New Beginnings

Mason started Kindergarten today! He has been ready for this day for soooooo long and I know he is going to do great in school. As the school year begins, I feel like we are getting a fresh start. The last year is one that I do not want to repeat, but the experiences we had during Eric's illness strengthened us as a family. When people heard about Eric's illness they would say that they don't understand why bad things happen to good people, but I know that the Lord was very aware of us during this time of our lives and blessed us immensely. Having a mortal body and living in this world brings challenges, but in the midst of these challenges there are bright spots of hope to cling to that I have heard referred to as "tender mercies of the Lord." Here are a few of the tender mercies that I do not want to forget from the past year:

1. The timing of Eric's cancer was merciful, had it been while he had been in dental school or residency he most likely would not have been able to finish school in the expected time.
2. Eric came very close to setting up his own solo practice in a small town after his endo residency, but we did not feel right about it. When his partner now offered him a position with an established practice, we came because it felt right even though Eric did not want to live here. Eric could not have kept a brand new office open while going through his illness and the Lord was watching out for him.
3. Eric's employers and office staff were so supportive of him during his treatment and allowed him to work as much or as little as he needed. He was blessed with energy while he was working and was able to cover all of our expenses - a real miracle!
   
4. We were able to get an appointment with the Mayo clinic within 3 weeks, when it usually takes 3 months.
5. The Mayo clinic rediagnosed him with the correct form of lymphoma and we were able to start the right chemo regimen within days of the diagnosis.
6. Mason didn't have any clue that Eric had cancer until after he was in remission (he is a very astute and sensitive child, and we talked about cancer all the time, so I know he was protected from this knowledge).
7. We found out that Eric was in remission about the same time that we knew my grandma's lung cancer was terminal. Our family could not have endured having two people so sick and the Lord knew that.
8. Eric is in remission! The day that the doctor told us that he was in the fourth stage of the disease, and that his chance of survival was 50%, my world changed. I remember holding Eric's hand and thinking, "No, no, he's only had symptoms for 2 weeks, this can't be right." Eric's faith was much stronger than mine was regarding his ability to fight this disease and I had to borrow some of his strength when I worried that I would lose him. But as I learned how to replace fear with faith, my worries subsided, and we were blessed with the miracle we had prayed for!

Life is back to normal now. Our world does not revolve around chemo appointments and lung function tests and blood draws and scans. As Eric's eye lashes and eye brows continue to thicken, thoughts of cancer recede further to the back of our minds. But while we are enjoying Eric's recovery, the words, "PET SCAN" stand out on the calendar, marked for August 27th, which reminds us everyday that cancer will be a part of our lives for many more months and years to come. But hopefully with each scan or blood draw that reminds us of Eric's fragile health, we will also remember the blessings and lessons we received. So, here's to new perspectives, new experiences, and new opportunities for the newly improved Barnhurst family!