For I know the plans I have for you, said the Lord,
plans to help you and not harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Vickie and her husband, Roney, were eagerly anticipating their retirement when the "cancer storm" invaded, changing their lives dramatically.
Author Vickie Sides tells how the storm blew away her plans and spread its clouds to affect all her family, leaving a gamut of emotions in its wake. As initial hopes that she was cured collapsed, shock and disbelief vied for control with Sides's fear and uncertainty. All too soon, she discovered that the storm was far from over; she was in the eye of a hurricane.
"Where are you, God?" "Why is this happening?" and "What purpose do you have for me?" are only some of the questions that plagued her, as she battled not only through her own illness, but also through caring for her loved ones.
Yet Vickie's Story is not about agony or despair. Instead, it is a journey of faith and of learning how to cope, one day at a time, and by the grace of God. It is about decking the halls for Christmas even as death awaits, accepting the fact that we are all at different stages of being "terminal," and transitioning towards trusting the Lord completely.
Today, an ovarian cancer survivor of eleven years, Sides hopes to inspire and encourage those who struggle with cancer. May her journey lead others to "live above the circumstances with joy and peace" and trust the God who has brought her through death and fiery trials.
