Wednesday, April 26, 2017

It's that time again . . .

Spring Break Boys at Myrtle Beach
Many days . . . most days it is easy to live a blissfully ignorant life, free of cancer and chemo and all things that have anything to do with osteosarcoma.  I'm happy to say that all of us have gotten very good at it over the last three months. The mundane, daily rituals of family have been glorious.  Boys play, joke, fight, and laugh just like they always have and the noise that comes as part of the package when you host brothers in your home is a sweet reminder to Mike and I that our family is still here . . . working out our new roles and goals, but doing it together!

Mac is back refereeing soccer! 

The busy routines of homework, friends, school, concerts, church, soccer games and all of those things that make our life so delightfully out of control most days, also creates a world where it is easy to forget  . . . And then the three month mark is up and it's back to DeVos . . . back for scans that will tell us the fate of whether we get to continue to bask in the normalcy of our boring, small-town life or whether we will be back in fight mode against the beast.  Back for scans!




On a list of things I despise most in the world, scan day is probably right up there.  It's only redeeming quality it has is that while it can weld a harrowing blow of disappointment, it is also able to deliver the news that gives us a vacation from cancer for three months.  My relationship with scans is definitely a love-hate one.   MacKale doesn't care!  He is delighted to have a day off school.  He wants a thick strawberry shake for lunch and would like to stop by and see his nurses from the 9th floor.  Scans seemly never phase him.



He is an anomaly to me.

I would gladly go to school everyday if it meant we would never have to face the reality of cancer in any way, shape or form.  I would gladly hide away from scans and the hospital and everything uncomfortable that comes with facing a day of scans.

It's the difference in our make up.  It's the difference between his ever optimistic outlook and my 'mother gene.'  Regardless of how I might feel, however, we can't hide from this.  This is the reality we face tomorrow, and it's why I will come to you all again and again, without shame or guilt, to beg for prayers  . . . prayers for peace and wisdom but mostly for scans that show N.E.D (No Evidence of Disease).

Osteosarcoma absolutely stole so much time from us last year, but in many ways, we have been blessed with a clearer vision of what is important and a great appreciation for precious time together.
Laughter and fun are priceless commodities these days. We take greater advantage of long drawn out dinners, we don't always rush that snuggle time before bed, we say 'I love you,' we hug our family and friends, we take the long way home, we don't work quite as hard as we used to . . .  and our nightly prayers take a bit longer than before, because, quite honestly, our blessings are many, and it takes a LONG time to be thankful for everything given to us.  We are genuinely so incredibly blessed. We are together, we are happy, our boys are in school, we have a home and work and everything we desire  . . . everything we could ever hope for, dream of, or wish!  We have it all!  But, despite all of it, of course, we are not perfect . . . and we get scared.  We are afraid! And, quite honestly, that fear robs us.



Because here's the thing . . . unfortunately for too many children with cancer . . . too many of our friends from the 9th floor . . . too many children we care deeply for . . . relapse is a brutal reality.  It is so unfair and horrible and agonizing.  And we desperately pray for our friends who are facing that reality.  We pray that the cancer will leave their young bodies and leave MacKale's and never . . . not ever return.  That's a prayer we can't let go of . . . not ever.

As for me, tomorrow I'm going to make a special effort to take the advice of my friend, John, who promised me he would light a candle for Mackale at the Sant' Agata Cathedrale in Catania, Italy this week.  John knows our journey and walked this same road with his son many years ago.  He told me, "fear is such a terrible thing, the opposite of love, and you want to go with love, in everything. Let that take your anxiety away." '

So this time for scans, I'm going try to be like Mac.  This time around,  I'm going to order the extra thick strawberry shake and love every calorie.   I'm going to 'go with love, in everything.'   I'm going to try . . . really hard.  But I may need a little help . . . so pray for me.

Love you all . . .
M.

Spring Break Myrtle Beach





22 comments:

  1. Praying for you, mac and your family! You said that sometimes you take the long way home....is there a short way home to where you live :)- Hope all goes well tomorrow

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  2. Prayers for Mac and your family!

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  3. We will be praying for you and that you will know 'the peace that passes understanding'. Your faith is strong and the Great Physican will be with you.

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  4. Prayers. For us it was labs, leukemia can show up again very quickly in the bloodwork. Scary every time. However, 15 years remission this summer...there is life after cancer! Keeping you all close in thought. Hugs.

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  5. praying! <3 <3 So beautifully written.

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  6. Always!!! ❤ Lots of prayers!
    Xox

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  7. Praying! Wishing you an extra measure of peace and strength tomorrow. May our Heavenly Father surround your whole family with his love and his strength.

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  8. Praying for complete healing for your sweet boy and for peace for you!

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  9. LOVE!
    You all are in our prayers...
    Matt, Patty, Molly and Ryan

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  10. Prayers for that scan to be perfectly clear! Enjoy those milkshakes. :)

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  11. We L❤️VE you all and will pray for NED today and always!! ����

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  12. Thinking of your family! I hope that the scan comes out clear! Reading this hit so close to home...especially having the clearer vision of what is important. Sending hugs your way.

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  13. "...we have been blessed with a clearer vision of what is important and a great appreciation for precious time together." Amen! Thinking of you, holding you close in my heart, and praying for the best news ever...3 more months of normal! ~ Laura Sobiech

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  14. Prayers to you and your family. Your journey has been a long one and you truly know the meaning of anxiety but have found that through prayers and relying on God you have been enjoying life with family and friends.

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  15. Praying, and looking forward to hearing the good news -- N.E.D. Praying also for the day when "scan days" are at 6 month intervals, 9 month intervals, 2 month intervals, 5 year intervals.... and one day, no more!

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  16. God in your son Jesus name...we thank you ahead of time for the good report tomorrow! By your stripes we are healed and thankful for it! I pray for strength and peace and grace as the McGuires walk through the process tomorrow ....even beginning tonight as they sleep....all the way through the good results tomorrow and forever after!!! Thank you God in your son Jesus name!!!!!! ❤️💪🏽🙏🙌🏽

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