Elise’s Story:
On a Thursday afternoon in September 2024, my husband called from work to tell me he had passed out and been taken to the on-site medical clinic. The medical personnel wanted to send him by ambulance into town—an hour away—to get checked out at the hospital.
I met Jim at the emergency room around 4 PM. He had already undergone some neurological testing and started an IV. Soon after I arrived, Jim was taken to imaging for an MRI of his brain. We waited several hours to learn that the MRI revealed a large mass in Jim’s brain. We had waited so long for results because the ER doctor needed to consult with a medical team to make a plan before giving us this horrendous news.
Although we were devastated, we didn’t have much time to process. We also learned that Jim would be admitted to the hospital for further testing and likely to have surgery in the next day or two to remove the mass. I went home to tell my three sons (aged 10, 13, and 15) what was going on, as well as to get supplies for Jim to spend the night in the hospital.
On the morning of that same day, Jim’s parents were making the 12-hour drive to visit us. The timing of their visit was the first of many ways we saw God caring for us during this unexpected twist in our story.
On Friday, we visited with multiple doctors to get Jim ready for surgery, but we still had most of the day open to talk with family, pastors, and church friends who prayed with us. Jim’s parents helped our boys at home so I could stay by Jim’s side.
Jim and I had been believers in Christ since early in our lives. We were both raised in Christian families and had each made a personal decision to follow Christ. We were raising our own three boys in the context of our faith, continually praying that we would make God the center of our lives and follow Him no matter our circumstances.
On Saturday, Jim’s brain surgery began early in the morning. His surgeon had warned us that he might not be able to remove the entire tumor. After I sat in the waiting room for hours with friends always by my side, we finally got the news. The surgeon thought he had removed the whole tumor!
Jim was taken to the ICU for close monitoring, and I met him there. Despite some initial challenges the next two days, he moved from the ICU to the medical/surgical floor to continue healing. During those days, Jim had a few seizures, which led to lots of extra monitoring, medication changes, and an extended stay. God sustained me during this time by bolstering my faith through quick messages of encouragement and scripture sent to me by friends and family.
Meanwhile, our church family stepped up in many ways. Not only did many visitors show up at the hospital, but some friends even sat with Jim so I could go home to shower and spend time with the kids. Church members and other friends brought so many meals that we actually had to scale them back since we were accumulating too many leftovers! A team of ladies from our church cleaned our house and left flowers and treats after my in-laws left and before my parents arrived. Messages of love and support poured in from friends, family, and even people we barely knew. We could feel the prayers of people from around the country.
When Jim began showing stability, he was transferred to inpatient rehab for five days of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He struggled in the hospital with extreme light sensitivity and difficulty sleeping. I spent every day and twelve nights in the hospital helping him as much as I could. Although I was exhausted, God gave me the strength to continue to stay at Jim’s side.
Sixteen days after Jim collapsed at work, he came home from the hospital. Initially, home health monitored Jim’s recovery. Later, he graduated to going out for speech and physical therapy.
Final pathology a month after surgery revealed brain cancer, specifically a grade three astrocytoma. Jim was scheduled to start seven weeks of daily radiation after his recovery, followed by a full year of monthly chemotherapy. His oncology team wanted our family to take our planned vacation to Hawaii over Thanksgiving. That week we cherished spending time as a family, going to beaches, hiking and taking scenic drives. One special memory was hiking to an overlook in the mountains of western Maui. Jim’s ability to do this hike just a couple months after re-learning to walk was incredible.
When we got back from vacation, Jim started 6.5 weeks of daily radiation and then a full year of chemotherapy. He spent six months on short-term disability from work and also had to wait six months to drive. After six months at home, despite continued fatigue due to treatment, Jim was ready to return to work, and in God’s kindness he was able to do so.
Jim continues to recover and understand his new normal. He has long-term visual impairment in one eye that affects his depth perception and slows him down. I have done everything I can to support my husband, including helping him incorporate new healthy routines, encouraging him in taking medicine, doing more tasks around the house that used to be his responsibility and doing most of the driving. Daily, I decide to rely on God, realizing more than ever how uncertain our earthly lives are. I realize how many people encounter difficulties and pray that my situation will give me more empathy and compassion.
Jim will continue to be monitored with regular MRIs and close follow-up by a team of doctors. At one point the oncologist told us that 10 years would be an average life expectancy after this diagnosis; however, there are a lot of factors that go into that prognosis, and he considered Jim “above average.” Through our shared faith in Jesus Christ, Jim and I look forward to an eternity in heaven with Him. Despite an uncertain future, I see God’s faithfulness in my past and present. I put my hope in His faithfulness in all the days to come.
Photo by rjb Studios on Unsplash
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