Tuesday afternoon, Josh went into the hospital with what we assumed was gallbladder disease needing removal. By Friday evening, we left the hospital with a Stage 4C colon cancer diagnosis that has metastasized to his liver, lymph nodes, inflamed his gallbladder, and infected his stomach lining. We are still waiting on biopsies to return to see what we are dealing with as far as type and treatment options. Our life has been utterly turned upside down and we feel shattered to the core. Both of us have found ourselves speechless during this time. Every doctor agrees there is no way he should have this diagnosis. He’s 41. Before this, he was healthy in every way—he’s never even had a cavity!
Josh’s Stage 4C colon cancer has not been given much hope, but we are going to fight with everything we have. Medical bills are already mounting, and we will need to travel to New York for treatment. Josh is the sole primary breadwinner for our family, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead is overwhelming. In 24 years, I don’t think a day has gone by that we aren’t laughing and joking about things that would make no sense to anyone else. We literally laugh with each other as much as we breathe, and somehow, with fear and dread and the unknown hanging over our heads this last week, we’ve still found moments to laugh with tears streaming down our faces. That has been my biggest prayer to God: “Lord, heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, and please, Lord, do not let him lose his laughter and joy.”
We know we have many friends far and wide who have heard and bombarded heaven with prayers on his behalf, and we ask that you please continue to. Please pray for a miraculous healing. Please pray for comfort for our children. Please pray for the hard days that come ahead. Please pray that the God of the universe who loves us more than we could possibly love each other steadies us and grounds us. We have struggled to form words that used to come so easily. We have struggled to breathe air that feels thick and heavy. We have struggled to respond to every text and call, and we hope you will be patient with us. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2.
Josh’s Stage 4C colon cancer has not been given much hope, but we are going to fight with everything we have. Medical bills are already mounting, and we will need to travel to New York for treatment. Josh is the sole primary breadwinner for our family, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead is overwhelming. In 24 years, I don’t think a day has gone by that we aren’t laughing and joking about things that would make no sense to anyone else. We literally laugh with each other as much as we breathe, and somehow, with fear and dread and the unknown hanging over our heads this last week, we’ve still found moments to laugh with tears streaming down our faces. That has been my biggest prayer to God: “Lord, heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, and please, Lord, do not let him lose his laughter and joy.”
We know we have many friends far and wide who have heard and bombarded heaven with prayers on his behalf, and we ask that you please continue to. Please pray for a miraculous healing. Please pray for comfort for our children. Please pray for the hard days that come ahead. Please pray that the God of the universe who loves us more than we could possibly love each other steadies us and grounds us. We have struggled to form words that used to come so easily. We have struggled to breathe air that feels thick and heavy. We have struggled to respond to every text and call, and we hope you will be patient with us. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2.
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