Home is beautiful, familiar. Filled with my most treasured humans and the optimum location for healing. I've been home from the hospital recovering now four sleeps, patiently waiting for my digestive tract to find its new normal. Following being hospitalized for eight days, enduring what my surgeon calls 'a large tumour removal and intestinal resection', I'm feeling quite thankful.  

Each day the multiple incision sites  progress in their process of melding into my abdominal wall of war wounds and I have remained infection free! My immune system is strong and on so many levels my organs are too. For the amount of radiation and type of chemo I endured these past several months, it's a waiting game to see how my body responds to recovery. There are unpleasant surprises involved along with pain, pain & more pain, oh and the normal white blood cell/ electrolyte scares but hey, it's all a part of the recovery adventure!

No one can prepare another for this post operative journey. Everyones' is unique. My body is healing in it's own way of which I'm choosing, multiple times daily, to be thankful.  Setting my hope on my calling, while keeping the expectation of my new normal flexible, is a challenge.  Stepping back with perspective, there's really only cause to celebrate! Pain is an energy and perspective stealer of which I'm constantly reminding myself of.  This too shall pass and staying focused on my calling amidst the adventure is the daily challenge.

Thank you family, friends, neighbours, medical staff, adoption workers and others whom have relentlessly given encouragement, advice, support, meals, resources, time, a listening ear, prayer and love! This marathon journey of healing is a daily struggle for not only me, but for my most treasured inner circle of loved ones.  They are invaluable, fierce, present, loyal, gentle, teachable, wading through this battle of unknowns faithfully by my side. I am smothered with love and that is a clear reflection of God's covering over me.  

Even during such a huge season of receiving, there is  longing. I'm unable to engage with others actively and pour out, leaving me weak & hopeful at the feet of my Heavenly Father.  My faith is strong along with my inner peace. There's countless learning opportunities along the journey and as weak as I feel, my heart, mind and resolve is certainly stronger! The refiners fire continues to burn and I can honestly state that it is an honour and joy to be suffering.  We all are growing, being stretched and are emerging ready for the next leg of the journey! Go God!!

All that gushy talk out of the way...... I can now announce that my lovely husband and I met with my surgeon yesterday to discuss the pathology of all cells removed during surgery.  According to all of the tissue examined, which included a tumour, bowel and many lymph nodes, I am officially CANCER FREE!!! Apparently the type of tumour I had, along with its placement, responded superbly to  my radiation, oral chemo and both forms of chemo infusions. Such a rarity so I've heard, for one to have a large stage 4 tumour, along with the combination of affected lymph nodes, to now be eradicated....Go God!!!!  Of course I have yet to meet with my chemo doc to see if they want to continue pounding me with more chemo in summer, but for now, I am focussing on healing and celebrating.  In the next two months my intestines should grow in their capacity and my pain decrease.  The good thing is, I still have an ileostomy that diverts most of my stool/poop allowing my lower colon time to heal from the resection.  In a few months  I will have one final 'reconnection' surgery to close the ileostomy, hoping that my digestive system works in its entirety. At that point, I will fully celebrate!!!

Oh - and if that wasn't enough good news... We just found out from our landlords that we no longer need to move this summer! Yeehaw!  A new investor (not developer) bought our yellow 'Casa de la Soul' which should allow us to make many more memories here for the next year or 2 at least.  Consider this another huge answer to prayer.  From being nearly overcome by untimely obstacles & unwelcome tumours, to being overwhelmed with hope by restoration & renewal.  Grace upon grace.  

We would love to celebrate all this goodness with a huge fiesta.  Alas, Covid.  Ours will likely be a rather quiet summer in the city.  Someday soon we'll all be able to say hello to one another (and say good-bye to Facetime/Zoom). But until the whole Covid situation calms down, it's probably best for us focus on rest and healing.  That also means we will most likely not be able to travel south this summer to visit our beloved California family as we had hoped. But as soon as these borders open we're on our way.  

One final note of newness related to this healing - this summer we will be able to welcome our new baby princess for more than weekend visits.  She is currently living in a safe babies home while I strengthen and we will immensely enjoy continuing to build attachment and beautiful memories as a family.

SOOO many challenges brought to a peaceful and joyful conclusion.  We couldn't make up such a script and are forever grateful for the Author and Conductor of this Great Good News story.  Thank you for playing your part in this story so generously, contagiously and lovingly.  We hope & pray that this news brings you joy, and that you experience the power of loving community working together.  We look forward to coming alongside you during the trials ahead, and pray that whatever the outcome - we're able to consider it all joy. 

With thankful hearts and a home full of love.  Soli Deo Gloria!

The Martens