"Flying With God" May 16, 2016

"Facebook Friends & Family: It's been a while since I've posted an update on my mom. As many of you know, early last year, mom went to see a doctor about a pain in her abdomen. After learning the pain was being caused by a tumor, we were devastated and we prayed that the tumor would be benign. However, unable to get a biopsy on the tumor, mom was scheduled for surgery at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in mid July.

Even though it was a risky surgery, mom's doctor was able to successfully remove the tumor. When the doctor talked to us afterward the surgery, he informed us that the tumor "looked" to be cancerous. He was also "confused" about some of mom's blood work as it wasn't consistent with a normal cancer prognosis. To err on the side of caution, the doctor wanted mom to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy once she recovered from surgery. This was heart-breaking news for all of us. Yet, dad and mom prayed and felt they should proceed with the chemotherapy treatments.

The first chemotherapy treatment was a much stronger type of chemotherapy and mom had a severe reaction to it. Just minutes into the treatment, doctors and nurses immediately stopped treatment and her doctor decided to proceed with a "less intense" form of chemotherapy.

Over the next several months, mom would go through six rounds of grueling chemotherapy treatments. We thanked the Lord that, even though her immune system was weakened by the treatments, mom never became sick with a cold or flu and was able to finish her last treatment in December of 2015. And when her doctors checked he CA count, her levels were good and the cancer appeared to be gone.

However, early this year, mom learned her CA count had elevated and her doctor talked to my parents about starting her on a "sustainable" type of chemotherapy. This type of chemotherapy, according to her doctor, would only sustain her CA count. The risk involved with this chemotherapy (and with any chemotherapy treatment) is that it can cause "other types of cancer." Mom and dad were not comfortable with this treatment and, after more praying, decided to trust God with the rest of her healing.

In the last couple weeks, mom and dad learned of a new successful type of cancer treatment called "immunotherapy." (http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/immunotherapy/). And on Mother's Day, Mom was able to connect with the Cancer Center of America in Philadelphia to learn more about this and other types of treatments they offer. The person she spoke with on the phone was also a Christian and they talked for 2 hours. Mom was greatly encouraged by their conversation and, within the next 48 hours, she and dad were set to fly out to Philadelphia where they will spend a week at the center.

Friends, as mom and dad embark into this next chapter of mom's story, I sincerely ask that you continue to keep them (and us) in your prayers. Mom and dad fly out to Philadelphia tomorrow morning. They are hopeful but also very anxious and nervous. We're not sure what God's plan is through all of this, but we know He has one and we continue to trust in Him.

Thank you all so much.

Originally published to Facebook on 5/16/16