We’re updating from the Residence Inn where we’ll be staying the night before rolling out early for home. Maggie was discharged around 5:00 pm after eating and tolerating breakfast and lunch. She’s taking it easy in bed – catching up on social media. Overall, she’s feeling tired but otherwise fine. We’re hoping to see her appetite rebound to help her gain strength. Phil and I are exhausted. We all need a long, full night’s sleep on a soft bed with no lights and nightly visitors.

We are still rejoicing in the Grand Slam nailed by the home team, and I’m not talking about the Astros. MD Anderson Endoscopy will remain one of our favorite teams for a long time. In speaking with Dr. Raju and Dr. DeVree (his fellow), we were not guaranteed success. Dr. Raju knew of the issues encountered at UAB (and has great respect for his colleagues there), so he was quite concerned with the difficulties Maggie’s case presented. He said the plan was to 1) get the present stent out (not a given); 2) place the new metal stent in the duct (not a given) and 3) cause no complications. He wanted to have Dr. Raghav (oncologist) ready to call in Interventional Radiology to try if Endoscopy failed. Yes. He was that humble and honest. He didn’t mind appearing to not have all the answers or not seeming over confident. (He was truly one of the most compassionate doctors we’ve met. I later looked at his faculty bio page and this quote jumped off the page: “Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray” – Saibaba). Phil and I both “felt” this communicated through his handshake. After the procedure, he came out personally and told us the stent was in place. Maggie was extra groggy in recovery – general anesthesia and dilaudid doing their work – and had an oxygen mask on when I told her the stent was in place. Nothing could hide that smile!

Thursday and Friday were stress-filled, tense days. But God places us where He does for a reason – or brings reason to where we are placed. We had a nurse, we’ll call her R. to protect her privacy, who brought full blown sunshine into our room. She shared her faith story – born in India as a Hindu – she amazingly (and she only uses that word when talking about God) came to saving faith. She was immediately under conviction to pray for her mother’s salvation. She shared, “I cannot imagine heaven without my mother.” Her mother was saved under equally miraculous conditions. She then started praying for her three kids. Yep. They’re saved. She is now praying for siblings back home and will not cease. Prayer is powerful.

From a nurse with praying lips to a doctor with serving hands – we find holiness in an unlikely place and are blessed. Or maybe it isn’t so unlikely. God is always to be found among the hurting. Believers like us who are too tired to shine. Unbelievers who don’t have a reason to shine. We’re all brought together to be served by some of the finest and most amazing instruments of His love and healing.

Thank you for the overwhelming response to our call to prayer. We did feel lifted before the Throne and encouraged. We had peace with the outcome before we knew it – however it presented itself. Now we can rest a few days. We’re praying Maggie will be able to return for Day 1 of her clinical trial on Thursday of this coming week. There is some concern for the drug she is scheduled to receive is Avastin (bevacizumab), a targeted therapy that prevents tumors from establishing blood vessels and, thus, a blood supply. It can cause a greater risk of bleeding when given right before and after surgical procedures, stent placement, etc. We just don’t have the luxury of waiting the recommended 2-4 weeks. We’re praying for Maggie’s safety but realize we need to get the treatments started. When we have delays, we’re not even playing defense. We’ll deal with side effects as they come but pray they don’t come. And speaking of side effects, please pray for Noelle Carter – Maggie’s soul sister – as she recovers from her liver transplant and says goodbye to chemo this week with a bell ringing. She was admitted today through the ER at Texas Children’s for fever and neutropenia. We’re thankful her new liver looks strong but are praying for strength, strong blood levels, and no more chemo! And rest for her entire family.

We’ll be on the road tomorrow and home by afternoon. I’ll update as soon as we speak to our team Monday and reformulate the clinical trial plan. Goodnight.