Plan B.

It's what you resort to when Plan A doesn't work. And that's where we're at right now. Plan B.

My mom had another MRI today, one which, quite frankly, we were all hoping and expecting would look really good... maybe even clear! But, as it turns out, that's not what happened. Instead, the MRI showed that her tumor has grown back. I'm not sure on exactly how much, but something like 60% of its original size.

Not good. Scary. It's grown back that much just since her last MRI... which was only around a month ago.

This means the chemo she's been getting for the last two months isn't working anymore, apparently. So. Plan B.

Plan B is full-brain radiation, once a day 5 days a week. And possibly oral chemo with this as well. Plan B means my mom will lose her hair, experience extreme fatigue, and who knows what else. Plan B means that this road, which we all thought just maybe had an end in sight, is going to be much harder and longer than we anticipated.

The doctor is still reasonably positive. He says this by no means indicates that treatment won't be successful. He's seen this before, and it just means it's time for another plan of attack. But....

Plan B scares me. One plan of treatment has already been tried... and it didn't work. So what happens if Plan B doesn't work? Is there a plan C? Or.... is there an or?? or..... is that it?? what if, what if what if???

The one thing I've been clinging to in my head today is this: God doesn't have a Plan B. He just has THE plan. HIS plan. His perfect, unchanging, almighty, loving plan. It's already laid out. He already knows. And it won't change. NO plan B. The next step might be OUR plan B, but it's still HIS original and providential plan. Amen. The truth. Praise God for that.

I know tomorrow is a brand new day, with the Lord's new mercies, a fresh new perspective, and tomorrow I'll probably be able to think positive again, by His grace.

But today, my heart is just aching. For my mom, my dear sweet mom, who has so much more to go through still when she's already been through so much. For my dad, who has to watch the love of his life experience all this. For my sisters and my brother who are right there living it everyday and just as scared as I am. For all my family. My heart aches and breaks. For so many different reasons.

I know I'm just pouring this all out here. Through my tears. And maybe I shouldn't.... I don't know. But in some way it helps to write this all down, to just be honest and painfully real. This is hard. And I'm scared. And I just want, with all my heart, with every breath in every prayer, for my mom to be ok.