I have to start off by saying the last few weeks have had it's ups and downs. We took a family vacation to Geneva on the Lake. It was beautiful and very peaceful. The boys are teenagers so being with their parents isn't quite as cool, but they made the best of it. Mark took them to a warterpark, I opted out because of treatments, they played some golf and spent some time in the lake. Because of my weakness and some pain I had to stay back at the lodge but I made myself comfortable in the hot tub. Truly, I really was just happy to see them having a great time. However, each trip or adventure is defiantly used as a marker to the progression of my cancer. The boys remember the last vacation and what I was able to do. They recall how much better I felt and subconsciously compare. Several times I heard them say things like, "last trip she went golfing or she walked the beach every morning the last time we went away". One day I went back to our room to rest after a while the boys were in there room and I heard my oldest ask if I was sleeping again. Of course I popped right out of bed then. But when I asked them if they wanted to do something they just grunted. I have to say I was just glad we were all together no matter how I felt. We had some great nights at the lodge and did a lot of night swimming. Well they swam and I sat very comfortably in the hot tub. After six days together we were all ready to get home. Me to my comfortable bed and wonderful shower and the boys to their friends and social life.
After we got home the my pain become uncontrollable again. I truly wish I understood this cancer. It's as unpredictable as the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, I am relieved the pain waited until I got home. There were a few days on vacation that I was not well but the day was not a complete wash. Friday night I think Mark and I got a total of 30 minutes of sleep. It was one of the pains that truly nothing would work on. Mark finally just held me as I curled up in a ball, we prayed out loud and we dozed off for a short time. Saturday I spent in bed most of the day while Mark tended to the boys activities. Logan and Nolan spent the night at my mom's so that they could get a good quiet night of rest. Austen did his social thing and really is somewhat unaffected by my bad days. He's a teenager and really its all about him, which I am actually thankful for.
On Friday when I knew this was going to be a long pain bout I sent out some notes to my prayer warriors. I also knew that my regular pray warriors for me would get the word too. I don't know how many total I had praying for me but I figure it must of been a large group. Sunday morning I awaken at my usual 5 am and realized that I had only been up once in the middle of the night to take a pain pill. I felt refreshed and the pain had lessened greatly. I was afraid to wake Mark to tell him that I felt good for fear that it was just a temporary thing. My mornings are my time to read my devotional and my bible. After about an hour I tapped on Mark's arm and told him I felt good. I cannot wait to share that kind of news with him. He worries so much when I am at my worse and breathes again when those times pass. I just wanted to start the day because I did not want to miss anytime that I felt good. Unfortunately it was only 6 am and the sun was not even up.
I had to go to church on Sunday. I had to show thanks to God. Our Pastor, Frank Deluce, says at the end of every service, "Remember you go no place by accident, where ever you go God is sending you." This Sunday was one of those days. Have you ever felt in church that the sermon was written just for you? Do you ever wonder if everyone is hearing the same thing you are hearing? That was this day. The topic was Sustaining Grace and how God gives you this gift just when you think you cannot handle anymore. Sustaining Grace is defined as a specific, timely infusion of God's strength in a Christ-follower to allow them to find hope and endurance as they are matured through all kinds of suffering.
It was like a light bulb went off in my head. At times when I have been at my lowest point and think that I may not get out of this one, I manage to give it to Him. I have reached out to others and asked for pray. I have wondered how I got through some of the things I have gone through, but I know now that it is God that gives me sustaining grace. We don't know when its going to come or how much suffering we have to endure before God gives it to us. But if we approach Him with confidence and ask, in His time we will receive. This does not mean our trails will be less or go away. It means we will be equipped to handle them better. I don't know when the battle of cancer will be ending for me or even how it will end, but what I need to remember is that I will always be given God's grace to handle it.
There’s a mission to accomplish, and a battle to be won!
We’ve been called to take the challenge by God’s might and through His Son;
He will give us grace to complete the race, moving forward, pressing on!'
With Grace,
Sunny
SUNNY CARNEY After a courageous 10 year fight battling Carcinoid Cancer, Sunny Carney, of Plum, passed peacefully on Saturday, November 3. She was married to her devoted husband, Mark; and was a loving mother to Austen, Logan and Nolan; daughter of Patricia Jennings and the late James J. Jennings; daughter-in-law of Dale and Dottie Carney; sister of Judy Phillips (Ray Jr.), Lynn Pesta (Teddy), Michael Jennings (Vicki Lynn), James Jennings (Sue), Joseph Jennings (Elizabeth), Sheila Fortes (Jim); sister-in-law of Craig Carney (Julia). She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, and was a true friend and inspiration to many.
In addition to being an inspiration to family and friends Sunny inspired carcinoid cancer patients across the globe through her blog, and then her book "The Sunny Side of Cancer. She spoke at numerous cancer events locally sharing stories of her journey which led her from Basel, Switzerland to all of the top Carcinoid Cancer specialists here in the states. She was an advocate for better diagnosis of the disease and for insurance coverage of treatments. She fought with grace and dignity, never letting the pain inside challenge her faith or diminish her love for life.
Memorials may be made to "Carney Family Fund", c/o S&T Bank, 2190 Hulton Road, Verona, PA 15147.
Friends received Monday 7-9 p.m. and Tuesday 3-8 p.m. at Unity Community Church, 215 Unity Center Road, Plum, PA 15239.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Unity Community Church with Rev. Frank Deluce officiating. Arrangements entrusted to CHARLES W. TRENZ FUNERAL HOME, INC.
VIEW GUEST BOOK Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
