Incongruity struck me the other night when Ian was vomiting. We’re in a season of celebrating his healing. But chemo continues for another six months. It’s like finishing a bottle of antibiotics after the flu has receded, just to be sure.
I’m reminded of what I’ve heard about the Marine Corps Marathon. After running 25 miles, many athletes are tempted to quit when they come around the last corner because the last quarter mile is uphill to the Washington Monument.
Especially pray that God will renew Renee’s strength. She’s doing well, but I’m concerned about her fatigue. She finished Ian’s home schooling from last year just a few days before beginning new courses for our three youngest sons. She’s cooking organically to give Ian’s body every chance to continue winning this battle. Ian’s glycol-nutrients are so expensive that we buy the material in bulk and fill over 100 capsules a day by hand. Ian still needs daily massage of his lymph nodes to work out the residual edema from all that internal bleeding. Plus the hours in the clinic for chemo infusions continue. You get the idea.
Lauren is like an angel, a gift from heaven to help us through. If God had not moved her to quit her job and move across the country to move in and help us, I would probably have had to take a leave of absence. I pray that as she serves God will meet her needs according to His riches in glory.
It’s difficult to describe our bond with our oncologist. We trust him with so much. We have wept together and rejoiced together. Then we began to notice tremors in his hands. Finally last week we were stunned to learn that Parkinson’s disease has forced him to retire. His senior partner has taken over Ian’s care. We can only imagine what it means to be forced to walk away after 20 years of saving life after life. His healing hands need healing. His caring heart needs care. I pray that he will experience God’s healing and comfort.
Then there’s Aunt Jeannie. She’s was our angel from heaven for over a month in the spring. And she’s flying out for another two weeks while I’ll be in Africa again, leaving this Sunday. Her husband and two of her three sons have disabling illnesses. Fortunately, she’s a registered nurse. But now the needs of her own family have flared up this week. I pray that God will fill her with strength and wisdom.
As for me, I continue to be amazed at how God is carrying me along. There are signs of strain. I’m more forgetful. My eye is twitching as I type this, an indicator of fatigue. Yesterday was the first day I’ve exercised since the cancer hit in February. Emails pile up in my inbox. I confess that watching the Olympics has not helped me to get the rest I need. But in spite of it all, I’m encouraged.
Here’s some good news: Last night the Make-A-Wish Foundation came by, and it looks like they are going to grant Ian’s wish to scuba dive in Hawaii! So, in a few weeks our family will be going to Hawaii! I pray that unlike most family vacations, this one will include some real rest for Mom and Dad. It would be great if God would provide so that extra hands could come along.
I hope that this memo does not bring a flurry of advice or scolding from concerned friends. I’m confident that we’ve been walking in step with Jesus in all this. But I notice that even Jesus desperately needed rest in the midst of a storm.
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