*diagnosed in 2016. This is a resharing of my story to help spread awareness. Also posted on my blog. (link in bio)
This one is a little long but please take the time to read and look through all of the pictures. This one is really special to me.
I wanted to touch on something I brought up a few days ago. When starting this journey, I had a Bible verse that stood out to me. It was Exodus 14:14.. where God says, I will fight for you, you have only to be silent.
When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, I find that often it is tough to know what to do or ways to best support someone. Even as a person who has gone through it, I often find it so difficult to say and do the right thing. This is because everyone handles things differently. Some are more private, while others are an open book. Some get offended easily while others are more gracious.
I personally understood this and took every ounce of good intentions and received them wholeheartedly. I knew that people were trying there best to support and love me and my family the best that they could.
I also was fully aware that some did not know how to respond. Therefore they did not respond at all.
The funny thing with being on the receiving you somehow have these unspoken expectations. You think that certain people will be there for you and then out of nowhere those whom you would never expect show up.
That is the beauty of this process. It was heart wrenching at times but man this specific time when I was really sick stood out to me so vividly. I will never forget when I made a post about not being well on Facebook and some of you came out of the woodwork. Rebecca Ed Sparks your bone broth was one of those moments. I could not believe that you would take time out of your day to do an act of kindness and love that would have healing properties for not only my body but my soul. That truly was one of those moments where I cried so hard out of gratitude and at that moment God revealed another layer of this "fight" to me. Jennie Denton you graciously got me a care package filled with everything that you could think of that would soothe me. I was so touched by your love towards me. Kat Pickell and her husband graciously hired a house cleaner for me to keep my home afloat while in treatment. My sister Julia Van Der Werf set up a meal train and fundraiser that soooo many of you gave towards. Each and every meal was like Christmas day in our home. The children learned quickly to be thankful and eat anything that was put in front of them. Robin McCormick Heddaeus while going through your own husbands cancer journey you both would come and bring the motherload of fun snacks for the kids to enjoy! Jessie Nusser you creatively made a blanket for me made out of sentimental clothing items from my family for me to use while in treatment. Bob Newberry you mailed a birthday gift to my daughter that we still have today that picked her up knowing that her mama wasn't able to do as good of a job this year for her birthday. My cousin Heather Harper and her husband gave up countless hours with my uncle Edwin Harper to work with my husband to move my laundry room up to the second floor so that I could have an easier time doing my laundry. Many of you mailed me cards and gifts to encourage me weekly! Lynne Bogolin and Valerie Foerster Harper were among many who took care of my babies while I was in treatment. Marvin and Hilary driving Olanna to school and back almost every day. Nancy Lynn, B Ann Schaffner, Laura Edisene, Lynne Bogolin, Sara Bernstein, Joseph and Lydia Harper and Jessie and Karen Mills Nusser and Carlie Tracy brought me little pick me ups while at treatment. My aunts.. many of them Stephanie, Darlene, Mary, Connie and many more showed me so much love whether it was through bringing me flowers, mailing me books, taking me shopping or providing supplements.. the list goes on and on!! I could not have done it without the help of my family including my mom Connie Mech. And the time Tammy Harper coordinated a Christmas Carol outside of my house with channel 4 news and Bistro To Go Café & Catering feeding my family countless times. I can't forget my cousin Jodi Stadfield and her effort to get Team Amanda sweatshirts made! I can't even cover the names of all of you in this one post, but I hold every moment close to my heart! All of you were used as an instrument to my healing journey.
Can you see it! I had an ARMY!!!!
I realized that when He says He will fight for me that when you are in a battle you need an army. God provided the most amazing army of people to fight for me. I was moved so deeply by this analogy and immediately I began to see all of you as the "Army". You were the ones fighting for me.
When I was at my lowest and my sickest, I could only lay down and rest and all of you picked up the pieces and carried me through. This theme of He will fight for me, I had only to be silent was becoming more and more clear of what He meant by that.
What a beautiful gift it was to not be alone and to have you there for me.
Just know that I remember all of what each and every person did for me and I will never forget that!
THANK YOU!!!
