Gratitude doesn’t even seem to be enough this week.
You see, last May my mother-in-law found a lump on her inner thigh.
A visit to the doctor and several tests confirmed.
Cancer.
The first surgery came just weeks after diagnosis.
In the doctor’s words, he couldn’t believe that she hadn’t had any other health issues
for the amount of cancer that was inside of her.
She didn’t get better after the surgery.
We went to visit over Memorial Day weekend.
It was scary to see someone you love look so close to death.
She was.
We called 911.
A tumor attached to her intestines had killed itself leaving a hole.
She was being poisoned by her own body.
More surgery.
And now a colostomy bag while everything else heals.
Then the chemo.
She is one of the strongest women I know.
She has come through so much in the last nine months.
She has literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
She’s been strong enough to come down seven hours to visit.
Now the chemo treatment is over.
We got the best Christmas present ever–her cancer is in remission
she is strong enough to face the surgery to reverse the colostomy bag.
There was a time not long ago that we weren’t sure we’d get to see her down on the floor
playing with her grandkids.
That is what I’m grateful for this week.
But life isn’t always as easy as we’d like it to be.
She had her reversal surgery.
She’s had some more complications
she’s been in the hospital for three weeks.
And will likely face another surgery this week.
But she is strong, and God is stronger.
God, I praise you for bringing her through this far.
And I pray that you’d give her Your strength as she continues healing.
