Friends,

Some hard news to share. We got the post-surgery pathology results back yesterday. We were hoping they wouldn't find any cancer in the surrounding lymph nodes so that the surgery would be the only treatment needed. Unfortunately, the lab found carcinoma in 3 of 22 removed lymph nodes.

This upstages Liz's cancer from Stage 1 to Stage 3. Since cancer cells are now confirmed to be present in her lymphatic system and not just at the primary tumor, she'll need to begin a 6-month course of chemotheraphy seeking to flush any of those cells from her body.

We don't have many details on chemo yet, other than we'll need to start as soon as she's healed adequately from the surgery--hopefully in early December.

We're thankful that Stage 3 is still very curable and that Liz's surgical recovery continues to go well. We knew this was a possible outcome early on. But this news is immensely discouraging nonetheless. Especially in the midst of surgery recovery, the prospect of months of treatments, sickness, and uncertainty have been really hard to bear. Yet in our sorrow, we are clinging to hope: "Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

Thank you for your continued care for our family. We'll need our community more than ever in the months ahead.