HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PETE!

Cancer can bring out the best and worst in people. It's really true. I've seen both sides. And, I have to say in the midst of the most trying year of our lives, my husband, Pete, has come through shining and he truly is the BEST!  Today is his birthday and I just want to celebrate him.  Though, I would never wish cancer on my child and I would take it away in a second if I could, I am thankful that I've been able to see more of who Pete is. (see how God can take even the hardest circumstances and use it for his good?!) To say that Pete stepped up is an understatement. His compassion and patience, his calmness and humor, his love for God and trust in Jesus have kept us all together.  He is a Godly husband and father, a hard worker and wonderful provider.  I am so blessed to call him my husband.  I love you, babe.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Prayers for Layla Grace's Family

 


Some of you already know this but the little girl, Layla Grace, who I referenced in my post a few weeks ago, passed away yesterday morning.  Unfortunately, her mom and dad spent the last two weeks watching Layla die and very slow and painful death.  So, while we all grieve with this family because of their loss, we can also rejoice in the fact that Layla is "playing with the angels" as her mom said.  She is no longer in pain, she is no longer stuck in a body overtaken by cancer.  She is free.  She is whole and she is in the most wonderful place - our minds cannot even fathom it!  But, Layla has 2 older sisters. One who is 9 and one who is 3.  Please pray for this family as they begin a whole new journey on a very lonely road called loss. No one ever wants to travel that road.  Especially when it's the loss of your 2 year old daughter.

If you've read this blog, you know I believe in prayer.  I believe our prayers make a difference.  I believe it's one of the greatest gifts we can give someone else at anytime we choose! Because, I believe God hears.  I believe He listens.  And, I believe he loves.  He cares deeply for His children - which includes me and you.  He hurts when we hurt and wants to comfort us.  So, I'm asking.  Would you please pray for this family? It only takes a moment and I truly believe your prayers can bring God's peace and comfort to them.

Some of you may ask: if God is God, if God loves us & desires to comfort us, & hurts when we hurt, why would he let poor Layla die of cancer? I am not a theologian and I'm almost afraid to even "go there" for fear of the judgement of those who are, but I will.  Just not now. I have Bible study in a few moments and don't have the time right now!  But, I will.  Because I, too, have asked this question. I'll be happy to share what I've learned.  Stay tuned...

Please pray.

All my thanks and love,
Whitney

Cleaning house around here

I'm in the process of taking over the bradburnfamily@gmail.com account that is referenced on the sidebar of this blog.  When Forester was diagnosed last year some dear friends of mine set up this account and got things going.  As time has gone on this account was neglected. So, my sincere apologies if you requested to subscribe to this blog, or sent us a message or made a request and it was never tended to. I started trying to go through each email to figure out who had been added or replied to but there are over 500 emails & it's just too big a task.  SO, if you wouldn't mind, if you were one of those who did not receive a response will you please email again?  I have all my accounts going into one mailbox now and I promise I will get it and respond! If you would like blog updates to come to your email inbox, just send and email to bradburnfamily@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject.  Thank you!

~Whitney

Always good to hear good news

Official MRI results: "Looks beautiful".  :-)

We're enjoying a gorgeous day here in Charleston.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

MRI Follow Up

I'm in a rush today, (seriously, how do people like MckMama find TIME to blog everyday??) but I wanted to quickly post about the MRI.  It was a long wait and it even felt like the actual procedure took longer this time.  Poor Forester didn't wake from the anesthesia very well. Usually, he's back to his normal self rather quickly.  Yesterday, he was crying, panicked, somewhat hysterical & disoriented.  His blood pressure shot up and things started turning red on the moniter and beeping which totally freaked me out.  But after 45 min or so, Forester calmed down, things got back to normal and we were able to come home.  He was groggy the rest of the day and didn't sleep that great last night but seems fine today.  Thank you for your prayers.  It's never fun to have your child sedated.

Also, our "inside man" took at look at Forester's scans last night and said everything looks good.  So, he'll be cleared to move forward with his 10th month of chemo.  May should be his last treatment month. It's just around the corner!  :-)

MRI

I'm at the hospital right now and Forester is currently sedated while getting a routine MRI. Please pray.  MRI's always make me nervous.
Thanks,
Whitney

One Year Ago Today...

