Over 30 years ago I stood at a church altar and made vows to my wonderful husband, Tom. We were in our mid-twenties, healthy, with our whole lives before us. If truth be known, the “richer or poorer” line was probably the vow we gave the most thought to – that no matter whether we faced poverty or wealth, our love would withstand. (How romantic!)
Our lives were truly blessed with good health, satisfying jobs, wonderful children and grandchildren, loving extended families, and fulfilling ministries. Then in 2007, sickness came. My husband was diagnosed with cancer; lymphoma was spread throughout his entire body. Over a 13 month span, three rounds of chemotheraphy were used against the cancer followed by a bone marrow transplant in October 2009. Last month tests showed that his cancer was completely gone, the transplant was a success!
We are so thankful for the good report, but the whole process has taken a toll on our entire family. Everything we’ve done, every plan we’ve made, has revolved around Tom – how he feels, when he has doctor appointments/treatments, etc. He is still dealing with the side effects of the transplant and the medications he was forced to take, but we are hopeful for a full recovery. So, even though we have good news, we are a long way from getting back to normal.
I could tell you that this trial has grown my faith, which it has, or that it has strenghtened our marriage and family, which it has. But I don’t want to sound like a martyr. Tom’s deep faith, not mine, has been the cornerstone of our family which has helped us deal with this difficult time. Although my faith never waivered through it all, I have existed through the past year and a half mostly in a dim fog-like state, careful not to let myself feel too much for fear I’d totally break down. It has definitely been a time of relying on God to help us through the good days as well as the bad ones.
The vow of “in sickness and in health” is a two-sided sword. “In health” is generally easier than times of sickness. The stresses of daily life are compounded when a long time illness is figured in the equation. I’m so grateful for a God who is faithful through it all!
Donna Coffey
In Sickness and In Health
Over 30 years ago I stood at a church altar and made vows to my wonderful husband, Tom. We were in our mid-twenties, healthy, with our whole lives before us. If truth be known, the “richer or poorer” line was probably the vow we gave the most thought to – that no matter whether we faced poverty or wealth, our love would withstand. (How romantic!)
Our lives were truly blessed with good health, satisfying jobs, wonderful children and grandchildren, loving extended families, and fulfilling ministries. Then in 2007, sickness came. My husband was diagnosed with cancer; lymphoma was spread throughout his entire body. Over a 13 month span, three rounds of chemotheraphy were used against the cancer followed by a bone marrow transplant in October 2009. Last month tests showed that his cancer was completely gone, the transplant was a success!
We are so thankful for the good report, but the whole process has taken a toll on our entire family. Everything we’ve done, every plan we’ve made, has revolved around Tom – how he feels, when he has doctor appointments/treatments, etc. He is still dealing with the side effects of the transplant and the medications he was forced to take, but we are hopeful for a full recovery. So, even though we have good news, we are a long way from getting back to normal.
I could tell you that this trial has grown my faith, which it has, or that it has strenghtened our marriage and family, which it has. But I don’t want to sound like a martyr. Tom’s deep faith, not mine, has been the cornerstone of our family which has helped us deal with this difficult time. Although my faith never waivered through it all, I have existed through the past year and a half mostly in a dim fog-like state, careful not to let myself feel too much for fear I’d totally break down. It has definitely been a time of relying on God to help us through the good days as well as the bad ones.
The vow of “in sickness and in health” is a two-sided sword. “In health” is generally easier than times of sickness. The stresses of daily life are compounded when a long time illness is figured in the equation. I’m so grateful for a God who is faithful through it all!
Donna Coffey