The report from Houston, from some of the best medical oncologists in the world, is that Mom has a very rare form of sarcoma cancer, a form that does not have a known cure. Because the cancer has spread so widely inside of her, neither surgery nor radiation can be considered. The doctors say chemotherapy has helped 40-50% of patients with this form of cancer, and they speak positively about it helping Mom.
Mom and Dad are still in Houston. They have more tests scheduled at M.D. Anderson on Thursday, after which they will make their way home. Mom has an appointment in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, where her treatment will begin. In six weeks, after two sets of treatment, they will return to Houston, to test the results, and decide how to proceed.
Mom called today, and told me a story. She spoke of the three of them, Mom, Dad, and Candy, who went with them to be a comfort and support, sitting, all in a row, in the patient waiting room.
"They won't know which one of us is the patient," they laughed together. "Sitting together the way we are." No sooner had they said it, then one of the doctors entered the room.
"Well, who is the patient?" He said.
There was laughter in Mom's voice, when she told me the story, joy. There was peace beneath the tones of her words, passing across the airwaves, from her soul to mine.
We sat in the living room, all seven of us, after we'd heard the news, with Grandpa and Grandma and Doug, Candy's husband. We talked and shared and prayed over the future. We wept, and laughed, and told the truth about our hearts.
In Dad's words....
"This is somewhat hard news, but is never the final word for us. Our hope remains in God our Refuge who alone determines the whole of life. We believe that we should move forward with these treatments and continue to trust Him with the future.
We would appreciate prayer for Bonny with all she has ahead of her. That her body would respond wondrously to the treatment and continue on the path of complete healing. Most of all, that the Lord's purpose would prevail in spite of the outcome."There is healing in that, and peace. But this journey feels, already, so long. Pray that we will have strength, strength to trust, to trust and be patient, that no matter the length of this road, we will never stop walking.
And all of us at Rambellwood
2 comments:
My prayers are for you. For strength, endurance, peace, courage... And I praise our God for your joy, for the obvious love in your family and for our Sovereign Lord.
I was listening to this song the other day and as I pondered the words your family was brought to mind:
"I can count a million times
people asking me how I can praise You with all that I've gone through.
The question just amazes me.
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You?
Maybe since my life was changed,
Long before these rainy days.
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord;
My only shelter from the storm.
But instead I draw closer through these times.
So I pray.
Bring me joy, bring me peace,
Bring the chance to be free.
Bring me anything that brings You glory.
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain,
But if that's what it takes to praise You,
Jesus, bring the rain.
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above.
Because You are much greater than my pain.
You who made a way for me,
By suffering Your destiny.
So tell me what's a little rain."
-Bring the Rain, MercyMe
You're in my prayers, dear girls! <3
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