Reality Check
Hi friends,
Whitney (Mel’s daughter) here again. We are at the end of day four of Mom’s hospitalization, and the reality of what we expect to be a lengthy recovery is setting in. Mom is making slow but steady progress, and we are seeing God’s hand in the midst of it all. But to be honest, it has been tougher than we imagined. As some of you may know, I’m a registered nurse. So hospitals, surgeries, and recoveries are not unfamiliar territory to me. But when it’s your mom lying in the hospital bed, everything feels different.
Mom’s surgery was very extensive. In addition to a total hysterectomy, she also had a large piece of her colon removed and a heated chemotherapy wash placed directly into her abdomen. That means she is not only recovering from major surgery (with a long midline incision through her abdominal muscles) but also from a significant dose of chemotherapy in her body. The hysterectomy was the most straightforward part of the entire procedure. The rest has felt a little more complicated.
Recovery from something like this is not quick. There are moments of progress, followed by moments that feel like setbacks. Right now we are especially praying for relief from Mom’s pain and the nausea she’s been experiencing, and for strength as her abdominal muscles begin the long work of healing.
In good news, Mom was able to sit up for a few minutes today and even took a short trip downstairs in the hospital to hear Dad play the piano. Music has always been a part of the fabric of our family, and hearing familiar hymns was so meaningful.
Here’s what we know to be true:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22–23
Would you continue praying with us?
Please pray for:
- Relief from Mom’s pain
- Relief from the nausea she’s been experiencing
- Strength as her body heals and her abdominal muscles rebuild
- Patience and endurance during what will likely be a long recovery
Thank you for surrounding our family with such incredible love and prayer. We feel it.
I hope you enjoy the song Dad played, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” And I hope it reminds you, as it reminds us, of His mercy and His faithfulness!
57 Comments
Jan Hayes
My favorite piano player playing one of my favorites
Dick,So thankful for your talent and how you bless us with it. Continuing to pray for strength and healing for You Mel and trusting each day will be filled with Gods Grace and yes patiences as you Rest and get stronger inside and out
Love you
Tammy Carroll
Praying for your sweet mom’s recovery.
Jackie evans
Praying all these things for Mel. God be with her during her recovery and thankful for such a wonderful family surrounding her🙏🙏
Becky Eaker
Thank you, Whitney for sharing. Thank you, Dick Tunney….what a blessing on the piano. Mel, praying for you, so much of what you are experiencing I know too well. But through it all God kept telling me to trust HIM and I am sure He is telling you the same. Ever since my liver transplant I have treasured every day of my life, like never before. God is using your story and I’m guessing He has big plans for you to help others. A couple of practical things you must do…….they are difficult. EAT and do Physical Therapy/Rehab when you are able. You and God got this. Love to all the Tunneys!!!
Mike Gibbons
🙏🙏🙏Will be praying for you. Thanks for letting us have some worship time with you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Tina Torbert
Praying daily for you, Mel! Thank you for your strong display of faith! I love you!💕
Debbie Hardy
Wow, beautiful piano playing and one of my fav hymns. What a mood booster for Mel. Oh, I am so sorry your surgery was much more than I imagined. But how thorough and I pray all cancer gone. God bless your daughter for being there for you!!
Micki Thurman
God takes notice of your parents as they worship in this most difficult season. I will pray and believe for these focused prayer points regarding your precious mother’s healing. I am climbing this mountain with her. Much love, Mel.
Micki
Nancy Shotts
What a beautiful picture of your trust in the Lord and His faithfulness! Thank you for the time of worship and the very specific prayer requests to give to Him!!
Roger breland
Praying for sweet Mel. Thankful for His Faithfullness….
Tricia Kubasko
Praying for you, Melodie, from Raleigh. May the Lord give you relief from the pain & nausea….and strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow….as you lean on Him…and His sufficiency.
May God richly bless you.
