Saturday, September 8,2007
If you looked at our photo, you know that we have three children -- no, make that three fabulous children. Thankfully, Andrew, the oldest, is home for a season. By the grace of God, our daughter Annie is home from college this weekend to attend a wedding. We have decided to take advantage of having two out of three here, and tell them the little we do know about what's going on while we're all together. (The really down side of this is that our youngest daughter Sarah is away at boarding school. Faced with the dilemma of telling her at the same time -- over the phone -- or waiting until next Friday and flying over to tell her in person, we decide that she deserves to hear about it directly from us, face-to-face, so she can see that I don't look or feel sick.)
I got up, made the kids breakfast and dragged them out of bed -- they are not early risers, so Carol and I definitely had them at a disadvantage doing it so early -- to eat and talk together. We have arranged for our science adviser, Adel, to join us, too; the kids adore him and trust everything he has to say.
The conversation went very well; Andrew and Annie are so spectacular. In an effort to avoid falling captive to that-which-shall-not-be-named, I made them each say, "Dad has cancer." Then, as we were winding up, Andrew walked into the living room with the coffee pot and said, "...there's one cup left. Who wants it?" Carol, Adel and I all wanted it, but I played the trump card and said "...I should get it...I have cancer." We all broke up, Andrew threatened to pour it on my head, and we began to imagine scenarios where we could play the C-card to our advantage. The laughter-release was wonderful.
The rest of the day was just spent processing.
Post Script
10:30 p.m. The phone rang it was the emergency room of Frisbie (that's really the name) Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire. Our youngest has had an accident at school and torn up her shoulder. We spent the next three hours making arrangement for Carol and Kelley (from our primary care team) to fly up to be with Sarah and talk with the surgeon.
I have to stay home for my first meeting with the oncologist on Monday.
O.K. This is getting to be a little over whelming...
Our Jesus is with your whole family, Marsh, in Columbus, and New Hampshire.
We are praying for all of you.
David
Posted by: David Foster | September 10, 2007 at 11:10 AM
"these are the times that try men's souls" but Jesus reminds us He has overcome the world. Stay the course as we pray for strength for you and the family. He is our Rock and strong foundation and One who will not leave us orphan. Let's ask Him to stand in the gap for you and Sarah.
Please post any new info from today's meeting with the oncologist as well as any updates on Sarah.
Posted by: robin lorms | September 11, 2007 at 06:55 PM