Tag: Tyndale

Chase Away Cancer on The ARC Podcast

Hey, dear ones! Podcast much?

I must confess that I don’t listen to podcasts very often, but this is a good one, and I’m not just saying that because they’re talking to me. 😉 You’ll definitely want to tune in to Tyndale House Publishers The ARC Podcast!

And seriously, you guys, even if you don’t ever podcast, you need to listen to this because Joy and Adam (the hosts) had to listen to crazy Ewoldt family stories and they deserve a really great audience on this cast for that alone.

I mean, I’m talking potty-training-boys kind of Ewoldt family stories. So even if you feel you’re all caught up on Chase’s story and hearing about the goodness of God (Ha. As if…), please, listen … for Joy and Adam… 🙂

Moment by moment…

Of Joy And Grace In Pre-Op Rooms

You guys… The crazy coolest thing unfolded in the middle of this surgery day!

I’ve been posting pictures of people with their Chase Away Cancer books during this launch week, and I meant to bring my copy of the book to grab a picture of it with Chase in the hospital today, but between the stress and the 6:00AM surgery time, I forgot.

As we stood in the pre-op room, I lamented all of this to Bob. And the nurse working over Chase’s arm, looked up, smiled, and turning to the table behind her, picked up something small and blue, saying: “Well, maybe you can use my copy!”

You see, we met this wonderful nurse during Chase’s first surgery last month and she was so sweet to listen to us and comfort us during the surgery day, and then she went online and bought the book (!!). And she brought it with her today, knowing that Chase was coming back in. So he autographed it for her, and then she watched over him while he slept in post-op and recovery. And he even talked to her (a rarity for Chase with medical staff), asking her to remember to get him a popsicle after surgery and to please “keep it in your brain that I told you this”.

You guys… I’m just absolutely in awe of how lives weave together and how many times I’ve been filled with tears-in-my-eyes, goosebumps-up-my-arms wonder…IN THE HOSPITAL.

Don’t miss the grace and joy…

Moment by moment.

Nurse Carey, Chase, Panda Bear (on his best behavior), and Chase Away Cancer
Nurse Carey, Chase, Panda Bear (on his best behavior), and Chase Away Cancer

**And seriously, Chase and all of us would LOVE to know where YOU are “Chasing Away Cancer”. Please post book pics to the Facebook site – they make our day!**

Surgery Update

It’s been a long day.

Surgery went very well and Chase went into it with Lucas’ name still written on his arm. He was a complete boss and even his Panda Bear (who, according to Chase, is really a dog named “Panda Bear” who can bark and is prone to getting in doctors and nurses’ faces and screaming) behaved himself admirably.

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But since waking, he has been in a lot more pain than he was last time, his anesthesia “detox” has seemed a lot more difficult, and his right eye is quite weak, so with the left eye patched, he’s been navigating like he’s blind…when he walks at all. He’s miserable, but it’s over and done now, and for that, we are very thankful.

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This is the hard season — the time when we try and comfort in the middle of the damage that we ourselves have allowed. It’s guilt-producing and humbling and would break us if not for the grace of God.

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We are so thankful for your prayers and encouragement!

Bob was actually able to be off for the entire day (a minor miracle), we had a dear friend show up in pre-op to encourage us, Chase’s teacher and her family sent wonderful Spider-Man gifts, his class recorded a special video for him, Tyndale staff brought us dinner, and all the doctors and nurses have become good friends in the last month. So in truth, even though it was a hard day and will probably be a rough night, we are incredibly blessed.
And I’ve been getting texts of people with their books today – my heart is full.

Moment by moment.

In The Market With Janet Parshall

UPDATE, May 3, 2016 — For some reason, even though I wrote this post yesterday morning, several people didn’t get the news in their inbox until a day later. If you fall under that category, I’m so sorry! But, don’t despair… I have the link to the recording here. You can follow the link to listen to my talk with Janet or to pass it on to friends. You guys, it was truly such a blessed time!

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Oh my dear friends, I’m so honored (and slightly terrified) to tell you that I’m going to be hanging out on In the Market with Janet Parshall later today to talk about Chase Away Cancer – This is EPIC.
I honestly don’t know whether you should pray for me to speak an intelligible language or pray for Janet since she’s the one who has to talk to me. Hey, tell you what…just PRAY.