Maria
I have been following your mom’s journey on facebook and our family is praying for your family. I spent my teen and college years in awe of your mom’s talent and ability. I saw her perform live multiple times with Sandi and with First Call. She is a powerful and gifted musician but I am sure more than that a beautiful mother, wife and friend. Know that there are many friends out here who are lifting your family up in prayer and praying for complete healing. Love you Melody. ❤️
Judy Heinecke
Mel, we are covering you and your family with prayers. We are so incredibly sorry that you have to deal with so much pain and nausea. Praying for strength & healing from our Lord Jesus! So enjoyed Dick playing on the piano and you worshiping alongside him. Isn’t it so wonderful to know that our Lord Jesus knows your pain and his love for you is above and beyond what we can’t even fathom.🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Sharon Moffett
Tears over here . How beautiful to watch that raw and real worship. I’m praying for you Mel. 💕🙏
JAN MARKOWITZ
Oh my heart breaks for what she is going through. Dear Jesus, please help our Melodie feel better. Take away all nausea and let her pain be maintained well. Please do not let her suffer so. Touch her Father with Your amazing power and heal Melody quickly. Let all cancer be gone in the name of Jesus! Amen. We love you, Melodie! Sending hugs!
Karla Strawser
What beautiful music and lyrics to remind us all of the Goodness and Faithfulness of God.
Mel, as I’m praying for you each day, your faith and strength is such an inspiration. I pray your pain goes away and your healing is quicker and smoother than you ever imagined. I pray the cancer is completely gone and you are on the road to a full recovery. I pray peace floods every part of your mind and spirit and that it is beyond your understanding. Thank you for showing Jesus to all of us during this difficult journey. Rest well my friend. I look forward to the day when this is all behind you and your testimony of healing can be shouted!! Love you.
Peggy Hughes
Oh, Mel, what a beautiful moment for you and Dick. I’ve had my share of abdominal surgeries but nothing this extensive. I’m praying for relief of pain and the nausea. May our faithful God bring complete healing to your body. Jesse and I love you both so very much. 💗
Nancy Anders
I am crying over here…sniffles🥲 prayers continue for you every day and so grateful for the great report but certainly know that the recovery is slow and tender. May you feel ALL the love, prayers, concern, trusting and on and on. Most of all, may you feel the depths of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”…Dick, that was beautiful, to no surprise, and capturing the beautiful scene of you both. Thx, Whitney, for keeping us updated, it is so much appreciated💕 sending all our love🙏🙌✝️
Jessica
Praying for you as I am up with a baby. I found this blog in January by following Whitney and am glad I popped in to both pray for the current moment and to be encouraged by these posts!
Larry H.
Lord, thank you for your steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. I pray Melodie will have strength for today as we have hope for a bright tomorrow.
Jennifer Breland
Praying for you Mel. We love you. We believe for complete healing in Jesus name. You are a warrior, the daughter of a king. He holds you in the palm of His hand. Zeph 3:17
Tom Waitman
Praying for your Mom and greatly enjoying the beautiful and sacred music, performed so brilliantly.
Lisa Schaffer
Whitney, praying for ur mama, daddy and entire family! Keep the faith! God has great things in store throughout this journey!
Lisa Schaffer
Providence Church in Raleigh
Geneva Biggs Facenda
Praying for precious Mel. 🙏🙏🙏
Beautiful 🎹🎵🎶. I love these songs. Jesus faithful❤️
Cristy Ludwig
Praying for you and your family every day Mel. 💛
Debbie Noble
Thank you, Whitney, for keeping us updated. Seeing your Mom’s hand raised during your Dad’s beautiful rendition of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was a true testimony of her unwavering faith, and the Lord’s strength even in weakness. Praying for you all! Our God is mighty!!
Bruce Koblish
My heart has been moved throughout this whole experience, even though I’ve not commented before. My prayers have been regular. After reading this I will be praying for unusual strength and power from the Lord for you, Mel and forces family member. It’s difficult in different ways for everyone.
Dick and Mel, I love you guys. You have to many friends who are praying. His Word lives in your heart and mind to sustain you each and every minute, Mel. May His blessings flow even during such a difficult time.
Patti Haney Carlton
Mel, first of all God has you in the palm of His hands! You are a true warrior for His kingdom and an encouragement to all of us!
I feel so blessed to know you and you have always been encouraging to me in my tiny ministry! Please know my prayers and thoughts are always with you and He who began a good work in you WILL be faithful to complete it!
