Faith, Hope, and Love Remain

In preparation for one of our best friends' July 2017 wedding, Edison has gone back to the gym in January. One night, coming home with a stiff neck, he thought he pulled a muscle from lifting weights. In late February, he noticed a lump on the right side of his neck. We thought it was just his lymph node swelling up to protect him from the cough & cold bug that has been going around the family. Just to be sure though, we scheduled a routine check- up - it was time for his annual physical anyway.

His primary care physician in Tracy prescribed antibiotics. The hope was for the swelling to subside in the next ten days. Meanwhile, his blood work and x-ray came out normal. The swollen lymph node stayed about the same size - like a chestnut - after ten days of taking antibiotics three times a day for ten days, so his primary care physician referred him to a head and neck specialist. A little concerned at this point, but we just kept praying as always... and Edison kept going to the gym as usual.

Late March, he had an appointment in Modesto with the specialist, who did some blood work, a nasoendoscopy (a test to look inside the nose, throat, and voice box), and a biopsy. The specialist didn't see anything alarming through the nasoendoscopy, but ordered a CT scan. In a couple of days, his blood work came back normal, but the specialist informed Edison that he needed to come back for a second biopsy because there were "signs of lymphoma."

Shock... nausea... denial... abnormal sleep pattern due to stress... research... agony... how fitting that it was Lent and I found myself praying as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done."

Edward, Alison, and I went with Edison to his CT scan appointment after school on Thursday, April 6th in South San Francisco. The following day, I went with him to his second biopsy appointment in Modesto. Waiting for something we have no control over was excruciating. I constantly cried out to God... and unceasingly found strength in Christ's passion.

And as if on cue for Good Friday, we have received the devastating news from the specialist that Edison's second biopsy shows a metastatic cancer that is positive for Epstein Barr Virus. The main cancer site is suspected to be at the nasopharynx, or from the back of the nose. He then needs further medical tests, MRI and PET scan, to help locate the main cancer site and to see if it has spread elsewhere.

We spent a good amount of Holy Saturday just being sad. Easter Sunday was a lot better: being surrounded by loving family and friends was such a blessing!

As much as I've drawn inspiration in Christ's passion during this Lent, our family will now begin a new chapter in our lives with the great faith, hope, and love that the Easter Season brings. Please keep us in your prayers as we go through this journey.

"These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)