it had spread anywhere else and what her treatment would be.

Following the news, the LORD gave her this verse, which was marked in her Mother’s Spanish Bible:

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;” (Isaiah 43:1-5).

Following the last CAT scan and bone scan, Sharon and the family received some good news. On November 5, she received confirmation from her doctor that the cancer had not spread anywhere else in her body and started treatment on her liver.

No matter what we are going through or what trial we may be facing, we can Praise the Lord, knowing He is our great physician!! Please continue to keep Sharon, Pastor Raul and the rest of the family in prayer!

— Staff Writer