Brooke’s Cancer Journey post from 10/19/18

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Thank you so much for praying for me today as I got results from my recent PET scan.

The Lord is asking me to trust Him even more, as scan results were not as we were praying. A new lesion in left breast and lymph nodes behind chest are active too. No changes to other spots in lung and sternum. I’ll start a new combination chemo : gemcitabine + carboplatin next Wednesday. This chemo is a 21 day cycle with treatments days 1 & 8. I likely developed resistance to Ixempra because I was on it for several cycles earlier in 2017.

I’m so very weary of this fight and it’s especially hard receiving this tough news without Justin here. But I’m so thankful my sister was with me at the appointment. This is very difficult news to process and I’m not going to diminish how hard this is. But by His grace I do also very much feel held by the Lord and feel He has entrusted this hard journey to me for a reason- we get glimpses but most will remain a mystery for now. He is holding me fast, as I fix my eyes on the unseen, not the seen- asking God to stretch my belief and hope and joy even HERE. He is the treasure which can never be taken.

Many of you have joined with us to pray for a miracle for these scans. I know God is able to heal me completely, but His miracle didn’t come in that way this time. I’ll keep praying that miracle will come in the future. But as I process this news, I’m going to thank God for the many other miracles- my salvation through Jesus (resurrecting me from death to life); and even today the miracle of hope— even here. Join me in praying for healing this side of heaven, so that I can be here for my children. I know He is able, but even if not I will praise Him as I see His grace even in the darker parts of the journey.

2 Cor 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal“.
#theendisgood #hisgracestillabounds

Brooke’s Cancer Journey Post from 10/8/18

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The last medical update I shared was on August 24, 2018- the day before my husband suddenly and unexpectedly went to be with the Lord. Justin died after being struck by a car while cycling on Saturday, August 25. It has been six weeks and my children and I are still deeply grieving, but grieving with hope as we know Justin is enjoying perfect communion with our Lord.
Fighting cancer without Justin here to support me is very difficult and we are being sustained by your prayers. We are well loved by family and friends.
I continue to be treated with Ixempra chemo every 3 weeks for stage IV cancer. I’ve had four treatments so far- most recently last Wednesday. The side effects this round have been more difficult than the past- extreme fatigue, lack of appetite and body pain are the worst of it. The cold capping treatment to reduce hair loss is working so far, although my hair is thinning in some spots. (Success is considered losing no more than 50% of your hair). I’m so thankful that I pursued this because it would be so hard on the children for me to lose my hair during this time.

I have a PET scan 10/17 with results 10/19. My medical team agreed for me to have this scan in Columbia so I would not have to travel to Houston. I will go to MD Anderson if I need to, depending on the results of the scan but I’m praying not until early next year.

Please join me in praying for amazing, miraculous results for the PET scan next week! Please pray for peace for me between now and then (the week before scans is emotionally difficult). Please pray for us as we adjust to life without Justin here. We miss him so much.

Please know how much I appreciate every prayer and message , even as I’m not able to respond to each one- each word matters deeply and encourages my heart.

Trusting in the goodness and faithfulness of our great God, even through the hard…this is our hope which does not disappoint, no matter what earthly circumstances are.

“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children” Psalm 103:17