Hello friends,

I am so grateful for the love and support thru both your prayers and your kindness in words and deeds. Can you believe it's been 6+ months since I was first diagnosed?!  Yup: on 4/28/23 the road ahead seemed unimaginable.  Yet day by day God provided everything I needed, and more.  Including a rest period after surgery.  And now, Phase 3 begins.  

One way to think about it is that all the treatments that came before now focused on getting the existing tumors out. And by the grace of God, it seems the doctors were entirely successful.

What comes now is forward-looking, to ensure no variant returns. (Because the version of breast cancer I have is aggressive and sneaky. And similar to Covid mutations, it aims to evade our efforts to wipe out every single potentially-remaining cell.  My faith is that we will have full victory over it.  My hope, my trust, is that I will someday hear something akin to Christ’s declaration in Mark 5:34; “Daughter, your faith has made you well -- go in peace and be cured of your disease.”

Meanwhile, I have been enjoying my rest period.  

Although this next phase feels frightening, I keep reminding myself of a few things:

1. It is only for 8 weeks. (4 treatments, every 2 weeks thru Dec 12.)
2. God is in control.  I don’t have to be.  So… it’s ok for me to feel weak. It’s ok to be imperfect. It’s ok to be “needy” (the word I most hate and resist for myself.)
3. I have top-notch doctors, and access to the best care plans and medicines anywhere today.
4. I am never alone.  (Not only because God is with me, but because many of you are too, in your prayers and in person )
5. There is purpose in this.  There is a gift in the journey. (Maybe …this journey IS the gift?!  Transforming me?)

What I’m praying for now:

These photos are from Sunday 10/29: after “church on the sofa”, and lunch outdoors at Sea Level by the marina.  Here’s me with my silver hair for now, before it falls out again in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for continuing to remember me in your prayers.  With much gratitude, a bit of humor, and great hope ... sincerely yours -- Edith (Timea)