Updates: The plane has landed and most of the dominoes have fallen into place

Wow! A lot has happened since I last posted in January. The plane landed, and the dominoes fell. God is never late, but he sure likes to cut it really close. Talk about a walk in faith.

Health News:

I had my first mammogram since my diagnosis, and it came back clear! I am cancer-free! I will continue taking a targeted therapy by infusion through August. "Targeted therapies work by going after and controlling specific proteins that help certain breast cancer cells grow and spread."(https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/what-know-herceptin-her2)

One of the things that MAY have contributed to the cancer is poor eating habits. With IBS, it is difficult to eat fruits and vegetables because they cause stomach pain, so I end up eating junk food. This creates a vicious cycle. My stomach won't heal because I eat junk, and I eat junk because my stomach won't heal. Prayers for wisdom and self-discipline would be greatly appreciated. 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Cor 6:19-20

Home News:

We are very thankful that we found a home that is perfect for us for this season of life. It is only 2 years old (we like new construction). The house came on the market on 2/2, and we closed on both houses on 2/15. God is never late, but he sure likes to cut it really close.

College News:

We still do not have a firm answer on what college Logan will attend next fall. He will hear from NC State (1st choice) by the end of March. God is working with Logan on trusting in His sovereignty. It is a walk in faith and never easy to be stretched and tested. Please pray for wisdom for Logan and us as we wait expectantly and cannot wait to see what the Lord does for Logan. 

Psalm 39:7 says, "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."

Caden News:

Caden had his 4th surgery in October. He developed a bad infection in December, which was a setback. The wound is healing slowly but has not completely closed. Please pray for complete and permanent healing.

Thanks again for all your prayers. We greatly appreciate them and love to share how God shows up for our family.

M

When and where will we land?

 

Waiting is torture

We are in a holding pattern in so many areas of our life. It is like an airplane circling the airport, but it does not have permission to land. 

Our house is under contract (praise), but we are waiting for inspection reports and appraisals. It’s like it is sold, but it’s not.

Where are we going to live? The inventory on the market is very limited and those houses available are lacking. Do we buy a house, do we have enough time to close, do we store our furniture, where do we store our furniture, do we get a rental, do we get a short-term apartment, how short is short term…see circling, but no place to land.

When will my hair begin to grow again?  I finished chemo over a month ago but I am still losing hair, specifically my eyelashes and brows.

Will the radiation cause severe burns and rashes?  I am on day 6 of 20 and so far so good. I hope to be done on 2/7.

What college will Logan attend?  He has heard from 6/8, accepted to five, and deferred by one.  He will hear from his top two schools, NC State and Georgia Tech, by the end of the month. 

Each decision has a domino effect on the next, but we must land the plane to tip the first domino. 

Providentially, this is all God’s plan. In Psalm 37 David is stressed out because it seems that the people who do wrong, always prosper.  Though the subject matter is different, the words David wrote remain true.  “Do not fret…, Trust in the LORD and do good; Take delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this…be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him…the LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him.

Stay tuned to see how God shows up and where our plane lands

Mary

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 The pictures were printed, the letter was written, but the Christmas cards never arrived...so here is our virtual Christmas card.

Dear Friends and Family,

Grace and peace be with you as we reflect on the blessings and challenges of the past year. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the love and support that comes from our faith community. Here's a glimpse into the journey of our family:

David is still with Wells Fargo and is approaching his 26th work anniversary in February. He dedicated considerable effort to preparing our house for sale as we began downsizing.

This year, Mary celebrated her 50th birthday, a milestone marked by joy and trials. In July, she was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer. Through the grace of God, Mary completed her chemotherapy treatments in early December, and we remain steadfast in our faith that, after undergoing radiation in January and a year of immunotherapy, she will be declared cancer-free in August.

Logan turned 18 and is now a high school senior. He has applied to several colleges for engineering and has already received responses from four.

Caden, a junior, faced his fourth surgery in October. We humbly seek your prayers, trusting in the healing power of God, that this procedure will be the final step in resolving his health challenges.

Mason embarked on a new chapter this year, starting high school with a focus on Automotive Repair. Attending the same high school as Logan, he is delighted to leave middle school behind.

As we gather in celebration of the holidays, we are reminded of the true meaning of this season — the gift of Christ. May your homes be filled with the warmth of His presence, and may the coming year bring blessings and peace to each of you.

With love, David, Mary, Logan, Caden, and Mason

Stage 1 of 3 is complete!

I finished chemo on Thursday and was very blessed to have minor side effects. You would think I would feel more celebratory, but battling triple-positive cancer is a marathon, not a sprint. I am very thankful to have a four-week break, especially during the holidays. Stage 2 starts in January with four to six weeks of radiation.

I am reading “Life as a Vapor” by John Piper during my quiet time. One devotion is entitled “Endings are for Gratitude, and Beginnings are for Faith.” Piper discusses that every moment is the beginning of the rest of your life and the end of the past, and every moment should be lived in gratitude and faith. I am grateful for the end of chemo. I am grateful that I have a path that I can take that has been successful in curing this form of cancer. I have faith that God is in control and one day I will be cancer-free, but it is tough to live in the tension between the now and the not-yet. I am now one step closer to being cancer-free, but not yet.

