Hometown Rankin - February & March 2016

week 42, and the radiation had an adverse
effect on Campbell’s bladder, necessitating
the insertion of stents. During that procedure,
it was determined there were muted cancer
cells in Campbell’s bladder. “My emotions
have been all over the map lately and this fear
has taken hold of my heart and my life once
again. I would love to say that I have it all
together and all figured out and we are
managing well, but that’s a lie. I am scared
of what my son’s future looks like…what our
future as a family looks like. In the weeks
since, I have experienced a flood of emotions,
but through it all, I have felt God’s presence,
HIS Peace that surpasses all understanding
and daily gentle reminders that HE is still on
HIS throne, HE has Campbell, us, all of us, in
the palm of HIS Hand. And I’m reminded of
that great hymn, ‘It is Well With My Soul.’
I love the words and how comforting that
those words written so many years ago are
still so true, so relevant to my life, to all of
our lives today. I love Kristene DeMarco’s
(Bethel Music) worshipful rendition of it
and find myself listening to it daily.”
With nine weeks left of chemo, David and
Jill began to look forward to week number 54.
That’s when a scan would be performed to
determine if the cancer was in remission.
All along, family, friends, church members,
neighbors, co-workers and others pulled
together to feed the Dale family literally and
spiritually. The family was provided with meals,
cards, ‘happies’ and more which let them
know that they were not alone on their
journey.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
–Psalm 90:14
The final week of chemo came on week
51, one year into the journey that began with
Campbell’s diagnosis of cancer. Jill was
reflective in her CaringBridge post: “I think
about how this is definitely not how I
pictured my life, especially after having kids.
Through this year, I am learning to not take
life for granted, but to hold on to every
second and to make sure that I make every
day count for HIS Kingdom, as that is my
sole purpose here on earth: to be in so close
fellowship with HIM that HE reveals
HIMSELF to me. That I am open to what
HE is teaching me, showing me and that my
life will be a reflection of HIM and will draw
others to HIM, because that is what life is all
about, living a life that glorifies HIM so that
others will come to know HIM as their
Savior. What a huge responsibility, but what
a glorious, magnificent thing. I never would
have thought cancer would teach me so
much and bring me so far down that the only
way to rise up is reaching and grasping HIS
hand. That’s what we are doing, we grasp and
we hold on as tight as we can because I never
want HIM to let me go. To face a monster
like cancer without a Savior, well, I cannot
even imagine. People ask David and me how
we do it, but I really don’t think we do it. We
do the only thing we know, which is to pray
and trust that HE knows better than us what
is best for us and for Campbell. I don’t think
God makes people get cancer. It’s easy to
blame Him when something bad happens. I
think because of the sinful world we live in,
death, disease, immorality, etc. is a part of this
world. It makes us hope for something better,
a place where there will be no death, disease,
sin. What a magnificent thing, I mean can
you imagine living somewhere like that for all
eternity? That’s why I have hope, because
this life is not the end for me, for Campbell,
for all those who believe. A better place is
waiting and if Campbell gets there before
me, well what a glorious reunion that will be.
He can sit at Jesus’ feet and wait for me to
join him. No, I don’t want my child to die,
but no one does so I have to trust and believe
that God will heal him and he will live a long,
full, healthy life.”
In May, the Dale family prepared
themselves for twelve three-week rounds of
chemo, 36 weeks with no break in between.
Campbell’s cancer had returned. “People
always ask how we do this day in and day out.
The answer is I just don’t know. There are
days that I am a blubbering mess and other
days where I forget this reality and our life
feels a little “normal” whatever that is. I
remember vividly having a bad day almost 2
weeks ago, bad enough that I was hyperventilating
and I couldn’t control the tears, the
anger or the emotions. Thinking about all
these things and being mad at God and
being mad at the world and not understanding
why my son was suffering so much. David
came home that night and reassured me that
it was going to all be okay. He said no matter
what, we were going to be okay (it’s funny
how God puts two people together – we are
so different, but yet our strengths and
weaknesses cancel each other out…God knew
that when he brought us together nine years
ago). After spending much time in prayer
that Tuesday night and basically crying and
praying on my knees at the foot of my child’s
bed (although this has become a regular scene
for the past 15 months), the next morning
I felt this peace wash over me and it has been
with me ever since. I know that was and is
God saying trust ME, love ME, look to
ME…I’ve got this. I have carried you this far
and will continue to carry you until the end
when you join ME in Heaven. HE continues
to give me, give us, a peace that surpasses all
of our understanding, strength to endure and
hope for tomorrow. Chemo starts tomorrow
(Monday). We are ready to fight and win.
We don’t know what the next 36 weeks
looks like.”
80 • February/March 2016