Miracles... They Still Exist

If you are popping by the blog for a "funny" today... you may want to click elsewhere.  I've got some great suggestions for a laugh to the right (see Blogs I Stalk).  But, tonight I'm feeling thankful.  Thankful that miracles happen, and that today that miracle touched my life personally.  Very personally.

If you've been reading my little thoughts for long, you know that my best college girlfriend was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma 15 months ago.  Stage 4.  To read more about Catherine and her story, click here and here and here.

After various and somewhat unsuccessful chemotherapy treatments, Catherine sought care at MD Anderson.  It was there that she received additional chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant (still didn't do it) and then the following 23 radiation treatments.  Catherine completed her last radiation treatment in December, and has been "simmering" until yesterday.  She had her "final" PET scan yesterday at MD Anderson Cancer center in Houston Texas.  It mustn't go unsaid that I will forever be a financial supporter and verbal (I will forever sing their praises) supporter of the work done at MD Anderson.  Why?  Because, they saved my friend's life. 

I received the following text message today.  A day so cloudy and dreary and overcast, that I could hardly process the amazing news. 

"The fight is over. I have beat cancer! Thanks to each and every one of you for all your support and prayers through the past 15 months.  I couldn't have done it without ya'll."

Miracles.  They happen.  They happen everyday.  I think I am often too busy to stop and give thanks and to acknowledge.  Simple acknowledgment.  Catherine's life continues because of the amazing medical research, technology, and ingenuity of the medical professionals at MD Anderson.  In addition, I give thanks to God. It is my belief that God did not create cancer, but He did create the people that devote their lives to finding a cure.  And those people choose to use their God given gifts to help. These wonderful folks use their gifts to repair our broken world, and to bring hope to children, men, and women with a bleak prognosis.   These amazing people change lives.  They changed Catherine's life, and that in turn touches my life, very directly. And hopefully this story will touch your life.

So I pause.  I pause to give thanks to God.  I give thanks for my amazing friend and all she has taught me.  "Roll with it, Suz."  "Be happy."  Yes, be happy.  I am. 



Addendum regarding the photo:  Cat and I took a trip to Cancun after her second full round of chemotherapy, but prior to knowing for certain that the cancer was still spreading. After our trip, at the urging of family and friends, she sought help at MD Anderson.  That picture was taken last July.  In that picture, she had cancer.  Today, February 3, 2010, she is cancer free.