Dick that just really blessed me and brought me back to the realization that His faithfulness endures forever! What a blessing to hear you play! I pray God strengthens you in every way you need it ! You are both so dear to my heart! God truly loves you! I do too! Love Patti
Finally know that all of us out here love you all! May God bless you! Youve both got this!
Todd Twining
Interceding for you, Mel, and for the whole family. May the nearness of God bring comfort. Asking the Healer for this time of recovery. May music uplift and draw you each close to the Lord as your music has done so many times in my life! You are loved and lifted up.
Phyllis Yaglowski
Praying for you my sweet friend to get stronger and better soon.
Hetti-Marie Manu
May the wings of the Father cover her today. Thanks for keeping us updated. It’s the friendly reminder I need to stop and pray for Mel. I can see her coming out of this stronger than ever. Will use the list you shared to pray specifically for her. Please give her a hug for all of us.
Margaret Bohler
Praying daily for you Mel, knowing God’s faithfulness continues to sustain us in our life journey. Praying for each request and that each new day brings continued improvement and progress. Praying for each health professional around you to be blessed with knowledge and expertise. Praising the Lord that you have Dick at your side throughout this journey. Sending love.
Cameron Ware
We will continue to pray! 🙏
Laurie Jeron
Whitney, thank you for sharing the extent of what your Mom is dealing with. It helps to know and target those prayers specifically to what needs to be healed and touched by Jesus. What a beautiful Sunday blessing to hear your Dad play so beautifully the hymns we all grew up with. Today is my Mom’s Birthday and we had a music school for over 50 years so music is in our DNA as well. So many precious connections shares with friends who are family in Christ. I am sidelined by my own health challenge and our church is a 1000 miles away in Fairview, TN but we love it. After church Youtube pulled up this instrumental music and I immediately said I feel like I am sitting at a French Cafe for breakfast. When I looked at it piano and accordion. Our two main instruments and I know your Dad plays. Your Mom and I have had discussions about that. So may the music rings out today whether hymns or melodies that bring a hint of Springtime in Paris. Praying and believing the Lord will bring us all through, stronger for the journey, and like scripture says, “We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. Rev 12:11 Sending love and prayers and BIG HUGS to all of you. How blessed that you are a nurse and know exactly what your Mom needs. Happy International Women’s Day to you both.
Terese Atkins
Dear Mel,
Chris and I are praying for you daily. We pray today that the bouts of nausea will become few and far between very soon. “With my God I can scale any wall” Psalm 18:29
God bless and keep you!
Dixie Harris
What a precious Word– He will hold you fast– one minute at a time. It is a privilege to pray for all the family as you walk this road of suffering. Dick and Melodie, you brought such encouragement to Providence for many years and strengthen my hands in the Lord. Praying for strength to endure these medical conditions and healing from the cancer. Of course for sensitivity and wisdom for your family and the medical team as they care for you.
Joy Earle
Your mother is an inspiration and living testimony of Gods mercy and faithfulness. I have long admired your parents during our years in ministry and will not stop praying and remembering your requests. You are loved.
Tori Taff
Russ and I are sending you all the love your heart can hold, with prayers for a complete and miraculous recovery. You are surrounded by a multitude of friends all over the world , and I know you can feel their support. Blessings on your healing journey.
Danette Ferro
Dearest Mel, his love is so steadfast! And your faith is so beautiful! Whitney, thank you so much for sharing these deep feelings and tough times with us. It knows no limits, this invasive cancer that we are experiencing in our lives. But we know who the Victor is and I’m so pleased to be able to thank God for your faithfulness and your love and your courage. What a beautiful person you are, Mel. How very much we love you and I pray for you every day. I know God is in all of this and we know His hand is holding you up! Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Monica Calloway
I want you to know that it has truly been an honor to care for your family during this time. Walking alongside you through these moments has touched my heart more than words can fully express.
I see the strength, the love, and the courage you carry each day—even on the hardest days. The road ahead may feel long and uncertain at times, but please remember that you are not walking it alone. God sees every tear, hears every prayer, and holds each of you close.
