Amy crossed the river very gently at 6:55 AM MDT. Praise God for His grace to her and to us.
my experience with breast cancer and other life events
Amy and Gilead
True Breast Cancer Awareness
November 2010
January 2008
A Little History
I was diagnosed with stage III, metastatic breast cancer in October 2008. At about the same time, we discovered I was pregnant. Initially, the prognosis was bleak, but after detailed analysis of the cancer, successful surgery, and treatments, the picture brightened considerably. I completed nine rounds of chemotherapy, twenty-five radiation treatments, and took Tamoxifen until October 2010.
After the fifth round of chemotherapy and various other treatments and tests, Gilead Victor was born six weeks early on Mother's Day, 2009. He is a healthy littly guy and a joy to us all.
In October 2010, tests showed that the cancer had returned in my liver and bones. This is now considered stage IV, terminal cancer.
Jon and I have lived in Colorado since 1997. We have seven children - four boys and three girls.
After the fifth round of chemotherapy and various other treatments and tests, Gilead Victor was born six weeks early on Mother's Day, 2009. He is a healthy littly guy and a joy to us all.
In October 2010, tests showed that the cancer had returned in my liver and bones. This is now considered stage IV, terminal cancer.
Jon and I have lived in Colorado since 1997. We have seven children - four boys and three girls.
How You Can Pray
Please pray for Jon and the kiddos - this is much harder for them than it is for me. I would appreciate prayer that my pain would be insignificant. Even more than that, please pray that I will be able to think clearly all the way to the end of my life. And even more than that, please pray that I will accept the grace from God to deal with anything He chooses to bring my way. You may also pray for my healing, but I have to be honest - I am more mentally and emotionally invested in seeing Jesus right now than I am in being healed. If God chooses to heal me, He'll give me the grace to wait a little longer to meet Him "whom having not seen, [I] love."
111 comments:
Til we meet again. praying for your family.
You are already so very missed. Love you Cuz.
Praying for you and your beautiful family during this time of grief and celebration of Amy's life. Praise God for the hope of heaven and comfort of the Scriptures.
Praying for the family as they have lost a dear woman. Praising God they will see her soon on the other side,
Praying often for her family!
The pain on this side is great, but the joy of a believer being told "well done" on that side is so blessed. May that same God who is holding Amy now, be your comfort and strength today and in the days to come. We will continue to be in prayer, Mansells in Japan
Praying for you, Jon, and your beautiful family. May God give you peace in the days ahead.
Weeping with you. Thankful for Eternal Life. Love you, Jon
Praying for you and all of the family during the difficult days ahead.
Praying for Amy's family.
What a testimony of grace she has been to me. I have learned much through her testimony. My heart goes out to Jon and the children. You are all in my prayers.
Prayed for your family. Blessed be the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praying for your family and thankful for her testimony. May God richly comfort the entire family.
Praising the Lord for His mercy to your family! May you rest in His peace during these next days. Phil. 4:13 states that we CAN do ALL THINGS THROUGH Christ Who STRENGTHENS us! Praying for you all.
Lifting the whole family up to the great Comforter. We ache with you. We also celebrate with you how God continues to be glorified through Amy and your family. Grieving, aching, and saying goodbye with hope... much love from our family to yours in Christ.
We will meet you there Amy! I'm sure you left your beautiful thumb print on each one of your babies and God will bless your family in amazing ways! Prayers going out to your family.
We will continue to pray for your family during this difficult time ahead.
My heart is breaking for your significant
Loss. I pray that the love of family & friends will ease the sharp edge of your sorrow. Always remember the joy that will be yours when you reunite in Heaven.
Amy is safe in her Saviour's arms!! Will continue to pray for the family at this bittersweet time
In my Abba's care
Mrs.B
Praying for Jon and all the family during this time. Praise the Lord for His great promises that comfort us that are left behind. He will be your comfort and strength.
My heart is breaking for you right now, how beautiful it is to know that she is with Jesus and all the pain is gone. Praying that Jesus will take those same arms that welcomed her home and wrap them around you in his precious love during this time....and always!
Praying for everyone during this time of grief. Thankful for her strong testimony and love for the Lord!
