Sunday 4 January 2015

In celebration















Last year was not one of the best for us, its fair to say. John's diagnosis of cancer in spring took the ground from under our feet and cast us into a twilight world where we just had to keep our heads down, hold our breath and hope for the odd pocket of air. We passed the summer in different hospitals, as he had spinal surgery and then radiotherapy. The autumn was spent lurching from one chemotherapy treatment to the next, with all the attendant side effects - nausea, exhaustion, pneumonia..... In early winter he had a couple of scans to see how the various treatments had worked. We knew just before Christmas that his lung lesion had shrunk by a couple of centimeters, and on New Year's day, the neurosurgeon rang to say he was happy that the spinal tumour had remained stable. We are so grateful to all skillful and compassionate doctors for their care.

So now, there will be some maintenance chemo next year, to keep on top of things, but we are hopeful that he will have a long period of remission ahead.



It's not cured, we know that, and he certainly wont be able to lead the active life he has been used to, but we have him with us, and right now - that's enough for me.

I have to thank everyone here who has prayed for us, thought about us, worried for us and sent love to us. I found such comfort and support here, as we were going through this. I am so grateful for each one of you. Prayer works - Thank You Lord.

37 comments:

  1. I just read this article about resolutions after a traumatic year. I thought of a few friends that could think this way after a tough 2014. What to do in 2015? Sleep, Play, Sing, Dance, love those with you, be in nature, ban perfection. Sounds like a really great list.
    http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2015/01/resolutions-after-a-trauma-sleep-play-love

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    1. That is a great article, Missy - thank you so much for sending me the links. xx

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  2. Jacqui, reading your words have brought tears to my eyes. Yes, prayers do work and I so happy to know that John is doing much better and he is there with you.
    Much love and big hugs from across the pond my dear friend.

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    1. Thank you dear Tracey - love to you xxx

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  3. Anonymous5/1/15 00:55

    I am so happy for you and tour family. I'll keep praying for the completely recovery of tour husband. Eliane

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    1. thank you - it is so appreciated xx

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  4. More hugs from New Zealand. Pleased to hear that John is doing well.

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    1. thanks Susan - hope you are well xxx

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  5. I am so pleased that John is doing so well. The power of prayer is certainly strong.

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  6. Will continue to remember you all in my prayers. Much love and hugs xx

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  7. A nice phone call to start the new year. Wishing you a year filled with wonderful moments. xx

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  8. God bless you all, may the year be kind to you. Love and prayers, Barbara x

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  9. What a great phone call for the beginning of the year. God bless and I will keep you in my prayers.

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  10. Delighted to hear that things are looking positive, there is indeed power in prayer! God bless you all this year as you live in the moment, not the what might have been! Xx

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  11. Tracy said it all - so I won’t repeat it. God bless.

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  12. Jacqui, you and yours continue to be held in my thoughts and prayers as this New Year unfolds.

    xo

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  13. Elaine Brown5/1/15 16:08

    Such good news to start the new year with. My prayers will continue for you & your family. I hope you have the best 2015! I love to read about Scotland. It is on my bucket list of places to visit. Thank you for this interesting blog.

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    1. you are wlecome, Elaine - thanks so much for your prayers x

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  14. Anonymous5/1/15 17:12

    A good start to the year. Wishing you every blessing in the days ahead, xx

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  15. This is grand news! I will keep on praying and holding you in my thoughts - may this be always in remission or gone completely! :) I am so happy for you all!

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    1. thank you, your kind comments have been so appreciated. xx

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  16. Anonymous5/1/15 19:54

    That is really good news!
    Frances SW

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  17. Anonymous6/1/15 07:04

    My dear, prayer does work. I had a daughter in hospital 3 months last year who was given a 5% chance of survival. Well, survive she did and the prayers of my members of my church plus others in my hometown here in the USA made the difference. I remember asking the ICU nurses when my daughter was a patient in there "what happens to people who come in who who do not believe or are atheists?" They quickly replied "it makes all the difference in the world." A telling statement from those who see this first hand day after day.
    My late husband also had cancer and it is a tough time for all in a family. You both are in my prayers and I only hope a good long remission and a renewed spirit.
    I have enjoyed your blog for a long time now and thank you for sharing your life with others.

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    1. hello - thank you so much for your lovely comment - I feel my spirit renewed by all the love here x

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  18. What a wonderful start to the year for you all. I hope that 2015 is a smoother ride.

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  19. thank you for the update, I am happy that you have a wonderful team of doctors who are giving him health. May 2015 continue to be blessed with health and happiness.

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  20. Prayer does indeed work lovely, as we found out with little F and his cancer. May 2015 be a happier, more settled, more steady, and healthy year for you all xxx

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  21. Anonymous6/1/15 21:21

    That is really great news, Jacqui. How courageous you have all been, and such a good example of living faith. I will keep you all in my prayers. Wishing you all a very good 2015 with a lot more stability, and much happiness.

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  22. Thank God! Wonderful diagnosis, happy full life ahead!

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  23. Wonderful news, so pleased for you all. xx

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  24. Anonymous11/1/15 18:20

    God bless you and your beautiful family, Jacqui.

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  25. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to read this!! I've been praying for you, your husband and your family since you told us about his illness. I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year and I thank you for your kind words with regard to my son's friend. You know all too well just how precious life is. God bless. xo

    ~ Wendy

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