Abdominal Cancer Surgery and the Aftermath

On April 16th, 11 years ago, my heart strings felt stretched to capacity as I kissed my young children goodbye that early morning before the spring sunrise as they slept unaware. If all went well, it would still be quite a long separation from them. Our oldest, 10 at the time, was able to understand that I would be getting treatment, and family was coming to help. But how do you help a 2-year-old understand that mom will be missing for many days and won't be able to carry him for 3-4 months when she comes back? Still, I tried.

Hours later, I underwent a serious abdominal surgery at Emory followed by a two-week stay at the highly ranked university hospital. The Sugarbaker procedure lasted eight-and-a-half-hours and ended with a hot chemo wash. Days later, after being moved from the ICU, it was confirmed that cancer, even though suspected, had been present. A week later, one of our dear family members that came to help us had to have emergency abdominal surgery. We were all hands-on deck and in survival mode.  

​​With all that has been in the news since January about Catherine, Princess of Wales, and King Charles III, I've been reflecting on how a similar family health crisis ultimately led us to new beginnings and praying for their family to heal and recover as they go through this challenging time. From experience, my husband, Scott, and I know that the weight and pressure of these events can produce a perseverance and humility that is life changing. And we know that Jesus was stating truth when He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” found in John 16.33 (NIV). To get the full context of verses leading up to that scripture, read all of John 16 here. 

While I'm grateful for every day since my surgery, 11 years later, the heavy weight of trouble continues. While writing this post, my husband is working on a memorial service for his close friend, who died due to injuries sustained from an accident last month. He was only 52. Tomorrow, we gather with family to bury his uncle, and recently learned that my aunt, dealing with dementia, has undergone major surgery after a fall. If it weren't for the grace of God, we wouldn't have strength to face the day. And because we've seen Him carry us through all sorts of trials and hardships, even when death comes, we want others to know that they can and should call out to Him. Jesus, quite literally, is our only HOPE. 

One of the new beginnings that came out of our family crisis was this Humble and Bold blog. There were so many ways that God helped us, and I wanted to have a place to write about those things we witnessed and encountered. Every day, I'm reminded what a gift each day is and recently, this verse got our attention. Psalm 145:4 (ESV) - One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. This verse prompted us to start a podcast to share the Good News to those wanting encouragement.

For a while, God had been putting on our hearts to share all the ways we've seen Him show up and carry us through many situations, and we wanted to share this hope to this next generation. To all the children and young people that God has brought into our lives, this podcast was specifically done with you in mind! 

You can watch episode 1 - a welcome and introduction of our Humble and Bold podcast on YouTube above and listen to episode 2 in following link. We will upload the video recording of each conversation a week after each podcast episode airs.

Click here to listen to episode 2
Praying for those in authority

More info on our background stories with links. 

​My father lost his first wife, my mother, to breast cancer at the age of 44 back in 1989 on a Friday evening. In 2013, he found himself praying with me, his grown daughter (same age of 44). And my husband was only seven, when he lost his 12-year-old sister, Terry, to cancer - also on a Friday. I remember how the loss of his sister and my mother came up in conversation on our very first date. To read more, click here on Ten Precious Years.

​We felt God's presence and peace carry us through so many difficulties leading up to this hospital stay, during and afterwards. Sidenote, my father's second wife, who had come up with my father to help our family, had emergency surgery a week after my surgery. My father was out of state with both his wife and daughter in different hospitals (40 minutes apart), and most everyone felt overwhelmed . . . but God - He carried us all. Click on this link My God Is Awesome - humble & BOLD (humbleandbold.com) to read about some of the amazing ways God let us know He was with us during the long diagnosis, surgery and recovery.

​While recovering, there was an article in my hometown paper, The Birmingham News, about the very procedure I had undergone. What I didn't know was that the survival rates weren't as long as I had thought. The article revealed that after having the Sugarbaker Procedure, there was a possible five years of expectancy (for only 50% of patients), which was up from a survival rate of only one year with conventional therapies. Click her to learn more The Sugarbaker Procedure - Laura, You Were Right! - humble & BOLD (humbleandbold.com)

With love,
Christina
Stay humble & be BOLD!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
​light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
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