One year ago today is when Melissa went into the hospital and the tumor was found in her brain.  It has been just over 6 months since I have posted an update so I thought this would be a good day to share how Melissa has been doing these past 6 months.  My last post in June actually had to do with her hysterectomy which when we look back over the year is often a forgotten piece of her journey this year.  Melissa recovered from this surgery over the summer and overall is doing well regarding this.   It was a much different summer for Melissa.  For the past 15 years,  summertime (especially after July 4) has meant vigorous preparation for the coming school year and while she still had many conversations and “coaching” moments, this part of her life now looks much different as the day to day operation of the school is no longer what God has for her.   Melissa’s new role is one of support, mentoring, guidance and encouragement to both students and faculty with her official title being “Dean of Faculty and Students”.  When this new job title was settled on, the first thing we did was google “What does a Dean do?”😊  It was a wonderful and exciting moment for her to be at High Point for her favorite day of the school year…the first day!  The other wonderful moment this fall was finding out that we are going to be grandparents for the first time in April of this coming year.   Zach and Cami (our Florida kiddos) are going to be the proud parents of a baby boy!   What a wonderful reminder that in the midst of difficulties we have a God who loves to bless us beyond what we could ask or imagine.  

One of the aspects of the surgery and radiation treatments that Melissa received earlier this year is that often some of the effects are not felt or realized until quite some time has passed.   Melissa has started to experience this, particularly with her eyesight.   The most significant impact that has resulted from everything that has happened has been damage to her vision in her left eye.   This is due to the radiation being directed at this area.   There are various things that will cause her vision to be better or worse on a given day and we are still learning what those things are.   As far as her head is concerned, the kind of headaches that caused her to go into the emergency room in the first place are gone but there still is a feeling of tenderness in the area where surgery was.  Similar to her eyesight, the tenderness she feels in her head varies from day to day due to factors that we can’t quite put our fingers on.   Speech has just about completely returned to normal with just occasional studders that usually can be attributed to either fatigue or high emotions.   Generally, there are still emotional and physical adjustments as she gets used to the various changes that have come throughout the year but time after time we see the loving care, goodness and wisdom of the Lord shine through in the midst of these struggles.   

We have been so blessed this Christmas to have all of our kids and spouses home together.   It is the thing we love the most at this stage that we are in.   Today we had a great day together thinking back over the details of what last year at this time looked like and even in our conversation today we all “realized” a few things that we had not even yet put together regarding the sequence of events that started Melissa down the path of brain surgery.  Reflecting over everything that happened brought some tears but it is good to think about the low points in life to fully appreciate and be grateful for the amazing sovereignty and mercy of God throughout the journey.  

Because we are now coming up on a year out from the surgery and various treatments there are going to be a number of follow up appointments over the next month.  Melissa will be having another MRI on January 12 so the current state of the tumor can be checked.   Please pray that there has been no growth of the remaining portion of the tumor and that everything looks good in her brain.   Please also pray for Melissa as MRI’s of her head often cause an emotional “revisiting” of some of the trauma that she has had over the year.  She will also be having an important appointment with her ophthalmologist to see where things stand with her vision.  As I mentioned earlier, her eyesight is probably the biggest ongoing area of concern and we are praying that there will not be further deterioration of her eyesight.  The effects of her radiation are still being realized so it is still not completely clear if her eyesight has settled into what it will ultimately be in the future…so we are hoping to get some more clarity on this now.  Please pray for this appointment on January 11. 

Please also pray for Melissa has she continues to adjust to her new role at school that she will be able to be settled and effective in her new role there.  

Another unrelated prayer request is for our daughter Mia as she will be leaving on January 9 to travel to Ecuador for 5 months of studying abroad.   She will be taking classes as well as student teaching there.   We are thrilled that she will be having this experience…especially given her strong desire to pursue full time mission work.   Please pray for safety as well as her health while she is there as she struggles on a regular basis with migraine headaches.  

The part of this past year that we returned to the most today as we thought about this journey was the incredible love and kindness that was shown to our family by so many people.   We can’t say it enough how thankful and blessed we are by each of you.  All of the notes on this caring bridge site, cards, notes, calls, visits and prayers have become a huge part of Melissa’s journey through 2023.  We love you all so much and pray that this coming year is one in which God blesses you richly in every way.