Life is a Journey…

Most of you know that my mom has been very sick for the last three months, from symptoms and ailments that have been accumulating over the last two years. For the last three months however she has not even been able to be up and doing normal daily things on many days, not even simple things- like eating. She has been going from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist trying to get a diagnoses and treatment. Last month she was diagnosed with Graves disease (a thyroid disease). After being diagnosed with Graves the doctors were working on a treatment plan to remove her thyroid either by surgery or radiation, after which hopefully she and our whole family would be able to get back to normal life. When meeting with the endocrinologist to discuss treatment he showed concern about operating while she had the horrible cough she has been dealing with for years, which has become extremely bad in the last months. He also discovered an extremely high white blood cell count and anemia. He referred her back to her gp to explore treatment for an infection that the blood work indicated existed. After chest X-ray and MRI discovered numerous large nodules in her chest and neck the gp referred her to a pulmonary specialist to explore the possibility of asthma and an explanation for the large nodules. After more tests however it was proven that she did not have asthma. The pulmonary doctor felt she should have a nodule biopsy removed by a surgeon for study. The surgery was on Friday (three days after I got back from Mexico). Monday morning they gave us the results, she has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a blood cancer…

We are unsure of treatment as of yet, but it will most likely involve chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy. The good news is its treatable and she will eventually be in remission. The bad news is she has cancer which is more what were concerned about at the moment.

We have peace that everything will be ok, the positive thinking being that this is a journey that will grow us, mature us, teach us, bring us closer to the Lord, and show us new ways to show encouragement to others.

However prayers would be appreciated as we all sort through, process, and live through this new difficulty in our lives. It’s not going to be easy!

A verse that has been on my mind lately and become my new favorite seems more than applicable:

“I have said these things that in me you might have peace. For in this world you will have tribulation; but take heart, I have conquered the world!”

John 16:33