“I can’t believe my baby is going to have a baby soon. I need to plan a shower for her,” Debbie told her friend at lunch.
After lunch, Debbie’s knees buckled as she learned what true disbelief was. Did my daughter, Shannon, just say she had leukemia?
Feeling like it was a dream, Debbie woke the next morning to find out it indeed was reality. Her baby had cancer.
Throwing back her covers, thoughts like, Would her baby live? How about her unborn grandbaby? ran through her mind.
The Journey Begins
Forcing herself to get on the phone to retrieve their plan of action, Debbie dialed her daughter.
In a soft, discouraged tone, Shannon quipped, “There is no plan. The doctors here in Joplin, don’t feel they have the expertise to handle my delicate case due to my pregnancy.”
K.U. Medical in Kansas City accepted her case. Debbie knew she needed to be strong for Shannon.
The first night there, a Bone Marrow Biopsy was administered. Debbie reminded herself of how she wanted to be strong, but at the sight of the sharp, thick-looking biopsy instrument, resembling a crochet hook, she couldn’t bear to watch, and left.
Walking down the hall, guilt rose with every step. Shannon’s screams reached her ears, no matter the distance covered. Pain medication wasn’t given since it could harm her unborn child.
Part of Debbie wanted to run away completely. Unable to force herself to go back, she did decide in the future, she could remain by her daughter’s side no matter what. “I can hold her hand and pray,” she whispered.
The next morning family met with the team of Doctors to hear the full diagnosis and to discuss the treatment plan. Chemo would be given with her being pregnant.
God’s Strength Begins
After a few days as much as Shannon needed her mom and her mom needed to be
There, her parents had to head back home to sell real estate, & only visit on weekends.
Concentration was almost impossible, but somehow, God’s strength saw Debbie through those long days and numerous hurdles.
The First Hurdle
After one month of treatment the decision to induce labor was made, so we travelled to K.U.
Believing we would see our new grandchild soon, we chose to sleep on the hospital floor, not knowing inducement would drag out for five days. A C-section allowed our grandson to enter this world in the end.
In spite of being six weeks early and enduring five chemo treatments with his mom, Kyler arrived healthy. We called him our miracle boy.
God’s Strength Continues
Having a sick daughter made it hard to leave before, but now, adding a grandson in the NICU made it heart-wrenching. She was thankful the trips home were long. This allowed lots of time to pray.
Many times, over the next five months, Debbie put on a Worship CD that would bring the tears flowing, allowing her to cry out to God.
Shortly after Kyler’s miraculous birth, the doctors warned Shannon, “If the next round of chemo doesn’t work. I mean, if you’re not in remission by then, there’s nothing else we can do.”
The doctors quietly exited with lowered heads. As soon as the door closed, Shannon lifted her beautiful big brown eyes toward her mom’s, and pleaded, “Mommy, I do not want to die!”
Debbie’s shoulders squared as she spoke like a coach who knew they could win the game. “Shannon you are not going to die!”.
Time for Transplant
Shannon’s unresponsiveness to the only treatment option available spurred prayer chains from California to the Carolinas.
The prayer worked. Odds stacked against her, God carried her parents through each challenge until the answer arrived. She was in remission.
This allowed eligibility for a bone marrow transplant. A donor was found soon, but the day before transplant preparation treatments were to begin, the donor bailed out.
Discouraged, prayers were sent out once again, and God’s strength returned.
Within days, a better donor was found – a 100% match.
Bone-marrow transplants at that time required a strict, cumbersome preparation treatment to kill off all blood cells prior to the transplant. This meant heavier and harder chemo and full-body radiation most of the day for several days.
Arriving while Shannon was in radiation one evening, Debbie and her husband, sat outside her room in a waiting area.
The double doors opened. A young, tall orderly pushed a frail, bald, and lifeless old woman in a wheelchair through. She was so weak, her chin rested on her chest.
As they passed by, Debbie’s husband gulped. He Tapped his wife’s shoulder and whispered, “Honey, that’s Shannon”.
In disbelief, Debbie’s eyes trailed after the figure rolling away. Realizing Lee was correct as they stood and followed, tears pooled in her eyes.
I can’t give up now. I must walk by faith; not by sight, Debbie thought entering her daughter’s room.
God’s strength enabled them to witness a phenomenal bone-marrow transplant performed in their daughter’s room. Absolutely amazing!
The life-giving stem cells looked like tiny stars gathered in an I.V. bag. Floating through tubing for hours, Debbie became mesmerized as they entered her daughter’s body, knowing new life was entering.
Strength Tested
Upon her hospital release, Shannon and Kyler would be required to stay 100 days at a special facility ten miles from the bone-marrow transplant clinic.
This meant Debbie had to become a caregiver while juggling business and home from a distance. A different routine, an uncomfortable bed, no husband to lie next to, and missing her other children left Debbie tired and lonely.
She didn’t feel like she was holding it together very well.
During the day, she distracted herself by cooking a special diet for her daughter, taking her to the clinic, and assisting with Kyler. She wrote contracts on her computer while her husband showed property and went to all appointments back home.
When inadequacies, incompetency, and insecurities held her thoughts hostage, Debbie reminded herself She was all the strength her daughter had and was determined to be there for her.
The only way to draw on her Heavenly Father’s strength was to pull out her Bible and read. Calling her husband to sort out her thoughts and to receive his encouragement also helped. “Keep moving forward and trust God,” he’d say.
A Setback
This encouragement soon became vital to Debbie’s well-being. Ten days after Shannon’s release, she contracted pneumonia.
The next month was spent at K.U. – the longest month ever!
Believing we had finished our race, only to be forced to return made it one of the hardest times of all. No routine again, sleeping in a hospital recliner chair instead of a bed, and never leaving made previous accommodations seem like a 5-star hotel.
Debbie’s heart ached for her home, but even more so for Shannon. “I hate seeing my daughter so sick without being able to take her pain away. I miss my Shannon the way she used to be. I just want it all to be over.” she cried aloud.
One day, it became obvious this journey was getting to Debbie. Shannon went in for a simple test. When she didn’t return in a normal time, panic set in. A code blue boomed over the intercom and Debbie’s chest tightened as her body jerked.
Relief immediately flooded over her upon her daughter’s return, relaxing her muscles as if finishing a massage.
While she wasn’t the code blue, they did have difficulty waking her up after the procedure.
Kyler is now an eighth-grader and his mom is a social worker, helping place foster kids, and train foster parents. She is also on fire for Jesus and shares Him with all who will listen.
Looking back, Debbie can see how she learned to lean on Jesus; not her feelings. When weak, He was strong. Perfection wasn’t required since her Savior was.
Thankful God heard her cries and chose to spare her daughter’s life, she responds by praising Jesus every day for His healing touch and for His strength that carried her through this difficult journey.
Encourage someone today by sharing this post. To receive the same strength Debbie experienced, check out my book, Faith Illustrated: Taking Your Next Step on Amazon.
Encourage someone else by sharing this story. Victory is ahead no matter what you’re facing.
© 2023, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
RJ Thesman says
There’s nothing worse than a sick child. I’m so glad God carried you through.