I'm Still Here

I have put this off so many times, I guess because I feel like writing it makes it so. Even though it is so. Here goes, Anyone who knows me, knows or knows of my friend Jenna. She is a friend anyone would be blessed to have and I am blessed to call her my friend.

We have known each other four years now - we met shortly after moving to Tennessee. We hang out, watch each others children, laugh, cry, do life together. And our children are friends.

For 3 or more weeks, Jenna began to feel sick. Over time it got worse. I remember her saying she had no energy, and even that she felt like she was dying. I remember saying that she should go see the doctor and she said she was afraid to "but she did go" and that she felt like the cancer was back.

After a long wait for blood test results, she got a call telling her to hurry to the emergency room where she spent too many hours only to finally be admitted into the hospital. She was there four days waiting and wondering. She had a blood transfusion and platelets and a bone marrow draw only to be told that it was either leukemia or a virus.

They wanted to send her straight to Vanderbuilt but someone there had mercy on her and allowed her to go home and spend a few days with her children - Ashlee, Kaitlin and Jake. She had been able to see and nurse Jake in the hospital but hadn't been allowed to see Ashlee and Kaitlin.

She treasured her few days at home and reported to Vanderbilt that Friday where she found out that her worst fears had been realized and she did indeed have leukemia. She would have the weekend with her family and then go to Vanderbilt for one month of chemo.

I believe that had I gotten that news I would have melted into a puddle but Jenna is strong. She teaches me daily about strength and courage and faith. She went home spent a good weekend with her family and nursed her baby for the last time and reported to the hospital Monday.

Her Mother and Father have come to town and are helping them and I don't know what they would do if not for that. The rest of us are doing what we can and one of the most important things is to pray and I just ask that if you are reading this, you stop and pray for Jenna and for her healing and for her family.

Thank you!