Emotional Roller Coaster.

So it's been a little tense around here lately. I've written about my dad and the melanoma scare he had back in March. The surgery went well and we were told they got it all and it had not spread. We were elated!

This summer he's been participating in a clinical trial for melanoma patients and he has basically been miserable with the medicine he's been taking. Like, really sick and extremely tired. My dad is a man on the go so it's really hard for him to be like this. And then his dear sister passed away in July, she had melanoma as well. I feel terrible for my dad that he's had such rough spring/summer.

We stayed with my parents while attending my aunts funeral and my dad had some swelling near his incision site from where they removed the melanoma. It was a bit painful but the doctors thought it was just from the surgery and they would drain it. Well they drained some of it and took a biopsy of it. I guess we really thought we were in the clear for a while with this melanoma stuff however, the biopsy came back having more melanoma cells in it. I was shocked and devastated. They did an MRI and PET scan and then we had to wait. We all know that the waiting is the worst. So many things come into your head. You just don't know what to think and can't help but be afraid.

I've been waiting for a call today from my parents as they were going to find out the results. The phone rang and I just prayed that it was good news (as good as it could be, we already knew there was more melanoma). So what they found was 2 more melanomas not within the borders that they removed the first time but they haven't spread-this is the best it could be right now. And we are thanking God for that swelling because if it hadn't done that we would have never known that there was more in there. So the next step will be for my dad to have another surgery and I believe it will be soon. We are asking for your prayers right now.

Specifically:

• that the surgery goes well and my dad recovers well.
• the surgeon knows exactly how to remove these melanomas entirely (they are under the skin).
• that EVERY LAST CANCER CELL IS REMOVED.

We are all relieved right now since it has not spread and so, so thankful for that but we know that there are still hurdles to jump. We are also so very thankful for all of you that have prayed for my dad. Really, I cannot thank you enough. But please keep them coming!!;)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7