It seems that God leaves me in this waiting state more than I would like. In the past, I waited for a Godly spouse, children, and career changes. As a person who likes to be in control, I know God keeps me here so that I depend on him to direct my path.

Christmas is such a great reminder of expectant waiting. The world waited for a Messiah for centuries, and when He came, He wasn’t what they expected or even wanted, but He is exactly who we needed. Even in this broken world, we must have faith as we wait for him to return to take us home (NOT YET), and we are grateful for the guidance and provisions he gives us as we live in the NOW.

I am thankful for all the gifts, meals, and prayers you have given our family. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2024. Mary

Hairy Situations

 

I met with my oncologist last Thursday and she was very pleased with my progress. I have completed 1 of 4 cycles of chemo with minimal side effects. She even said I was the “poster child for chemo”. I cringed a little because I felt maybe she spoke too soon. My mama would say the devil is always listening.  I told her how much you guys were praying for me and that was the reason I was doing so well.  Then on Saturday, my head began to tingle and my hair started “thinning”. Which is a polite way to say every time I touch my hair 10-20 strands fall out.

For me I needed the slow shedding to come to grips with the fact that I am going to soon be bald. As the strands began to fall it started to become annoying. My hair is everywhere…a hairy situation! And I do mean everywhere. I have begun to wear it up, so it doesn’t leave a trail in my wake. I had to get to the point that I was more irritated with hair loss than shaving it off. So, tomorrow is the big day. Levine Cancer Institute gives each patient a free wig. I have been told to bring a friend because it is a fun appointment. I get to try up to 5 wigs and will make the most of it. I told a friend today that humor and Jesus were getting me through cancer.

I am still determining what I will feel most comfortable wearing, thankfully I have a lot of options and look forward to trying them all. Fortunately, God knows how many hairs I will lose and how many will return. Matthew 10:30-31 says “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In a different hairy situation, Caden’s surgery for his cyst (caused by too much hair) was successful. He is recovering and always hungry. He will be out of school for 4 weeks. He had the same surgery last year and had a difficult time catching up with schoolwork. Could you please pray he will fully heal, the cyst will never return, and he has the self-discipline to do his school work instead of procrastinating. 

Finally, a special thank you to the ladies of our church who have kept us well-fed. We are truly blessed and cannot express how much we appreciate their generosity.

Mary

This is the day…

I am one week out from my first round of chemo and have 11 more to go. Yes, I am counting down! I was greeted on Thursday by wonderful ladies who calmed my anxiety and helped me transition smoothly through my infusions. My head nurse, Dawn, is a believer. She came in singing, 'This is the day that the Lord has made' and encouraged me to sing with her. Such a God shot for me in that moment. It's very hard to 'Rejoice and be glad in it' when you are getting drugs that require so many medications for your body to tolerate the infusion. However, I am thankful for all the research that has gone into the process so I can be cancer-free.

My Bible verse in my quiet time this morning was Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  A timely reminder as my 2^nd round of chemo is tomorrow."

To answer some questions I received…

How do you feel?

Each day, I felt a little worse and gradually increased my nausea medicine through Sunday. On Monday, I woke up feeling better and have improved each day.

Can you go to work?

Yes, I worked 3 days this week. I am very blessed that my new job allows me to work as I can. That would not have been possible if I were still teaching. God's timing is always perfect.

How can I help?

Currently, we are doing okay. We may need meals in Oct and Nov but will post more details as needed."

3 Praises:

1.   I still have my hair
Gift cards for meals
I was able to work this week

3 Prayer Requests:

Caden’s surgery on Oct 13^th
Continue to tolerate my treatment and no delays
Minimum long-term side effects

Survey says - Light Chemo!

Light Chemo for the Win!!! Both doctors agreed. What a relief. What's next?

Dealing with cancer is a marathon, not a quick race. By the time I begin chemo, I will have visited doctors 20 times. I have triple-positive breast cancer that requires multiple treatments. Even though we caught it early, it will still take over a year to beat it completely. And, did I mention I dislike running? Also, I really dislike waiting! I'm in a race I never signed up for. I try to remind myself of this quote from Luke 22:42, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Here's a quick overview of my treatment plan:

- 12 weeks of chemo

- 4-weeks break

- 4 weeks of radiation

- Infusions every 3 weeks for 9 months with a medicine that stops cancer cells from growing and spreading in the body

- Then, 5-10 years of taking a medication to lower estrogen levels

So, I'll keep going in this race that's set before me. I'm lucky to have family and friends who love and support me and a God who helps me through it all.

As I face this challenge, my son Caden is dealing with his own marathon. He needs surgery for the fourth time in October. Please pray that he gets better before October and won't need the surgery. But if he does, let it be the last one, and may he heal quickly and completely! Also, please pray for this mama's heart. I won't be able to be with Caden because of my chemo, and it's going to be tough.

I'm incredibly grateful for David, who will care for both of us during this time. Please keep us in your prayers.

Prayer requests:  chemo starts 9/21, and Caden’s surgery is 10/13.  

ps:  thoughts are mine, proofreading by ChatGPT