The summer of 2010 was an unusual adventure for my wife and me. Earlier in the year she was diagnosed with an advanced form of melanoma which would require extensive surgery and follow-up treatments. The surgery was a success and the results were good. The cancer was removed and there were no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes that were tested. The rest of the summer consisted of daily trips to Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute for IV infusions of a drug called interferon. Just so you don’t get the wrong impression...I am not complaining. God was wonderfully gracious to us and the treatment we received was better than we expected. At the end of the summer my wife, Christie, had developed some side effects from the cumulative impact of the treatments-hair loss, cotton-wool spots in her eyes and general weakness. However, that there was no signs of further cancer was indeed sweet music to our ears. We are grateful for God’s grace and the health that she now enjoys. We have surpassed the one year mark since surgery and still no signs of cancer...we are thankful.

In the spring of 2011 I received an email about the Peachtree Road Race that would take place on July 4th! The thought that entered our minds was “why not?” So, we signed-up. Christie and I, along our son Micah and his finance Kelly, all signed up for a new adventure. Christie was very apprehensive because of the heat, but in the end she was determined to do it. So, on July 4th, 2011, we all walked the Peachtree together! It was fun to share that walk as a family... we may have even created a new family tradition!

As we made our way to the finish line Christie looked at me and said, “Last year it was the second week of interferon.” Funny, at that moment I was thinking the same thing. In 2010 we were walking into a hospital for cancer treatment and in 2011 we were walking the Peachtree Road Race! And Christie was completing her first 10K!!! Wow! What a difference a year makes when it is filled with the underserved grace of God!

With grateful hearts,

Tim, Christie, Micah and Kelly