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Our Charis Family
Laura Hale
Jeremy and Laura Hale
with their precious little ones, Nora and Jacob
I knew that I was supposed to be a doula ever since
having my son, Jacob. Seven years ago, in
early December, I defied the odds. With the
help of Kristin Schuchmann and my loving family by
my side, I delivered my baby intervention free in a
naval hospital. When I talked with my friends
about their experiences, I quickly learned that what
I had was not very common and a true gift from The
Lord. I began reading many birth stories and
talking with friends about the amazing experience I
had. I encouraged them to seek out doulas in
the area. All along, the idea to become a
birth worker was cultivating within me.
I kept this desire close to my heart for many years.
It wasn’t until I was sitting on the couch holding
my newborn daughter, Nora, that God showed me once
again that I had a future as a doula. Jacob
was 5 by then and I was snuggling my new baby, still
on my birth-high. Once again, I delivered with
a Charis doula (this time with Christi Jones) at the
Naval Hospital. My husband, Jeremy, sat down
with me a told me that he knew I would be a great
doula and had spoken with Christi about the Charis
program. Nine months later, in September of
2011, I began my studies.
It was in February of 2012 that I found the lump on
my neck. I had just gotten over a terrible
virus that gave me the worst sore throat I had ever
had during which the doctors had checked me for mono
and strep throat but found no cause of my prolonged
pain. So when I found the lump, I assumed it
was just my lymph nodes still on high alert. I
went to the Charis “Teaching Birth” workshop and
felt fine, though I decided to see a doctor about
the mass after I got home. During that trip, I
stayed with the Schuchmann family and was able to
enjoy one of their church nights. Todd
Schuchmann sensed something was wrong even when I
didn’t. When praying he said that someone
there needed healing. I knew it was for me,
though assumed it was for the crippling seasonal
depression I was struggling through.
It was March before I was able to see a doctor about
the ever-growing lump. Over the next four months I
would undergo increasingly more invasive tests and
procedures. I was finding it hard to focus on
my studies. It was hard to read about health
and wellness when I was increasingly more suspicious
of my own.
July 2012 ushered in a very dark time for me.
A week before the still-present lump (which was
known to be several enlarged lymph nodes) was to be
biopsied I found out I was pregnant. I spoke
with my surgeon and she was incredibly caring and
sensitive but also was firm that I needed a biopsy.
She was fairly sure this would be malignant at this
point, and was not comfortable waiting much longer.
I agreed and we modified my surgery to be with local
anesthetic only. The whole surgery I prayed for the
baby in my womb and prayed for The Lord to protect
him/her. Less than a week after my surgery,
the biopsy was confirmed to be malignant—Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of tears and
tests and fear. I kept meditating over The
Word. Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient
in tribulation, be constant in prayer".
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for
you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not
for evil, to give you a future and a hope".
It was in this time that I lost my baby. I
really believe that when I prayed for God to protect
my baby, he knew I would need chemo and took my baby
to protect both the baby and I. I would want
to delay chemo longer to protect them, and knowing
what I do about fetal development I would have been
wracked with guilt the whole time.
In mid–July, just before starting chemo, I attended
a birth and started my childbirth education series.
It was so refreshing to be out of my head and my
grief and see couples as they were on the cusp of
becoming families. Over the following 7 months
I endured 12 chemo treatments. It was by the
grace of God that I was able to finish my series as
well as attend the birth of a friend. As chemo
wore on I was increasingly more forgetful and
endured a week of incredible pain after each
treatment. Fatigue plagued me. After
attending the birth I slept for 13 hours straight
and still napped the next day even though the birth
happened during the day. I would study things
and write papers, only to revisit them later and
have no idea what I was reading. I was
convinced I needed to stop my studies. How
could I complete the requirements in time when I
could barely care for my children?
To add more pressure, my husband was going to be
transferred in the spring to Washington state and
would immediately deploy. It really felt like
everything was crashing down at once. I had to
remember that God had set me on a path. I knew
that my “chances” were very good with Hodgkin’s.
In all likelihood the chemo would cure me. I
just had to have the courage to stay on course with
my life even when it was hard.
Chemo ended a year after I first found that lump.
I was able to attend a birth with a senior doula and
found that I had much greater stamina in that birth.
However, my book studies were a mess. I had
papers still to write, and notes that were
half-done. I had little memory of the work
from the previous months. I was very discouraged.
My children and I moved in with my parents and my
husband deployed and life started to move on.
Memory issues were still present and my 27-month
time limit was coming to a close. I had more
births to attend, and work to finish. I prayed
to God and asked him for help. I told Him that
I knew I was persevering for a reason and asked that
He help make a way. And He did! My mind
was cleared and I had the focus to finish my work.
He brought me a client out of nowhere and I was able
to attend her birth. I wouldn’t say things
began to fall into place, because it was still a lot
of work, but my path was made. I saw that
despite the past year of trials that God still had a
calling for me. I wasn’t destined to be
“cancer patient Laura” for the rest of my life.
That was a brief season that I can look back on and
draw lessons and strength from, but it is not my
future.
Isaiah 43: 1-2 “But now, thus says the LORD,
your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O
Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you
pass through the waters, I will be with you; And
through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When
you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
nor will the flame burn you.”
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Charis Cuisine
Pasta and Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Ingredients
Four medium (6-7″) zucchini spiralized, or ribboned with a
vegetable peeler
One
yellow bell pepper chopped
One cup raw pumpkin seeds, soaked for two hours and drained
Five medium cloves garlic
One cup fresh basil leaves
Juice of one lime
Sea salt to taste, if desired
One-fourth Braggs no salt seasoning
Two tablespoons olive oil
Two tablespoons filtered water
One-half cup fresh parsley or cilantro leaves
A few whole basil or parsley leaves for garnish
This dish should be made right before it is to be eaten, as the
fresh basil begins to lose it’s beautiful bright green color
quickly as it sits. First, spiralize or ribbon the
zucchini and place in a bowl in refrigerator. Combine all
other ingredients in a high speed blender and process for
one-two minutes until smooth. You may add a little more
water if mixture is too thick, but be careful not to get it too
thin. Toss raw zucchini pasta with pesto mixture to coat
zuchini well, garnish with basil leaves and enjoy. Serves
5-6.
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Romaine Wraps with Mustard
makes four wraps (which is one large serving)
4 leaves romaine
1 cucumber
1 carrot
1 avocado
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1 tsp mustard powder or 1 tbsp prepared mustard
salt and pepper (to taste … about 1/4 tsp each)
Mix mustard, salt and pepper and set aside. Chop cucumber
into sticks, shave carrot curls with a vegetable peeler, slice
avocado into strips. Divide all equally between the
romaine leaves, drizzle with the sweet mustard sauce and wrap
up. These are juicy and messy, but oh so delish.
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