Hello to All,
It was a great birthday week. Ann's mom arrived on the 8th to stay with the kids while we were in Houston. My mom came down on the 15th to help celebrate Ann's significant birthday on the 17th. Diane, our friend from Australia, also flew in for a few days on her way back to Iowa. Ann's brother and sister-in-law surprised her with a quick visit for the weekend. We capped the celebratory week with a surprise party Sunday evening beautifully executed by Laurie and Joan. Our moms and Diane left on Monday. All the emails and calls, cards and gifts were a great encouragement to Ann. Thanks to everyone for making it a memorable week.
It was also a tough week. Fear and grief peppered the festivities. Staring at an indefinite new regimen of chemo was overwhelming at times. Ann starts tomorrow afternoon with one type of chemo and will receive two types next Thursday. The cycle repeats every 21 days. We return to Houston every two cycles to see if the chemo is effective at keeping Ann afloat. Staring into an uncertain future makes faith and hope elusive.
The week also had a scary test. On the way home from Houston on the 11th, we received a call from Ann's mom reporting that Matt had whacked his eye with a rubber band bracelet at school. Lois and Paul took Matt to the family doctor and we arrived back in Dallas in time to meet them there. After a brief examination the doctor sternly told me to take Matt to the emergency room to see an ophthalmologist. His iris was half full of blood. The thirty-minute drive to the hospital was a tough two-fold test. First, I needed to stay calm because Matt wasn't. Second, I needed to decide if I would still worship God if he allowed Matt to loose his eye, especially since we had just learned that Ann's cancer was growing again. I decided that I would and God decided that he wouldn't.
Hebrews 12:7, 10-11:
Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons.
For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them,
but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.
Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.
But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.
Prayer Requests:
- That Ann would tolerate this regimen of chemo with minimal side effects and that the cancer would stop growing.
- That Ann would retain a measure of faith and hope, even when she feels crummy.
- That God would heal Ann in his way and time so that Matt's children would know their grandma's love and faith.
Even though we haven't responded to many emails of late, we greatly appreciate your notes, whether long or short.
Thanks for caring and praying.
Love,
Howard & Ann
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