Family Connections
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The Moody Family
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The Moody Family
We live very far from family. Our families of origin are all east of the Mississippi. But, I will say that nothing connects a family like cancer. We’ve had a lot of family come and there’s more on the schedule. This week we’re enjoying a visit from Stephen’s brother, Jon, and sister-in-law, Alena, and their two babies, Joseph and Abigail.
It’s been a good spring break for my kids with trips to the pool, the Portland Rock Gym, and a crabbing expedition in Lincoln City. While I can’t participate in the activities, it makes me incredibly happy to know that my family is happy.
Alena has been cooking delicious meals and baking special desserts. Brynn has a new baking buddy. Jon has been helping around the house with projects, meals, and cousin play. Seeing Thatcher and Joseph become friends has been really special.
Another family connection are the genes we share. I received my genetic testing results and there were NO abnormalities. They tested for over 90 different cancers and gene mutations and nothing showed up. This is good news for my children. Of course, the kids will still need to start colonoscopies 10 years earlier than my diagnosis, so they’ll begin the fun at age 31.
I’m thankful for the family records and testing that my relatives have already done, and am glad I can contribute to the family knowledge of our shared genetics.
This is the best result possible for my kids, but it is a little perplexing in that my cancer seems to be completely random. In one sense, I’m glad I didn’t neglect to find something I should have been looking for, but on the other hand, it’s not comforting to know this terrible disease can strike anyone at anytime for no apparent reason. {On this last day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, if you can’t get a colonoscopy, but want to be tested, consider an at-home blood test. It’s not curative in that it can’t remove polyps, but it can tell you if something is amiss.}
God has been good to provide adopted family here in Oregon through neighbors, friends, and church, but there’s something tender about being cared for by my family.
It’s been a good spring break for my kids with trips to the pool, the Portland Rock Gym, and a crabbing expedition in Lincoln City. While I can’t participate in the activities, it makes me incredibly happy to know that my family is happy.
Alena has been cooking delicious meals and baking special desserts. Brynn has a new baking buddy. Jon has been helping around the house with projects, meals, and cousin play. Seeing Thatcher and Joseph become friends has been really special.
Another family connection are the genes we share. I received my genetic testing results and there were NO abnormalities. They tested for over 90 different cancers and gene mutations and nothing showed up. This is good news for my children. Of course, the kids will still need to start colonoscopies 10 years earlier than my diagnosis, so they’ll begin the fun at age 31.
I’m thankful for the family records and testing that my relatives have already done, and am glad I can contribute to the family knowledge of our shared genetics.
This is the best result possible for my kids, but it is a little perplexing in that my cancer seems to be completely random. In one sense, I’m glad I didn’t neglect to find something I should have been looking for, but on the other hand, it’s not comforting to know this terrible disease can strike anyone at anytime for no apparent reason. {On this last day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, if you can’t get a colonoscopy, but want to be tested, consider an at-home blood test. It’s not curative in that it can’t remove polyps, but it can tell you if something is amiss.}
God has been good to provide adopted family here in Oregon through neighbors, friends, and church, but there’s something tender about being cared for by my family.
Liz Moody
8 months ago
Comments
Lisa DiTommaso
Margie Suydam
Mary-Alice DeBoer
Barb Robinson
Jennifer Saks
I know what you're saying about the random nature of cancer sometimes. So good to know your children shouldn't have any greater risk than the general population. For me, I have myself, 2 cousins and one aunt who had breast cancer, and of those three mine was the worst and genetically completely unrelated. And now tongue cancer...I have none of the risk factors (tobacco, excessive alcohol, human HPV virus, family history) and yet I have it. And my children need to be vigilant despite the lack of logical reasons for this. I guess it's just a result of the curse of Adam, right? But God is so good, and we live in a time when exceptional treatment is available to us. Keep plugging along! It will be over before you know it. Easy to say, I know. :)