December 5, 2012 / National Kidney and Transplant Institute
A year ago today, we received one of the most heart wrenching news of
our lives. After almost 4 months of diagnostic tests to determine what was
causing him severe bone breaking pain, we were finally given the answer. I
remember sitting in front of his doctor, weakly asking, "What does my son
have, Doc?", although deep inside I knew it was something terrible.
Doc answered, "he has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia."
DJ was sitting across from where I was and looking at him, I can see
tears welling in his eyes. Jourd started to crumble in a heap and then excused
herself and walked out the room. Art squeezed DJ's shoulder and stared ahead
blankly. Then, Doc looked at DJ in the eye and said:
"YOU CAN BEAT THIS, DJ. Pray and be strong. You have to fight hard
and firm because we will all be relying on your strength."
The walk away from the doctor's office was slow and heavy. The rest of the day was a blur. There were decisions to be made, finances to consider, emotions to handle. It was the toughest day of my life.
December 5, 2013
A year after, I was debating on whether to just forget this day or
re-live it.
I decided to face the memories and live in the blessings that came out
of DJ's condition. It has been a year full of love, self-examination, selfless
giving, unconditional listening, patience, understanding and trust. All of you
who have journeyed with us in prayer have given us so much more than we
expected. The countless messages, calls, letters and emails, love notes left on
our hospital door... all of those reminded us that in our weakness, God
provides a way for us to experience His power.
Through you, our dear family and friends, we have never felt the
greatness of God's love as much as we had the last 12 months.
DJ is about to enter his second maintenance (and hopefully, the last) phase of chemotherapy on December 19. It will roughly be eight 90-day cycles, to complete 3 years of treatment. To some this may seem a long way ahead. But to us, who have experienced how God sustains, provides and loves, we resolve to make this a journey of blessing.
Thank you all. Please continue to pray for us and for other families affected by cancer. God was, is and always will be good!
To Him be all the glory!
My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made
in weakness.
- 2 Corinthians 12 : 9
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