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| Original diagnosis |
Last year, after the cancer diagnosis, our family was
blessed in so many ways that I could not keep up with the 'thank you'
notes. There is no way we can ever repay
the kindness, helpfulness, and thoughtfulness of our family, friends, Doctors,
nurses, technicians, and strangers. I
hope I have managed to list everything, if not, please forgive. Your love is beautiful.
Thank you, Lord
... for my husband.
For he has stuck by my side and endured a tremendous amount of stress
over this past year and half.
Thank you, Lord
...for the ultrasound technician who found the tumor at my
20 week checkup.
...for the ladies in my life that prayed over me and sobbed
with me 2 days later when the nurse called during Art class to say, 'We need to
see you again, this time please don't bring your daughter.'
...for the many friends who took care of Emma during the numerous Doctor visits after that. There were too many to count. This also included diagnosis of placenta previa and gestational diabetes. OB, Perinatal, Oncologist, and Chiropractor visits.
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| Just like weeds in a garden, junk in our food. |
...for a cancer book that taught me how to eat right. See I lost weight most of the pregnancy. After eating all organic, no dairy, no sugar
and limited protein, I felt so much better and could actually keep food down.
...for an awesome Chiropractor. For she prayed over me, adjusted my back and
hips, helped with nutrition, taught me about essential oils (I'm still learning), and numerous other
ways for my pregnant, cancerous body to feel better.
Thank you, Lord
...for our wonderful Sunday School Class.
They came together many, many times to help us. They helped move us out of our house and back in (packing, moving, etc). We had the house remodeled before the baby came in hopes of it being a cleaner environment (removed the popcorn ceiling, removed the carpet) for all of us. Ladies came over weekly and cleaned our home (floors, bathrooms, sinks, laundry, etc). The guys took Doug out for breakfast one day for some laughs and 'spirit lifting'.
They came together many, many times to help us. They helped move us out of our house and back in (packing, moving, etc). We had the house remodeled before the baby came in hopes of it being a cleaner environment (removed the popcorn ceiling, removed the carpet) for all of us. Ladies came over weekly and cleaned our home (floors, bathrooms, sinks, laundry, etc). The guys took Doug out for breakfast one day for some laughs and 'spirit lifting'.
Thank you, Lord
...for family, friends and neighbors. One came and weeded, cut back the vast amount
of overgrowth in our front flower beds.
Several others mowed our 2.3 acres.
...for prayer. For I was downright scared silly on that
operating table and I prayed to You for comfort, peace, and healing for myself
and little LJ.
...for nurses. There
was one in particular who helped me a great deal after the surgery. They delivered LJ at 33 weeks and immediately
performed a radical hysterectomy. I was
in such pain afterwards, not from the incision, but from 'plumbing'
issues. Pain that brings tears repeatedly. My poor belly was so full of gas, that it
looked like I was pregnant with twins!
This nurse did all she could to help.
My IVs failed daily. She fixed
them. When I finally was able to move
and out of the awful pain, there was another nurse who helped . She seemed to really care, brought me special
foods and helped clean up. I told her I
was so sorry, and she said it was ok and that she would need help someday.
...for the NICU staff.
The Doctors, nurses, and front desk are wonderful. When my husband wheeled me down to see LJ for
the very first time (catheter and all) on the third day, the nurse working LJs
room was the best. To actually hold and
physically see my lil guy for the very first time was amazing.
Thank you, Lord
...for family and friends who visited us in the
hospital. It was a great way to lift our
spirits.
...for a sleep number bed.
I could truly rest and heal at home while LJ was in the NICU. I could only physically handle being in the
NICU for 1-2hrs each day and gradually worked my way up on time there.
... for wonderful neighbors. Our 95 year old neighbor loaned us a brand new wheeled walker that I used daily. I was on weight restrictions and could not lift anything over 5 lbs because of the surgery. Getting my bags, pumps, food, and such to the NICU was an ordeal and the walker helped a lot to carry those items.
... for wonderful neighbors. Our 95 year old neighbor loaned us a brand new wheeled walker that I used daily. I was on weight restrictions and could not lift anything over 5 lbs because of the surgery. Getting my bags, pumps, food, and such to the NICU was an ordeal and the walker helped a lot to carry those items.
