Recently my husband and I visited an old friend. She went to college with my husband. It seems like they have been friends forever. (Well, to me they have). She and her husband were our first friends after we got married 25 years ago). She is extremely smart; an engineer by profession. She is confident and is the type of woman who has herself together. She is always willing to mentor, encourage and undergird you in anything that you attempt. That is how smart she is!
So it seems extremely unfair to me that she was diagnosed with colon cancer this past February.
We only recently found out because she didn't want to tell us. She didn't want us to go through it again since losing Brittany.
They caught it early, but she is undergoing preventive chemotheraphy.
And there is where we found her; in her beautiful home, receiving treatment through the port in her chest. The chemo was running through a small computerized pump whose strap had been slung over her shoulder like a small leather clutch big enough for a small wallet and maybe a driver's license.
Did I forget to mention that while she was hooked up, she was running her department at a government agency? (I told you she is extremely smart...) Laptop computer and cell phone hooked up, there she sat, answering emails, taking calls and attending meetings. The woman is AMAZING and is one of the strongest women I know.
Graciously sitting in her beautiful family room, she was doing the business of the day and taking a few minutes to visit with two old friends.
Now that is what I call walking in big shoes...
Accepting where you are, but not allowing it to take you under or out! Continuing to do your job with the best attitude although you have every right to have a stinky one...and doing it extremely well. Facing the challenges of a difficut disease, but not allowing it to wear you down.
But what I loved best was in spite of chemotherapy and a hectic schedule on the job, she took a few moments to be with friends. Friends who seemed to need the assurance that she was okay more than she did.
And after wonderful conversation, we had to get ready to catch our plane to return home. And as any good hostess would, she walked us to the door and saw us off.
Her courage and her strength helped me to remember that it's not what you go through...it's how you handle it.
Just another day in the life of a woman who has the courage to face any problem with her head ALWAYS looking up.
We should do the same.
Blessings,
Melodie
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Too Many Irons in the Fire
As I review my Daytimer, I must admit that I have taken on more than I can do well. But taking one step at a time, I'm determined to keep looking ahead, plowing (and praying) as I go through this mountain of stuff that MUST get done.
Here's my to-do list. Would you please say a prayer?
1. Pray, study scripture and prepare a sermon.
2. Pack and visit family.
3. Arrive home and preach on Sunday afternoon.
4. Work and work hard on book projects.
5. Pack and go to airport.
6. Visit with Friends
7. Work even harder on book projects.
8. Prepare presentation and deliver it.
9. Pack and get ready for vacation. Can't wait.
10. Return home and visit family again.
And this is all in the next ten days. Please pray for me!
Whew...I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Blessings,
Melodie
Here's my to-do list. Would you please say a prayer?
1. Pray, study scripture and prepare a sermon.
2. Pack and visit family.
3. Arrive home and preach on Sunday afternoon.
4. Work and work hard on book projects.
5. Pack and go to airport.
6. Visit with Friends
7. Work even harder on book projects.
8. Prepare presentation and deliver it.
9. Pack and get ready for vacation. Can't wait.
10. Return home and visit family again.
And this is all in the next ten days. Please pray for me!
Whew...I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Blessings,
Melodie
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
It Was All For His Glory
Yesterday was an emotional day for me. All through the day, my emotions swung back and forth, like a steady pendulum on a classic grandfather's clock. From one extreme to another, I was filled with tears of joy, tears of sorrow and sadness and thankfully back to tears of great joy and gratefulness. Three gut wrenching episodes that I don't think I can share with you. Well, at least not today. That would be like asking for trouble. If I cried anymore, I would be drowning in the proverbial "river of tears". But one story touched my heart so much, well, I would be a fool not to share the beauty of it.
Most of you know, we lost our beloved Britt at seventeen, almost three years ago. (I sit amazed that so much time has past...and the Lord has allowed me to keep my sanity. God is so good!) When I found out that she had secondary leukemia after struggling with neuroblastoma, I was devastated. But when you are in the battle against cancer, you can't give up. You continue to press on ahead, searching for every little victory.
