'Tis the Season
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It is not lost on me that we share this month with Thanksgiving and thoughts of gratitude, which I have: a heart full of gratitude.
Two and a half years ago, I sat in our church parking lot, waiting to pick Rush up from youth group. I was on the phone with a woman from Kentucky, Lindi Long. She had seen my posts on the EGFR Facebook page. I was terrified and emotional. Lindi saw me, heard me, and told me that day, "Just watch Karly. There is so much changing in Lung Cancer research."
She was right. So much is changing in the treatment and screening for lung cancer.
I am living proof of that.
The expectations presented to me two and a half years ago have changed. Research holds the key to growth. My friends and fellow advocates, Bianca and Leah, are leading the way with the Young Lung Cancer Initiative.
I will update you soon with more medical details. I am good. My body is good. My treatments are working, and a few things are on the horizon that will take me to MD Anderson in the upcoming months, which I promise to update when we have a clearer picture. I will have my routine MRI and CT next month. I am in a season of fully expecting complete healing.
Our Church Pastor, Conner Bales, just concluded a sermon series titled "Counted Worthy: Discovering God’s Purpose in Our Pain.” You can click the link to watch or listen; I promise it will be time well spent.
Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He will never send us to a place he has not been. Like Pastor Connor said, "Suffering is never wasted with God."
First, please know that I do not consider myself in a state of suffering—or should I say, we all suffer. Honestly, I was humbled. I have breath in my lungs, and my life has been better than I had ever dreamed. I have a heart for those who are genuinely suffering with pain, loss, despair, or feeling like there is no end in sight. I see you.
I have written a lot in my Bible for years. I love looking back at scripture and notes and seeing how those planted seeds of truth still ring true. Before we moved to Celina, Josh and I lived in Frisco and were members of Stonebriar Church. Chuck Swindoll was the pastor—what a gift.
My Bible is full of "Chuckisms." In 2012, Pastor Chuck said, "To prune us, God will take us to a place we would rather not go to and lead us through experiences we would rather not have to bring us back to him.”
I am proof that God is working it all for His good because He is good.
Thank you for reading this and for praying for our family. I recently told a friend that if God had a "favorites" list, I would be on it. She laughed but reminded me how favored and loved I am by God, and the truth is, we all are.
To my fellow friends who are in the cancer trenches with me, let us keep hope, remain strong, and advocate so that the treatments may come in our lifetime.
To those reading this who are suffering, you are never alone. He goes before us always.
We wish everyone a truly wonderful and joyous Christmas! As the holiday season approaches, time certainly flies by quickly. I hope the picture of the kids and Santa helps to get you in the Christmas spirit.