There will be days that feel heavy, but there will also be moments of grace, strength, and hope that carry you forward. Lean on one another, hold tight to your faith, and take each day one step at a time.
Your love for each other is powerful, and it shines even in the most difficult moments. It has been a privilege to witness that and to care for someone so deeply loved.
Please know that you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. May God surround your family with peace, comfort, and strength for the journey ahead.
With heartfelt care and prayers. 🤍
Michael adler
Strength for today
Bright hope for tomorrow
Great is thy faithfulness
Much love and continued prayers
Sue
I’m so thankful you are able to be there with your mom, Whitney! This sounds like probably the toughest thing she’s ever been through and I know she’s so grateful you are there with her and your dad. We are praying for easing of the pain and fast healing and repair of her abdominal wall. We speak strength and healing to every part of her body in Jesus’ name!
Janice Houser
As I listened to Dick playing my all time favorite, Great is Thy Faithfulness, & then I saw you
raise your hand, I realized I was seeing genuine worship. In spite of your circumstance you were worshipping Jesus. Mel, you are a very special lady & in your pain you are a reminder, that whatever we face, God will be faithful to complete that which he has begun in us. I am blessed to know you & I will continue to pray for your complete healing. God be with you as you continue your journey to total restoration. Much love & prayers being sent your way.
Julie Woodruff
Praying for you, Mel. What a gift for your mom and dad to have you there, Whitney. Thanks for sharing your dad playing. Such comfort in the midst of the storm. Sending hugs to your sweet mom. Lifting you all to our Father in prayer.
Mike Harland
“Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.” Prayers continue for you all!
WAYNE L DRUMMOND
My heart broke when I read this. So sorry.
HOPE is the word. My wife had a complete hysterectomy and 6 months of chemo for uterine cancer, She has been cancer free for nearly 20 years.
Sandy Roberts
Praying 🙏🏼 continues for Mel! I know you know who is is control and this is His fight!
Miriam Tedeschi
Mel – You may not remember me but I am friends with Bonnie Keen and a GINORMOUS fan of First Call. Been following your journey and praying for you every step of the way. God is faithful and will see you through. I know you are surrounded by so many who love you and believing with you. Nothing shall be impossible. Big hugs, Miriam
Marlene E Davis
We do have the assurance that God IS FAITHFUL and will bring healing, comfort and peace.
Allison Ware
Oh how great is our God! And you are in His strong and faithful hands, Mel. He is the mountain mover and we believe He is moving them for you as He brings you back to full health. Thank you , Dick, for blessing Mel….and all of us with your beautiful music. Love you both and continuing to pray. ❤️🙏🙌
John Jacobsen
I will keep on praying for complete healing.
Doug Jones
Thank you so much for sharing……. We are praying for comfort, strength, and healing. May Jesus continue to surround you with HIS presence and fill you with HIS hope, peace, joy and encouragement. God bless. Doug and Christy
Beth
So beautiful. “Strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow…” Great is His faithfulness! Thank you for sharing the gift of music; what a treasure. Praying for the Lord’s healing and strong hand over you, Melodie, and for your loved ones as well 🙂
Jill Swanson
Thank You, Jehovah Rophi, that You are our Great Physician and Healer and that You are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask , think, or imagine as demonstrated by our prayer for grandchildren! In Jesus’ powerful and mighty name above all names! Ephesians 3:20-21
Kathy
First of all, thank you Whitney for writing this post🙏🏻 I toured with Truth shortly after Mel and Dick and felt the legacy they both left. Thank you for posting the sweet, moving video of Dick sharing his unbelievable talent to comfort Melody. God has given me such a profound love of music and that just washed over me like a warm, healing blanket. What an honor to be a fly on the wall of such an intimate moment. Thank you.
I had no idea Mel was going through this extremely difficult journey. I will be adding you all to my prayers and checking in more often. May God’s peace far surpass human understanding for all of you and may Melody’s healing be miraculous and complete that we can celebrate and testify of our Savior’s love and power🙌🏻💖
Marabeth Quin
I’m thinking of you all and know that your family has so much love and strength in it–I’m sending my love to you, Mel, as you heal, recover and grow strong again. 😘
Sara Posthuma
Dan and I are sending love and prayers.