Updates

As my little sister’s “editor in chief”, or more appropriately “Senior Sneak Previewer”, I felt it was necessary to update her prayer warriors and thank each of you for your continued prayers, Facebook wall posts, and encouragement.

Ellie met with her doctors on Thursday.  The appointment with the specialist went well.  The nodes were not alarmingly large but she does show a lot of other symptoms.  So they scheduled the biopsy for the following morning.  They went from that appointment to meet with Dr. Finke who was pleased with the outcome of the earlier appointment.  Friday morning was her biopsy and the procedure went well.  She is extremely sore, as to be expected and slightly disappointed because the incision is a bit bigger than initially described.  Unfortunately the medical staff in Lynchburg is not as experienced using her port so they had to find a vein and insert an IV through her arm, which has caused concern because there is a chance that where that IV was could now be infected.  All in all she is doing well.  Fighting through it and waiting until Monday or probably Tuesday when we will receive the results of the biopsy.  Whatever the outcome she is praying that God gives her strength to handle it all and glorify Him through it.   

I’d like to close this post by acknowledging the strength that my sister has displayed.  If you know my sister, you know that she is a kind, honest, people pleaser who wants nothing more than to love others the way that Christ loves.  While Ellie is a worrier by nature she does not want others spending time worrying about her.  She does her best to convince you that everything is fine and will quickly ask about you and your day to distract from anything and everything going on with her.  1) because she genuinely cares about you and 2) because she is of the mindset that while she knows she has trials and struggles she knows that there is someone else out there that is worse off than she is.  So she thanks God for where she’s at and what she’s learning at that moment in time.  (I think that she openly has admitted that in a previous blog.)    It isn’t until you hear the tone in her voice that you realize that something is wrong and even then she will chalk it up to just being tired.  You see, she doesn’t want to spend time worrying, she wants to spend time connecting, learning, listening only to love you better.

Ellie is a lover of people.  She loves to talk.  She loves to listen.  She loves to laugh and loves to encourage.  I’m sure you already know all of this but the reason for my reiteration of these points is to publically express how proud and honored I am to call her my sister.  This blog has allowed her to be open, to be totally raw and real with her readers and in turn it has shown how she trusts with 100% of her heart that her Lord and Savior has it all in His hands.  I can honestly say that because of my sister, my relationship and love for my God has grown.  I don’t know about you, but every time I am privileged to read my sisters heart I am challenged to be a better Christian.  Thank you for loving my sister, for loyally reading her heart and for praying for her healing and strength. 

I know that through all of this God has a plan.  I hope that you are as blessed by my sister and by her strength as I am. 

In Christ Alone

Ellie’s Older Sister Megan