<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">These past six and a half years have been a roller coaster of emotions — highs, lows, and everything in between. But these past couple of weeks have truly tested our faith and reminded us, once again, of God’s hand in every moment.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">In May, Scott began having pain in his lower back. He went to a spine specialist in Baton Rouge, who quickly sent us straight to MD Anderson, concerned that the kidney cancer might have returned and metastasized to his spine. We were heartbroken. After six long years of battling cancer, we couldn’t believe we were facing it again. We went to MD Anderson distraught — worried, fearful, and weary.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">But then, a glimmer of hope. Our oncologist told us it was not cancer — just a fracture in Scott’s spine caused by previous radiation. We were so relieved. They performed a kyphoplasty to repair the fracture, and we came home with thankful hearts. We didn’t even tell our kids about the possibility of cancer returning because we didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">A few months later, Scott went in for his routine six-month scans at MD Anderson. Once again, our emotions shifted. The doctor told us they were confident it <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">was<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap"> cancer this time. We were devastated — heartbroken, shocked, and speechless. How could we go from such relief to such despair so quickly? We had no choice but to tell our children, and our hearts broke all over again.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">I wasn’t sure I was ready to walk this road again. But Scott, with his steady faith and determination, inspired me. He reminded me that no matter how hard the journey gets, God is still in control.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">Two weeks later, our doctor met with a full team of specialists to discuss Scott’s case. That’s one of the many blessings of MD Anderson — it’s a research hospital where doctors collaborate, question, and challenge one another to find the best possible answers. As the team reviewed Scott’s scans, at least one doctor raised a question. He wondered aloud if what looked like a tumor might actually be another fracture — one that created a shadow and mimicked a mass. The others were skeptical, but he persisted. By the grace of God, he convinced the team to do a biopsy before starting radiation.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">Scott and I traveled to MD Anderson on Tuesday to undergo the biopsy. That biopsy changed everything.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">Today — on the <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">Feast of the Guardian Angels<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap"> — Scott came home from work with a bottle of champagne and tears streaming down his face. He broke down as he told me: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">the biopsy came back NEGATIVE.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">What they thought was a tumor was actually another fracture in his spine. If not for that one doctor’s doubt — that tug on his heart and mind — Scott would have gone through another intense round of radiation that his fragile bones may not have withstood. I truly believe his guardian angel was at work that day.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">We cried together — but this time, they were tears of overwhelming joy.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">God is so, so good. These past six-plus years have stretched us and humbled us, but today, we were reminded once again of His mercy and faithfulness. Scott is a walking testimony of God’s grace.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">We know this journey isn’t over — this is our lives now. But we move forward with gratitude, hope, and trust. We believe Scott has a purpose here, and we pray each day that God will continue to lead us toward it.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; white-space: pre-wrap">Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support. Today, we celebrate a miracle — a reminder that even in our darkest valleys, God is with us.

Scott Gautreau

Update: Our Guardian Angel Moment – by Lori Gautreau