It's been almost five years since we last posted. Had no idea it had been that long.
Mark is fine. I'll get back to his story in a bit. Just wanted to get that concern off the table up front.
When we were going through the cancer journey, our lives crossed paths with several others who were on similar journeys. In fact, those journeys keep coming into our lives from time to time since people know what we've been through and sometimes turn to us, but that seems to happen less often now.
One of the hardest things about blogging this journey was the fear of what future posts might need to discuss. I had read more blogs than I can remember now, about childhood cancer journeys. A few happy endings, but a lot that weren't (and a handful that grew into something else entirely as the family grew in different directions and missions). But those difficult endings were hard. You read the last few posts as things deteriorate.... sometimes those blogs end with some words of thanks and maybe some photos from the memorial, but often enough they just have unwritten endings with no closure, no one could come back to post again. I always dreaded that possible eventuality and wondered what I would write. For us, we are one of the lucky stories, and at least to this point it isn't an issue I have had to dwell on now.
In the intervening years, we have lost other family members to cancer, including both of Mark's maternal grandparents. Also lost several family friends, and family members of those friends, including one local young man who was Mark's age, right around this past Christmas. He was diagnosed not too long after Mark's treatment was wrapped up, and they reached out to us frequently for advice and support on their journey, which we gave as we were able, but now he is gone. I still can't process that, and my heart utterly breaks for his family.
Cancer fucking sucks. Fuck cancer.
I am sorry that we went several years here without word on Mark's progress. I realize that from the outside looking in, if someone read through this to where it had ended before today, without closure, that it looked like it might have been another one of those difficult endings that no one could bring themselves to write. But Mark is doing pretty well, and last week was a big week.
Last week Mark had a full comprehensive cranial/spinal MRI, which came back all clear, praise God. The anxiety leading up to this scan was enhanced for two reasons. (1) He hadn't had a full spinal MRI for a few years, so who knew what could have cropped up, and (2) this was his 5-year post-treatment MRI, this was the milestone that, if reached, meant words like "cured" and "cancer free" could be invoked. There's been so much trauma in our family in the last couple of years not related to this, we really needed this break. But as discussed above with other families suffering loss, just because you need a break doesn't mean you're going to get one. Often enough, those breaks don't come along.
But for Mark, we got that big break.
Cured.
Cancer Free.
It's been a few days since we got those results, but the tears of relief didn't really flow until I sat down to write this out, and I got to those words just now.
Mark will always have struggles and scars from this battle, emotional and physical, and they are not insignificant, but his tenacity and resilience have been breathtaking, and I am so proud of him. He was just 11 years old and coming up on his 12th birthday when his life took a hard left turn, but now he is 17. I remember well wondering if I would get to know him in these years.
Cured. Cancer Free. It's not fair for those who don't get to hear those words. Don't take anything for granted. Always assume a positive intention in everyone you meet. Show patience and grace. Remember what's important, and live each day like it matters. Hug your friends, tell those who are important to you how much, and forgive your enemies. Life is too short to waste on nonsense of no consequence.
God bless you all and thank you for walking with us through this journey. We would never have made it without your support, blessings, and prayers.
