Wuest Family
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Sometimes we don't get what we deserve... that is what I told my friend, Susan, when I told her it was my desire to be able to raise enough money to pay for her and her family to go away on vacation, she said she didn't deserve that...I reminded her that we don't always get what we deserve. Susan certainly did not deserve to have her cancer come back a third time in three years. Going away on vacation will mean so much to her and her family. Please help make this trip extra special for Susan and her family. I've asked Susan to share her journey with you.
Here is Susan's story:
Cancer "“ just a small word, but a very powerful word:.and it changed my life forever.
I was in control of my life, at least I thought so. I was a wife to my husband of 16 years and a mother to my 11 year old son. I was extremely active in my church, career oriented with a 40+ hour per week job, PTA president of my son's school, member of the neighborhood tennis team:yes I did it all. But then on Sept. 7, 2011 I sat in the doctor's office and heard those life changing 3 words:You have cancer! What? You must be mistaken! I kept thinking, "I don't have time for this! What on earth could possibly be the point in having to go thought this? Why me and my family? What did we do to deserve this?"
I know with my heart that God will never put anything on us that we can't handle because He tells us "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). And I know with my heart that HE is always with me because HE tells us "I command you, be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged! For the Lord your God is with you WHERE EVER you go!" (Josh 1:9). So why is my head not in sync with my heart? I am worried. I am afraid. I am weak. I have times where I feel that I am surrounded by a sea of Goliaths. I know that I need to be like David and stand strong and firm because God will carry me though and make me victorious. But, does that mean that David did not shake in his boots? I wonder what was going through David's head as he faced Goliath. Maybe the same things I was thinking.
I knew that this was going to be emotionally, physically and financially devastating to me and my family:but one thing I knew was that God won't just help us through this; HE will CARRY us through this. I could only be able manage if I did this in HIS strength.
So in the days that followed, I went through a series of tests, surgeries and biopsies and I found out that I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma which would require about 6 months of chemotherapy and I should be cured. The chemo was incredibly tough, but somehow with the help of so many wonderful friends and family I got through it. In May of 2012, I finished the last round of chemo which left me tired and bald as a golf ball:a great summer haircut, right. All was well again:. until a PET scan in Sept. 2012 revealed that the Lymphoma had returned. BUMMER!
So once again I am put on the cancer roller-coaster. This time the doctors said that I would have to have a stem-cell transplant which is much like a bone marrow transplant but they could use stem cells harvested from my own body to do this. This procedure would require so much from me and my family. Harsh chemo, a 21-day stay at the hospital where doctors would give me meds to kill all of my existing stem cells and then replant my new, clean stem-cells and hope and pray that they would start growing and reproducing and make me well. This process was excruciating! I was near death, weak, tired, frustrated, afraid, but I had hope. My God would deliver me, no doubt. And he did!
Reinforced with the confidence that I am now cured, I could now go on with my life and be the wife and mother that I was supposed to be to my family. After all, NO ONE gets cancer after a stem-cell transplant!!! EXCEPT ME! In Nov. 2013, a PET scan revealed that once again the cancer had returned. It was so hard to hear this news! Cancer for the 3rd time! I can't even imagine why I have to keep going through this awful disease. But, there is good in this. I can't see the big picture yet, but there is something wonderful that will come of this. So currently, I am going through a harsh treatment that leaves me tired and sick most of the time. The doctors aren't sure if this will work or even if I will be cured. I just have to keep the faith and hope and pray that no matter what happens God is in control and it is all part of Gods perfect plan. I am too short to see the trees right now because I am standing in the cancer bushes. But God will take the time to grow me in this so that one day I will be tall enough to see over the bushes and be awe stuck at the beautiful trees!
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Here is Susan's story:
Cancer "“ just a small word, but a very powerful word:.and it changed my life forever.
I was in control of my life, at least I thought so. I was a wife to my husband of 16 years and a mother to my 11 year old son. I was extremely active in my church, career oriented with a 40+ hour per week job, PTA president of my son's school, member of the neighborhood tennis team:yes I did it all. But then on Sept. 7, 2011 I sat in the doctor's office and heard those life changing 3 words:You have cancer! What? You must be mistaken! I kept thinking, "I don't have time for this! What on earth could possibly be the point in having to go thought this? Why me and my family? What did we do to deserve this?"
I know with my heart that God will never put anything on us that we can't handle because He tells us "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). And I know with my heart that HE is always with me because HE tells us "I command you, be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged! For the Lord your God is with you WHERE EVER you go!" (Josh 1:9). So why is my head not in sync with my heart? I am worried. I am afraid. I am weak. I have times where I feel that I am surrounded by a sea of Goliaths. I know that I need to be like David and stand strong and firm because God will carry me though and make me victorious. But, does that mean that David did not shake in his boots? I wonder what was going through David's head as he faced Goliath. Maybe the same things I was thinking.
I knew that this was going to be emotionally, physically and financially devastating to me and my family:but one thing I knew was that God won't just help us through this; HE will CARRY us through this. I could only be able manage if I did this in HIS strength.
So in the days that followed, I went through a series of tests, surgeries and biopsies and I found out that I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma which would require about 6 months of chemotherapy and I should be cured. The chemo was incredibly tough, but somehow with the help of so many wonderful friends and family I got through it. In May of 2012, I finished the last round of chemo which left me tired and bald as a golf ball:a great summer haircut, right. All was well again:. until a PET scan in Sept. 2012 revealed that the Lymphoma had returned. BUMMER!
So once again I am put on the cancer roller-coaster. This time the doctors said that I would have to have a stem-cell transplant which is much like a bone marrow transplant but they could use stem cells harvested from my own body to do this. This procedure would require so much from me and my family. Harsh chemo, a 21-day stay at the hospital where doctors would give me meds to kill all of my existing stem cells and then replant my new, clean stem-cells and hope and pray that they would start growing and reproducing and make me well. This process was excruciating! I was near death, weak, tired, frustrated, afraid, but I had hope. My God would deliver me, no doubt. And he did!
Reinforced with the confidence that I am now cured, I could now go on with my life and be the wife and mother that I was supposed to be to my family. After all, NO ONE gets cancer after a stem-cell transplant!!! EXCEPT ME! In Nov. 2013, a PET scan revealed that once again the cancer had returned. It was so hard to hear this news! Cancer for the 3rd time! I can't even imagine why I have to keep going through this awful disease. But, there is good in this. I can't see the big picture yet, but there is something wonderful that will come of this. So currently, I am going through a harsh treatment that leaves me tired and sick most of the time. The doctors aren't sure if this will work or even if I will be cured. I just have to keep the faith and hope and pray that no matter what happens God is in control and it is all part of Gods perfect plan. I am too short to see the trees right now because I am standing in the cancer bushes. But God will take the time to grow me in this so that one day I will be tall enough to see over the bushes and be awe stuck at the beautiful trees!
Organizer
Al Hogan
Organizer
