Bruised to Comfort Others

Earl and I went to UCI Medical Center today during my lunch break.  A friend's mom (who is also a friend) was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  She was supposed to have surgery today to remove the cancer.  I texted my friend this morning and asked if I could come by during my lunch break.  I know our family usually could use the extra support while we were sitting waiting around - at the very least, it gave us new conversation topics. When we arrived, both she and her dad were upstairs getting an update from the doctors.

Forty minutes later they came downstairs and puffy eyes quickly signaled it was time for us to leave.  We apologized and tried to slip by them, but her dad stopped us and shared with the few friends waiting that once the doctors began the surgery they discovered the cancer was also present in her liver.  We hugged them and left them to the decisions, conversations, and tears I knew would be coming.

An hour later I texted her and she wrote back that if there was anyone who understood, she knew I did.

I knew that one day I would be in this position - comforting someone else going through the loss of someone to cancer. Situations and trials are not wasted in God's economy. He orchestrates our lives to help and support each other. This is actually the third time I have done it since Mommy's passing. But it is the first time the situation so closely mirrored our situation.

So, these are the things I am praying for them: to have faith to believe God still performs miracles, to put their hope in His unfailing love and His mercy, to trust His goodness, to have joy in the days to come, to learn about heaven and encourage each other with eternity. I pray that they would love deeper and continued trust, faith and hope for the next situation. And I pray for comforting arms in the middle of the night, peace when they don't understand, and meaningful time.

Everlasting Peace

Clearly my blogging track record is pretty sad, but more so in the last few months.  Life is not what it was.  And yet, I can't help but think that she is so much better off.  If you have read my posts in the past, you know that there is a little girl, Daisy Love Merrick, who has been fighting cancer since 2009.  She was diagnosed shortly before Mommy was and she was declared cancer free only to have it reoccur soon after.  She is undergoing intense chemotherapy and the family is looking into other treatment options.  The tumor is gone, but they are fighting any remaining cancer cells.

Yesterday her dad posted a prayer request on Facebook. 

Daisy's blood counts are really low from chemo. She is bleeding out of her mouth A LOT tonight. Please pray that it stops.

My heart breaks for them and I am grateful.  We are not fighting this dreadful disease anymore. We aren't worrying about this bump or that ache. The hospital visits, doctor appointments, filling prescriptions, tests and biopsies, tube feedings - it has all ended. 
 

We have peace and comfort.  While other things in this life continue to worry me and I still ache and hurt and miss, I have peace.

 

She is safe in His arms. Her pain is gone. Her reward has come.