We Can Do This...

​Since the last blog we have secured an apartment in Birmingham, only about 1.5 miles from the hospital, free of charge. The Homewood Church of Christ owns a series of apartments on 29th St. South and allows patients and their families to stay there during their treatment/recovery. What a huge blessing it is to be so close to Noah's treatment facility! We appreciate all other housing offers that have been made to us as well. I have a list of homes and people in the Birmingham area in case this apartment doesn't work out or if I ever need to call on anyone locally. I am so thankful for everyone who has responded to our recent news with love and kindness, and especially prayers.
 I was very reluctant to stay in Birmingham through the duration of Noah's treatment, especially since the actual treatment shouldn't take very long. I was ready to drive back and forth every day, just to be able to crash in my own home every evening. But John has convinced me that the most "stressless" thing would be for Noah and I stay in the 'Ham. John will be able to come down on Tuesday evening and stay through Thursday morning, which will be great.
I spoke with a sweet friend who unfortunately has experience with a child undergoing radiation, and she has graciously re-lived those awful memories in helping me to prepare for what will happen over the next 6 weeks. It seems terrifying, and unimaginable, but then again, so did the last year and 2 months, and we survived it. So, each day I will tell myself (as we count down every treatment with a super-fun sticker chart!) that we take one day at a time...because He will give us strength for each day. And we will just do this, and blast every bit of that cancer from Noah's amazing little brain. You know, since Noah got sick I've known that this would be hard, and I've known that statistics weren't on his side. But if you've ever looked into his eyes you will see a pure, honest, fighter with curiousness and love just oozing out of every pore on his body. He is honestly one of the most stubborn kids I've ever met and DOES NOT give up easily. So we can do this, with God's strength and favor and with your prayers and petitions...we can do this.
I've seen some posts and comments about it not being fair, and about people being sorry for us. And I've thrown enough pity parties for us all over the past 5 days, but I'm done with that now. (Someone remind me of that statement in week 3 when I'm severely tired of it all!!) Wednesday I was walking through the galleria mall trying to get to the carousel without crying. I looked at moms, their kids, families, elderly couples...all the while thinking, it's not fair...why can't we just be normal...why does MY kid have to have cancer? I won't know the answer to those questions, but I do know that no one has a "normal" existence (and what defines normal??). Everyone has their something that causes them pain and difficulty in life. That mother I saw sitting with her family, feeding her new baby...the elderly couple that walked hand in hand...the teenagers waiting to ride the carousel...the businessman in a suit rushing through lunch to his next appointment...they all have their something, and every something is just as real and painful as the next person's. So I appreciate all of you with your own somethings helping and praying for my family in ours. We may come out on the other side looking and feeling like we've been beaten with a baseball bat, but we will come out on the other side, nonetheless.
I'm posting a video below that I think is worthy of watching. Thank you for seeing our story and following our struggles, and helping us through them. Noah will have another MRI along with a lumbar puncture on Tuesday - please pray and believe with us for no other growths or free floating cancer cells. We will update those results as soon as we can Tuesday.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

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