Today marks my 8th year cancer-free. When I look back over the last eight years, I am in awe of God's faithfulness to me and my family. I went through the six months of chemo without too many problems, other than my hair thinning. The very last chemo treatment did have to be halted due to extreme back pain, but the doctor says that happens sometimes. Evidently, I didn't need it, though. Throughout the chemo, I was able to work pretty much all the time, except on days when I had to take off for the chemo. In the ensuing years, I have been able to recoup and surpass my prior sick days, so I have days to take to help my parents if needed. God is faithful.
Almost four years after I was diagnosed with colon cancer, my precious father was diagnosed. Where my tumor had perforated the colon, his was a flat tumor on the side of the colon wall. At 84 years old, he had surgery on a Thursday, was home the following Tuesday, and the Monday after that he was back on his riding lawn mower. God is faithful.
In February of 2015, Mother was initially hospitalized with pneumonia. After a week in ICU, she was sent home under hospice care with congestive heart failure. Here, almost five months later, she is still bedridden in the hospital bed, and hospice still comes five days a week, but she is still hanging in there. Her mind is still good, but she is too weak to get out of bed. God has blessed Dad to be in good health to take care of her. My brother cleans their house on Thursday and is there if they need him. I go on Saturdays and Sundays to bathe her and relieve Dad so he can get out. God is faithful.
I praise God every day that He has blessed us with my parents' overall good health; Dad has his mother's genes as she lived to be 92. He has problems with skin cancers, but his health otherwise is pretty good for an 87.5 year old.
On top of all of this, I have a new position at work this fall, one that will reduce my stress exponentially. That is a HUGE blessing considering what I may face with my parents.
God is good, and He is faithful. Be encouraged that if you hang onto Him, He can get you through any of life's trials.
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