Many prayers for your family at this time. My heart is heavy for you all as you miss her very, very much. I feel so blessed and lucky to have met her through our NICU time.
Oh what a day that will be, when our dear Saviour we'll see...as well as dear Amy and so many others like her who knew Christ and have gone before us. Our hearts have suffered with you over these last couple of years, and we will continue to pray for great grace and peace for each one in the family. We love you in the Lord.
Sincerely in Christ,
Paul and Glenda Stetson
France
I'm very thankful the Lord used Amy in my life-what a teacher, an inspiration. I know so many of us gleaned so much. Much prayers for this family as the days go by.
Heavens gain~ Sorry for the loss of a precious mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Prayers are with the Bixby family at this time.
Marilyn White
Heartbroken yet rejoicing that Amy is now in the arms of Jesus. My thoughts and prayers are now with those left behind. Until we meet again...
Precious for the Lord. Sad for you! Til' you meet again! Praying for all of you!! Thanks for your posts to keep us updated.
Psa 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death 4194 of his saints.
Praying for you now and in the days and weeks and months ahead! Amy's journey on this earth is still touching the lives of others, she has brought so much glory to the cause of Christ! May God Bless you all for your incredible faithfulness to him!!
I don't know what it's like to lose your help meet, but I know its hard to lose anyone. I will pray for you guys in the weeks, months, and years to come. The pain never goes away, but the Lord helps you deal with it. The main thing that helps is that you know that you will see them again. Love you guys.
We knew Amy as a childhood friend of our children. Who would have thought the valley God would choose for her to travel. So thrilled for her, hurting for her precious family. My mother died from cancer when I was 12 yrs old after a 5 yr battle. In a very special way, I will be upholding her dear children as I know, first hand, many of the experiences they will encounter. May God's grace continue to keep where He leads you!
praying for your family. Praying that the God of all comfort would wrap you all in His arms of Grace and peace.
I have not had the priviledge of reading this blog since the beginning..in fact, this is the first time I've read it. A friend posted this on facebook and I clicked over to read a fellow bloggers last good-bye and to see where she had passed on. My heart aches for her husband and children...and as strange as it may sound, I am missing Amy because I never got to know her here on this earth, but I will get that priviledge in heaven. Blessings and prayers to her family
Missy
Praise the Lord she is finally home with her Lord! My thoughts and prayers are with you all!
I have been praying for Amy and the family for quite some time; that the Lord would grant healing such as was pleasing to Him and all for His glory. Now I'll pray that the Lord hugs the family real tight and loves them real good as only He can do. Praise God for His sustaining grace!
I have been praying for Amy and the family for quite some time; that the Lord would grant healing such as was pleasing to Him and all for His glory. Now I'll pray that the Lord hugs the family real tight and loves them real good as only He can do. Praise God for His sustaining grace!
May the LORD bless and keep you in His grace and mercy. For we shall not all sleep. but we shall all be changed in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye. The dead in Christ shall rise first, and those who are alive and remaining shall be caught up together to meet Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I did not know the family, but can still pray for comfort for the family. May the good Lord give you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Praying for your beautiful family during this very sad time. I have not met the family but have followed for a few weeks through a Friend's posts and what a Testimony Amy had. She sounds like a great Wife, Mom, Child of God.
My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Praying for peace that passes ALL understanding. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.
Praying for your family.
Praying for the Caldwells and that Bixbys!
Our faculty prayed for you and your children yesterday. We will continue to uplift you at this time.
We had the opportunity to make Amy's and Jon's aquaintance a few times at Tri-City in Westminister while visiting our family, the Durrills. Her testimony during this long trial has been an example to so many. We have prayed for Amy for a long time and will continue to pray for Jon and their precious children.
Praying for all of you.
15 years ago today my mother passed away due to breast cancer. I know how painful a loss this is and I am so sorry. I am praying for your families comfort.
Jon and children,
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee;
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Shalom.
In the words of a great song.
