Written January 23, 2024
Today we have been traveling back to Duke. Tomorrow is pre-op and then surgery the following day, January 25th. I've stayed busy these last few weeks leading up to today. Staying busy kept my mind busy and the worry and fear at a distance. Honestly, I just finished packing this morning.
We had a good snow this past week and our son and his family stayed with us. I enjoyed waking up to a crazy-haired toddler climbing into bed and a "Good morning Nana!" greeting me every morning.
I painted our bedroom last week and halfway through I was second-guessing myself, I hadn't even started packing yet, but I finished painting and getting our room put back together and I am glad I did. It will be a place for me to recover when we return home from Duke Cancer Center after the surgery and a long stay after.
My daughter came over the evening as I was packing, she came over to be with me and to help me pack. Aria colored me a picture to put in my suitcase to take with me. Looking back at this picture, I can see the worry in my daughter Natalie's face and it breaks my heart.
We stopped at St. Timothy Lutheran church once we arrived in Charleston on our way through to Duke. My sister Jolena and my husband were there with me. The pastor gave me comfort and reassurance and scriptures to fearful questions I had should something happen during surgery and I don't see another tomorrow. He prayed over me and anointed me. He gave me scriptures that gave me peace, hope, and strength. My husband prayed while holding my hand and my sister with her arms wrapped around me. I feel at peace. I feel ready to face this road that's been given to me. I am blessed and grateful for all who have reached out to us. Please continue to pray, I truly feel the faith, hope, and courage God has given me.
Thank you Aunt Pam for driving us down and staying with us during the stay post-surgery.
On our drive down, as I watched out the window, I noticed the sunlight shining through all the bare trees from winter on all the mountains. It was a beautiful sunlight peeking through, I kept watching it flicker and glow as I listened to the song my sister Jolena had sent me that morning. A beautiful, hopeful song by Alisa Turner, "My Prayer for You". It's almost as if the flickering sunlight was in rhythm with the music being played.
With Love,
Amber Hope
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