It has been about two months since I last updated the blog. I have often wanted to, but the truth is that it is hard to put into words the reality of our current life. On one hand, there is more joy than my heart can comprehend watching my kids as they are growing and playing sports and learning to read and I am blessed to hear their laughter each day. As I continue to feel the Lord's nearness like I've never felt before and see Him provide for all of our needs, I am amazed by His intimate care for us. And on the other hand, the last two months have been so very difficult as Clay has continued to be in so much pain each day and often it feels as though we're constantly slipping trying to figure out how to walk in this new terrain. Day in and day out we are doing the things that must be done as we find ourselves in a place we don't want to be. And yet He gives more grace.
Clay had scans last week, and overall we are thankful for the report. At the end of August, he had a 10 day radiation treatment on his brain. And as the radiation oncologist put it, "We can't keep treating his brain stem." We have been praying that he would get a clear report and were very anxious to get these results. It showed that there were no new spots in the brain stem, and only one small spot in another area of the brain. Even though we were hopeful that there would be no new spots at all, we are thankful that it is in a place that can be treated.
The whole body scan showed that everything else is stable and that the cancer hasn't spread to any new places. Again, we are thankful for that.
Last update we asked for prayer that we would be able to take a trip that we had planned last November. Though it felt like a bit of a miracle, in September we were able to go to Cancun. We have never left any of the kids that long, and our parents were AMAZING dividing and conquering with them. It was such a blessing to be able to slow down and have time to sleep and space to talk and process together. After the summer we had, we weren't sure we were going to be able to go but praise God we did.
Prayer Requests:
- Clay will have radiation Thursday (1017). Please pray that this will be successful and that there will be no new brain mets
- His new medication causes a lot of pain and fatigue. Please pray for energy and wisdom for how to best manage these things
- Continue to pray for perseverance for us as these daily struggles can be heavy and wearisome