As a result, we had to abandon her treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NY and start the transplant process all over again at Duke University Hospital. Before we departed for Duke, our immediate family was tested to see if we were a match. Sadly, none of us were. God had other plans.
Our church family led many bone marrow drives throughout the community with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Because of their love for Brittany and their love for us, they too, gave blood to see if they were a match. All were entered in the Bone Marrow Registry along with all the other volunteers who gave their blood, their time and their prayers.
I didn't think much of it when a church member said they were contacted by the Registry the latter part of last year. Most families who encounter cancer know, that even if you get "a hit" from the registry so many things can go wrong. So although you are hopeful and prayerful, you know that the excitement may not last long.
So I put it out of my mind and completely forgot about it. Until yesterday.
Yesterday, the spouse of that church member called and we were talking about the rest of our summer plans, family and the onset of a new school year. Then on the turn of a dime, she begin to share how her husband was preparing to go through the transplant process for a young man that they did not know. What?
As she shared all the medical procedures he had endured, I found myself filling in medical details that she didn't know and was amazed how it all came back to me. But the shock of it didn't hit me until she began to share a recent incident.
As she spoke, she told how her husband had gone through all preliminary testing. They had made several trips to the hospital where the young man was waiting for the necessary transplant. Nurses were coming to the house to take blood and to continue his necessary workup on several occasions. He had begun his series of Filgrastim (G-CSF), a medication that helps you build up your white blood cells) and was now preparing for the actual harvest of not only stems cells BUT bone marrow too. He was such of a great candidate that he had received another hit on the registry as well.
He is doing WHAT? Preparing to give bone marrow and stem cells?!
I was in a state of shock! They had been going through all this and I didn't have a clue. How could I have forgotten that he had been contacted by the NMDP registry?
Because he was such of an enigma, the nurse at the hospital sat down with them and asked him about his history. She wanted to know who was this young man who had two hits on the bone marrow registry and just how did he get on it? It was at that point that the couple began to share Brittany's story and the nurse asked, "well, how is she doing?" They shared of Britt's passing and said the inquisitive nurse just cried.
Well, although the dear wife of this man continued talking, it was then that I just lost it!!!
I sobbed in the phone and told her that I had to go. Softly, breaking through my muffled sobs, she quietly said, "we love you, Rev. Mel."
After I hug up the phone, the shock of what was just shared begin to answer some of the questions that every mother of a dead child has locked away in her spirit. "Why?"
We often ask God why when bad things happen to us. We often question His plan, His purpose for our lives. But I often thought about Britt's death being in vain. Why did she have to go through what she did? As a mother, no matter who shared a testimony about how she touched their lives, I still didn't find peace when it came to why God allowed her to die.
But as I listen to this story, I realize that the Lord was gently telling me that her life had more impact than I could ever imagine. Because of her illness, a young family will be blessed to have options.
Here is a young man, touched by Britt's sickness and her struggle, who selflessly gave of himself to help save another. ( The story sounds familiar....doesn't it?) Now we have a twenty year old man who will probably beat the enemy of cancer, because this man decided to sacrifice his time to be a blessing and to give the gift of life.
Well, I tell you, I just sobbed as the Holy Spirit ministered to me. For a moment the spirit of illumination came over me and allowed me to see just how precious my baby girl's life was as was her fight with cancer. It was all for a purpose. More importantly, it was all for His (Christ's)glory.
My tears flowed as I reconciled the fact that Britt went through all that she did because it had a purpose. Someone (that we don't even know) will have an abundant, prosperous life because a friend said yes to bone marrow donation. Britt's struggle opened up a door that would touch the heart of a man. He allowed himself to be tested and God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed him to be a near perfect match.
He is a near perfect match! How awesome is that?! What an awesome gift from God. Just imagine how the young patient's family must be feeling. On next week, this young man will get the blessing of a lifetime. I know that this family's heart is filled with unspeakable joy and gratitude.
And so is mine. So I can't clost this blog without making the appeal. Be a donor! Contact the National Marrow Donor Program TODAY and get tested. You could save a life and give a blessing of a lifetime.
For more information contact NMDP at www.marrow.org.
