2.22.11

this date will now be added to our memory bank. we have several of them and we may have more. this date represents when we received the news about my dad. the news that no one wants to hear. that it's positive. positive for cancer.

three years ago. on march 24, 2008 my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. he endured many rounds of chemo & radiation. then on july 22, he underwent one of the most evasive surgeries to remove the majority of his esophagus. he went through many months of recovery to get off of a feeding tube. he was trying to find his "new normal". he did well. he overcame a lot!

fast forward to thanksgiving day, 2009...we rushed my dad to the emergency room for severe abdomen pain. he spent 10 days in the hospital and still no one could figure out what happened. not even to this day. our guess is as good as theirs.

one year later, during our annual christmas party (mom's side) in december, 2010, dad got a piece of meat stuck in his esophagus. had to take him to the hospital first thing the next morning to have it removed. he wasn't able to eat or drink for over 24 hrs. pretty scary when he is as frail as he is.

and now this week. feb 22, 2011. we add another date. we get hit with another blow of news. dad has cancer. again. it's in his left adrenal gland. next week, the meetings and the discussion picks back up. the treatment plan. the road ahead. the pros. the cons. the major decisions. it all begins. again.

it's been a rough week for us all. the unknown road ahead. BUT in the midst of the heaviness. in the midst of no hope. in the midst of sadness. in the midst of tears. in the midst of frustration. in the midst of not knowing how to respond...we have JESUS.

HE is our STRONGHOLD.
HE is our HOPE.
HE is our ROCK.
HE is our STRENGTH.
HE is our COMFORT.
HE is our LIFE.

and He is without a doubt HERE WITH US. He is where my eyes are fixed. and His name will be exalted through it all! i choose to lift up the name of Jesus through the life of my dad. may HE heal him. blessed be His Name!

*please pray with us as we walk down this journey...you can see updates on my dad's blog