"Happy New Year from the Van Patters. We are thankful for so many things as the year 2014 comes to a close and 2015 begins, not the least of which is that Watts' labs continue to remain cancer-free.
Thank you for your continued prayers and love for our boy (and us)!"
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Just as I was set to post the picture of my cute kids and cheery words yesterday morning, I received a devastating text from Mandy, a dear friend and mother that I met through an Infant ALL support group. Mandy has meant the world to me over the last year and a half. Our boys were diagnosed a month apart and, although she and her family live in Charlotte, we have journeyed through treatment together and have sent each other thousands of texts and have even been able to get together a few times.
She has been my lifeline and the kick-in-the-pants I've needed at times when I've lost myself in cancer woes and anxiety. Her love for Jesus, her optimistic outlook on life, and her encouragement through the ups and downs has been priceless and a sweet gift from the Lord.
Watts (on left) and Drew (on right) over the summer.
Yesterday morning I received a text from my dear friend that her sweet boy, Drew, had gone to be Jesus unexpectedly during the night. He had not relapsed but was sick with what they had been thinking was a virus that his immunocompromised body was having some trouble fighting off.
Please pray for Mandy and Wes as they grieve the loss of their son. There are just no words that seem adequate to say but I'll (again) quote Wolterstorff's Lament for a Son:
“How is faith to endure, O God, when you allow all this scraping and tearing on us?
You have allowed rivers of blood to flow, mountains of suffering to pile up,
sobs to become humanity's song--all without lifting a finger that we could see.
You have allowed bonds of love beyond number to be painfully snapped.
If you have not abandoned us, explain yourself.
We strain to hear.
But instead of hearing an answer we catch sight of God himself scraped and torn.
Through our tears we see the tears of God.”
Thank you for your continued prayers and love for our boy (and us)!"
-----------------------------------------------------
Just as I was set to post the picture of my cute kids and cheery words yesterday morning, I received a devastating text from Mandy, a dear friend and mother that I met through an Infant ALL support group. Mandy has meant the world to me over the last year and a half. Our boys were diagnosed a month apart and, although she and her family live in Charlotte, we have journeyed through treatment together and have sent each other thousands of texts and have even been able to get together a few times.
She has been my lifeline and the kick-in-the-pants I've needed at times when I've lost myself in cancer woes and anxiety. Her love for Jesus, her optimistic outlook on life, and her encouragement through the ups and downs has been priceless and a sweet gift from the Lord.
Watts (on left) and Drew (on right) over the summer.
Yesterday morning I received a text from my dear friend that her sweet boy, Drew, had gone to be Jesus unexpectedly during the night. He had not relapsed but was sick with what they had been thinking was a virus that his immunocompromised body was having some trouble fighting off.
Please pray for Mandy and Wes as they grieve the loss of their son. There are just no words that seem adequate to say but I'll (again) quote Wolterstorff's Lament for a Son:
“How is faith to endure, O God, when you allow all this scraping and tearing on us?
You have allowed rivers of blood to flow, mountains of suffering to pile up,
sobs to become humanity's song--all without lifting a finger that we could see.
You have allowed bonds of love beyond number to be painfully snapped.
If you have not abandoned us, explain yourself.
We strain to hear.
But instead of hearing an answer we catch sight of God himself scraped and torn.
Through our tears we see the tears of God.”
I love you, praying for Michael, Piper, Watts and you.
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