Hello all,
Returning home after 5 weeks away in Rochester, Mn... as John took the final step in healing.. a stem cell transplant.... WE are trusting and hoping that this marks the end of our son, John's cancer. It has been an 8 month journey with many twists and turns along the way. In the need to get some of the cancer, John has been left with ataxia on his left side of his body... after a brain biopsy was done going through the back of his brain at the end of July in Rochester. If not for that he would have been totally normal in every way, but the fact that he had lymphoma cancer of the brain. His only symptoms to indicate that something was wrong up til then was double vision and fatigue.
John has entered the rehab and finding his "new normal" part of this journey and other than maybe weekly updates on our caring bridge site.... the need to write you has now diminished hugely.... John now wants to claim his healing and start facing his road ahead as one that with hard work he will regain all that he has lost in his ability at this point to run and jump.... For a young now 21 year old college student, who enjoyed broom ball, and soft ball, and every other activity that came along while a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity... he is now realizing that there is no magic cure for him... it is going to take hard work in physical therapy, and much more just work on his own at home or wherever he finds himself. His goal is to return to life at college with all that means for him with his Ag Ed Communications major.
Along the way with John... I, Barb, have found huge "therapy" with being able to share with so many on the caring bridge site. It was gut wrenching for me to think about not having a way to continue to share with those that have been with us so loyally praying and supporting us on the way... Yet, it does seem that we are no longer needing the caring bridge... John is cancer free, and we want to claim that healthy attitude and trusting the Lord that we are now no longer in that chapter of our lives! I want to say here that hearing from you in the guestbook has been huge for Pat, John and I... so please share here or on our email at any time... we love and need to hear from you!
So with all this said... I will start sharing with those with an interest here and we will take it as it comes with each day or week. I can already see that my life will be much more demanding with now back to work, and all that things going on here with calving and then into "spring work"... doesn't that sound impossible with all the mountains of snow out there? John on the other hand is so glad to be driving in to therapy, and taking care of his needs for the most part except for mom getting him his meds and meals, but next weekend he has plans to attend his Fraternity's formal, and will be on his own with his meds, so maybe a start of total independence!
I would just like to end for today with a bit about the name of this blog and how it all came about. I had no computer for a week just after John said that we should end our CB site as he was cured and just going thru rehab.... I knew that the Lord was telling me something so I started to pray for an answer and felt that I should ask two people to help me with a decision... my husband and the Bishop of our diocese... I knew he has been following John....
The Bishop kindly wrote back suggesting one of three things being to start a blog... the Verly Family Story... I had been thinking that I wanted "Soul" in it... growing up in Michigan... my siblings and myself always considered ourselves having "soul" growing up with Motown music... I am in the midst of reading Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly, and he speaks often in terms of our souls as does the beautiful humble ST Therese of Lisseux in her book, The Story of a Soul, as well as ST K and her divine mercy diary.
As I was reading Matthew's book...I started jotting down soul this or soul that... ideas for the title of this blog... Soul disciple, soul work, soul free, soul moments,soul fully,soul creature, soul be saints!, soul glory,soul happiness,soul value, soul catholic,soul desire, soul prayerfully, soul holiness, soul service, soul satisfy, soul peace, soul purpose, soul faith, soul desire, soul cry out, soul be all, soul truly ourselves, soul aim, soul new self... but when I thought about it I wanted it to be simple and humble so following in ST Therese's thoughts... Soul Story... and my daughter, Maria here for the weekend said;"Mom, you want it to be soul family as that is what you write and share about!" So true! So with the Bishop and Maria helping me.... Family Soul Story...
My husband, Pat, had more wisdom yet... he thought a blog would be OK... "if you don't spend hours each day at it." And he also felt that I or John should update you weekly or so on Caring Bridge also to let you all know of the progress that he is making. That is good, we think, as you have all been such wonderful faithful followers and fellow warriors at our sides in the battle and now victory!
After a weekend with all 5 of the grandkids and family meals and fun including Pat's sister and his 90 year old mom.... and just getting off the phone with each of the two that we unable to be here with us... yet always with us.... I am filled to the brim with all the blessings that family holds for us! Good and tired after all the "work" it takes to feed and pick up and go outside on "adventures" with three of the grandkids each day! I am so filled with joy and thankfulness for the craziness and then the peace that has followed. One would not be near as great without the other. Life is a gift! John has made us realize that more than ever before! Now to allow and watch him as he becomes the man the Lord is calling him to be after cancer! Jesus we trust in You! Bless-bless, Barb and the Verlys... every last one of them!
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