Cancer and terminal illness touches all our lives. We all have friends and/or family who is or has been afflicted with serious illness. As Dr. Phil said, “When one family memberhas cancer, the entire family has cancer.” This also applies to other terminal illnesses as well. Not just cancer.
Kay is a relatively young woman, not yet 50. She is married and has two sons ages 19 and 21, I believe. Oh, yes. She also has a daughter who is grown and away from home. She is a friend of my and has been for several years. Her parents attend my church.
About eight months ago, I believe, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. This particular kind of cancer is rare in women. It usually appears in older men, her doctor told her.
Shortly after her diagnosis her bladder was removed and she began radiation and chemotherapy. About a month ago she had another surgery to rebuild a bladder for her. During this surgery several things were removed, ovaries, uterus, more lymph nodes, etc. When the pathology report came back, Kay and her family learned that cancer cells were found in every thing that was taken out. Not a happy day.
After speaking with Kay’s father I learned that the doctors are saying that Kay may have 2 years to live. That is not long, my friends. If you had two years to live, what would you do? What things would you need to get in order? How would you help your children prepare for the time when death happens? How would you prepare them for life afterwards, without a mother?
Kay is being very open about her situation. I understand she is taking radiation treatments, but not chemo. Please pray for her. God has become very real in her life through this illness. Pray for her husband and children as they share her experience. Pray for her parents who are already grieving, but are looking to God for comfort.
When the Family Has Cancer 