First of all, I do want to say- that while David and I were in the hospital, our daughter called to see how we felt about our Ward and friends fasting for us. I knew Fast Sunday was coming up on the weekend and I was so worried about David, and he about me, we said yes! I didn't know they were adding an additional fast...
I have never had this experience before. During that time of the fast, I honestly felt like I was being lifted and carried. It was such a tangible feeling- and I knew without question that our family and friend's prayers were being united and advocating for David's and my well being. I thought I was getting better but David was still really sick....then the next day, we were both released! How does that happen? I'm pretty sure Heaven was involved. I will be forever grateful!
I came home using 2 then 1 liter of oxygen, David needing none. I loved the security of going to bed with oxygen since mine had gotten so low when I was sick. Brandi never left our sides for 4 days. She slept on the sofa, even though she was on crutches from an earlier surgery- so she would be close to us. Every hour during the night, she would check our stats. She was amazing. When she wasn't nursing us, she was cleaning. She cleaned a laundry room (I have two) that I haven't actually seen in awhile. It was such a morale booster! She manned the phones and kept family and friends up to date, fed us- I don't know what we would have done without her! Oh, and when we got home from the hospital, our home was filled with cut out hearts and balloons and signs telling us we were loved (Tanner and Brooke and kiddos)- and we sure felt it!
After a few days, David was anxious to get me back into Dr. Shultz. He's my incredible internist. He had done blood tests before trying to figure out my lung, and breathing and coughing- and where to go from here. I wanted to stall. I told David I just wanted to be "well" for at least a few days. The "L" word loomed in my mind.
Well, long story short, it was a miracle to get me into a hematologist quickly- they have a couple of months waiting period. But because of my numbers in the hospital, there was enough concern to get me in NOW. The hematologist got me lined up at Huntsman Cancer Institute for a bone marrow test. I heard they were horrible- and it wasn't fun, but like I always say, "It wasn't as bad as shingles!" Not that I ever want to do it again. But I didn't expect that I would hear back with results to my doctor in less than a week.
The next day, I was waiting for David to get home- we were going with Kirk and Cathy to Huntsville, to see their kid's new home and property there. My phone dinged with a message. Hearing you have blood cancer on your MyHealth app. (thankfully not leukemia) with no one home and no preparation was the pits! David got home and we had a good cry- then Kirk and Cathy picked us up and I withheld it as long as I could (when the guys stepped away from the car.) We had another good cry fest. Man, I looked at heaven and semi-jokingly said, "You know, I'm starting to take this personally!"
I had to focus on the words- "We've got this." I know God is in my story-that I cannot doubt. But Mallorie sent me this meme that rather summed up my feelings-
. May they have a lifetime of joy! Josh Williams, we love you so much! You are such an outstanding young man and we welcome AmberLee into our hearts!
