To say that we were all overwhelmed with tears of joy and gladness would be an understatement.
But I think there are a couple important points here: 1- there is a very large community of believers that have prayed and fasted for Shelby, and so many of them don't even "know" her except through the illness she is fighting. However, they do know that God exists and He is faithful to His children. He will never leave them nor forsake them. We have all prayed for healing and so far it has been God's will that she remain strong enough to fight off the cells that are destroying her good blood cells. (Care to come up with an analogy of God's people prevailing over evil?) Prayer is effective. We can pray for others, even those we don't know personally, and God hears them.
2- There are others around Shelby, her medical team, for example, that she is witnessing to through her faithfulness in God. Her illness and recovery, no matter the length, will always be a testimony to Who she believes in and why. She is sixteen and experienced answered prayer is such a powerful and vivid way!
3- God is good. Nothing is more powerful than knowing He is in control; through it all, the peaks and valleys, He has our hand in His.
There is a sense of calm and peace this morning in our family as we prepare to pray and fast for Shelby's next 26 months of treatment. You can follow her story at CaringBridge's website. Shelby's page is password protected, but it is easy to access-
www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelbytate