My 92-year-old grandmother and I have a few things in common. We both love Jesus and love our family. We appreciate a good piece of chocolate and the challenge of trying to beat each other at Words With Friends. And both of us are a little surprised to still be alive in 2015.
As many of you know, in October 2010, a radiologist called me with biopsy results and introduced me to a word I had never heard before: angiosarcoma. During our conversation, I said to the doctor, “I’m not sure if you’re telling me I’ve got one year or five years or what.” And he replied, “We just don’t know yet.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. The cancer I had just been diagnosed with is extremely rare, very aggressive, and comes with a 5-year-survival rate of about 30%. In that moment, I realized that it was statistically unlikely I’d live to see the year 2015.
By the grace of God, I lived to see 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and now 2015. As this new year rolled in, I realized how very special 2015 is to me. It is a milestone in my cancer journey. I am alive and healthy in a year I didn’t expect to see. Later this year I will celebrate being in that 30%: a five-year survivor of angiosarcoma.
In 2015, I get to see my kids turn 11, 9 and 6. I get to parent a tween, y’all! I get to see my kids grow and mature in their relationships with Christ. That toddler I held at night and begged the Lord through tears to let her remember me? She rolls her eyes at me and says, “seriously, Mom??” like she’s so grown up. I’ve been here for vacations, piano recitals, basketball games, spelling bees, ballet performances, birthdays, holidays, first days of school, last days of school . . . they’ve all been so precious to me. Years and years of gifts from the Lord.
When I document these memories, I’ve been using #this2015life to acknowledge how thankful I am for this year. I want to be intentional about praising God for all these moments with friends and family–the big milestones and the small joys. He has brought me safely to 2015, and I am comforted to know that all my days are in His loving and faithful hands. If you are happy to be enjoying God’s gifts in 2015, please help yourself to my new hashtag!
Thank you, Lord, for #this2015life.
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Beautifully spoken. Would that we all would thank God each and every day for blessings untold that He has given us. This is a great reminder for me to “in everything give thanks,” for that is His will for me. I will gladly plagarize your hashtag.
Marissa- There are no words big enough to express my thankfulness that you are able to write these words. I was (and continue) crying out to Jesus on your behalf and have been so blessed to see you enjoy year after year with your kiddos and the zillions of other people you bless daily. Love you so much!
Oh I am so thankful….
Oh how my friend and I prayed for you here in Australia.