"HELLO AFTER GOODBYE"
"We dress in black and we say goodbye, how our hearts break and, oh, how we cry
Yet through we grieve, we still have hope
'Cause for all hearts of faith, we trust and know
Chorus:
There is a hello after goodbye, a blessed reunion, promised in time,
We will be with them far longer than we were without
No doubt, no more tears in our eyes
In that beautiful, wonderful, hello after goodbye
Verse 2"
Next time we see them, we'll never more know
The sorrow and pain of letting go
We're with them forever, life without end
In that most blessed sweet moment when
Bridge"
We will see them again, be with them again
Laugh and talk like before, sing and worship forever more
CH: There is a hello after goodbye, a blessed reunion, promised in time,
We will be with them far longer than we were without
No doubt, no more tears in our eyes
In that beautiful, wonderful, hello after goodbye"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxA6jx5XLig
Your family is loved by so many, and especially by our great Savior, Jesus. I rejoice for Amy's sake that she has a new body, and is with Jesus. I weep with you who will miss her daily presence with you here. May you know the love and grace of Jesus, and the comfort He will give to each of you. Love and prayers, Sarah Kaminski
So great our loss, so great her gain. When the days grow long and the comments fade, know that friends will continue to pray for God's grace and strength to be yours. In her death, so many have been challenged, inspired, and some have found eternal life through Jesus Christ. Thank you for sharing with us and the world. God has and will use all for His glory.
I know y'all look forward to the day you are with sweet Amy again.
In my thoughts and prayers - Kelley
During my quiet time with the Lord this morning I was praying for Amy's transition to heaven to be easy and especially for comfort and grace to Jon and the children. As I cried to the Lord, He heard my prayer and so many others today knowing that her time here was very short. Then this morning my husband came to say we should stop and pray again. I had just read about her promotion to Glory. Just know that we will continue to pray for Jon and the children and for Jon's father.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family. What a beautiful testimony! We will always count it a privilege to know Amy.
Lots of love to you all!
I never had the privilege of meeting you, Amy Bixby, but I am excited that some day I will. So thankful you are with God.
"...Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." -Rev 21:3
"Does Jesus care when I've said good-bye to the dearest on earth to me, And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks- Is it aught to Him? Does He see? O yes, He cares- I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares." May God's abundant love and His peace that passes all understanding help you during this difficult time! Praying for your family- and also that many would come to know Christ through Amy's testimony.
Our prayers are with the family during this time. Praise the Lord for Amy's sweet testimony and all the lives she touched.
Finally Home! Praise the Lord! We will be in prayer for the family.
Prais the Lord shes home and prayers go out to Jon and kids.
So thankful she is no longer suffering. Can't imagine the emotional turmoil you have been through these last years. May this trial and the trials to come not be in vain. God is good always...even if circumstances don't feel good. God is good...God is good. God is good.
praying your family will have the same peace that you are now having, thank you Jesus
I knew Amy from our time as babies in the Hampton Park Baptist Church nursery all the way through youth group, and reconnected with her on Facebook a few years ago. 3 weeks ago while on vacation in Colorado, I had the unexpected pleasure of seeing Amy one last time. She was so beautiful and smiling with Gideon sitting on her lap, it made me almost forget she was so close to death's door. She's touched countless lives, mine included, with her godly testimony and courage. I can't wait to see her again one day but my heart breaks for Jon, the kids, Debbie, Neal, Teresa, and so many other loved ones that she leaves behind. I'll continue to keep the family in my prayers.
The hymn that comes to mind is Fanny Crosby's "My Savior First of All." Besides the wonderful lyrics, the story behind it is that Fanny was told by a minister, “I think it is a great pity that the Master, when He showered so many gifts upon you, did not give you sight.”
“Do you know,” replied Fanny, “if at birth I had been able to make one petition to my Creator, it would have been that I should be born blind.”
“Why?” asked the clergyman.
“Because when I get to heaven, the first sight that shall ever gladden my eyes will be that of my Savior!”
How glorious that Amy's first sight this morning was the face of her Savior!
We're praying too..
Praying for the Bixby family during this time of loss. May God give you tremendous comfort and peace.
May Gods peace and comfort surround you during this time.
Praying and grieving and rejoicing with you. Heard about Amy a few weeks ago and your family has been much in our church's prayers.
