Cancer Care Ministry

My cancer journey began in 2011 alongside my husband, Tracy.  At the age of 44, he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of an unknown primary which at the time occurred in only 7% of all cancer patients.  Not being able to identify the type of cancer brought with it a whole set of unique challenges; however, God was faithful and allowed us to intersect with expert doctors who had done extensive research in the field of cancer with unknown primaries.

As a wife and best friend, I was given the title “caregiver” to my husband. I use the word “caregiver” loosely, because like most men, it was in Tracy’s personality and character to care for ME as his wife and to “fix everything”.  We quickly learned that some things can’t be fixed according to our plans. “God is sovereign and in control of ALL things” brought on a whole new meaning in our lives.

Although we prayed together daily for a miracle and healing in Tracy’s body, on May 29, 2012 (almost one year after being diagnosed with cancer), Tracy received the ultimate healing from our Great Physician as he was joined with HIM in heaven.  Twelve years later, God has brought gradual healing to my heart. Although I continue to miss Tracy, I am so grateful for the memories we shared together and for the many ways God is allowing his life to live on through me and so many others.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. These two verses are packed full of commands and sweet promises that sustained us both and brought comfort, encouragement, strength, and joy throughout our cancer journey.

Regardless of the pain, struggles, and heartaches we experience here on earth, may we look to Jesus with thanksgiving and depend on HIS hope, strength, and courage as we rest in HIS grace, mercy, joy, and peace. 

In May of 2016 my husband, Kerry, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma which at the time was considered somewhat rare. It is a blood/bone marrow cancer. He had a golf ball sized tumor on his lower spine that shrunk with radiation. He had to retire early. He began several rounds of chemo and then proceeded into a stem cell transplant in December of 2016. His recovery was extremely difficult with much suffering. Within 15 months the myeloma returned.  He then began chemo and remained on maintenance drugs until September of 2022.  He is monitored every 2 to 3 months and is presently not on meds. His immune system is very weak and he remains cautious about getting into crowds.

In 2020, I was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I know, so strange, right? The doctors were very perplexed that we both have the same kind of cancer.  I was monitored and began chemo in November of 2021. I remained on chemo until September of 2022. The nurses and doctors were so kind to schedule our appointments at the same time. We called it our “chemo date”. HA. We would sit side by side with our IV infusions, talking and laughing. Afterwards we would reward ourselves with a great meal at a local restaurant. We shared many of the same side effects and took care of each other on our bad days. It was again God being gracious that we both achieved remission and were able to stop treatment at the same time.

It is difficult for me to describe the overwhelming feelings that came with hearing the news about my husband. If you are reading this, I’m guessing you get it. Being a very emotional person, I immediately had to cling to HIM.  I was a mess! Our family along with our CFC church family surrounded us with extreme lovingkindness sending meals, cards, prayers and gifts to help us get through it all. We experienced the Unfailing Love of Jesus and we never felt alone or abandoned. We both are still being monitored regularly and we are not on medication at this time. Praise God!!!

One of the things that gave me most comfort was praise and worship music, along with reading His Word, particularly Psalms that declare His Promises. I felt His constant Provision and trusted that no matter the outcome we still have hope. To be loved and known by God is the ultimate treasure. We will never understand the Goodness of God and even begin to measure His Perfect Love without suffering. Our Heavenly Father does NOT waste pain, but uses it to refine us and create in us renewed faith and strength all to bring Him Glory. 

