The Flower that Blooms in Adversity...

Our sweet friend, and extraordinary photographer, Erin Tukua took our family pictures. Love this one!

“The flower that blooms in adversity 

is the rarest and most beautiful of all."

― Walt Disney Company, Mulan

Our girl has had an excruciatingly hard week. The 3 chemos last Thursday made her nauseous. Even the smell of food made her sick. She broke out in a body rash and sores in her mouth as well as down her esophagus. She has not eaten more than a couple spoon fulls of frozen yogurt this week, and has lost 4 pounds. She was not happy about going to the doctors for two unscheduled appointments,  but she desperately needed IV fluids and a pain med. Her rash is better today, but the painful mouth sores are still there.

She is suppose to have her last treatment for this phase on Monday. Hopefully she'll be well enough for that to happen. Not that we want another week like this one, but we want to attack this beast called cancer!

Nellie, the therapy dog paid a little visit today. Made the long day a little happier.

Even in her pain, she is compassionate. She tenderly prayed for her great grandpa (Papa) when she learned of his shoulder replacement surgery on Tuesday, and then decided that he needed a "get well pumpkin" as he probably wouldn't be able to decorate one with only his left hand!

There's no easy way through this season, but there is grace. God’s perfect, and complete grace. It’s in Chloe’s smile - in spite of harsh treatments and side effects.  

It’s in the Scripture texts, the phone calls of encouragement, the selfless friends and family who help with our boys, it’s in the meals that compassionate, already busy people deliver to our door.  It’s in the cards and generous offers of help. And a  cute lemonade stand that sweet friends set up in Chloe’s name.  But most of all, it's in the prayers. Our life, as we knew it, has been painfully changed. But we will make it count. We believe Chloe will recover, and live to tell her grandchildren about her exciting adventures after she beat leukemia. And we will continue to trust in The One who gives strength and grace to the weak.