HAPPY NEW YEAR!!-2013

Happy New Year!    I can’t believe we’ve finally closed the chapter of the year 2012.  It was quite an eventful year to say the least.   As I was lying awake on New Year’s Eve, waiting for the ball to drop, the only one still awake in my household, I started to think what a year it’s been.    We had no idea what we were about to face when we went into the year 2012.  It was by far one of the most difficult times of our life for Justin and me and our family.  From numerous failed Pet Scans to finding out the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and then ultimately to his brain.  A few major surgeries, more doctor appointments than I can count, radiation,  treatments and shedding what felt like gallons of tears throughout the year.   We definitely weren’t prepared for that path.  But God is good…. and if you ask either one of us if we’d go through it again; we’d both say yes.  Why you ask?......Well for numerous reasons.  We both learned so much about ourselves and our faith.  The generosity that we experienced from not only people we knew but also people we never even meant before was astonishing.  But what was even more amazing was experiencing God and having him so real and evident in our daily lives.   Our faith grew so much throughout this past year.  And in the mist of turmoil, experiencing situations that Satan meant for bad and to tear us apart, God made good.  He blessed us, our marriage and our family more than we could have ever imagined.  And we ended the year with a second clean pet scan on December 20^th. 

Today Justin was back at Moffit to start the second round of his treatments that are every other week.  He goes one day every other week for a 120 minute infusion and six shots in his upper thigh.  He will continue this for the next 3 months.  After that he will than only have to go approximately once every 1-3 months for the next couple years.  So very manageable.  This treatment is a phase 1 trial drug.  Moffitt claims that it’s the miracle drug.  They are only allowing 32 people to test out this drug and Justin was participant number 29.  So we are even blessed that he was able to be part of this trial drug.  As far as side effects.    He’s very fatigue.  He is still working but he’s usually asleep on the couch snoring by 8pm.  Upset stomach and diarrhea are the other 2 main side effects.  Poor guy is constantly in the bathroom.  But he’s not giving up.  He’s been such a trooper again and honestly even though the treatment sucks its nothing in his eyes compared to what he’s been through in the past.  And also knowing it’s kept the cancer away makes it much easier to deal with.

So we are feeling very blessed entering into 2013. We were able to be part of a miracle and to give God all the glory for it was worth it all.  We don’t know what the future holds or what 2013 will bring us.  But we have the confidence in Christ Jesus that no matter what we are faced with we know that God will carry us through.   Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.  We both pray that God would richly bless your lives in 2013.  Happy New Year!