Merry Christmas!
Wow, it has been another incredible year for the Long Family! As I sit down to type this letter, I realize just how rare it has been for me to actually have the opportunity to ‘be still’ and reflect over the last year. Perhaps the greatest message God seemed to teach me through the course of Sarah Elizabeth’s treatment was to “live in the present – making the most of each moment!” So, to step back and see how many times He has carried my family through the moments (good and bad) is overwhelming.
Our year was marked with so many “moments.” On Valentine’s Day Amanda and I traveled to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where at twenty weeks pregnant the doctors diagnosed a mass in utero as Perinatal Neuroblastoma – another form of cancer in our unborn child. The next 18 weeks were full of anxious moments in weekly heart echoes, ultrasounds, and waiting rooms with nervous anticipation. In May, the moment arrived to travel back to Cincinnati for delivery and to say good bye to Sarah Elizabeth and Stuart for a few weeks. On May 19, Martha “Catherine” was born and instantly our moments of joy were mixed fear of the diagnosis and treatment as we spent countless hours in the NICU. Two weeks after her birth, the surgeons performed surgery to remove the mass. The delicate surgery revealed the mass was not cancer – simply a benign mass. I can still remember the smiles on the doctors face as they said, “this is better than best case scenario!” It is amazing for me to realize that God was in control and fully aware of each moment. Catherine is now seven months old. She is so beautiful, healthy, vibrant, and seems to light up the room with her smile.
Sarah Elizabeth enjoyed many special moments over the year. Perhaps the two biggest milestones were the removal of her port in the early spring and the one year post chemo anniversary celebrated in November. She is growing up so fast. There were so many “first” moments – first day of Kindergarten, first ballet recital, first soccer game, losing the first tooth, first time to read a book, first sleepover… She is a wonderful big sister to Stuart and Catherine and deeply cares for them.
Stuart has realized that he and I are the only boys in the house. He longs for moments of time together with dad. Words cannot express just how much I treasure those moments. He is now three years old and the adventurous, dare devil, active, rebellious side of his personality is having its moments. Stuart has also been a great big brother to his little sister and (often to a fault) cannot keep his hand off of her.
Amanda and I are the proud parents of three healthy, wonderful children (all under the age of five) WOW! In our short eight years of marriage God has blessed us with so many moments together that have brought joy, fear, doubt, excitement, and love. But, most of all - these moments have brought us closer – closer to each other and the realization that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is with us in every moment!
May you and your family enjoy a wonderful Christmas and blessed 2009 – full of moments where God reveals His love and joy!
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Chad, Amanda, Sarah Elizabeth, Stuart, and Catherine Long
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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