Friends & Family,
There have been various reasons for our long delay in updating you all on the health report from Northwestern. Since settling back in IL we have continued to face many situations that have been stretching and at times overwhelming. In light of that, the good news about Stephen’s health has been pushed aside while dealing with other more pressing matters in our family.
However, seeking to maintain a posture of thankfulness in any and every situation has been a deep conviction and habit that Stephen has cultivated in his life for many years now and I am also working to foster in my own life. Stephen recently wrote a blog post on thankfulness for the biblical counseling practice So That We where he is a biblical counselor, which you can read HERE if you’re interested. With this in mind, the following is the report we received from Northwestern.
Stephen had an MRI at the end of December after which we waited to hear results and further feedback from the Neuro Oncologist at Northwestern. On January 18th we received a call from the Dr. stating that Stephen was “hopefully cured of disease”. He also shared that after Northwestern’s own examination of the tumor they had down graded (!!) it from grade 2 to grade 1. This means that the tumor is completely benign and that they believe it will not grow back. He said there was absolutely no evidence of any tumor remaining or regrowth!
We both felt such a huge weight lifted off when we heard this news! We recognize that without the cancer diagnosis we would not have considered moving back to IL. It has become more and more clear that this was part of how God worked to bring us where He wants us to be right now.
When we consider maintaining a posture of thankfulness this greatly applies to each and every one of you. We cannot thank you all enough for your prayer when we were drowning in uncertainty, your financial support when we didn’t know how we would pay the bills coming in, and all the other ways that we felt so loved and cared for by you all. Stephen says that prayer is the greatest gift that we can be given, and the Lord has heard your many prayers and answered with an abundance of grace. With that said, we would greatly appreciate if you please continue to pray for us for the following:
Emotional healing for our family
Wisdom in navigating vocation and for financial provison
A posture of contentment and rest in any and every situation (Philippians 4:11-13)
We will continue to update you all as we are able! If you have questions or would like to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out.
With love,
Laura & Stephen
God is so good!!!!! So happy for the great report. Will continue to keep the family in my prayers.