Radiation, Family Time, Wedding Plans, Airline Miles

Mom has lung radiation treatments every morning this week. She has her first appointment with her medical oncologist on Thursday, and we will have more information about her overall treatment plan at that visit. We will post an update here once we know more. From Mom: “I am overwhelmed, humbled, grateful for all these prayers and support. This is a stressful time for all of us, but underneath it all I really do feel the peace of God that surpasses all understanding because I know I am in God’s hands and I can trust Him through this whole thing.”

We have been so blessed to have time as a family this weekend. We got some family photos taken Friday and Saturday – the one posted is our entire family except for Sarah’s fiancé Matt (in Montana) and Daniel’s partner Michael (in Tennessee). We did professional family photos on Saturday and are excited to see them. We have spent afternoons just hanging out in my parent’s living room as a family; sometimes things feel normal enough that I temporarily forget that Mom has cancer. 

Before Mom’s diagnosis, Matt and I were planning our wedding for the fall of 2027. A couple close friends of mine have generously offered to plan a small family only wedding for Matt and I in October. We have been humbled by the generosity of our friends who are putting this wedding together for us, and it has been something fun to look forward to during all the sadness. I am grateful to have a family who I can cry and grieve openly in front of, and then also laugh with when something funny or joyful happens. I am constantly in awe of the resilience and strength of my mom and family. 

If you or someone you know has a surplus of airline miles that you’re not going to use, Daniel and I could use them to get back and forth from Montana and Tennessee. Alaska, United, Southwest, and American Airlines have the most direct routes from Billings and Knoxville to Boise. I am flying back to Billings on Friday with plans to return to Boise again later this month (huge thanks to my colleagues who are holding down the fort at work in Billings). Daniel is also trying to arrange going back and forth. 

My siblings and I are all here this week, so transportation to Mom’s appointments is currently covered. We will have a better idea about other needs in the next couple of weeks – many of you have generously reached out and we will happily take you up on offers for help in the future. The meal train link is posted on the main page of this site if you would like to contribute in that way (thank you all for the delicious meals so far!)