There are times in life when our plans don’t go exactly as we hoped. Jeanene and I are now walking though a valley we never expected to encounter.

In early June, Jeanene developed what we thought was a virus, with symptoms that included a cough. We just figured she was exposed to any number of germs, virus or bacteria. She went to the doctor and was placed on an antibiotic. This proved to be ineffective and the cough continued. She returned to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis, was given a nebulizer treatment for wheezing, and was placed on a different antibiotic. The doctor was sure it wasn’t pneumonia since the cough was not productive, so a chest x-ray was not performed. However, the cough continued.

We were scheduled to attend a Pastoral Convention in Texas so we decided to go ahead with our plans. After the conference, we took a cruise out of Galveston to celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. During the entire trip her cough continued, along with shortness of breath and periodic exhaustion.

Upon our return home mid-July, Jeanene wasn’t improving and decided to return to the doctor. We thought maybe she had pneumonia since a couple of people at church had contracted this and their cough lasted 6-8 weeks. After examining Jeanene and discovering the duration of the cough was five weeks, a chest x-ray was ordered. While awaiting the results, the doctor asked Jeanene where her husband was so they could talk to both of us. We both knew this was not a good sign.

After I arrived at the doctor’s office they showed us the x-rays that revealed white spots over both lungs. The doctor said, “Those white spots are not supposed to be there and are a concern to us. We are sending you to have a CT lung scan for better imaging.” We were sent to the hospital for the CT and then told, “Wait here while the Radiologist reads the scan and relays the results to your doctor. Your doctor will call you within the hour with the results.” We waited till the phone rang and were given the diagnosis, “We are sorry to have to tell you, but you have metastatic lung cancer, and will need to be referred to a pulmonologist, hematologist, and an oncologist.”

The news hit us like a train. How could this be? Jeanene had never smoked, no one in her family ever smoked, not her grandparents or parents, she had never even been around second-hand smoke. Then we were told by her primary physician that sometimes other things can mimic lung cancer, such as a fungus or an infection. There was really no way to know until a biopsy was performed. Of course we hung onto this hoping that this was the case.

One day after our first initial appointment with the pulmonologist, a bronchoscopy was performed. As I waited for the doctor to talk with me after the procedure, the pulmonologist informed me, “I am running every test possible to determine what this could be, but I am pretty sure I have my answer and that we are looking at lung cancer. I will have the biopsy reports in 4 days so let’s schedule an appointment then. I have ordered molecular DNA testing that will determine if this is a mutation and what kind of mutation. Those results take one to two weeks to return. If it is one of three mutations that the FDA has approved medications for, she will be given targeted therapy which will be easier on her than chemotherapy. If it is not one of those three mutations, she will have to undergo chemotherapy. I will have the biopsy results on your next appointment and will also set you up to begin seeing the oncologist team.”

While awaiting the bronchoscopy test results, the doctors wanted to ensure the cancer was limited only to the lungs, so a heart ECHO, CT of the abdomen, brain, and bone scan were performed. All results showed no cancer anywhere else in her body, only the lungs. PRAISE GOD!!!

The next week we were given the biopsy results. Jeanene has Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Surgery and radiation therapy are not an option. The good news is that all the tests revealed it has not spread beyond the lungs. It originated in the lungs and has spread through both lungs by way of the blood supply. Now we are awaiting the molecular testing results to see if and what kind of mutation this is.

There is no explanation for this except we live in a sin-filled world. Even though this world can sometimes be bad and unfair, God is always good. Jeanene keeps saying, “God brings good out of everything and He will bring good out of this. I just want God to be glorified and exalted through this.” Jeanene says, “I have been humbled by all the people praying for her.” We have received cards from people praying all over the country, people we don’t even know.

We are blessed with the most wonderful family. Everyone has stepped forward to help in everyway possible. They have researched, cleaned the house, laughed with us and cried with us. They have explained medical terms we couldn’t understand. There are no words to express what our family means to us and how loved and precious they are.

We know God is with us through this. He has promised that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death His rod and staff will go with us to comfort and to guide. People ask us what they can do for us and we honestly believe the best thing everyone can do is keep Jeanene in your prayers. We serve a mighty God who still performs miracles. We pray that IF it is to His glory, Jeanene will be healed. We know He loves her and died for her. No matter what happens to us in this world, God has the final say. There is a new world coming with no sorrow, tears or death. Jeanene is in His hands and He will guide her through this ordeal.

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers & support; encouraging cards, calls & text messages; your generous gifts & yummy food; and all your kind acts of service. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of your love and tangible ways you are extending Christ’s hands to us and our family.

We wait and look expectantly for God’s working all things for His good,

Ron and Jeanene