God of All my Days

I haven’t written a blog post for a while so wanted to share some exciting updates. A couple weeks ago, our family celebrated a greatly anticipated milestone called a bell-ringing ceremony which marked my dear niece Tabitha’s completion of treatment for her leukemia! It was a long two year battle which often felt like a bad dream. Tabby is a true fighter and couldn’t be more proud of her as well as her family.  💪 During the ceremony, her doctor shared a heartwarming tribute to Tabby’s courage and perseverance. And after Tabby rang the bell to the roar of cheers from our family and the staff, there was an image that will forever be etched in my memory… that is of Tabby and my brother Dan embracing each other in tears as the flood of emotions overwhelmed them. I started getting teary-eyed even as we just drove to the hospital that day, so I can only imagine how it must have felt to stand there ringing the bell in the place where they had endured so many difficult days and nights, fi...

As I write my 100th blog post and reflect on the past 2 years since that fateful day when I was diagnosed with leukemia, I’ve been reminded of the many blessings that my family and I have received throughout this battle with cancer. Much of it is detailed in a testimony I shared at my church several weeks ago:  I’ve been wanting to just say thank you to you all. And Pastor Bill thought a congregational meeting might be the most fitting place to do so cause so many of you who’ve blessed me and my family during this journey are in this room or streaming in right now.  And I realized it’s all the more timely as we recently celebrated Thanksgiving and have been able to reflect on our blessings. And it’s also timely cause it was almost exactly two years ago when I was here at church (the day before I went to the ER) when Betty told me that I looked especially tired... and I just dismissed it being due to the busyness of the holiday season.    Just to fill you in as an upd...

Photographer: Ok, take your mask off. Mason: My mom said to keep it on all the time unless I'm eating and far away from everybody. Photographer: I'm sure it's ok to take it off for your pictures. Mason: No, my mom seriously told me to make sure to keep it on. Photographer: Are you sure you don't want to take it off for 2 seconds? Mason: No Thank you, I always listen to my mom! Photographer: Ok, say cheese! Many of you may have heard about this adorable 6 y/o boy, Mason, who took his school picture with his mask donned. The photographer told him that it was ok to remove his mask for the picture. But the boy insisted that his mom told him to keep his mask on at all times (though she didn’t mean that literally!!) So anyway, this obedient child could not be persuaded by the photographer even though all the other kids took their masks off. And so he ends up with a memorable school photo and a story that will always remind him and others of this unprecedented time we’re livin...

Last month, just as we were about to head off with our car all packed to the brim, we received a call that our long-awaited camping trip was cancelled. A bad storm had brought trees and power lines down which left the park with no electricity and running water.  We were bummed at the news especially as it had been a difficult week and we were really looking forward to a getaway as a family. But through a generous family friend, God instead provided a stay at their beautiful beach house right on the bay. It was actually much more relaxing than camping... what we really needed! The wise owner of the house had a different perspective on what happened than us. He said that it was actually “good timing” that the storm hit when it did. For if it had come while we were there, not only would it had been dangerous but our camping trip would have sadly not happened anyway and we would have had to pack up and leave! The difference between seeing the glass half full vs. half empty.  🥃 St...

At my follow-up appt last week, my transplant doc expressed concern with the Delta variant surging as well as RSV and other stuff going around. Because I’m still unvaccinated and my blood counts have gone down more, she recommended that I avoid gatherings (especially indoors) until things improve. This has been hard to swallow as I was just enjoying getting back to things recently such as going to my church and seeing friends and family these past few months. Grace pointed out that when setbacks like these occur which affect us all, it seems to be tenfold for our family.  With that said, my doc advised me to go ahead and get the Covid vaccine especially as kids prepare to return back to school soon. So I’m scheduled for my first dose next week. Thankfully my immune panel result from last week came back higher, so we’re hopeful that the vaccine will work in my body despite still being on steroids. Please pray that the vaccine would be effective and that adverse side-effects would be...

I listened to a timely podcast recently. The speaker shared of how Jacob wrestled with God and then ended up living the rest of his life with a limp which always reminded him of his need for God. Kind of like Paul’s thorn. She compared Jacob’s example to the paralyzed man healed at the pool of Bethesda not knowing who even healed him when asked. The chronic limp actually served to become a hidden blessing and grace as it was a tangible reminder of his dependence on God. This illustration spoke to me as I continue to endure a long gradual steroid taper (2.5 mg a month) which would take me into this Fall. My providers want to take it slow this time in hopes that GVHD will not resurface when I’m off of them. If it does, then the prednisone would be less effective the 2nd time around they said. I’m so thankful for these meds, but they are taking a toll on me. I’m dealing with the physical and emotional side-effects of the prolonged taper including fatigue and irritability. I almost feel li...

Maria Home sweet home! After a month-long battle, Maria was discharged this past weekend. She did well persevering through fevers, nausea, and GI issues. Please pray for her full recovery and engraftment of her donor cells. Edward Please also pray for Edward. (Five years post-transplant.) He's been in the hospital fighting some pretty bad GVHD after getting the covid vaccine.  Our family enjoyed reconnecting with Kim and Craig Smith yesterday, sharing fond memories and laughter. Through unimaginable grief and loss, they continue to shine choosing joy each day because of our eternal hope. Ryan made such an indelible mark on us and so many people through his life and loving example... even to this day.  Thanks again for your prayers for these dear friends who are fighting their respective battles well with faith and perseverance. 

Maria Please pray for Maria as she was admitted today for a week of conditioning before her bone marrow transplant next Wednesday. Thankful for her sister, Ana Maria, who was able to be her donor. May God give Maria strength and perseverance. Pray that the graft may take well and protection against side-effects and infection.  From the Smiths: We just wanted to send out a reminder for  Ryan Smith's Celebration of Life.  The service will be held at Millersville Community Church Hope Campus 242 Bender Road Millersville, PA  17551 on Saturday, June 19th at 2:00.  It is an open invitation event.  The doors will open at 1:00.  Once the church is full, there will also be a tent set up right outside the church that will broadcast the live stream.  The event will also be live streamed through YouTube.  The YouTube link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjZ0Uf2R4bo Also, there’s a blood drive being held next month in honor of Ryan. Please donate...