Pressing On

So glad April is behind us. Although Spring vacation was amazing, we had a wonderful time exploring England's countryside, the city of London and I did co-write a book with my youngest daughter about our travels there, but the return home and reality that we were about to face derailed me.

A dear friend aka self-adopted mom, was diagnosed out of the blue with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. She is a healthy active wife, mother, grandmother and business owner, no one saw this coming. Even with my medical background, sitting in the consultation, it was as if we were hearing a foreign language. How could this be? The elephant was now in the room. She would need to begin Chemotherapy the following week.

I have never been this close to someone having this type of diagnosis. I felt helpless and scared. Prior to checking into the hospital for her induction treatment, about 20 of us gathered around her in her home, held hands and participated in an Anointing Prayer. As I prayed and cried I still felt that ever present question why??? Why her? Why can't this horrible disease go to criminals and drug dealers? Why does it have to happen to her? My only answer is that it's in God's hands. He is still God and He will still be with us as we walk through this darkness.

My faith is not negotiable, it is real and I have seen and experienced the power of prayer. This would be no different. So as we dried our eyes, we pressed on to the next step. More Bone Marrow Tests, P.I.C.C. line, Chemotherapy and blood draws. With her husband never leaving her side, I witnessed the beauty of a 43 year marriage transition into the part of wedding vows, "in sickness and in health." The love between them in that room could have lit up a mountain side. I spent many hours at the hospital keeping my game face on, then I would leave and walk to my car and sit in the parking lot immobilized with tears pouring down my face.

I decorated her room at the hospital with "girly style" and the cards poured in. The nurses often said that she was ahead of the game because of how much love was in that room, on the walls and through the computer (webcam). I felt so bad for the people who have to go through this alone. The prayers continued and blessings in the midst of this darkness were becoming apparent. After 2 weeks of treatment and being told this first round would keep her in the hospital for one month, they were letting her go home 2 days before Mother's Day. Praise God! For you see, her daughter had given birth to another grandson last week and she longed to be with her.

Prayer is powerful and although it didn't remove the diagnosis it did provide a miracle. The doctors came in and said she could go home, that her cell counts were good and that she could continue with out-patient treatment. We'll take that!!