Okay, it’s time to get personal.
First, I hope that you are doing well and that your summer has been filled with plenty of rest and rejuvenation! I’ll be honest, my summer has looked a bit different than I thought it would—actually life has looked different than I ever thought it would. You see, this past April I found out that I had kidney cancer. If you feel surprised right now, then I completely understand the feeling. I didn’t expect cancer, but, really, who does? Of course, I didn’t share the news immediately, but now that the story is more complete the time feels right. After all, many of you have allowed me to turn your houses into homes and, in doing so, have also become lifelong friends. You are dear to me, and I believe now is the time to let you into this part of my life and to share my story.
After my diagnosis in April, surgery was scheduled for the end of May. Truthfully, the thought of losing a kidney and fighting a disease was overwhelming, and my first reaction was a sort of numb disbelief. It had already been a tough year marked by my husband’s recovery from a broken neck, and now it was streaked with cancer. I think everyone has felt that way at some time or another—like the punches just keep on coming. Well, at that point, you could definitely say we felt like a punching bag, a bit rattled and a little bruised. A broken neck and a deadly disease…whoever thought this would be our story? But, that’s just it—it is our story, and I believed there had to be a purpose for it. The pain had to have a reason, right?
A few weeks before my surgery, while Greg and I were at our cabin in Big Bear, I decided to spend some time praying. It was a cloudless day yet, somehow, snow swirled down from the sky. As I looked out over the chilly lake, I couldn’t help but wonder if the pain really did have a purpose. So, I asked God, “Why?”
Snow drifted around me and, like a whisper, He answered, “So that I would be glorified.”
It was at that point I realized not only did God have a plan for this cancer but He was going to use it for good. Peace flooded my heart. Greg and I weren’t alone—we were in the palm of God’s hand and that’s where we would stay. God was writing a new story in our lives—a better, deeper story.
If I have learned anything from this difficult time, it is that God is in the midst of the darkness. His peace penetrates the pain and we can know His joy in the trials. Perhaps that is what I hope this letter says the most—that God is with each of us in the good and the bad.
Even as I headed into the week before my surgery, I felt a sweet sense of peace. So many people were praying for me, and God was so near. Though the future looked uncertain, I could rest in Him. When the end of May came, doctors removed my kidney, an eight-centimeter tumor, and the surrounding tissue successfully with no need for follow-up chemo or radiation (praise Jesus!). Immediately after surgery, recovery looked very much like me in bed for a month while my husband, family, and close friends took care of me. After that, I spent some time in Hawaii. There I was able to truly relax, and I turned a corner in my healing. Now, eleven weeks later, I’m slowly getting back to work. Every day is different. Sometimes I have to rest, while other days I find the energy to design. It’s a process, but I’m grateful to be on the road to recovery.
More than anything, I am thankful for my husband, family, and friends who have taken care of me and for those who blessed me with meals, flowers, and prayers. My team here at Kathy Ann Abell Interiors has also been one of my biggest gifts. They have worked tirelessly to make sure each client is taken care of and supported me every step of the way. My heart has been truly blessed.
I also want to thank those of you who were and are clients during this time of recovery. Thank you for your grace, patience, and understanding as I heal and journey toward full health.
Finally, for those of you who are experiencing a time of pain or hardship, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, I want to encourage you—God is in the midst. He has a plan, and He has you in His hand. My story isn’t over yet, and neither is yours!
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
