While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

At this point in Hannah’s cancer journey, we entered an idyllic period.  She had completed all her radiation treatments and had taken 33 out of 42 scheduled doses of the chemo drug Temodar, before her platelet levels dropped dangerously low and her oncologist said she had had enough.  We knew that there were more treatments to come, but for now, we were able to focus on fully living life.  

During that period, I sent very few email updates to those who were following Hannah’s journey … In fact, the next one was not until May 6th … so that will be our next bonus episode of this podcast.  And going forward, these bonus episodes will no longer be daily, but I’ll be sharing them as significant events occurred during that battle sixteen years ago.  Thank you for walking this journey along with me through these episodes, and I’ll be back in touch with you soon!  

Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

After two months of balancing the twin burdens of daily chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the news that they had come to an end sooner than expected (even if only temporarily) was reason to rejoice!  It was such a relief to think of getting back to some sense of normalcy in our family.  Even sixteen years later, I clearly remember the relief we felt, knowing that our load had been lightened.  

Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

If you’re a regular listener to the podcast, you are probably aware that my husband Brad had a near-fatal incident with an ATV a few months ago right before Christmas.  To mark this special 200th episode of the While We’re Waiting podcast, he joins me to discuss what happened that day, share a little bit about his recovery process, and talk about how God has used it to sharpen his purpose going forward.  I’m pleased to share our conversation with you today … 

At this point in treatment, we could not have foresesen how much of a battle Hannah would have maintaining her platelet levels.  Low platelets caused ongoing issues for her the entire year she was sick.  But at this time, we had no reason to believe this was anything other than a little speed bump that would quickly be resolved.  

Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.