By Mark Ellis –
She survived a diving accident at age 17 that left her a quadriplegic, then she became one of the foremost advocates for ministry to the disability community. Now, Joni’s overcome a secondary battle with cancer, crediting God for a “miraculous” report.
In 2010, Joni was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, which was efficacious, and she was declared cancer-free in 2015.
But three years later, the founder of Joni and Friends received the heartbreaking news the cancer had returned. Doctors found a malignant nodule on her chest wall near the site of her original cancer.
Surgeons removed her second tumor in November 2018, and a recent PET scan revealed the tumor did not metastasize and she is “all clear.”
In response, Joni quoted Proverbs 25:25 on her website July 9th: “Good news from far away is like cold water to a thirsty soul.”
“That perfectly describes Ken and me today,” she declared, sharing the joy she and her husband Ken received at the good news.
She faced eternity with confidence and hope, ready to accept any outcome. “We were prepared to gladly take whatever from the hand of God, even if it were from his left hand.
“But the Lord was gracious and heard the desire of our hearts – last Friday’s PET scan shows that my second tumor that was removed last November… did not metastasize! Given the aggressive nature of that reoccurring cancer, this news is quite miraculous.”
She expressed her appreciation for overwhelming prayer support. “So, THANK you for lifting us up before the Lord Jesus. For now, we have been spared of more cancer battles. We humbly realize that may well change in the future; but for today, for now, we are rejoicing in those wonderful words from my medical oncologist: ‘all clear!’ Onward and upward…”
“Most of all, I cannot stop thanking Jesus. I keep quoting Deuteronomy 6:10-12 where God poured out one abundant blessing after another on His people…as long as they were careful not to forget the Lord.”
Her work with continue, spreading a message of hope in Christ to millions of people with disabilities who don’t know Jesus.
“That’s why I show up at work every single day at Joni and Friends,” she said on her blog in May. “It breaks my heart to think the suffering a person in a wheelchair is going through is only an omen of even greater suffering to come if he doesn’t know Christ.”
To learn more about Joni and Friends, go here
Been praying every day for dear Joni. I heard about your accident from the beginning … probably the early ’50s and God has been SO GOOD to you and your ministry. Praise Him to the highest!
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