09/25/2024
(Long post alert.) Today my heart is completely full as I come back from treatment #170. I am still having Prame and Kimmtrak and believe this trial is benefiting me greatly. But that is not why my heart is full.
In May Dave and I started a foundation called the Eye on Grace Foundation. Our Motto is “Keep your eye on grace” based on the verse II Corinthians 12:9, “For my grace is sufficient for you and my power is made perfect in weakness.” I picked this verse because going through cancer is hard, there is a new challenge everyday. All of us have challenges everyday whether we are dealing with cancer or something else, but God gives us sufficient grace for each moment. I often say, “I don’t have tomorrow grace, I have today grace and THAT grace comes moment by moment.” To bring some levity to the sharing of the Motto… I only have one eye since my right eye was enucleated 12 years ago… so keep your eye…just one…on grace. He gives us His grace exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.
The foundation has now sponsored 15 people. Some people want to remain anonymous. Others are willing to share parts of their story. This week I had the privilege of spending my time in Philly with one of the recipients of our travel grant. Her name is Terri Jertson. Her sister, Kristi Solmonson and her daughter Lindsey Kostrba were with her. One of my goals for the travel grants was to cover a travel companion. Going on these trips can be heavy emotionally. Just the support of a companion can make a world of difference. We were able to sponsor two people.
Terri has been battling Ocular Melanoma since 2020. I won’t share the details of her journey but with her permission I will share what she said was ok to share. She had plaque radiation to her eye at initial diagnosis. The cancer spread in 2023 to her liver. She has had liver directed treatment and Kimmtrak. Recently she found out the Kimmtrak was not working. It was suggested she go to Philadelphia for a consult. Terri lives in Oregon…so that is quite a trip! West Coast to East Coast. But what about cost, flights, hotel rooms, meals, ubers? She wondered how she could do this especially since she has had to take off work for her most recent treatments.
Fortunately, donations have been good, Eye on Grace Art is selling and the money needed for this trip was given. We scheduled it for a time that would coincide with my treatment. I met Terri and her crew in Atlanta and we had a girl’s trip with a side of chemo, meetings with doctors, and dinner with another OM Warrior Joy. My Philly family (servers at Gran Café and Sky High, Mo Hasib my Uber driver FROM the airport, and Gurino Chevolier my Uber driver TO the airport) really went overboard making my new friends feel welcome. It was humbling to watch it all in real time. God’s favor was upon us.
Hard conversations were had, the kinds that are real ones that are raw. Good food and wine were consumed. Laughter and tears were shared and it was beautiful. We were not alone dealing with this hard, rare cancer. We were with each other holding each other up, experiencing the goodness of God in the beauty of Philly.
Terri, Kristi and Lindsey spent Monday together without me as they met with Dr. Seedor and Dr. Adamo to come up with a plan for Terri’s cancer. Then they were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Philly and make memories together that they will cherish forever.
At dinner that night at the top of the Comcast building, overlooking the city I was overwhelmed with gratefulness to God and to all the people who made this possible through the Foundation. It is so humbling to think the God of the Universe would be mindful of ME… He was mindful of Terri, of Joy, of Kristi and Lindsey. He wove together beautifully the details of this trip from Lindsey getting online to learn more about her mom’s cancer, people sharing the Foundation with her, people giving to the Foundation and the timing working out for us to travel together. And then the cherry on top of having Joy come to dinner too. She was alone, dealing with this cancer, doctor’s appointments and processing information ALONE. But the God of the Universe would be mindful of HER so she could join us. It was just a tender time that I am so grateful for.
The trip from the hotel back to the airport may have been my favorite time. I am actually going to do a separate post about it. My wise friend Gurino sang over us and shared with us some scriptural truths I am still filtering through. It was the most wonderful way to end our trip.
Yallllllll God longs to be gracious to us and this trip He completely showed off. Terri left with a plan to treat her cancer. And greater than that she left with hope, wonderful memories and a sense that it is all going to be ok.
So, keep your eye on grace and pray for Terri as she embarks on new treatments that we pray will heal her. Pray for more funds to be given to the Eye on Grace Foundation so more people can benefit from a tangible, in real time, stress reducing assistance.
To God be the glory for this trip, great things He has done!
To donate to the Eye on Grace Foundation you can click here
https://givebutter.com/lJe4BT
To learn more about the Eye on Grace Foundation or to fill out a travel assistance grant form go to eyeongracefoundation.net
To order inspirational cards and gifts where all the proceeds go to help people with OM travel for treatment go to eyeongrace.com
