Hi, Friends and Family, this is Jennifer
I know it has been a long time since I have written or posted anything.
Traveling life as we have known it all these years had to come to a complete stop for the time being.
This has been a difficult time for us trying to adjust to our new life off the road. I have had health concerns and more health concerns that have taken over our lives for the time in our lives.
We had to get off the road last August due to an injury I had at work while we were traveling around the country. You see at first, we thought it was just a torn I T Band but after several painful months and lots of physical therapy for the wrong thing it was discovered to be a worse injury. While we were off the road waiting to see how long it was going to take to heal, we started teaching at our daughters Christian CO- OP homeschool. The school was short lived and had to come to an end.
I was sent for an MRI which showed I had fractured my left hip from falling at work months ago. We were told that I needed a Total Hip Replacement. This was shocking and definitely was not anything we had planned for or even crossed our minds. This did explain all of the months in pain and painful PT for a torn IT band which was not helping for a fractured hip.
So, 2025 started the year off with me having a total left hip replacement. This was very difficult for me because I have always been the one to help someone etc... Now, I found myself at the mercy of others to help me get up and walk etc... I couldn't do anything by myself. Chris was trying to Uber and door dash and trying to make sure I was cared for. It was a stressful time on all of us. Our daughter Katlyn and grandchildren had to become my main care takers. I thank God we were here next to her in our RV. I was thankful the surgery went well and learning to walk all over again was not my finest moments. We really had a good support group surrounding us and helping us through this long recovery. My goal I had set for myself was to be able to walk the 5K for MS awareness in Charleston, S.C. I worked hard at P. T and I accomplished that goal 14 weeks post-surgery May 2025. I continued to heal and to become more independent at home in the RV with Koda, the goldendoodle. Koda has been such a great helper and companion for me through all of this.
In May, I noticed a small raised painful bump on my chest that began to grow fast. I just kept an eye on it, and it continued to grow rapidly and to become more painful. I; myself, being a Cancer Survivor already called around to Skin Cancer Institute's trying to get in to see someone quickly. Of course, They were all booked out for months. I ended up calling around Georgia and was able to get in to see someone in 5 weeks. Of course, I had to have 3 biopsies. I had one on my chest that was growing rapidly, one on my forehead and another from my back. I was still recovering from hip replacement and now waiting to find out the results of the biopsies was rough this was a very challenging time for Chris and me. We finally got the call, and it was not a surprise to me as I have been in this situation many times before. We have always prayed for God's will not our own and we can handle anything that comes our way with God at the center.
Chris was getting ready to Uber, and he saw me crying at the table. I was told I needed to come in right away and that I needed to have MOHS cancer removals. The one on my chest was very large and deep. The surprise was my forehead cancer was supposed to be minor, but it turns out it was more aggressive and deeper than they first thought. I left the cancer center that day being sent straight to Plastic Surgery to repair and close the holes in my forehead and chest. My forehead was the size of a silver dollar and was as deep as to my skull. I had some issues with uncontrollable bleeding that kept needing attention with cauterization and eventually had to use Aluminum Sulfate. So, with every method of stopping the bleeding from my forehead meant more and more lidocaine. When I got to the Plastic Surgeons for him to figure out how to close my forehead wound, I needed so much lidocaine for him to repair and close my forehead I had already had all of the lidocaine a person can have. So, I was sent home for 10 days with a hole in my chest that Chris had to attend to twice a day. this was a miserable time for both of us. I was finally able to have plastic surgery on my chest, and they reported they in fact did get all the cancer. Praise God!!
Months have passed and I am still healing very slowly from the cancer removals. It takes me twice as long to heal as it does most people because of my MS. My MS then acts up and causes more issues and so on ... I have been on 2 separate rounds of antibiotics for my wounds opening back up because they were so deep. I am going to have to have reconstructive plastic surgery on my forehead definitely and possibly my chest. While recuperating from my hip and cancer removals I discover I need a Total Knee replacement on my same side as my hip replacement. Life is short, You can only take one day at a time or one second at a time. This is what Gods word tells us. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. I guess this is the year for me to try to slow down and try to take care of myself. and to learn to let others help me. My Total Left knee replacement has just been postponed because I developed an infection again in my forehead incision and also my chest. The surgeons decided it was not in my best interest to have another joint replacement until they can get my incisions to heal. It just isn't safe enough to do the surgery. So, I will continue to wait on Gods timing not mine.!
I have my knee replacement scheduled again for November 14, 2025. Lord Willing!!
For those of you that know me, know I am a determined person and do not like to quit or give up easily. I lean on God to see me through all my trials and tribulations. One of my favorite scriptures I hold dear to my heart is Phil 4:13 I can do All things through Christ that strengthens me.
This scripture has seen me through multiple Melanoma Cancer, Chemo, Radiation and now Total Hip replacement and about to be a total knee replacement. ...then another surgery or more to reconstruct my forehead and chest. Life is short! Please do not put off something you've wanted to do or needed to do until tomorrow. We are not promised tomorrow. Please, Share what you've been wanting to say to your loved ones, do that impossible thing you've been putting off doing. Lean on Christ daily to direct your steps. I know from experience not being able to walk already once this year puts Leaning on Christ to help you in everything you do in a brighter more literal reality. I have had to learn long suffering, unexplainable pain, patience and understanding and how to sit feeling lonely for days on end, at times. I had to be without my husband with me day after day working together as we always have. In reality, God has always been there in my time of need. I know from experience the world tells you that you CAN'T but Gods words say you CAN!
I have been blessed to make a lot of new friends and spend time with grandchildren. Family has had to take care of me all year and it hasn't been easy for any of us and it isn't over, yet. I miss travelling and getting to spread Christ's Love to everyone we meet. I miss my husband daily as he is out driving everyday just to meet our basic needs. Life has a funny way of changing on you in the blink of an eye. This year isn't over yet and I still have some major surgeries left ahead of me. I know though that everything will be ok if we continue to put our faith and trust in God! I will continue to cast all my cares on Him for His yoke is light and my burdens are to heavy for me to carry Alone.
Please remember us in your prayers or thoughts. We have had the pleasure of attending church with Katlyn and our grandchildren here, when I can walk. I do not know how we would have made it through all these trials and surgeries this year so far without their help. I am truly grateful. We are also on a church planting team that is going to kick off in Okatie, S.C. January 2026. If you know us, I invite you to come visit with us after the new year at Abide Christian Fellowship, look us up. Hopefully by then I will have learned how to walk again for the second time this year.
Just know, We still love ALL of you and we are still here for you. Just reach out in an email or text. We will try to do better at posting updates on our lives. We are working on our book from our Mission Walk in Love across America. We welcome comments or emails if you met us on our hike. I would love to add your comments in the books. I think this about catches us up on what has been going on this year in our lives. Health, Health and more Health!!!
OH, my goal or challenge after my knee replacement is to hike the beginning of the A.T. from Springer Mountain to Gatlinburg. We shall see but first I will be learning how to walk again one step at a time.
Hopefully next year I will be well enough to do some travelling!!
I love you ALL,
Jennifer.....GentleFir
