Jan 23 2025

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Facing the Unthinkable with Faith: John and Jean

While celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to the Northeast, John and Jean’s plans took an unexpected turn. During their trip, John, a retired preacher of 48 years, was hospitalized in Boston for a diverticular bleed. It was there that doctors uncovered a life-altering diagnosis: Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare, aggressive, and incurable form of cancer.

John and Jean quickly found themselves navigating a roller coaster of emotions and decisions. Their journey led them to UAB for weeks of critical care, and finding a place to stay near the hospital became an urgent need.

“I don’t know where we could have stayed without great expense,” John shared. “You provided what we needed at a price that was a true blessing.”

Through Red Mountain Grace, they found solace not only in the apartment provided but in the little comforts it allowed them: home-cooked meals, walks together, and a place to pray.

Jean reflected, “This was a wonderful experience, even during a challenging time. It gave us the chance to focus on what truly mattered—each other and our faith.”

During Thanksgiving, when they couldn’t be home with their family, the kindness of strangers who delivered a warm holiday meal helped lift their spirits. It was a highlight for them as they had just become aware that the treatment was not working.

Despite the weight of John’s diagnosis, they’ve chosen to focus on gratitude and faith. As Jean so beautifully put it, “All good stories don’t end with ‘happily ever after,’ but they are still good stories. Stories about hopes and fears, good days and bad, lights that shone bright because it was a dark night, smiling faces that cheered up the sad. These things are valuable too. Thank you to all the Red Mountain Grace family for making our journey a little bit easier!”

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