Marcy Stewart - We Continue On.....

Updated Photo:  Marcy, Mark, their three daughters and Marcy's wonderful Aunt Dale.

Marcy flew up to Jersey yesterday.  She had a mini visit at home in Charlotte Saturday and part of Sunday.  This week she meets with the "team"  and also gets her new trial meds. Let's wish this new phase the best of luck.

It reminds me of one of my favorite words (I think I first discovered this work from my high school friend Anissa)

PRISHOPE - Pray, Wish, Hope.  So powerful.

Marcy Stewart, wife of Mark and mother of Kendra, Jessica and Ashley. Soon to be Mother-in-Law to Stokes. Aunt of Noah.  Sister to Daryl and Del, Sally (Sara) and Mark.  Daughter to Maw. Daughter-in-law to Papa. Niece and cousin to many. Friend of hundreds.  A special Child of God.

2010 started out as a great year.  The Stewart clan had moved back "home" to North Carolina after several years in New York and then Alabama.  Family get togethers  were more frequent, Her girls settling in to a new social life.  Mark taking off with his new job.  

And then August came.  The horrific call from my brother.  What's wrong Mark?  Mom?  Dad?  The girls? The last thing I could ever imagine, it was Marcy.  She had been diagnosed with cancer.  It took some time but we learned it was a very rare form of Pancreatic Cancer. Surgeries, radiation, chemo.  Words no one wants to hear.  Treatments no one ever wants to face.

But Marcy.  What a gift of life she is to all of us.  Her joy and passion for life has never paused.  Her love for being with people - especially her family - is as important today as it has ever been.  Her spiritual journey with God has soared.  The ups and downs over the last several years have been hard, unpredictable, prayerful.  

She is entring a cancer program at Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey.  She just spent the last week up there and endured all the battery of poking and proding. Treatment begins Monday.  

We have been blessed with great health benefits.  We have been blessed by the many thoughts and prayers by everyone in our lives.  We have been blessed by Mark's company in the support provided.  Their church (St. Francis UMC in Charlotte) has been incredible.  Their friends so giving.  Her daughters, wow - so strong.

Our ask is that your prayers and thoughts continue for Marcy as she enters this next phase in her journey.  She will still carry her smile and spirited soul like she always does.

Rutgers is 648 miles from home.  She has to be there every week for a a while and then monthly.  Should you be so obliged to help with the funding of these travel costs and impact to the family, our hearts would be forever grateful.  

Trials help everyone, now and in the future.  What we didn't know 6 sixs ago and now helping Marcy.  Our hope is this trial will help Marcy and many others for years on end.  Did you know Pancreatic Cancer is the least funded in research of all Cancers?  

Thank you for your time and your kindness.

The Stewart, Bradshaw and Compton Families - for the love of Marcy Kendra Stewart.