...for our Sunday School friends. For they all took turns driving me to the
NICU daily until LJ came home 4 weeks later.
They understood the pain of traveling after the c-section/surgery and took
certain highways/roads that were smoother and less bumpy to get there. They loaded/unloaded my various bags needed
each time and navigated that hospital parking garage.
...for breastpumps. For
without them, I could not feed LJ. While
he was immediately taken to the NICU, I worked on recovering and pumping. Once home, he nursed like a champ but we had
to switch back to bottles during treatments.
Then, 2 weeks after the last chemo, my milk was safe once again to feed
him. But little guy was too used to the
bottles. So the pump and I have become
friends.
...for my wonderful cousin Lauren. She came during her summer off from teaching and
took care of Emma, also finishing up her schoolwork for the year. She took care of Emma during the day so I
could focus on getting to LJ in the NICU.
She took her on a weekly basis out to do fun things, go to the
libraries, playdates, etc. I was very
sick during the pregnancy and sometimes schoolwork just did not happen, not to
mention all those Dr. visits.
...for friends and family who brought over many nourishing
meals for our family during LJs NICU stay and during my treatments. A warm meal feeds the soul and spirit when
you are recovering.
...for Doug's co-workers.
They blessed us with giftcards and we used them to buy gas/food during
the NICU stay.
...for praying family and friends. ...for prayer...that we can come to You, oh
Lord, with our needs and have them fulfilled.
...for our home-school co-op. Many wonderful ladies kept watch over Emma on
Friday's and other activities when I could not.
She could feel somewhat normal and have fun.
...for friends. For
they came and harvested our vegetable garden so we could have fresh, healthy
veggies.
... for my parents.
They helped ease our burden many, many times. We stayed with them for two weeks while our
home was remodeled. They kept Emma for
weeks and weekends. Many, many other
helpful things that moms and dads do.
Thank you, Lord
... for other family members for they brought meals, gifts, kept
Emma on a weekend, and mowed the lawn.
... for diapers. Family members hosted a wonderful diaper
shower at our home before LJ arrived. We
didn't have to worry about diapers and wipes for over 6 months.
... for a very understanding boss. Doug's supervisor let him work from home for
those 5-6 weeks while I underwent radiation and chemo treatments. Doug took care of LJ nightly (he was up 3-4x
a night) and slept in a bit. Working
from home helped him a lot.
... thank you for a special friend who underwent similar
cancer treatments. She was helpful
answering my endless questions.
... for very special ladies who donated their extra breastmilk. They took great care and time to provide for
LJ when I could not. He is allergic to
milk proteins and could not tolerate formula, we tried 4 different kinds with
the help of our pediatrician. We even
had several special ladies offer to lactate for the lil guy. Another friend helped coordinate getting and
storing milk. Bless them!
... for a wonderful sitter we found with the help of
FaceBook. She took care of Emma and LJ
on a daily basis when I could not. I
could take a nap daily and not worry about my kiddos and focus on getting
better. She was a huge blessing for us. She did many other things that helped us and
I honestly cannot remember them all. We
all love her and thank God for her special help.
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| Just like pulling weeds, learning from our mistakes and repairing the damage |
... for detox baths and essential oils. The helped greatly during treatments and on a
daily basis now. We are using the oils
in place of a lot of traditional meds.
They are helping to heal my body.
We still see our Dr's occasionally, but not as much as in the past.
... for friends who grocery shopped for us. Some went to Whole Foods, some to
Wal-mart. All a great help. I ended up needing very specific foods during
treatments. Healthy, fibrous foods went
straight through me and caused a lot of discomfort.
... for Godly ladies who took turns driving me to/from daily
treatments. They carried bags, listened
to my chemo-brain chatter, let me eat/drink in their cars, and just blessed me
with their presence.
Thank you, Lord
... that you have given me longer time on this earth. To enjoy being a mom to these two blessings you have entrusted to my care
But love,
joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law
P.S....I'm not a writer, nor pretend to be one. Please exceuse any misspelled words and grammatically incorrect 'stuff'.
Wow, April! Your family has been through so much this past year & a half! And what a testimony you have now of how God brought you through the trenches. It's so neat so see all the people He placed in your path along the way. I know it was a VERY difficult journey but God refines us in the fire and I know your faith has grown by leaps and bounds. Rejoicing with you, friend ;-)
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