Bella Rose
9/11 is obviously an infamous day in America. It also holds on to a moment that marked my life forever. It was the day my daughter Bella was diagnosed with an advanced stage cancer.
It is now a day that we celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness to our family. To this day, I stand in awe as what God is done in the life of my family, my relationship with Him and the healing of my baby girl.
Psalm 34 says :
1 [a] I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
God is good!
Below is the original email I sent out when Bella was diagnosed on 9/11/03
Well, I’m not going to candy coat it. Today is a sad day. I have never cried like I have today, with my eyes dried up I’m going to squeeze out this
email. We received a call from Dr. Reingten in Lakeland (the oncology surgeon); they have reviewed the lymph nodes that were removed and tumors were present. Bella is being diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma Cancer. At this point we are looking at her third surgery on Sept 22nd, they will remove (Bloc dissection) her entire lymph node from the groin in which it was present. The surgery will be done by the same surgeon, and at Lakeland again. She’ll more than likely be in the hospital a couple days this time.
The entire lymph node will be biopsied at that point to see if it has spread into the entire lymph node. Once she is recovered from surgery, about a week later or first week of Oct, she will begin therapy. This therapy will be a biological treatment using Interferon. As we understand it at this point she will have to have 5 injections a week for a month and 3 injections a week for 11 months. Forgive me for going into a little detail, but everyone will have questions, and it’s easier to spell it out here. On a positive note, the larger excision on her knee proved successful and they are comfortable that they have removed all the lesion from that area. Bella is recovering
from her last surgery quite well now and is up and running around again.
Another good thing is that she thinks hospitals are fun, I believe that God has shown mercy and softened a fear she might have of hospitals. Once again, being honest, we are not doing well, only the Lord can give us the comfort and direction that we need right now. Our prayer requests are: that God would heal Bella!!! For us; strength, wisdom, guidance, peace: to keep our eyes and hearts focused on God & to not blame or question God for this.
God has a plan, He is sovereign. We thank you for your thoughts & prayers.
Please continue to lift Bella up in prayer.
In Christ,
Mark
Psalm 42
1 [1] As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for
You, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I
come and appear before God?[2] 3My tears have been my food day and
night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” 4When I
remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with
the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With
a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.[3]
O my God,[4] my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You
from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill
Mizar. 7Deep calls unto deep at the
noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone
over me. 8The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime,And in
the night His
song shall be with me– A prayer to the God of my life. 9I will say to God
my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? “Why do I go mourning because of the
oppression of the enemy?” 10As with a breaking of my bones, My
enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, ”Where is
your
God?” 11Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within
me?
Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my
God.
