It has been a fabulous and fortunate two months for the Crowell family while Chris’ mom, Marilyn has been staying with us. We have been very blessed that she was able to take the time away from her life to help us with ours. I was just speaking with another new mom today about the gift that only a grandmother can give – loving your child just as intensely as you do. It is the eternal mother instinct that kicks in the second you have a child and (I am going to make the leap and say) continues on with your grandchildren and great grandchildren. I cannot express the relief I feel as a mother knowing that somebody who cares for my children as much as I, is helping to get them through this difficult time. It has been a demanding time for our family and, as much as we assume that kids are resilient, I know that our current situation has affected Evelyn and Ryan. They are in such pivotal developmental stages in their little lives that I feel it is necessary that they are motivated emotionally and psychologically. It is too easy for Chris and I to leave them in the dust as we race around the city to radiation, chemotherapy, doctor’s appointments and more. Therefore I am so so so so thankful to have our mothers close at hand to provide our kids with the love and closeness they so much need at this stage in their lives. THANK YOU!!!!!
 |
| Rhonda teaching Evelyn the fine art of dishwashing! |
While on the subject of thank you’s – thank you to Louise and Co. who dropped off a cool slide for Evelyn today. (ok ok Louise might say it was junk in her backyard but Evan is just tickled pink to have it in ours!) Thank you as well to Aunty Rhonda and Uncle Brent who made the trek out to Airdrie (in rush hour traffic!) to spend some time with us while on their visit from Nova Scotia.
Radiation is going well for Christian and time seems to be just flying by. We are already half way through and he seems to be responding so well. No terrible side effects, yet, so keep the prayers coming. We feel very strongly about the power of prayer and we truly believe that the Lord will heal Christian and take the disease right out of his body. We need people to persist in praying that the tumor will dislodge itself from his Inferior Vena Cava (aka main vessel returning blood to the heat) and be clear from any major organs. We need to pray that this mass, which remains, will be dead tissue and have no active cancer in it when we have our next scan in July. Thank you to everybody who has taken time out of your lives to think about and pray for Christian. We are so grateful to all of you!
 |
| Working on the dance moves!!!!! |
Also a note on the power of prayer for our friends the Phaneuf’s who son is also in a battle for his life. They received some amazing news the other day that it appears that his cancer is disappearing – clear of his body. Jayden’s story is inspiring to our family and a true testament to the power of prayer. When it seems like nothing else is going right, you are not getting the answers you want, and life constantly kicks you back down – God will lift you up and show you his strength. That nothing – not even cancer - can beat him. Praise God!
Hi, my name is Henk and I live in New Holland, PA, USA
ReplyDeleteWe have friends with a 5 year old son battling leukemia. They too have a blog to keep friends and family updated on progress, setbacks, faith struggles and frustrations. As I was looking on the web for other people sharing a similar predicament I came across your blog. It appears that you too are surrounded with a great support team, so I'm sure you receive plenty of encouragement. Yet in my search on the net I also came across the following two pieces of advise that I would like to share:
Upon learning about cancer the natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. "Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler." But another voice whispers: "You have been called." Your dilemma has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter—and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our "normal time."
You have a choice to either let this battle draw you closer to God, and get more intimate with Him, or to let it distance you from Him. I encourage you to dig in your heels and hold on for the ride. And I do believe that "the ride" the "process" is as important, if not more so, than the outcome. You see, for God the outcome is not a problem. Bringing us to the second piece gleaned from the internet.
Being a Christian doesn’t automatically make your Cancer go away, exempt you from pain and sickness, or exclude you from any of the other unpleasant things that go with this disease. What it does do is cause you to have hope, security, and peace that can come only from knowing God and trusting in him. This allows you to be in Control of your Outlook because you know He is in control of your Outcome. Thus, your life does not become defined by Cancer where it totally occupies you physically and emotionally. It allows you to treat Cancer as an uninvited guest so that you do not allow it to take up permanent residence in your soul.
Please do not be consumed by the disease (occupying all your time and energy), but let your heart and soul be filled with His Spirit.
Praying for you and your son.
Henk