Good News, Bad News & Merry Christmas

When Kristin was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, we began scavenging the internet for reputable help. We were understandably trying to get a handle for what the rest of life would look like. We knew life had changed in some way, but we weren’t totally sure exactly how much change there would be.

It soon became clear that Sarcoidosis is like the perfect thorn to continuously remind us that our lives are not really our own.  It could be something that gets treated relatively easily and in a few months she is up and around. The disease could be fairly quiet for the rest of her life – just kinda sitting in the background. Or, it could be a chronic, lifelong, debilitating ailment. Some have good years and bad years. Some have good months and bad months. Rarely, it’s terminal. The thing is, we just have no idea how this will play out. Every year for the rest of her life she will have checkups and wait to hear the news; good or bad.

Within the last couple of days we have had some good news:

• We got Kristin’s MRI results yesterday and it looks like the disease hasn’t caused any issues in her brain! This is extremely great news. Praise God! With some of her symptoms, we were a bit worried…but the scan shows no impact there.
• We also met with our friend, Dr. Erin Curtis, and Kristin’s eye checkup was perfect as well. More great news. Sarcoid can cause blindness, so it was a special gift to be able to pray with our doctor before her exam.

The brain and the eyes are common secondary areas to get involved after the lungs. But even with those good reports, Kristin still isn’t actually feeling any better. In fact, the last few days have seemed to be a bit weaker than last week. Because of that, Kristin had to tell Olivia that she can’t host her birthday party this week – she probably can’t even go. I hate seeing one of my little girls cry. News is not always good.

Kristin and I have been learning though that the whatever our circumstances are, there is good news that will never change.  Rather serendipitously, that’s exactly the news we celebrate today on Christmas.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

It was such good news for the world to hear that the messiah they had been waiting for has finally come and begun the restoration and rescue they had hoped of for generations. Interestingly, Jesus didn’t look exactly like the messiah-king they were looking for. Sometimes today the way God works is not what we expect, or what we hope for either.

Despite what each day holds – despite good doctor visits or bad ones – the truth of Christmas is very good news for everyone and for all time. I freely admit that I don’t always act like I actually believe it…like I believe that these light and momentary afflictions really do pale in comparison to our future hope. But as Christians, Kristin and I are reminding ourselves that our faith isn’t based on the circumstances we find ourselves in; it’s based on Jesus and what he has already done.

Merry Christmas from the LeBlanc crew.