Amy was my FB friend~she touched my life as she has touched many. Her life and testimony has made a difference in the lives of others. A favorite song of my father was, "There's no disappointment in heaven; no weariness, sorrow or pain. No hearts that are bleeding and broken; no songs with a minor refrain~" Amy has gained heaven; Jon and children, may you know the soothing comfort of the Balm of Gilead in these difficult times. Your comfort is in knowing your dear one is no longer suffering. He will heal the hole in your heart in His Time. Praying for each of you.
I've been reading Amy's story when they discovered the cancer this last time. I was praying that God would heal her. I take much comfort in John 16:22 - And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see YOU again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your JOY NO MAN TAKETH FROM you. May God bless the family during this time. We praise God that there is a Heaven where we will go someday, and our loved ones are there now waiting for us. They are preparing our mansions for us. What a grand day that will be.
been praying for the family since i heard about you from my pastor, for a few weeks now til we now meet in our lords kingdom, my prays will now be with your friends and family
Having served as a funeral director, more times than not, it seems like families have no hope. Although there is sadness at the loss, there still remains a blessing to see the joy in the faces of those who know Christ. They know that He is truly the Resurrection and the Life. Their loved one will be missed, but they will see them again.
Sorrowing with you, but rejoicing with you as well as your wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend has the privilege of seeing the face of our dear Saviour.
Our prayers are with you during this difficult time of goodbye. May God bring special comfort and wrap you in His everlasting arms
To the family and friends of Amy, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Praying for your family. Your life has touched many. I am blessed to have known you.
Praying for your family . Amy we will miss you so much.-Abraham,Irene, and Sharon
Praying for this family whose story I followed through a friend's posts. May the everlasting arms that hold Amy also uphold this dear family until they meet again. "Whom God would use mightily, He often wounds deeply."
Praying constantly for all of the family. Amy's testimony is blessing people here in Canada who don't even know her. Praise the Lord for this!
Although I never knew Amy, I have been honored, challenged, and inspired by her faith in Christ. My prayers have been and will continue to be with her children, husband, and family.
When surrounded by the terror of the darkest night
Untold waves before you roll
At the end of this long journey is a shining light
And death is swallowed up in victory.....
BUT JUST THINK OF STEPPING ON SHORE and finding it HEAVEN
of touching a HAND and finding it GOD'S
of breathing NEW AIR and finding it CELESTIAL
of waking up in GLORY and finding it HOME
May the LORD continue to bless the Bixby family. Martykamb
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.." Glad to know I'll have one more face to look forward to meeting when I get there.. Until then I pray God's grace grows sweeter and sweeter as He fills the void in your hearts until your family is reunited forever. - Ted
I am praying for you Jon and your sweet children. My heart has been heavy all day on your behalf.
"Does Jesus care...Oh, Yes He cares" and "I shall see Him face to face" songs have come to mind all day today!
Love and prayers, Kayla Bair Keck
p.s. our church out here in Nebraska is praying for you all too!
You are in our thoughts and prayers!
I don't know why God directed me to this website on this date, but He did. I am so sorry for your loss and so happy for your wife to go home...Praising the Lord that He loves us so much that He wants us with Him forever....Mary In Idaho
Jon and children,
What a wonderful testimony Amy left us all. She finished well and was an inspiration to all of us mothers who watched how she handled herself.
Praying for you as you grieve. I know God will take care of you and uphold you and give you peace.
Sarah B.
Eucharisteo...
~tears~
Amy mentored and ministered to me in profound ways.
Kneeling with you and yours tonight, eyes fixed on Jesus...
Eucharisteo,
Ann
My heart aches and rejoices at the same time.I now that being with Jesus is the ultimate ! Glad she is now whole ! I also know God will give strength to the kids and husband left behind.Hugs from a stranger !
Praying for Amy's family.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss.What a testimony Amy had right to the end!!!Josh,Nikki and family
Though I have never met the Bixby family, I was captivated by Amy's blogs and know a few of her dear friends. Every life that knew Amy has been dramatically touched by Christ in her. My second grade class and I at school will continue praying for your family and all her friends. God bless you all so very much. I look forward to meeting Amy in our Home with our Father present!!!!
