Fun and Healing

While we are so happy to be home, it hasn't been easy.

Elena continues to battle throat and mouth sores, nausea, and the pain associated with trying to eat and drink. The sores on her lips often bleed. As a result of all of these, sleeping has it's challenges as well.  It seems she gets her best sleep between 6 am and 11:30 am each day! Elena is able to eat a little each day. Her strength and perseverance continues to amaze us all.  She bangs on the bathroom counter each time she uses her "magic' mouthwash - it burns as it works to heal. She has to use it four times a day.

With the unexpected trouble during Elena's hospital stay and kind of always feeling like our lives are out of control, we haven't had a chance to tell you about our fun summer events. Thanks to our friends and family we had some great days! We are going to try to tell you about them in the coming days. 

We will start with last night. Aunt Rainey and our cousins, Ray, Wayne, and Caroline were in town.  Elena had been feeling badly all day, but quickly perked up during their visit.  We enjoyed dinner out together at one of Elena's favorite Italian resturants.  She ate some pasta and the inside of her fav rolls!  Aunt Rainey summed up the evening so well.  This is what she wrote in Elena's guest book. (Yes, Elena has a guest book for friends and family to sign whether they visit her in the hospital or at home!  Great idea and gift from her friend Sarah!)

"Sitting here after dinner hearing the joyous squeals of three precious girls catching fire flies and jumping on the trampoline . Who would guess that one of them is fighting for her life? The sounds of laughter and play tell a story of courage and strength and prove that Elena is going to beat this."  She went on to encourage us:  "The devil made a big mistake when he tried to challenge this family. Your love and devotion to one another will win out, not to mention all of your family, friends, and support of the community. We all know that it is God's work that will get this cancer thing done with and beaten."


Thank you to our family, friends, and others who we do not know, for continuing to pray for us and encourage us each and every day.  Thank you to Grandma Vickie for coming to help take care of Liv while Elena was in the hospital.  Thank you all for continuing to stand with us.

Enjoy these pics from last night!
Other summer fun stories to come.

In Him,
The Tates

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, o Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22