Most of you know, we lost our beloved Britt at seventeen, almost three years ago. (I sit amazed that so much time has past...and the Lord has allowed me to keep my sanity. God is so good!) When I found out that she had secondary leukemia after struggling with neuroblastoma, I was devastated. But when you are in the battle against cancer, you can't give up. You continue to press on ahead, searching for every little victory.
As a result, we had to abandon her treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NY and start the transplant process all over again at Duke University Hospital. Before we departed for Duke, our immediate family was tested to see if we were a match. Sadly, none of us were. God had other plans.
Our church family led many bone marrow drives throughout the community with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Because of their love for Brittany and their love for us, they too, gave blood to see if they were a match. All were entered in the Bone Marrow Registry along with all the other volunteers who gave their blood, their time and their prayers.
I didn't think much of it when a church member said they were contacted by the Registry the latter part of last year. Most families who encounter cancer know, that even if you get "a hit" from the registry so many things can go wrong. So although you are hopeful and prayerful, you know that the excitement may not last long.
So I put it out of my mind and completely forgot about it. Until yesterday.
Yesterday, the spouse of that church member called and we were talking about the rest of our summer plans, family and the onset of a new school year. Then on the turn of a dime, she begin to share how her husband was preparing to go through the transplant process for a young man that they did not know. What?
As she shared all the medical procedures he had endured, I found myself filling in medical details that she didn't know and was amazed how it all came back to me. But the shock of it didn't hit me until she began to share a recent incident.
As she spoke, she told how her husband had gone through all preliminary testing. They had made several trips to the hospital where the young man was waiting for the necessary transplant. Nurses were coming to the house to take blood and to continue his necessary workup on several occasions. He had begun his series of Filgrastim (G-CSF), a medication that helps you build up your white blood cells) and was now preparing for the actual harvest of not only stems cells BUT bone marrow too. He was such of a great candidate that he had received another hit on the registry as well.
He is doing WHAT? Preparing to give bone marrow and stem cells?!
I was in a state of shock! They had been going through all this and I didn't have a clue. How could I have forgotten that he had been contacted by the NMDP registry?
Because he was such of an enigma, the nurse at the hospital sat down with them and asked him about his history. She wanted to know who was this young man who had two hits on the bone marrow registry and just how did he get on it? It was at that point that the couple began to share Brittany's story and the nurse asked, "well, how is she doing?" They shared of Britt's passing and said the inquisitive nurse just cried.
Well, although the dear wife of this man continued talking, it was then that I just lost it!!!
I sobbed in the phone and told her that I had to go. Softly, breaking through my muffled sobs, she quietly said, "we love you, Rev. Mel."
After I hug up the phone, the shock of what was just shared begin to answer some of the questions that every mother of a dead child has locked away in her spirit. "Why?"
We often ask God why when bad things happen to us. We often question His plan, His purpose for our lives. But I often thought about Britt's death being in vain. Why did she have to go through what she did? As a mother, no matter who shared a testimony about how she touched their lives, I still didn't find peace when it came to why God allowed her to die.
But as I listen to this story, I realize that the Lord was gently telling me that her life had more impact than I could ever imagine. Because of her illness, a young family will be blessed to have options.
Here is a young man, touched by Britt's sickness and her struggle, who selflessly gave of himself to help save another. ( The story sounds familiar....doesn't it?) Now we have a twenty year old man who will probably beat the enemy of cancer, because this man decided to sacrifice his time to be a blessing and to give the gift of life.
Well, I tell you, I just sobbed as the Holy Spirit ministered to me. For a moment the spirit of illumination came over me and allowed me to see just how precious my baby girl's life was as was her fight with cancer. It was all for a purpose. More importantly, it was all for His (Christ's)glory.
My tears flowed as I reconciled the fact that Britt went through all that she did because it had a purpose. Someone (that we don't even know) will have an abundant, prosperous life because a friend said yes to bone marrow donation. Britt's struggle opened up a door that would touch the heart of a man. He allowed himself to be tested and God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed him to be a near perfect match.