As a widow myself with 7 young children I just wanted to remind you that God WILL provide, care, touch, and heal. Trust in that and know that even though the pain "like sea billows roll" God will bring you through. God has proven that to me again and again and He will prove it to you, too, if you let Him.
My thoughts go with Jon and all of the family. I only knew Amy somewhat, but I could tell that she was a good wife and mother. Indeed, she will be missed. I'm sorry for the loss, but glad to know that her suffering is gone.
I heard asong for the first time many years ago. It gos."it will be worth it all,when we see Jesus." I know this is so true. I will continue to uphold Jon and his dear family in prayer and also Amy's parents. i know through this God will be glorified.
Neal, Debbie, Teresa and Jon,
We are crying with you and grieving as well over the loss of Amy. However, we rejoice that Amy has seen her Savior and friend. We are so proud of her courageous battle and her outstanding testimony.
"We give our loved ones back to God just as He first gave them to us. God did not lose them in the giving, so we have not lost them in returning them to Him. For life is eternal, love is immortal."
Our prayers and love always,
Wayne & Earlean Byars
Continued prayers for all as you greive the loss of your precious Amy and for God's grace to uphold and comfort you.
Dear Precious family! I have spent the last hour or so reading this entire blog! What a journey God has taken you through! Even though we have never met each other I want you to know we as a family have been touched and moved by what God gas done and will continue to do through this precious life and we are praying for you all!!!
Sorry for you loss, but from reading amys' testimony she was ready. Our church has been and will continue to pray for your family. We do not know you all personally, but feel like the Lord has brought Amy's name in to our church so that we can offer our support for you with prayer.
Amy was a sweet and beautiful woman. My thoughts and prayers are with Jon, her darling children, and the rest of her family.
Marni
Praying for you and your family and trusting that He will give you the comfort and strength you need.
Thank you Amy for sharing your journey with us. You have inspired so many women to become more proactive about their breast health and therefore you have saved many lives. Your courage, passion and strength will greatly be missed but we know you are still up there trying to help us find a cure for this nasty disease.
Praising God that in Christ there are no goodbyes, just see you soon. I also praise Him for Amy and how she exalted Christ even through her suffering. I will continue to pray for her husband and children. May God's grace sustain you all.
What an example of faith! praying for the family! She's not hurting anymore!!!
Praise God! She's free, whole, perfected, full of life --the blissful, most fulfilled, rewarded, and abundant kind! I'm so happy for her. I will pray for your family!
shannon
I am praying for your beautiful family. God bless you all.
"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely...He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." ~Psalm 147.
Praying for you all,
Mike and Beth Goforth
Even though we have never met you, we are praying for you as you grieve over the loss of your wife. Your and your wife have touched our heart with the valleys and mountains on the journey you have made. We have monitored you from Facebook and our tears are so small compared to the ones you must be shedding upon the loss of your best friend. We realize that you also have been responsible for all of your children during this time as well and that as GOD has given you grace to keep all the "wheels on the bus" during this time, He will continue to be with you, but we all get weary and weak, ... so we will pray for you.
You are a very rich individual with so many comments and condolences. GOD has made this huge universe and we oftentimes feel so small, and as we move toward death, we feel even smaller, and though we may be small compared to GOD, when we look at the cross and see incredibly great GOD has valued us by giving His life for us, we can have great confidence that He is smiling and caring for Amy in a way she has never had before (such joy!!!). You also may have confidence that GOD is watching every nuance of every day of your life and is allowing it all to transpire in order to accomplish His perfect will in your life .. for if He sees a sparrow fall, He is even more aware of your heart's pain right now and how deep the anguish is ... you can curl up in His mighty arms and cry upon His shoulder and cling to Him until the pain is gone.
1 Corinthians 15:54-56
"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? ..."
We may never have met but the First Baptist Church in Rota Spain has been praying for you and will continue to pray for you during this time.
Jon and Family,
It has been over 6 weeks now since your lovely wife and mother went to heaven. May The Comforter continue to help you enjoy each day and all the happy memories you have of Amy as a wonderful individual and testimony to us all. We will pray for continued help and peace for you all. Gayle
I have often wondered how the Bixby family is doing since Amy's death. Jon you are often in my thoughts and prayers, I hope all is going well with your family.
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