Tammy Faye Updates Fans On Her Courageous Cancer Battle

Kansas City, MO (July 17, 2007) — Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Tammy Faye Bakker) has posted a new letter on her Web site, updating fans on her current condition as she wages a battle against cancer.

“I have times when I feel good and times when I feel really bad,” she writes, noting that she’s been in bed for almost a year now.

The former televangelist and talk show host has battled both colon cancer and lung cancer in recent years, and it was just over two months ago that she wrote that the doctors had stopped trying to treat the disease. Furthermore, she stated that her weight had dropped drastically.

Tammy Faye, beloved by many for her faith and courage, continues to display her trademark optimism against what seems like impossible odds.

“There have been many days when I felt so terrible with my back and stomach, that I have hardly been able to breathe,” she writes in the new letter. “I cry out to the Lord knowing that many of you are praying for me. In spite of it all, I get dressed and go out to eat. I may only be able to eat one bite, or sometimes ten bites, but I swallow each bite in ‘faith believing.’”

In June, Tammy Faye’s son, Jay Bakker, told Phoenix’s KTAR News that Tammy’s condition had deteriorated further…and that she had lost even more weight.

“She’s not very well,” said Bakker. “She’s got stage four cancer. She’s living in Kansas City now. She’s 60 pounds and started hospice. It’s been a real tough year for her and the whole family actually.”

But in her new post, Tammy has some good news to share:

“So through all the prayers, I have finally gained some weight. I have gone from 60 pounds, to 65, for which I am very thankful.”

She credits her family and loved ones for taking care of her, and thanks her husband, Roe Messner, for building her “the most beautiful home I have ever seen.”

And even as she writes of her difficulty in keeping food down, Tammy Faye’s good-natured sense of humor shines through.

“I crave hamburgers and french fries with LOTS of ketchup! When I can eat that again, it will be a day of victory,” writes Tammy, capping off her letter with “I will let you know when I get to eat my hamburger! HA!”

Tammy Faye will appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Thursday, July 19 at 9:00 PM (EST).

The complete letter from Tammy Faye appears below:

July 16, 2007

My Dear Friends,

It has been such a long time since I’ve written and I am so sorry for the long delay. I have been in bed for almost a year now. I have times when I feel good and times when I feel really bad. But, I have learned one thing about feelings. They have NOTHING TO DO WITH FAITH IN GOD!! He is the SAME yesterday, today and forever. He NEVER changes. That is what the Bible says and God’s word does not lie EVER.

There have been many days when I felt so terrible with my back and stomach, that I have hardly been able to breath. I cry out to the Lord knowing that many of you are praying for me. In spite of it all, I get dressed and go out to eat. I may only be able to eat one bite, or sometimes ten bites, but I swallow each bite in “faith believing.” There are MANY times it doesn’t stay with me long at all, but I keep trying and HE helps me.

My daughter is here a lot of the times to give me my medications and to make sure I don’t forget. When I got sick, she literally moved in and gave mehugs and kisses that are so needful during this period of ones life. She said, “I want to take care of my Mom.” I gave her the last couple weeks off to go home and spend time with her children, James and John. They are well taken care of while Sissy is gone. My girlfriend, Deborah has been staying with me for the past 3 weeks.

We have been friends for thirty years, so we know each other well! She gave Tammy Sue some much needed rest and she has taken up where Sissy left off. She will be here for two more weeks. How grateful I am to have such strong, loving, support around me. Then of course, there is my wonderful husband! We moved from Charlotte, N.C. to Kansas City, Missouri. He came here every weekend to build me a new house and when I got here, it was ready to move into, bed and all!!

They had it beautiful and it is the most beautiful home I have ever seen. He has wanted to build me a house for 13 years, and I finally let him! His children and grandchildren have come every weekend to visit us, and it is so much fun! Someone I cannot forget is a friend named Daina. She worked so hard, I thought she was going to get sick. Bless her heart. I have to have help eating, bathing, doing my hair, taking my medicine, and help just getting comfortable, which is really hard for me to do.

I try really hard to eat and keep the food down, but sometimes, it is like my throat would just shut down on me, and the food comes right back up. So through all the prayers, I have finally gained some weight. I have gone from 60 pounds, to 65, for which I am very thankful.

I ask in great humbleness that you pray that I will be able to eat without it coming back up. I crave hamburgers and french fries with LOTS of ketchup! When I can eat that again, it will be a day of victory!

In closing, I want you to know that I am praying for you and your loved ones and I am believing God for complete healing. God is a healer of EVERYTHING!

I will let you know when I get to eat my hamburger! HA!

Love,

Tammy Faye

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