Battling Cancer and Covid Alone: How God Destroyed Fear and Answered Prayer
Hymn writer William Cowper once wrote, “God moves in a mysterious way; His wonders to perform.” God certainly worked in just such a way to teach me more about his character and nature. In the early days of 2020, I remember anticipating all the joyful activities that would take place throughout the year. There would be high-school soccer games for our oldest daughter, Elizabeth, her 16th birthday party, gymnastics for our youngest daughter, Leah, church events, early college graduation, for our son Andrew, summer camps and vacation. Later, in August, we would move Andrew into a dorm room at Liberty University. Then COVID-19 disrupted it all.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Later in the summer, as we sheltered at home, we felt the pain of disappointment, but enjoyed our time together as a family. We praised God that the coronavirus had not yet overwhelmed our community. Andrew was able to move on campus and we were thankful he would have a modified college experience. Despite all the setbacks, we relished our good health and simple days outdoors. God, our magnificent Creator, was in control and we were blessed.
In September, I began corresponding with parents struggling with the transition to at-home learning. We started our 15th year of homeschooling and I felt inspired to assist other families. Leah, our third grader, was taught at home and Elizabeth, a junior, was on a hybrid schedule at the Caldwell Early College High School. In addition, I started coordinating children’s ministry activities at church that allowed for social distancing. During that time, I was fortunate to be able to schedule a routine visit with my gynecologist. At my check-up he discovered an umbilical hernia and ordered a CT scan, believing it could be repaired with minor surgery after the pandemic.
"The clouds you so much dread"
On Thursday, September 17, my doctor called with the results of my scan. His report was unexpected and heartbreaking. They had discovered renal cell carcinoma along with the hernia. My mind tried processing all of the conversation, but I couldn’t get past the word “cancer.” He expressed his shock over the diagnosis and referred me to a urologist. My knees hit the floor as the conversation ended and I prayed, “God help me. I’m scared.”
It was the same prayer I whispered as a kindergartner feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, in 1979. Crushing fear gripped me. There had been no warning signs or sickness. I knew telling my husband, Todd, our children and loved ones would be harder than anything I had ever done. Cancer had cast a somber shadow over my family. My dad’s father died of cancer when I was an infant. My mom lost her sister to cancer in 1985 and both her parents died of the disease in 1990. Her brother was currently battling lymphoma. I marvel today at how Jesus began interceding for me at that very moment.
As I wept with my family later that day, we embraced for the first time in months. COVID-19 had been an enemy too. It felt so good to cling to my loved ones knowing they shared my grief. The next morning, I received a phone call. A family friend, in a general practice asked to be my physician and medical advocate. He recommended I have additional scans because he was concerned about the size of my tumor and metastasis. I needed to consult immediately with an oncologist. His actions helped me receive immediate care, even as doctors were overwhelmed by patients with COVID-19. He arranged for me to meet the following week with a urology oncologist at Levine Hospital in Charlotte. I had scans of my abdomen, spine and chest. Restrictions prevented Todd from accompanying me during my visit with the oncologist. Being alone brought increased anxiety.
As I entered the waiting room and sat down, I met the eyes of an elderly gentleman. He offered me a gentle nod of concern. I gripped the paper of questions to ask the doctor. I struggled understanding why this was happening during the pandemic. God flooded me with scripture amid those anxious minutes. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and love, and of a sound mind.” God was with me and gave me attentive ears that would hear the report. The tumor was massive and my right kidney would need to be removed. The oncologist was concerned about cancer invading the area around my renal vein. There would be a consultation with a liver specialist about removing any diseased part of my liver. He confirmed the cancer had not spread to my spine or lungs and that was a blessing.
The surgery was scheduled and he was optimistic that with immunotherapy, I would be free of cancer in a few years. I left the appointment feeling encouraged and believing that God could heal me with the help of these physicians. Two days later I awakened feeling feverish and unusually tired. A trip to urgent care brought about another devastating diagnosis. I had contracted COVID-19. I met our daughters in our driveway and had to share more heartbreaking news. I couldn’t hug them. In my brokenness, I appealed to God to give me words that would give them hope. I felt so overwhelmed with sickness and sadness, realizing that I had exposed loved ones to the virus. I was fearful for Todd, our girls, my parents and two dear friends. In their efforts to comfort me, they were now in danger of illness too.
“Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take”
In the middle of the night Satan came near. He knew I was vulnerable. While whispering his lies, my body wrestled with overwhelming fears of death. I pleaded with Jesus to intervene and he did. He gave me a beautiful image of my family and friends standing in our church praying for me. God assured me that trusting his plan for my future and for that of my loved ones, would bring peace. As my extended family and church friends learned of my condition, I felt the prayers of God’s people. It was in those hours I recognized the true strength of the body of Christ. My flesh had been weakened by disease and God brought people with food, cards and kind words to our driveway. He was using his people to minister to us. The worship team at our church sang, “I’m Going to See a Victory” and dedicated it to me. Healing began in those moments.
God was giving me perfect peace that can only be found through a relationship with him. He was revealing his majesty through his word and never had it carried such conviction. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” I had always been physically strong and healthy. It didn’t seem possible that I could serve others from a sickbed. However, God was showing me that his sovereignty would be revealed through my frailty. Within two days my fever was gone. He had answered our prayers. During quarantine, I began hall talks with my daughters and Todd. They would sit near my room, close to my doorway and tell me all the details of their lives. It brought me joy to hear that they were remaining positive. I kept in touch with Andrew, in Virginia. I reassured him that I was recovering from the virus and looking forward to surgery despite a short delay due to COVID-19. I was still able to be a wife and mother, from a distance. One bright, sunny, day, I was able to walk outside, followed by Todd spraying Lysol behind me throughout the house. As I shuffled through the yard, I began singing, “In Christ Alone.”
“Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face”
Admitting Jesus was in control of my life and acknowledging there was no force on earth that could separate me from his love, brought restoration. Cancer had no power over Jesus or my relationship with him. Jesus had overcome the grave. God continued to answer prayers. None of my family or friends contracted the virus. On Oct. 21, a team of surgeons removed my right kidney, gall bladder, a lymph node, and repaired my hernia. Thankfully, my liver nor renal vein had been invaded by cancer. How I praised God for this additional blessing! Two days later, I was able to leave the hospital in Charlotte, weakened by anemia, but thanking God for bringing me through COVID-19 and surgery.
Even though the pathology report was not expected for another ten days, I received a call from my oncologist just four days later. He was thrilled to share good news. My kidney cancer was a rare type, known as chromophobe, found in five percent of cases. The cancer was completely removed from my body during surgery and I would not need immunotherapy. God, our great physician, had healed me. The immense joy I shared with my family was indescribable. He had turned our weeping into rejoicing.
“But sweet will be the flower”
Throughout those two difficult months God revealed the true nature of his character. His omnipresence brought comfort. His omniscience renewed faith. His immutable favor provided direction. In his omnipotence he delivered me of COVID-19 and cancer. The following year, I helped Elizabeth get ready for her first prom, took Leah to soccer practices and taught at camp. On May 7, 2022, I watched Andrew graduate from college. In June, I celebrated twenty-five years of marriage with a wonderful husband who faithfully prayed to see me cured. I have continued my work with the children in my church and mentored young moms who are homeschooling.
Finally, this year I have hiked almost sixty miles, in thanksgiving to God for the victory he gave me, over illness. As I climbed a peak in the Rocky Mountains almost two years to the day, I was diagnosed with cancer, I remembered the words found in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Praise be to God for his immeasurable goodness!
Jennifer Sherwood is the wife of Todd and attends Calvary Advent Christian Church where her father pastors. They have three children, Andrew (22), Elizabeth (18) and Leah (11). In addition to homeschooling Leah, she enjoys visiting her son in Virginia, thrift shopping, watching her children play soccer, hiking and coordinating children’s ministry at Calvary. She is graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Special Education.
Jennifer Sherwood, “Battling Cancer and Covid Alone: How God Destroyed Fear and Answered Prayer,” The Advent Christian Witness, Spring 2023