With tear-filled voice, Pastor Bob spoke into the cordless microphone.  The congregation rose and moved as one to where we sat in the sanctuary.  We felt the gentle touch of hands as our church family gathered around us to pray.  This is a scene we often see and have been a part of to support and encourage those who share a need during our sharing time on Sunday mornings. But this time it was our family who needed the circle of prayer.
On April 5, our daughter Caylea had an appointment in Saskatoon to have a mole examined.  She noticed it growing and changing, so had a referral from our family doctor to a specialist.  Being on the road with Upside Down Drama Productions this past winter meant she was away from home, with Nipawin being her home base.  So, she went to the appointment, expecting to simply have the mole removed, then fly to Edmonton to rejoin her drama team in two days.  Her friend from Saskatoon was able to take her to and from the appointment, and have her stay the nights at her place.
But it wasn't to be that simple.
The specialist saw the mole, immediately began taking pictures of it and made arrangements to have the mole removed the next morning.  She said "I wasn't expecting this..." and Caylea began to feel a bit alarmed!
On April 6, twelve stitches later, Caylea was feeling relieved to have the mole gone and be on the plane to join up with her friends for the remainder of their drama tour.  On April 8, Caylea's cell phone rang and the news from the specialist was what we dreaded:  melanoma.
Caylea called us right away.  I was singing with our Healing Hearts funeral singers, when Walter quickly left the band hall on Carry the Kettle reserve to take Caylea's call.  Minutes later, after I had just set my guitar down and was sipping coffee, Walter signaled to me and whispered that we have to leave.  I was so confused.  Why?  There was still a few hours of service, interment and a meal as part of the funeral proceedings.  What was wrong?
Not expecting the news to be so prompt, I sat in shock when Walter told me.  Tears immediately filled my eyes and my throat felt clogged and choked.  We held each other's hands tightly as we cried in our car.  Then Walter started the engine and we drove directly back to Regina, preparing ourselves to book a flight and get ready for Caylea's return home.
Longest day ever when we realized Caylea couldn't get a flight until Saturday morning.  Daniel was already planning to come home for the weekend, so he walked in a couple hours later.  With laundry basket in hand and a welding project from his sheet metal course, Daniel was not fully aware of the situation.  When the realization hit as we confirmed Caylea was not teasing - and you have to understand those two have a fun and goofy relationship - Daniel's expression went from disbelief to shock to grief in mere seconds.
Bob and Gwen texted just then to say they would be coming over right away.  Daniel slipped downstairs to have shower and gather himself.  It was all happening so fast.
We are so blessed to have the support we do from our ministry team.  They embraced us, cried with us, listened to us.  They have seen our children grow up, having been at Caylea's dedication service back before we even started Healing Hearts Ministry!  This news was hitting our friends hard, as well.  When Daniel joined us in the living room, Bob and Gwen had him sit between them and they prayed for us.
After they left, we turned on the Blue Jays home opener on TV, planning to spend our evening in a low-key way.  We made a few phone calls to grandparents and our families.  We e-mailed a couple prayer chains.  I puttered in the kitchen to prepare some supper.  Then there was a knock on our door.
Nick and Vivian, the couple whose sister-in-law's funeral was this day, stepped inside and immediately hugged us and told us how sorry they were to hear this news.  They, too, have known Caylea since she was a baby and felt such shock.
We stood in a circle in our living room, Nick leading in a prayer.  As he prayed, he began to ask God to put the pieces of the spiritual armour upon us and Caylea specifically.  While Nick was asking for the Blood of Jesus Christ to pour down upon her body and remove the cancer, Walter later told us that he could see that image and saw the spot on her arm where the cancer looked like a black spot,  And the blood poured over it!  Immediately, Walter felt God's peace.  The fear left.
When we had talked to Caylea a second time on Friday afternoon, she told us their team devotions had been on the "Armour of God" and she thought it was interesting that this cancer felt like an attack!  When Nick prayed in the way he did, with NO knowledge of their team devotions that morning, God's sovereignty was more than evident to us and we felt His presence.
Saturday morning, we waited at the bottom of the escalator at Regina Airport.  She gave a little wave from the top and we braced ourselves for this emotional reunion.  She melted into her Daddy's arms, and then Daniel and I hugged her, too!  Not knowing how she'd be dealing with things, we tread lightly and tried to follow her lead.  Immediately, she began teasing her brother, and as we retrieved her luggage, we could see she'd be okay!
Caylea's journey with cancer has begun...and in so many ways Walter and I have already felt the Lord carrying us, raising up friends to support and a Christian surgeon here in Regina who will be caring for Caylea in this initial stage.
I cannot speak for what the Lord will do in and through and for our precious daughter in this journey.  All I know, is that every time I open my Bible, God is giving me wonderful words of comfort, strength and hope!  You can be sure I will be sharing those as I blog for the next while.
THANK YOU, for reading this, and for the prayers I know you as our friends and family will offer up on our behalf.  Our life is on hold as this week unfolds.  We should be finding out more right away as to surgery, scans, tests and a treatment plan for Caylea.  We'll be in touch...