It is time for this chapter of life to close!  Last week was a hard week of trying to find the new "normal" and the ebb and flow of Karly needing us and then wanting to be as far away from us as possible (developmentally appropriate!) was challenging.  That may sound harsh, but we all are realizing that you don't just tie a cancer journey up in a box, put a bow on it and stick it in the closet.  It has forever left an imprint on our lives, and the emotions that sneak up at various times can be surprising, overwhelming, and and even uncontrollable.  Either way, through it all, we continue to stand on the fact and promise that God was with us from the beginning and will be with us no matter what comes our way forevermore. 

I shared a word of thanks with our church family, and I want to share this same with the readers of this journal because many of you have blessed us, and I want you to hear these words:

Sunday night, October 28, marked the beginning of the end of an arduous journey for our family!  An end that would not have been possible without first the everlasting, faithful love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then the love and encouragement given to us by many!  As I read in 2 Corinthians just a few weeks ago, I was reminded of both, and I almost felt like our family could have been writing alongside Paul in  Verses 3 - 11.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles(physical and emotional impact of childhood cancer), so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia(or Brenner Children’s Hospital). We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us(at continuing appointments), as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

And for those that came to Karly’s “Ring the Bell Celebration”, you shared with us in giving thanks to God for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the many prayers you have prayed...THANK YOU!  Those two little words really don’t seem adequate to completely show our deep gratitude for all you have done for these countless things….

Prayed                  Hugged us             Mowed our grass             Took care of Angel

Visited us              Drove us                Provided a meal               Prayed

Sent a text            Prayed                   Washed our clothes         Donated money

Gave a gas card     Donated a hat        Prayed                            Wore a bracelet

Played football       Bought needs        Checked on Hampton       Prayed

Brought fruit          Prayed                  Read “Caringbridge”        Decorated for her

Prayed                  Lent a walker         Shaved her head             Made a poster

Sent a card           Donated sheets      Prayed                            Fixed her room

Brought cupcakes  Gave a gift card     Sent a card                     Prayed                  Called us                    Prayed                  Wrote with purple ink      Shared a song       Came to her head shaving party          Nicknamed a steroid        Wore a t-shirt       Cried with and for us         Lent a shower chair         Prayed

 

Moving forward, we ask that you continue to pray for Karly as she finishes her Senior Year at Northwest. The medical plan is for her to see her oncology team every six weeks for two cycles, then every three months for a year, every four months for a year, every six months for a year, and then once a year.  We also will be delivering over 75 sets of sheets for other children to have a brighter stay.  

As I close I leave you with a song that I shared with Karly a few days ago!  God has big plans for this girl, and we are just excited to see how God will use all of this for His glory in her life!  Much love to you all for your dedicated love, support, and prayer!