*reposted from the original facebook post
The after. A diagnosis. B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Isaac is tucked into my bed right now after this whirlwind of a day. There are still many questions and I think I am largely running on adrenaline and faith. Somehow, I am still raising a hallelujah in the middle of this storm. Right now, this diagnosis brings a calm where there once felt chaotic unknown. And it lays a path in front of us that lifts the fog a tiny bit.
The results of two of the tests that they ran on the initial biopsy showed b-cell lymphoma. The oncologist told us we basically had a 0% chance of it being anything else. Clear results? Thank you Lord. She is also hopeful that, because his labs have looked so good and he has zero other symptoms, that it likely isn’t heavy in his bone marrow. As she told me what they found, she repeated over and over and over, “this is a very treatable cancer.” She said based on what they find, we expect over a 90% cure rate. Cure. As in never coming back. Let it be, Lord. This is the most common form of childhood cancer and there is so much research that has paved the way for the path ahead of us. For that, I am thankful.
The future looks like a PET scan tomorrow. We are claiming health on the rest of his body. Praying that his heart and internal organs will remain untouched. A stage 1 diagnosis is what we want.
On Tuesday, Isaac will go into surgery. It will be a lot all at once. A spinal tap, a bone marrow test, a biopsy to remove one lymph node for further testing, and a port installed for chemotherapy. This information will help us know how far the cancer has progressed.
Out of all of this, I’m struggling with chemotherapy. I never imagined such a poison coursing through my child’s body. Let what evil intended for harm, do good, though. The Lord can use it. I’ve always been very naturally minded and am passionate about nutritional healing. I intend to do as much research as I can to support Isaac on this journey. I already have a list of alkaline anti-cancer smoothies that we will be trying. Our whole family will have to be in on this change though. Because we’re in it together.
It is clear to me that the Lord has gone before us. I met with my counselor this morning… an appointment that was set weeks ago. My counselor is a former nurse who used to work at DeVos Children’s hospital. She has been a wealth of information and support. She, herself, also had lymphoma a couple of years ago. Her family knows cancer better than any family should. I’ve had this thought numerous times, but she said to me today, “Isn’t it interesting how the Lord brought you to me before any of this began?”. I cried. The Lord was already here, and he’s already in the future. I agreed with her. I’m so so thankful… while at the same time aching, wishing I didn’t need any of this.
As we were ending our appointments, the elders at our church were having a prayer meeting. We went to church and they laid hands on us and prayed healing over Isaac. We have been a part of our church for the past 10 years, and in so many ways they are family. This weekend we are still going on a house church retreat with people we’ve done life with on a weekly basis for years, some for a decade. We’re not alone.
Everyone is asking how Isaac is. I think he’s digesting the information as much as a 7-year-old can. He keeps asking which part is going to hurt the most. I think he’s sad and nervous. He probably wonders why mom is crying so much (although that’s not all that abnormal, let’s be honest.) But gosh, his sweet spirit of bravery makes me love him that much more. He tells me he talks to God as he falls asleep at night and I pray that this continues to be his comfort.
We have a long road ahead. Treatment is years long. But there is so much hope for this story. Thank you for your prayers. The waiting has ended and now the battle begins.