The challenges continue!

It’s been a joy this week to have our son Jon, with Heather and Rosanne, stay with us (as it is half term in Scottish schools).  They have provided our main meals, cheerful company and even a companion for Bramble with their foster dog Mika!  Rosanne is always so kind to her younger cousins and they love playing with her.  They even went to McDonalds for breakfast one morning! 

But life is nonetheless not easy for the whole family as we adjust to this new phase.  We all feel tired and emotional – the tensions and stresses of the preceding months are taking their toll.  The simplest way to put you in the picture is to quote Matt’s latest Facebook update:

It's been over a week since Phoebe was discharged & while it is lovely to be home together, life unexpectedly feels more difficult than it did in hospital. Without the support of medical staff we are always thinking about fluid targets, NG feeds, medication, physio, sickness, rest time etc. Phoebe's body needs huge amounts of energy to heal up and recover after all the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so there is little energy leftover for normal daily activity. It is very difficult to know what our new 'normal' is or should be.

Both kids are having to re-adjust to life home together, lots of tears and difficult moments for each of them as they have to share our attention with each other and all the responsibilities that come with running a home. In hospital we could focus solely on Phoebe but at home that simply isn't possible and it's a steep learning curve for her. We feel we can't give Phoebe or Reuben every bit of attention they crave & that's difficult because they are both extremely needy emotionally right now.

The constant weight of living with cancer seems to taint all we do and it's exhausting. We fight for joy but it is a real fight and doesn't come easily. We look to the promises we have in Jesus and long for them to come soon.

Please pray for:
- physical & emotional rest, as we are all exhausted from broken sleep, colds and the constant weight of living with cancer.
- Phoebe that her stamina, strength & appetite will quickly return.
- Reuben as he battles behavioural issues.

As always, big hugs y'all! Xx

We are so grateful that you have been following us in this journey with Phoebe, and thank you for all your prayers. Please keep praying.
Many thanks
Marcus ans Jen
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Yet, we also know that our journey with Phoebe is being repeated again and again in other families around the world, and that other people and situations make be your current focus and concern. If you no longer wish to receive these updates, simply click on the 'unsubscribe now' link at the foot of this email. Thank you.

Home at last!!!

'Day release' is now 'Home again!!'

About an hour ago Matt wrote the following on the #PrayForPhoebe Facebook group:

"9 months and 1 day ago we went into hospital with Phoebe not knowing the heartache, pain and struggle we had ahead of us. Today, Phoebe was released from the hospital to come home for good! While treatment didn't go as smoothly as it could have, it went almost as fast as it could have.

We aren't finished on this journey as there will still be many hospital visits, MRIs, check ups etc but the intensive period of this process is over. Now, our attention switches from surviving to healing up. Phoebe's body is broken, battered and damaged and will take a long time for her health to be restored and some things simply won't heal.

Your prayers and the Lord's faithfulness have been pivotal to our endurance, strength and joy. Thank you. We love Jesus now more than ever and pray that all of our friends and family would come to love him too.

As we transition please pray for:

• Phoebe as she continues to heal.
• Wisdom as we think about how to begin Phoebe's transition back into school.
• Phoebe to get back to eating and drinking and wisdom to decide when to take out her NG tube.
• Our whole family as we begin to adapt to our life back home together.
• Reuben as he must learn again he isn't King of the castle! This is likely to be the cause of many future fights between him and Phoebe.
• For the cancer to never return."

We (Jen and Marcus) join Rachel and Matt in thanking you for your prayers and many practical kindnesses. You have helped us through this ordeal, but most of all we thank God!

Day after the tumour removed

After radiotherapy completed

Chemo complete!

Getting there

Phoebe's day release

It’s great to be able to report that Phoebe has completed her last round of chemo, her blood count is up and she is out of isolation.  Hallelujah!  So there are now short trips to the museum or park opposite the hospital, and more visitors allowed to pop in to her room and help her pass the time.  Yesterday she was on “day release” and enjoyed being home for a while, and she was able to come to church this morning.  When they arrived, Reuben ran up to Jen with a delighted “look, Phoebe’s here”!

Her gut and stomach lining have been damaged by the chemo drugs and this is why she can’t yet go home full time.  Her pain relief needs to be carefully monitored and we are hoping and praying that she will gradually be able to increase the tiny amounts of food she consumes so that she will at last be free of the nasal tube.

It will take a long time for Phoebe’s body to recover from the onslaught of drugs, energy levels to rise and her old sturdiness to return.  It’s hard to picture her with a full head of hair, good balance and strong muscles but we pray that in time all this will come.  Eyelashes and eyebrows would be good too! 

But through all that has happened to her Phoebe has been a great example to us of patience, endurance and confidence in God. It has been a real privilege for Marcus to spend time with her in isolation talking, reading her children's Bible and praying together. She has been such an encouragement to many.


Although we are confident that the worst is over now, we ask you please to continue to support the family in prayer as they go through the many adjustments that will be needed in the coming weeks.  We get used to one phase only to find we are entering another, and that pattern is bound to continue for quite a while.

Once again thank you for all your prayers!