He is a near perfect match! How awesome is that?! What an awesome gift from God. Just imagine how the young patient's family must be feeling. On next week, this young man will get the blessing of a lifetime. I know that this family's heart is filled with unspeakable joy and gratitude.
And so is mine. So I can't clost this blog without making the appeal. Be a donor! Contact the National Marrow Donor Program TODAY and get tested. You could save a life and give a blessing of a lifetime.
For more information contact NMDP at www.marrow.org.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Need to Reconnect
Yesterday I spoke with an old friend. Hearing her over the phone, brought me to such a place of remembrance. I reflected back to when we were in high school and how we were literally glued at the hip. My days were brightened by her contagious laugh, (and even yesterday I couldn't help but bend over with tears streaming down my face...she just cracks me up...) and things are no different now.
I missed her. Her friendship, her humor, her ability to make me feel better when an old boyfriend broke my heart or I was feeling bad about a poor test grade. When we were in high school, she was a bright spot in what I thought was a pretty mediocre existence.
As we talked yesterday, I realized that I would never allow this much time to pass again. We were both married now with kids. We talked about our adventures with our families. We promise to spend a day together in the very near future. "Just call me and I will be there", she said in the phone as we ended our conversation.
This is one date that I won't miss.
In times past, I would hear a comment like that and not see its value. The reunion date would come and go, buried under a pile of to do lists, "important" appointments and a day filled with "other things".
But I promise, I'm going to keep this appointment because old friends like her are NOT a dime a dozen. She is someone that I can sit down with and it will be just like "yesterday". Two girlfriends, laughing, joking and talking about our lives and seeing who is going to laugh the hardest. It's probably going to be me because she just cracks me up.
Friendship like this is what I call, "a safe place". A safe place to be yourself, share your secrets and even cry if you have to. And because she is the woman that I know she is, it wouldn't shock me if she began to cry with me.
Old friends like her are hard to come by. If you have one, treasure her (or him).
I didn't realize how important it was for me to reconnect with someone (that I haven't seen in years) that I truly missed until I heard her laughter on yesterday.
It is true...laughter does make the best medicine. Just listening to her, helped me put a lot of stuff in perspective. Loved ones die. Some things don't get done. Sad days come and go but things do get better. After talking to her yesterday, I felt a whole lot better.
Reach out and reconnect with someone you haven't seen or heard from...in years.
Laugh with them as you reminisce and I guarantee, your day will be better after doing so.
Blessings,
Melodie
I missed her. Her friendship, her humor, her ability to make me feel better when an old boyfriend broke my heart or I was feeling bad about a poor test grade. When we were in high school, she was a bright spot in what I thought was a pretty mediocre existence.
As we talked yesterday, I realized that I would never allow this much time to pass again. We were both married now with kids. We talked about our adventures with our families. We promise to spend a day together in the very near future. "Just call me and I will be there", she said in the phone as we ended our conversation.
This is one date that I won't miss.
In times past, I would hear a comment like that and not see its value. The reunion date would come and go, buried under a pile of to do lists, "important" appointments and a day filled with "other things".
But I promise, I'm going to keep this appointment because old friends like her are NOT a dime a dozen. She is someone that I can sit down with and it will be just like "yesterday". Two girlfriends, laughing, joking and talking about our lives and seeing who is going to laugh the hardest. It's probably going to be me because she just cracks me up.
Friendship like this is what I call, "a safe place". A safe place to be yourself, share your secrets and even cry if you have to. And because she is the woman that I know she is, it wouldn't shock me if she began to cry with me.
Old friends like her are hard to come by. If you have one, treasure her (or him).
I didn't realize how important it was for me to reconnect with someone (that I haven't seen in years) that I truly missed until I heard her laughter on yesterday.
It is true...laughter does make the best medicine. Just listening to her, helped me put a lot of stuff in perspective. Loved ones die. Some things don't get done. Sad days come and go but things do get better. After talking to her yesterday, I felt a whole lot better.
Reach out and reconnect with someone you haven't seen or heard from...in years.
Laugh with them as you reminisce and I guarantee, your day will be better after doing so.
Blessings,
Melodie
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