If you’re in the Chicago area, you’ll find me on Moody Radio (90.1) at 4:00PM (CST), and if that isn’t your station/location, you can follow the link here to find a station near you.

And just about the second that I’m ready to freak out and fall down over the “bigness” of this little talk (I’m a mom in sweatpants, remember?), I overheard this conversation amongst my children this morning:

“Karsten, you can’t be crazy today because mom has to talk to a lot of people on TV. Except it’s the kind of TV you listen to, so stop messing around because you’re stressing her out. And then later, we will watch her with our ears.”
Oh, what a great reality moment. I’m feeling like all my kids need to stay in school for now…and also like there aren’t any college scholarships in our immediate future.
But seriously, come join me this afternoon (and don’t forget to watch with your ears) as we talk Chase Away Cancer and the faithfulness of God in all things.
Moment by moment.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

What Has Been And What Comes Next

It’s been a year since two dear ladies sat with me on a conference call and invited me to submit a book proposal and I’ve had to go back and re-thank them both for the honor I now understand that they were bestowing on me.

One whole year of writing and re-writing, editing and re-editing. Of bloody-looking files filled with red words and notes so prolific and desperately needed that Chase would come up behind me and exclaim: “Hey Mom, it looks like Christmas on your computer! It’s all red and white!”

One year of forming new bonds with a new family who have taken up Chase’s story as their own. They have prayed for him and prayed for me, and have cheered us on and even helped us find beautiful resolution to a story with no ending.

One year that we’ve all wrestled to “get it right” – and wow, is it beautiful. I filled the pages and they turned it into art.

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I cannot even begin to describe what it was like to put myself back in the rooms, on the ambulances, waiting during surgeries – all of it – and then to dig even deeper into the hows and whys. It’s both broken and strengthened me in so many ways to type the words “moment by moment” all over again through current life challenges and not just past seasons. Oh, God is good as He pushes me to keep seeing Him in all the craziness even now.

So, out of this process that I’ve begun to think of as a fifth pregnancy; after a long labor and delivery, there is birthed a beautiful new baby, if you will…

Chase Away Cancer: A Powerful True Story Of Finding Light In A Dark Diagnosis

My heart is full. I poured everything I had into these pages and they’re FOR YOU.

Where can you find Chase Away Cancer? Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Tyndale Direct, CBD, Lifeway, and more…

When will Chase Away Cancer be in stores? May 1st, 2016

How can I help? I’m so glad you asked! My heart for this book is to be an encouragement to others and also to help raise awareness about what it can look like on the inside of a cancer diagnosis.

So here are a few practical, hands-on way you can join me:

  • You can take to social media on behalf of the book: Please re-post and re-tweet anything I’m sending out – and don’t forget #chaseawaycancer
  • You can share the website with friends and family: My new BFF Rachel over at Tyndale designed the most gorgeous piece for www.chaseawaycancer.com, so now, when you go to the main address, it’ll take you right to book information complete with links to major retailers and beautiful pictures, bios, endorsements, free downloads, etc. It’s a work of art – check it out! Um, also? Free downloads. Don’t miss that part.
  • You can pick a special day to order the book: I’ve learned that sold books are counted not as whole, but by the week, so if you’re trying to figure out the optimal day to order the book, make it May 1st! If we raise the roof over this and hundreds of people are going crazy about the book on that date (and the following week), just think how many retailers and outlets will need to start thinking more about the topics covered within this story as they look at their weekly sales.
  • You can write a review of the book: After a certain number of reviews (50), Amazon will start to promote the book and suggest it to others. Um, yes, please!

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Promotion is not easy for me (just ask my realtor husband who has almost lay down and died multiple times with the crazy go-live-in-a-cave-and-not-talk-to-people-anymore things I’ve said over the years), but I’m stepping out of my comfort zone for you:

  • Because I believe God is good and that’s why I wrote this book.
  • Because I believe this book is full of things we all face in one facet or another.
  • Because I believe that if we all start talking about this story, then we all start opening doors and discussions to cancer, the goodness of God in trials, fear, faith, and so many other things.
  • Because maybe you know someone who needs to read this book even more than you do and you’re the one to put it in their hands.

You guys, I have no idea where this story is going to go, but I can tell you that the very first advanced copy went out on an ambulance. True story. Can you imagine…?

Moment by moment.

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