My story with cancer started in January 2015 when my late husband, John Thomson, suddenly started to have trouble swallowing. We found out in February 2015 that he had stage 3 Esophageal Cancer with tumors in his esophagus and possibly in the lymph nodes at the end of the esophagus, near his stomach. The one tumor had almost his entire esophagus blocked. At that same time, I was 20 weeks pregnant with our 2nd little girl. Life in that moment stopped and sped up. They immediately started further test and procedures on John and within a week he was in MDAnderson in Houston, TX where he would fight the next 6 months. I flew down with him while my parents came to take our 2 year old daughter back to IL with them while I was gone. I would stay and help John in TX then fly back to IN to go to my doctor appointments for the baby, see our other little girl, work at my job, and get the house ready for a baby. While I was back in Indiana, friends or family would fly down to help John during his appointments and chemo. The hands and feet of Jesus came along side us during this time through family, friends, our CFC small group and CFC friends. The Lord provided all along the way!! John came back home to continue treatments around September 2015 after having 6 months of aggressive chemo and radiation at MD Anderson. The tumors were gone from the chemo and radiation, but the cancer was still there. He continued to fight back in Evansville while taking chemo, until January 2016 when he went to be with the Lord Jesus. We prayed and believed in healing here on Earth, but for John his healing came when he entered Heaven. This then left me as a single mom with a 3 year old and 7 month old. The Lord continued to carry us in mighty ways. I did things during this time that I never thought I could do and wouldn’t have been able to do without Jesus by my side. I had moments and John too of physically feeling the presence of the Lord during this journey. Before John passed away, he told me he wanted me to remarry someday, that I was young and the girls were young and he wanted us to continue to live and be happy. I didn’t know if I would ever do this again. But, in time, the Lord opened up my heart to it and provided again. 3.5 years later I was introduced through my cousin to Greg Creamer. He had his own cancer story of being a 2x cancer survivor, one being a very rare cancer of the muscle at the age of 15 years old (they gave him 6 months at that time) and then a few years prior to me meeting him he had a kidney removed due to kidney cancer. We married July 2020 and March 2021 we found out that he had prostrate cancer. He soon went into surgery to remove his prostrate and I then was a caregiver for cancer once again. Thankfully the surgery was all he had to have for the prostrate.

Cancer has effected my life through being a caregiver, widow and a single mom.

The word HOPE was all over our lives while we were at MDAnderson for John’s cancer treatments. I would see it on the walls of the clinic, on billboards around town, and even on a refrigerator magnet at the apartment we got down there. I still remember noticing this everywhere I went and knowing that our HOPE was in Christ! Before I left Houston for the last time, before our baby girl arrived, John and I decided on her name and her middle name is Hope. The first time I came to CFC, when I moved to Evansville, Pastor David had a sermon about seeing God work in your daily life and noticing those moments. I started to call these my “I Spy God” moments in life. Let me tell you that John and I and Greg have had many “I Spy God” moments in our cancer journeys. Sometimes, we just have to stop and look for them. They came in small and large moments. For example, in the 6 months that John was in Texas he had 1 week break from chemo, while they were finishing his radiation molds, and that 1 week was the week that our baby girl was born, so he was able to fly home for her birth!! That is 100% a God moment.

My favorite verse that I have held close the last 9 years is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

I was 14 years old and was playing baseball when I was hit in the arm by a baseball. A spot on my arm swelled up and didn’t go away. I went to the Dr for something else and asked them what the spot was on my arm. They did an X-ray and saw it was eating a hole in my bone.  The first Dr wanted to remove my arm, so my parents got a second opinion. I then ended up at Riley Children’s Hospital and found out I had rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer of the muscle). The Drs told my parents that we have 6 months, we have to get busy. Chemo then started immediately, along with surgery and radiation. I was done with chemo 2.5 years later and cancer free!! They had taken 3/4 of my arm bone out approximately 4 inches long and with X- rays I started to see that the bone was growing back in places. While Drs gave me 6 months to live, the Lord had other plans for my life.

About 27 years later, I had a scan done for my lungs when the Dr saw something on my kidney. They decided to take a further scan that would capture my entire kidney when they found a malignant tumor. I had surgery to remove my left kidney and was cancer free once again. But, the Lord still wasn’t done with me and had other plans for my life. My wife now says, the Lord had a young widow and 2 little girls in mind that would need me to be part of their lives. I sure didn’t know that at that time.

Approximately another 4 years passed when I met Bridget and her girls. We had only been married about 9 months when I found out I had prostate cancer. Once again, I was in surgery to have my prostate removed. Immediately, after hearing the word cancer again, it went through my mind that my wife was going to have to relive having a husband with cancer, after she lost her first husband to cancer. We walked forward and gave it to the Lord. It was all in His hands. Our family, friends and CFC friends surrounded us with love, prayers and support. I am now cancer free for the 3rd time. None of these cancers were related to each other. Due to the intensive chemotherapy at the age of 15, I was not able to have children of my own. The Lord blessed me with my wife and her two little girls for me to be their dad here on Earth.

I am a cancer survivor for over 35 years!!