2015 was a very different year for us. Of course the end of 2014 was not like others
either. Dec. 10, 2014 we got the call
that I, Chris, had breast cancer. On
Dec. 10, 2015 I had a mammogram and got the news that it was clear! What a blessing and a great Christmas present
to us! Then there was the in between... As I look back over the year I see so many
blessings. God was so good through my
journey and will continue to bless us as we finish this fight. I started chemo on Dec. 23, 2014. I had 8 weeks of two kinds of chemo and then
12 weeks of two others. I am now down to
a maintenance chemo which I get every 3 weeks until March 2016. I won’t say chemo was a piece of cake but I
got through it and felt so loved, blessed and cared for. I had 2 stays in the hospital with
neutropenic fevers. I had to stay away
from people so Mark, Katie and medical people were my social life. God gave me contentment and soon it was
over. I finished the main chemo in May. In
June I had a lumpectomy and then July and August consisted of daily trips to
radiation. I am still not back to normal and might just need to find my new
normal but try to face what comes. I
never thought I could have done it but I am so grateful to have a God that
loves me enough to care for me and carry me through.
As for the rest of our lives, I was able to do the weekend are
the women’s prison in Pierre, SD at the end of August. I can’t say I was really up for it or that it
was physically good for me but I am so glad I could do it. Those ladies need a little light in their
darkness.
For the first time Mark had to skip the Texas mission
trip. The timing did not work out well
with where I was with my treatments. He
felt he was needed here. We both plan to
go next year.
Katie is in nursing school at the local community college. She is excited to begin her clinicals after
break. She is still working at the
Christian retirement home and now she works at a nursing home too. She keeps very busy between school, work and
her boyfriend, Joel. I feel she is
growing up and slipping away (I know it is supposed to be that way.) so that I
don’t get to see her so much. She was
great during my cancer though and we shared some very special times together.
I hope this letter finds you well. I know that is not the case for some of you
and I am praying that you will find the peace with God that I found on my
journey. We are looking forward to a
different year this year but hope it is filled with just as many blessings as
this one was. Merry Christmas to all of
you!
Mark, Chris and Katie
p.s. If you would like to read more about my cancer journey find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/387236641450545/
