Update for August 15, 2015

And that’s a wrap!

Here’s a quick recap of my last 51 weeks by the numbers.*

17 – chemotherapy treatments

6 – chemotherapy drugs

3 – surgeries

6 – nights in the hospital

3 – doctor’s opinions on each phase of treatment

21 – trips to Houston

19,404 – miles driven roundtrip to MD Anderson in Houston

51 – hotel nights in Houston

7 – doctors on my medical team

31 – blood draws

5 – biopsies

11 – mammograms/ultrasounds

1 – blood clot in my lung

154 – Lovenox shots in my abdomen

$90 – cost per shot

2 – PET scans

5 – CT scans

1 – MRI

6 – wigs

33 – radiation treatments

42 – prescriptions

109 – doctor’s appointments

4 – grandparents who lovingly took care of our children in our absence

Thousands upon thousands upon thousands – prayers YOU prayed for my healing

1 – pathology report that showed ZERO cancer

1 – God who heals and answers prayer

I am no longer a cancer patient. All treatments have been completed. I have an appointment August 31st at MD Anderson to find out how often I will return each year for scans and check ups, but other than that, it’s done.

I mentioned this in a post at the beginning of this journey and it is worth repeating; following Christ, having faith in the One who controls it all, does not mean that life will always go our way. We are never promised easy living.

What it does mean is that when (not if, but when) we experience unexpected trauma, grief, illness, or loss, we can trust that God is present in our pain and He is at work in ways we will never understand. His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, so the outcome or timing may not always be to our preference.

Trusting Him and having faith that He is taking care of us means even when we don’t understand, even when it hurts, even when we don’t know how we will ever survive (or if we will survive) we can still have a calm assurance that God is right there with us and He is in control.

Whatever the outcome, having faith in God simply means, it is well with my soul.

I’ve learned a lot on this journey. What is the most important thing I’ve learned? Our pain is never wasted when we give it to God.

Of all the numbers I posted above, the last one is the only one that matters. My trust never was in what man could do. My only hope was, and still is, in God.

Team Tina’s prayer warriors are the most faithful, loyal, connected-to-God people I have ever known. I will forever be grateful for the privilege of sharing life with you dear people. As we start this new chapter together, may we never forget the One who controls it all and trust Him to give us peace in the storm, victory in the fight, and faith to trust Him even when we don’t understand.

Much Love,

Tina

*costs based on Explanation of Benefits documents received from my insurance company