Life Update + What’s Next
(pictured above)
Keith and I both had birthdays in the month of August!
I turned the big 5-0 and he turned 55!
Before I announce what’s next here at Women Living Well, I want to take a moment to share an update with you about my husband’s recent cancer diagnosis and subsequent kidney failure.
When I first shared this, we were still trying to take it all in—processing the news, meeting with doctors, and trying to figure out a treatment plan that would be effective to bring the disease burden in his body down.
The first 3 weeks of treatment (for Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma blood cancer – there are only 3 stages) were ineffective (which was scary) BUT now our specialist found the perfect quadruple treatment plan and it is working! 🙌 Praise the Lord!
So, since then, our days have found a new rhythm, though not an easy one. He is now on kidney dialysis three times a week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Each session takes about four hours. This alone has made life difficult because he has had to change his diet completely (he misses so many of the foods he enjoyed) and due to the dialysis port being near his heart – he is no longer able to shower (so I have been washing his hair in the laundry tub).
And then there’s work. He’s not able to return because of the dialysis schedule and the many appointments—Tuesdays are usually for bloodwork and Thursdays for chemo and immunotherapy treatment which takes about four hours as well (not counting all the drive time). Our weeks feel full of medical appointments and though it’s exhausting, we are grateful for the care he is receiving.
He misses working. He misses the rhythm of normal life. We both do. My husband has always been so physical—he loves mowing the lawn, washing the cars, working with his hands. He still tries sometimes, just to feel like himself again, but it usually leaves him in pain afterward due to the lesions on his spine and the fevers that come from his chemo treatments. That’s been hard—for him, and for me, watching.
Even church looks different. Now that flu season has begun, his immune system can’t handle the risk. Watching from home didn’t feel the same, so we’ve started going back, but sitting out in the foyer instead of the sanctuary. It’s not quite what we’re used to—but just being in the Lord’s house, hearing the Word, and being near His people (even if it’s at a distance) feels like balm to our weary souls.
Some days, this all feels crushing. Other days, I see God’s mercies so clearly. There have been long days of waiting, hard conversations, and moments of fear. But when we open God’s Word, we remember—His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He truly is our refuge and our fortress, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
👊 This I hold firmly to…
We don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but we know the One who holds tomorrow—and that gives us hope.
❤️ To those of you who have been praying for us, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your words, your prayers, your messages of encouragement have carried us more than you know. Please continue to pray: for wisdom as decisions are made, for strength for my husband as he goes through treatment, and for God’s peace to guard our hearts in the days ahead.
I will not make this ministry all about his cancer journey, but from time to time I will update you as I appreciate the way so many of you have come alongside us.
So, what’s next here at Women Living Well?
✍️ During treatments and my quiet times at home – I have been writing! ✍️
And so the study is completely written and I am ready to lead our annual 🍁 Making Your Home a Haven 🍁 Fall Study with ALL NEW CONTENT!!! 🤗
☕️ This study is for every woman who longs to slow her pace, quiet the noise, and find strength in meeting with God. Whether you are weary, worn, or simply thirsty for more of Him—this study is for you.
🎉 I’ll be announcing all the details here on the blog THIS Friday—so be watching for that post!
🧐 If you’d like an early peek, you can click 👀 [here] 👀 for a preview. I can’t wait to walk through this season together!
Keep walking with the King,
What a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness in your husbands suffering. I love that as the Body of Christ we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, some who are home with the Lord but you who are living, it’s so sweet to include us in your story.
Courtney,
Thank you for sharing your husband’s journey with us. I am the wife of an AML Leukemia survivor diagnosed Dec. 2023 and in remission since Sept. 2024. It is not an easy road, and blood cancers are so different from tumor cancers. I am with you about church not being the same. Now that my hubby is in remission, we do go to church but we wear masks to decrease germ exposure. Please know that from one blood cancer wife to another, I am praying for you and your husband, and I am lifting you up as his care supporter. Sending you both so much love,
Gillian
I will keep you and your husband in prayer. I’m in awe of your strong faith!
I don’t get on FB that much but just came across your post and was so thankful to get an update on your husband and how you both are doing. You both have been in my prayers and have been wondering how you both were doing. Praise God that Keith is doing better. I will continue to lift you both up in prayer. Thank you for the update. Happy belated birthday to you and Keith. 🎁🎉🎊🎂🎈😊🥰