Let Us Be Filled With Thanks and Giving

 


Ken has yet to meet a stranger; 
they're all just friends he hasn't met yet.
(Getting his Keytruda infusion on October 5)

I've always loved Thanksgiving. I mean, you can't go wrong with a meal that includes stuffing and pumpkin pie! This year, we have even more reason to be thankful. 🙏

1. Successful fundraiser: I think I'm still in shock, and frankly, my vocabulary is insufficient to express my gratitude to all who donated to Ken's GoFundMe campaign. We reached the goal in just 16 days! (So now I have a dilemma: do I increase the goal, or just see how much over 100% it will go? I don't want to be greedy, but I do like having my hubby around...most of the time. 😇)

2. Beautiful weather: The beautiful fall weather has allowed me to harvest many, many, many seeds and clean up the garden without a parka, and Ken's enjoyed completing various projects such as painting various interior doors and trimming trees. 👷

3. Disability Insurance: When you apply for disability insurance in your 20's, it feels like a bit of a money grab. I mean, what are the chances you'll ever need it. Well, apparently, at our house the chances are quite good. Who knew? 😑 

4. Amazing support: The support of our families, friends, church family, and complete strangers has been wonderful. A crisis really can bring out the best in people! 💗

5. Ken's CT scan results: Yes, we unexpectedly received them sooner than anticipated, which is a gift in itself! 😟 His scan in May demonstrated significant tumour growth, having grown from 1.0 x 1.6 cm to 1 x 2.4 cm. over the three month period. We were kinda' bracing ourselves, since the time from the last scan was 5 months, instead of 3. However, instead of the tumour doubling, it grew much less than anticipated! It's now 1.6 x 2.5 cm. We are incredibly grateful as Ken's type of appendix cancer is the most aggressive type, with a depressing prognosis. Now, it's not all good news, I mean, the tumour still grew, and there are new lesions and enlarged lymph nodes, but it could/should have been so much worse. 🙏 We see the oncologist on the 13th, so we'll get his take on things then. Does this mean the Keytruda is working? Maybe. Only time will tell. Hopefully, a long, long time. 😊

When Ken was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in February, 2025, we really didn't anticipate him doing as well as he has. Oh sure, he still requires a 2-3 hour nap every morning, is more forgetful than ever, and can't push through as in the past, but he's still here and he's doing well. His quality of life is great, I mean, he hangs out with his wife all day, how could it not be? 😉

There is exactly one place in the Bible where God tells us to test Him, Malachi 3:10. He is inviting us to trust Him with everything. He promises to take care of us. And so it is; we're living it. ❤







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