These two photos were taken earlier this month ... and I am remembering even earlier happenings during previous months of February. And I am thankful.
On February 22, 2002, my dear husband was in a devastating accident that nearly took his life. It was a freak-type of accident, where he was backed over by a trash truck on the street right next to our home. It was horrendous, and it was so very, very scary. He was life-flighted to a hospital that handles patients in trauma, received 14 units of blood that day, and lived through a 5-hour surgery, where the doctor had to determine during surgery if he should even try to put his foot back together again. My hubby has a rod in his upper left leg, and is missing several toes on his right foot. But he is whole, and he is well, and you would never know today by his full and active life of loving his family and serving full-time with Cru High (ministry to high school students), that the doctors were not even sure if he would be able to walk again. It was the most scary ordeal, and it was a miracle. And I am thankful.
On February 27, 1996, our precious daughter, Sara, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Just three short months before she would graduate from high school. It was one of the most devastating times of our lives. She went through chemo, and after a year of being in remission, had a relapse and needed to have a bone marrow transplant. Twenty-three days in the hospital, and then one hundred days of recovery back home. It was long, and it was painfully difficult for her, as her bone marrow had to be wiped out by radiation, and then she slowly gained back her strength with the new bone marrow (donated by another precious daughter, Carrie). And today, she is healthy and strong, full of joy and love as she lives life with her husband, mothers their two little boys, and serves others as a social worker. It was a very difficult time, and it was a miracle. And I am thankful.
And today, I am praying for our dear son-in-law, Mark - who is undergoing surgery this very day to remove a lump on his left kidney, which is highly suspected to be cancerous. And I am praying for his 15 year-old daughter (our sweet granddaughter) who was diagnosed with a rare genetic kidney disease last March. The only treatment for this disease is to have a kidney transplant (which she will likely have this coming summer). Her father was being tested to be a kidney donor for her when his lump was discovered. These are difficult times, and we are thankful for God's love, care, and presence through all of life. Especially during difficult times. (Click here for our latest update on our son-in-law and our granddaughter - on our family/ministry blog - and please pray for them.)
"The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?"
(Psalm 27:1)
Praying, and holding onto God's promises during surgery time - what would we do without God's comfort and loving presence with us through hard times - and sharing tears across the miles as our daughter waits during her husband's surgery ...
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