A Note From Michael Sweet of Stryper

[petrafreak2009]

I’m sitting here by Kyle’s side in a room at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and I felt led to write this letter as some form of comfort as we walk through the darkest time of our lives. As you all know, my wife Kyle was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in February of 2007. Standing by her side and seeing her physically and emotionally face this horrible disease, I’ve realized that not only is she the love of my life, she is an angel and the most inspirational person I’ve ever known. I’ve stood faithful and hopeful in prayer through this battle, yet to see my love suffer and endure the pain and discomfort that she has over the past two years breaks my heart into a million pieces. No one deserves this, especially Kyle.

You see, she is the backbone of our family, a pillar of strength, and as unselfish as one can be. She doesn’t want any credit for anything she does but truth be known – she deserves all credit. She is the perfect wife, mother and such a blessing to everyone she meets. I constantly wrestle with the reality of this monster that invades her body and I can tell you that it’s been a tremendous struggle to see my wife so sick. I have felt so helpless and at times completely hopeless, but I know I must be strong for my family and be that pillar of strength too, as she’s been throughout our marriage of almost 23 years.

When our son Michael was born, Kyle was hospitalized for over 2 weeks due to a severe blood clot in her leg. I was on tour at the time and I would fly home after shows to be with her and then fly out to catch the next show. I remember that time as if it was yesterday and I recall how brave and strong Kyle was then. It was a testament of her courage and an example to me. She never complained and she picked up the pieces and carried on with taking care of our newborn son, Michael.

Kyle is also a very accomplished and successful makeup artist. This is actually how we met. She drove from Cape Cod to LA in the early eighties with a degree in child psychology but once there, she decided to pursue a career in makeup. Through hard work and perseverance, she went on to work in film and television. Her career had not even peaked and she chose to give it all up to spend 100% of her time raising Michael and Ellena as I toured the world. She sacrificed everything for us and again this was a testament of who Kyle is – a loving, caring, unselfish wife and mother. She wouldn’t have it any other way. She has given me so much joy and I guess I just wanted to give all of you a glimpse of who Kyle is and the character that she bestows.

We covet and cherish every prayer from everyone of you and I thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts as I sit here by my love. If you can, pray for Kyle’s body and immune system to gain enough strength to fight so her body can get back to some sort of normal state, specifically her digestive system. She hasn’t eaten for days due to nausea and it won’t pass. She’s very weak and I just want to take her home.

I’ll update as time permits. Kyle sends her love too. She lit up when I told her that I would post and ask all of you to pray. It means so much. More than you know.

Always,

Michael

[Shell]

That is so sad. It's hard to deal with this sort of thing. She isn't very old at all.

[executioner]

I've been through this before with this type of cancer with a close family member and this news really troubles me, because what she is going through now is near the end. Her body is not accepting anything that it normally does and is basically shutting itself down. If they can't get food or nutrition into her within a 72 hr. period her kidneys and liver will stop processing and most likley will irversable damages.
I feel for that family so much and pray for them everyday. It's hard to accept, but I know Michael and family overall want the Lord's Will to be done and that might mean taking her home to be with Him.

I'm writing this here because I can't write this on the Stryperforum without getting blasted or maybe even banned.

[Shell]

The moderators on the Styper forum need to lighten up. As someone with a bit of a background in the medical field and who has known people with terminal cancer, I agree unless God decides otherwise (which He very well can) Kyle's time on earth is near the end. It was stage 4, the most advanced, when they diagnosed her. It's not a reflection on them; sometimes God has a bigger plan we can't always understand or see. God can make bad and/or painful situations into an opportunity to learn to trust Him more and grow closer to Him.

[brent]

I've been through this before with this type of cancer with a close family member and this news really troubles me, because what she is going through now is near the end. Her body is not accepting anything that it normally does and is basically shutting itself down. If they can't get food or nutrition into her within a 72 hr. period her kidneys and liver will stop processing and most likley will irversable damages.
I feel for that family so much and pray for them everyday. It's hard to accept, but I know Michael and family overall want the Lord's Will to be done and that might mean taking her home to be with Him.

I'm writing this here because I can't write this on the Stryperforum without getting blasted or maybe even banned.

Well. I would not want a bunch of people writing off my wife either. Even if the writing is on the wall. I would still have hope and faith that there could be a miracle. Miracles are not the norm. God cannot be manipulated. Sickness is not a sign of sin or weakness. Sometimes it is not even for the one who is sick. So....I would be cautious about saying anything, because who are we? God is God.

[Shell]

I do agree with the idea that in a case like this, a simple "you're in my prayers" or maybe posting a comforting passage from the Bible for them might be wise. The doctors have probably talked to them about her prognosis. You don't have to say a lot when someone is going through a rough time; it helps just to know you have people thinking about you when you're struggling. From what I understand Exe to be saying, it is the moderators and/or some of the people posting on the Stryper forum he has had trouble with, not Michael, although I could be mistaken. Forum stuff has a way of getting out of hand.

[executioner]

I've been through this before with this type of cancer with a close family member and this news really troubles me, because what she is going through now is near the end. Her body is not accepting anything that it normally does and is basically shutting itself down. If they can't get food or nutrition into her within a 72 hr. period her kidneys and liver will stop processing and most likley will irversable damages.
I feel for that family so much and pray for them everyday. It's hard to accept, but I know Michael and family overall want the Lord's Will to be done and that might mean taking her home to be with Him.

I'm writing this here because I can't write this on the Stryperforum without getting blasted or maybe even banned.

Well. I would not want a bunch of people writing off my wife either. Even if the writing is on the wall. I would still have hope and faith that there could be a miracle. Miracles are not the norm. God cannot be manipulated. Sickness is not a sign of sin or weakness. Sometimes it is not even for the one who is sick. So....I would be cautious about saying anything, because who are we? God is God.

I'm not putting God in a box. I'm just stating the facts. I had a family member have the same exact cancer and I know her condition to be terminal. Yes miracles can happen and will happen, but you also got to look at it real also and thats what I am all about. Maybe my comments about it could be made to look insensitive and I understand that, but what I wanted you all to be made aware of was the dire straits that she and Michael are in with this sitaution and this would motivate more of us to be praying for a miracle because that is the only way out of this for them.

I made the comment about the Stryperforum because they have a huge reputation of either deleting threads or even banning members for saying ANYTHING "they deem negative" about Stryper or the members of the band. You can't even say something like Michael's nose is too big or it looks crooked without getting blasted and deleted.
I at one time created a topic about my Live in Puerto Rico DVD not playing in my DVD player and how I had gone round-n-round with Choice Management about it and basically was told by them I wasn't getting a refund. I made the thread because I had used all other recourse to my problem without any solution to it.

[Shell]

Hmmmm...A band with management issues and a messageboard where things can get out of hand...That sounds rather familiar.

Michael and Kyle are probably aware of how serious her condition is.

It's not right or fair that they would do that, but fairness obviously isn't at the top of their list of priorities. The best way to handle that sort of thing after you've made your point as clearly as you can is to move on, you can't change them, and it's a waste of time to try. They're actually not doing Stryper any favors by behaving that way.

It might help to keep in mind they will reap what they've sown. It might not be how you'd think and you might not be around to see it, but things do have a way of catching up with you.