“The peace of God will guard your hearts…”

Saturday, October 8, 2022

It’s October- Breast Cancer Awareness Month- and our family has already been blessed by our wonderful Weatherford Community. I was honored at our WHS Lady Roo Volleyball Pink Out game on Tuesday evening. It was one of the greatest recognitions I have ever received! I have been a part of Weatherford ISD & the Roo Family since 2001. During that time, I have met and built relationships with so many wonderful students and families. So to look up in the stands and see so many familiar faces completely filled my heart with joy! It was a night I will always remember! 

Yesterday I received round 2 of 16 of my post mastectomy chemotherapy. The treatment went just fine and I woke up this morning feeling well. After my first treatment, I had some side effects that were unexpected. On days 4,5, and 6, I was extremely bloated with gas in my stomach and could only find relief from burping. I’m sure this sounds very odd (LOL). And strangely enough, I’ve never been this bloated before nor had to burp so much in my life! This was not a common side effect that my oncologist had heard about; however, I was sharing this with a friend yesterday who told me that she remembers her grandmother burping all the time after her chemo treatments. So I felt a little better knowing it wasn’t just me! Prayers that on Day 4-6 after this round I do not have bloating and gas in my stomach. As always- your prayers are felt and appreciated very much!

On another note- our family received some very unexpected news at the beginning of September. Brice had experienced a sore throat for about 3 months and decided to make an appointment with an Ear-Nose-Throat specialist. We thought maybe he had allergies or something that was causing the sore throat. The doctor found a lump in his throat and biopsied it. Brice was diagnosed with Stage 3 Throat Cancer. It was only two weeks after we learned that I had residual cancer cells and would need another year of chemotherapy treatments that we learned Brice has cancer too. If you are reading that sentence again because you think there’s no way I just wrote “Brice has cancer”, trust me- we thought the exact same thing. It’s been very difficult for our family to understand how both Brice and I can have cancer at the exact same time. It’s been over a month that we’ve processed this news and it’s still hard to comprehend at times. However, this is one of those times in life when we can’t even try to understand the “why” and we have to have complete faith in God! Talk about turning your worries and fears over to God, I have had to do that more than ever this past month. There are no words to respond to or understand “why” this is happening. Only God has answers and now more than ever, we are leaning on his strength to carry us through this season of life. 

As parents, one of our biggest fears is for our children. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to know that both of your parents have cancer and are going through chemotherapy treatment at the exact same time. We have been very concerned about our dear Ansley. Her sweet sixteen birthday is coming up on November 9th and this should be a time in her life when she’s excited about driving, hanging out with friends, experiencing Friday NIght Lights and school spirit days, and doesn’t have a worry in the world that isn’t about teenager life. Unfortunately, she is living in a house where both her mom and dad have cancer. Plus- both of her siblings are off at college living their best lives. So I ask that you please pray for all three of our children: Chandler, Bryson, & Ansley, that they will lean on God, their faith, their friends, and their family to love & support them during this season of life. We know they are strong but do not want them worrying about us- we want them living their lives to the fullest knowing that “God has this” and they don’t need to worry about their parents! 

Lastly- our wonderful friends have come together to host a benefit for Brice and me. The date is Friday, November 18 at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds here in Weatherford from 7PM-midnight. There is a Facebook Post coming soon and we will also share information on this page for those interested. We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we have received since my diagnosis. We have the best tribe praying and loving on us during our battle with Cancer. Thank you to each one of you…..we are SO VERY BLESSED by YOU! :) 

Philippians 4:7 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.