Shelley Davis Shelley's Balcony

On Monday morning, October 24th, on our way back from a wedding in Austin, Shelley's phone rang. It was her doctor from Dallas. She put her on speaker and the words are burned into our souls, "This is the part of my job I hate. I'm so sorry, but it's cancer". So many of you have walked this road, personally or with a loved one. We are joining you now on the journey.


Shelley felt a lump in her left breast on Saturday, October 15th, and scheduled a mammogram for Monday the 17th. The nurse technician suggested a sonogram, which was done the next day. It revealed a 4 cm mass that was not usual in configuration for cancer. However, the doctor scheduled a biopsy for Thursday, October 20th. Confident that it was only a cyst, we headed to Austin for the wedding. Monday's revelation started a dizzying series of doctors and hospitals and additional tests. The result: chemo treatment first, to halt and shrink the tumor, then surgery, then most likely radiation. All too familiar to all too many of our sweet friends and family.


This site is dedicated to my bride's journey. It is the most efficient way for us to give those of you who love her the status of her fight.


The charge of the writer of Hebrews' takes on a whole new meaning for us now. "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race set before us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." There is no strength for her race, nor way to shed the things that drag her down, nor clearness of sight nor endurance to run, unless the Great Healer, the Creator of her sweet soul, stands before her with all that she needs. She is focused. Her eyes are on Him. And we, as much as we want to fix it, are merely a portion of her great cloud of witnesses.


We read a book in 2003 called Balcony People, by Joyce Landorf  Heatherly.  Joyce' premise, in her words: "Some people are in the "balconies" of
our lives, cheering us on, encouraging and energizing us with their warm
affirmations. Others live down in our "basements," coldly tearing
away at our souls with their unfair and critical judgements. This book is about
discovering the balcony people in our lives - and about being a balcony person
to others."  May I invite you to visit this page often. Find glimpses here of her race. Speak love and encouragement into her life. Give her your endurance by faith and by hope and by love. Please be a part of Shelley's Balcony.