At this time, exactly one year ago, Pete and I had said goodbye to Forester as they wheeled him away to the OR and we settled in the waiting room.  It was going to be 8 hours until we'd see him again.  It was going to be a long day.  I just knew every minute was going to tick by so slowly.  And then, our family showed up.  Our family by blood and our family in Christ.  They took over a corner of the waiting room, they brought coffee, breakfast, snacks and lunch! But the absolute greatest gift was fellowship and the love of Jesus. Believe it or not, we had fun that day! Everyone kept us distracted.  We talked of the mundane and laughed together.  Pete and I were amazed that the time really did go by quickly. You who were with us that day were the hands and feet of Jesus to us and we are forever grateful and will never forget those moments.
As we arrived at the year anniversary of Forester's diagnosis yesterday Pete had planned to write a post.  But, it was a crazy busy day and time just didn't allow for it.  There is so much to say but I will refrain and let Pete tell you in his own words.  Stay tuned. :-)

We are so thankful to God for all the miracles he has done this year!!

Love,
Whitney

Losing Perspective

I know my posts don't come as frequently these days and I'm sorry for that (for those of you who care). I still can't believe anyone actually reads my blog! 

Ultimately, less posts is a praise because there hasn't been as much to report as things are starting to fall into a pattern of normal.  Lately, I've found myself being annoyed by all this rainy weather we've had in Charleston, looking down at my toes and thinking that they really need attention and feeling a little overwhelmed by the big task of cleaning out the kids closets of all the stuff they are outgrowing. Why is this significant? Because the day that Forester was diagnosed, when I was driving home with Forester from the hospital with only a tiny sentence of information, "he has a brain tumor" and nothing else, I instantly began to think about all the trivial things that consume us.  I literally thought "all these people in these cars passing me by have no idea that I just learned that my 7 year old has a brain tumor".  I saw a women drumming her perfect gel nails on her steering wheel and thought, "I can't believe people actually care about fingernails!" I can't believe we waste time honking at the slow car in front of us and getting angry - who cares!  And, who knows what kind of day that person is having.  I can't believe we care about Brad & Angelina.  None of it matters.  All of these things were flying through my mind in an instant.  In the next several hours I thought, I don't care if I live in a shack, don't have a car, wear clothes that have holes in it and bathe in a creek.  I don't care.  I just want my baby to be ok.  Through out the next several days and weeks I would get angry over the Facebook statuses I would read.  Really?  You're mad because someone always misspells definitely?  You're complaining because you're "stuck" indoors all day with your kids? You have got to be kidding me.
And yet, here I am almost a year later reverting back to the "old me".  Thumbing through the People magazine while checking out at the grocery, seriously considering whether or not quarterly pedicures could be worked into the budget (the answer is no, btw), and posting trivial Facebook statuses that include counting down the hours until my children are asleep and complaining about a puppy who keeps peeing in the kitchen. How have I managed to lose perspective?  Why do we lose it?

Then, I receive an email from a local cancer kids organization letting me know that 2 MUSC children have passed away.  One of them from a brain tumor. And my heart stops and I can't breathe. Instantly, I regain persepective.  And I pray "Lord, I need you... I'm freaking out and I need you. I'm scared to death that will be my child one day." I also happened across another mom's blog today. http://laylagrace.org Her 2 year old daughter  is now in the process of dying from Neuroblastoma.  Usually, I run from anything like this because I just can't bear to read it. But, today for some reason I read.  I can relate to her posts on so many levels.  She was "just a mom" like me.  She had a happy healthy little girl until May when they were stunned with the diagnosis of cancer.  And like us, they have taken so many aggressive steps to kill this cancer and in the process watched their child suffer. Like us, they have a strong faith in God, asked Him for miracles, & believe in power of prayer.  Some of her posts sounds so similar to my own.  But, there is a huge difference.  Treatment didn't kill the cancer.  It's continued to overtake Layla Grace's body and now she is in the last days of her life. They are currently living my biggest fear.  My heart completely breaks for them.  And again in an instant, I understand what really matters.  I would encourage you to read the latest post on Layla Grace's site.  Especially if you're a mom.   For me, I know what it's like to want to hear your kids fighting with each other again. Wanting your child to be healthy enough to have to say "calm down" and for those things to be the biggest stresses of the day.  I longed for it!  And, now it's here. Praise God! But, instead of being thankful for the silliness that's getting out of control at the dinner table I'm getting angry. And, I'm not reading Forester and Micah a story before bed because I feel like I have too much laundry to get to....perspective lost.
Thanks to Layla Grace and her family I have it back.  Who cares about a messy house or piles of laundry.  I'll get it done eventually.  Today I'm going to BE with my children.  Play with them, hold them, and enjoy the moment. I may even let them sleep in my bed tonight! I pray that God continues to remind me of what really matters and just how blessed I am.  I pray that he will continue to show me how to live and love in the moment and cherish the gifts he's given me. 
I pray the same for you. And I ask you to stop for a moment and pray for a family who is about to lose their precious Layla Grace, to the nasty monster called cancer.