update on mom

[Meredith MaGuirk]

Just wanted to make sure you are up to date on my mom,

Some of you check out her Caring Bridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pastorlinda/journal and some do not. 

I send this out for information on how our life is going - and for you NOT to be saddened - please do NOT be sorry for my mother and her battle with cancer - be amazed that God has allowed her so much time to be a witness to His great unfailing love!  Please continue to pray for us all!  Share as you think appropriate.

Thanks!

Meredith

The doctor's reports are all in and the information is not good, but alas not unexpected.

Linda has had a MRI of her shoulder, a CT of her chest and head and a bone scan in the past week or so - she is worn out!  She loves her doctors, but she is sick and tired of that being the only thing that gets her out of the house!

Linda has spots of cancer on her shoulder and the cancer in her lungs has grown significantly.  This makes sense of her shoulder pain and the increasingly difficult time she is having with her lungs and breathing.

Dr. Daniels, her incredible oncologist, was quite concerned with the growth progress and sees no reason to continue any more chemo - as it will only make her more sick instead of really prolonging life.  He has given her a 4-6 weeks time frame that she should be around fighting this lovely stuff called cancer.

After lots of talk and discussions, Linda had a massive dose of radiation to her shoulder yesterday to hopefully zap those masses so that they will reduce and stop causing her so much pain.  She then took the time to say her goodbyes to handsome Dr. Rice our radiologist.  He is fantastic and has been an excellent source of encouragement and information for mom and our family.  She does not believe she will be seeing him again in this realm.

Linda's spirits fluctuate naturally - from being really down, to no worries, to I can do it ... all in a matter of minutes.  She is mostly tired of being sick and tired.  She stated yesterday once that it was the last time she was going to get out of the house - it takes so much energy and she doesn't have any to give anymore.

She has a list of "to-do's" in the works thanks to the help of Emily and Lee.  She is the ultimate procrastinator and daddy always said she would be late to her own funeral!  We are going day by day for as many days as God has in store for her.

She would love to have a message from you - (we read her the caringbridge notes daily), you can always email, but she doesn't check that as often.  You are also more than welcome to call.  Sometimes she wants/is able to talk, sometimes she doesn't/can't, it just depends on the moment ... and those change minute to minute.  Deep down, I think she still trying to control us :) Just leave a message if no one answers.  You can even visit - if you call ahead - BUT understand she may not be up to seeing you when you arrive.  Please do not take this personally, it's just how things are right now.

So we believe we are coming closer to the end of Linda being with us here on earth.  We ask you to do what she has done through this journey - to be strong and courageous.  She may still turn for the better and beat even more odds - she's never followed the dates/outlook they have given her since day one.  And we know she's going to do things her own way til her very last breath.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you ..."

God is with us and has been with us along this entire journey and we want everyone to know that He is in control and we know the things He has in store for Linda, and it is ALL good!

Please continue to pray for us:

Pray for Linda to have manageable pain and clarity to complete the tasks she wants to do in the time she has to do them.

Pray for us - her family - as we care for her and walk through this with her and the emotions that go with this process.

Pray that God will be glorified through it all - through every word and deed - honoring Him with this fabulous lady He placed in our lives.

--
Meredith MaGuirk
Ring Leader of Circus MaGuirk