We have been delighted at how Phoebe has improved over the last couple of months since she started taking a steroid to replenish her level of Cortisol. Thank you for all who pray for Phoebe and family.
We have recently received some lovely photos and video clips of her, including one of her doing a somersault on a climbing frame! We have been amazed and delighted by her progress.
So with this in mind it was unexpected to receive the results of Phoebe's scan last week.
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Blog update from Rachel and Matt:
Hey folks, we wanted to give you all an update regarding Phoebe’s latest trip to St Jude’s.
Thank you all for your continued prayers for us and your ongoing encouragement and support. In so many ways Phoebe is doing amazingly well. She has gained weight which was much needed after her two most recent hospitalizations (March ‘18 & Aug ‘17), her appetite is in full force, she is full of joy and life and she is functioning as well as we’ve seen psychologically since before her treatment began in 2015. We also feel as if we are settled here in our life in the US, her and Reuben included.
The trip this week to St Jude was just another routine checkup on all the many areas of her body that have been damaged by cancer. Everything came back well except one, her cranial MRI. Two spots were found on her brain which haven’t been seen before. Now, before we go into a full panic, we’ve been assured that this isn’t necessarily bad news as these spots could be small benign lesions never seen before on an MRI and seen only now because her ventricles are open more than they have ever been in the past. The other possibility is that these two spots are in fact metastatic disease aka secondary cancer.
The only way to know is to re-scan her in about 6 weeks (much sooner than otherwise planned), if the spots have grown in size the outcome is likely secondary cancer.
This leaves us in pretty terrible position as we want to remain hopeful but also understand the weight of the situation. Our worst fear is the cancer coming back because it would be devastating for her and us . As I’ve already said, it’s not time to panic but oh how we desire your prayers and encouragements. We serve a loving, powerful Father who loves to give us good gifts and at the same time we also live in a sad and broken world where people suffer far worse than us.
Please pray that our joy and hope is dictated by all Jesus has done and not our current trials! Please also pray that her scan at the end of June would come back clear. Please pray for us to faithfully endure the next 6 weeks as we wait.
Please don’t say anything to Phoebe and Reuben as at this stage they do not know.
On a very joyous side note, while Phoebe has trusted Jesus since a very young age, she is being baptized on June 10th & we rejoice that though our bodies fail, she will be with Jesus and us eternally whatever the outcome of this life. Big hugs!
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Clearly these are difficult times, but times in which we can learn and grow.
Recently we purchased the book "God's discipline - A word of encouragement in the midst of hardship" by Tim Chester, which is dedicated to Matt, Rachel, Phoebe and Reuben! You too may find this helpful.
We trust in the Lord, knowing that his ways are high above our ways, but are always right and holy.
With very grateful thanks for your prayers - and praise to God
Marcus and Jen
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Marcus and Jen
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