Independence Day

Brothers. SOMEONE ASKED MICHAEL IF WE WERE BROTHERS. WAH! That’s all I have to say about that. 

Happy 4th of July, Americas Birthday! Growing up in the United States is something I’ve taken for granted. Just like my health. You don’t think about it until something happens and then you are so grateful for it. While at Lourdes, I had the pleasure of meeting and being a part of the first pilgrims that made their way all the way from China so they could come bathe in the waters at Lourdes. This just amazed me for so many reasons. For one, did you know that Catholicism is practiced by 1% of the Chinese population?! I had no idea! We get so accustomed to stereotyping people based on their language, where they live, how they dress that we often miss opportunities for our own personal growth and learning. 

Oh the looks on their faces as they were introduced to us. Pure joy, elation. For many of them, this will be the only time they leave the country in their lifetime and I can’t think of better place to travel!

     Tomorrow begins Radiation Part 2. I’m nervous how my body will take to it because of the higher dose (and locations) but it’s only 5 days so hopefully they go by quickly and painlessly. The doctor said his first goal, which he believes he can successful with, and that’s to get the back and leg pain under control. It’s still such a weird feelings knowing that all of my pain is from the cancer spreading and not nerve damage. I have my surgery scheduled for Monday for the brain port and I’m guessing I’ll start the chemo with that shortly after. It’s going to be a busy week! Silver lining for this week? Optune gets to come off for a while because of the surgery and radiation so I’ll have a few days (possibly weeks) without it. I shouldn’t be excited about not using it because it’s helping, but a break from just carrying it around will be amazing. 

Published by forbetterorworse0624

18 thoughts on “Independence Day”

  1. Prayers keep coming from us! Also let me tell you that your Dad and John were grillmasters extroidinaire today at the pool, for the third year in a row! Maybe next year you can come. Have fun being with your Mom. I gave your Dad a big hug today, and he says he knows I’m one of your prayer warriors. He’s right!!! Sending love. You got this girl….God has you in his arms.

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    1. My prayers and thoughts to you. My good friend Suzanne was just diagnosed with a glioblastoma two weeks ago. Hang in there and God is holding your right hand…Isaiah 41:10
      10 Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness.’

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  2. Happy Forth…..as some would say…may the “forth” be with you!❤ Blessings are still abounding and our prayers are focused on the wisdom and care from your doctors. They know what you need and are trying to meet every one….but not like God….He knows everything about you and exactly what you need….and He is supplying it. Be trusting in Him….your Creator, and Healer. God Bless You!❤

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  3. I continue to pray for you and your family. May God’s healing power surround you; may God’s hand guide the doctors, nurses and staff who treat you. May Mary, our Blessed Mother, continually intercede for you, perfect all of the prayers being offered for you and lift them up to our Heavenly Father through her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hugs and blessings, Rowena

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  5. My Heart of hugs and prayers go out to you and your family..And with your new Journey coming ahead. For you and your family stay strong …believe in the unbelievable things that can happen when you least expect it… Your a very Brave Beautiful Smile Woman I’ve haven’t even met in person…I look forward to that some day until then God Bless your walk ahead of you…..Your always in my thoughts and prayers….

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  6. So funny it said my last post posted at 359 am I wrote it at 12pm…must be it posted in different time zone..lol. Anyway. God Bless I have to wake up at 4am for work….gnite

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  7. Continuing to uplift you in prayer. Thanking God for your willingness to say yes to Him by sharing so much of yourself and showing your faith and trust in Him. God bless you.

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  9. Cute picture….
    I thought this was a good read.

    THE MIRACLES OF JESUS:
    Christ Heals Illness and Injury
    by SHE READS TRUTH

    Scripture Reading: Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:14-15, Luke 14:1-4, Luke 22:50-51, John 4:46-54

    A skin disease, healed. A fever, touched away. A lost ear, quickly replaced. Seemingly chance encounters became life-altering miracles in Jesus’ presence. Power was oozing out of Him, and no one could stop it if they tried, though some certainly did their best.

    Sometimes I wonder if, for Jesus, performing miracles was like breathing. Every few moments, my chest expands and contracts, taking in oxygen, transforming it, and putting it out in the world again as a different substance. Jesus inhaled and exhaled, and the blind could see and the lame could walk and the near-dead became fully alive. Lungs breathe because they’re lungs. Jesus heals because He’s the Healer.

    So why did He reach out His hand to touch the leper? Why did He touch Peter’s mother-in-law to free her body of fever? Why did He touch the high priest’s servant’s ear rather than simply order it to reattach? We’ve seen how He can speak a storm to stillness or fill a net with fish, all without so much as lifting a finger. But time and time again in the Gospels, Jesus chooses to heal by touch. Why is that?

    The story of the leper in Mark 1 gives us a clue. Read again with me the exchange:

    Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

    Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed (Mark 1:40-43).

    Do you see it? It’s love. Jesus used touch to heal because of love.

    It is the kind of love that looks at an untouchable beggar and is moved with compassion. The kind of love that, with a resounding yes, is willing to enter into our sickness and grief. The kind of love that brims with mercy, that would lay down self and die for literally everyone other than Himself. This is the kind of love only Christ can give. This is the love with which Jesus touched and healed those He came to save.

    To be in Christ’s presence is to be changed (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Sometimes that meant physically. Sometimes—many times—Jesus saw fit to make illness and injury disappear like that storm on the Galilean sea. And we have to assume, for reasons we’ll never understand this side of glory, that sometimes He didn’t. Sometimes He doesn’t. But His presence is no less glorious, no less affecting, no less healing if the wound or ailment remains. Love is who He is. Healing is what He does. It’s how and when He heals that’s the question; and that, like so many other things, we must leave to Him (Isaiah 55:8-9).

    But here’s what we do know: He loves us. He loves us with a love that cannot be comprehended by our limited, yet remarkable, brains, with a love that cannot be conquered by anyone or anything, including death itself. Our illness and injury—be it physical, mental, or emotional—is utterly incapable of keeping us from the Savior’s love. This is His promise to us (Romans 8:35-39).

    We beg, “If you’re willing, make me clean.” And He always, always answers, “I am willing. Be made clean.”

    Jesus loves you, Stephanie . Keep the faith in His promises. You are surrounded by so much LOVE !!

    💚🕊💚🕆

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  10. My prayers are with you and your family and a never ending healing light is always following you where ever you are.

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  11. Praying along with you, Stephanie, that these few days of radiation and the next surgery go easily for you. I thank God that He has made you so willing to share your story. You are SUCH an inspiration to so many.

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  12. Brothers?! Oh man that’s harsh! 😂

    It’s so crazy awesome to think about those people from China gettig a chance to go to Lourdes. I pray God hears their hearts’ hopes and grants them His peace. We are SO blessed to be able to worship in whatever way we choose. God bless America, for real though. I watched a documentary a few years ago about how missionaries smuggled Bibles baked into loaves of bread into Vietnam. And to think we can go to a store and buy multiple copies at a time is mind blowing.

    Praying for positive results from your upcoming treatment!! *Hugs*

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  16. Wishing you the best with your treatment and surgery, praying for your recovery. You are an Amazing young lady, your faith is a beacon to us all. God Bless you.

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