So this post-chemo week has been really tough in the Stallings’ household. This past Thursday things were looking good. Emmett was able to play at VBS in the morning and evening. He didn’t need much medicine, and was holding strong most of the day. Then we got home. That’s when the vommitting started. Since Thursday life has been rough around here. Emmett has spent a lot of time in bed, and we’ve had to cancel any plans we had. Needless to say we’re struggling both mentally and physically here. Since the doctors put so much stock in how Emmett feels between chemos, we can’t help but associate bad days with lost progress, even though we don’t know for sure.
Emmett is taking an extra week off chemo to attend his little brother’s wedding in Atlanta. We’re supposed to leave tomorrow (Sunday) and be in Atlanta all week. Wednesday, we’ll be taking a shot side trip to Chateau Elan to celebrate our 8th anniversary a little early. While there is some excitement in having an extra week off, it brings with it a lot of anxiety. We’ve been attacking the cancer so hard with chemo, that we’re nervous about taking any time off and possibly losing ground. Add to that Emmett’s slow recovery this round, and the trip is appearing to be more difficult than we thought.
I think we’re reaching a difficult point mentally, as we’re both finding our patience running thin and our spirits pretty low a lot of the time. Emmett isn’t sleeping well most of the time, and it’s a rare day when I get enough sleep. Thursday night Emmett held me while I cried, and tonight I held Emmett while he cried. We’re just weary on a number of levels. Not hopeless, though, just weary. Neither one of us has felt like updating the blog because we don’t have much positive news or encouraging things to say. The idea of long-suffering is very present in our lives right now. There is no end to chemo until God chooses to work a miracle of healing in Emmett, so we feel part way up a long mountain and we don’t know if the end is just up ahead or a long ways off.
Pray for us to have endurance as we run the race that God has set before us. My failures as a wife and mother have been great this week, and Emmett is continually grieved that he cannot do as much to help around the house. Pray that our hearts would be encouraged by the grace of Christ and that we would fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith. Pray for a sweet week with family, for Emmett’s body to bounce back like usual, and for us to be wise about medicating, hydrating, and eating. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer this week. There is infinite beauty and deep, deep pain in being broken before our savior. Pray that we would find joy in the beauty and help in the pain.
Wendy, thank you for sharing your feelings. I am praying that you and Emmett have a peaceful and joyous week at the wedding, that you both remain strong, and most of all, that healing surrounds you. God bless you, Emmett and Quinn.
We will continue to pray for all of you. It will continue to be one day, one hour at a time. You have not failed at anything, this is a very stressful situation to be in every day. I cannot think of anything harder to go through.
I pray that you will be able to make the trip to Ga and to celebrate your anniversary as well.
Hugs to all.
love, Sandy
Have a safe and happy trip to Georgia. Keep thinking positively and accept your slow progress! Maybe you tried to push it too hard, but you can do it! I know you can!
Love, Aunt Jimmie
Thank you for being willing to share the tough stuff with us so we can pray very specifically for you. I will pray Heb. 12:1-2 for you and Isa. 61:1-3. Love to you all!
Oh, dear friends, I worship the Lord with you in this deep, deep pain and infinite beauty. And I ache throughout my heart that this is the path you are on. On my knees all day long for you both. love you.
I hope you know we don’t read the blog for good news (though we love it) but so that we can walk along with you in the dark valleys too.
Please don’t hold yourself to impossible standards, be kind to yourself, Wendy. Have a great time at the wedding.
We will continue to pray and to pray specifically for those things you ask. Wendy, you are a wonderful wife and mother, even if you have bad weeks.
I’m so glad that you are going to attend the wedding this weekend, and I’ll pray that Emmett is feeling well so he can truly enjoy it! Have a wonderful trip with your family and celebrating eight years of marriage!
Continuing to pray for your both! Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. I hope this time with family is renewing and comforting to your bodies and spirits!
thru a friend of a friend I learned of the struggle you are going through. Please know that I am praying for you all.
Having had my child, my parent and myself struggle with cancer I see it from many sides. While it is extremely hard for the patient, I honestly think it is harder to be the one watching, helpless, unable to do anything but pray and will the disease away. I’ve felt the betrayal, the anger, the beautiful agony and the horrid beauty of the situation.
Please know that you are being prayed for in Bakersfield, CA.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
-Ps 42.7-8 the Message
Sweet friends, praying for you during this weariness. Praying for strength that can only come from above. Praying for loads to be lightened physically and emotionally. Love you guys. Thanks for trusting us to pray.
I am lifting you guys up right now, I pray that you are able to have an amazing time in Atlanta, and that Emmett’s body will bounce back super fast this week too. We love you guys. Thank you for sharing!!
Love (From an Indian Reservation in French Canada)
AD