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Blog Life My Story Update

Almost One Year Later

Posted on July 23, 2016

I can remember a time when I didn’t think this day was possible. Tomorrow marks one year since our lives were radically altered. That day is still so vivid in my memory banks! I find it somewhat difficult to articulate the range of emotions and feelings I experienced that day! If there was just one – I would say anger!

My anger was directed at myself and God! How could He allow something like this to happen? Doesn’t He know who I am? After some time, the anger I felt was now directed at myself. How could I allow this to happen? Why didn’t I act sooner? Why did I eat so horribly? On and on it goes.

If I was honest – I would say that the anger is still there – but not to the degree that it once was. Nobody wants to live with cancer. It is such an unwanted houseguest. It barged into our lives without any announcement and it moved right in. Everyday since the diagnosis I have been doing what I can to evict this horrible disease!

Throughout this year I (and my family) have experienced many highs and lows. We have felt the incredible love and support from so many! Our family and close friends have been amazing! Even complete strangers have embraced us! It has truly been a difficult, yet life changing experience!

There are not enough words to describe the support we have been shown. It has been overwhelming at times, but it is just what we have needed. We have also experienced heart ache through this experience. We have suffered loss, but sometimes in life ‘things’ need to die in order to usher in new life. We have learnt so much through this process which we hope to share with anyone who wants to listen.

This journey is far from over, and I am ok with that. Obviously I have my days and I wish things were different, but I know there is a bigger picture to view. We take each day that we have and try to make the most of it! No matter what – our hope lies in Him!



Family Featured Life My Story Random

Facebook Live

Posted on June 15, 2016

Yesterday I went onto Facebook Live to share some thoughts about our journey so far. It was so fun doing this. I was able to connect with childhood friends and family I haven’t seen or spoken to in many years. It can be amazing at times how technology can bring people together. It also has the ability to cause people to be not so ‘social.’

You can watch the rebroadcast below. Sorry that the video quality isn’t that great. You can thank Facebook for that. Thanks for watching!




Blog Life My Story

My Adoption Struggles

Posted on May 9, 2016

I remember the very day my parents told me I was adopted. It is a day I will never forget. At the time, I was approximately 5 years old and when they had sat me down on that green, flower patterned couch in the living room. I remember it was bright in the room and was somewhat bothered by the fact I had to set down my GI Joe and listen to something mom and dad wanted to talk about.

The first few words from my father’s mouth I remember especially – “Sean, do you know what it means to be adopted?” Of course at the age of 5 I did not have a clue what they were talking about. All I knew was that GI Joe was waiting for me in my room. Couldn’t this wait? I continued to sit there and listen to my parents tell me how I was their God-chosen son and they loved me a great deal. Did I believe them? I think so. I wanted to. But could I?

You see, although I believe my parents loved me like their very own. They showed my love not just through words, but actions as well. The problem wasn’t them. It was me. As I look back on my life, I know I hadn’t fully given them my heart. A son gives his heart. I hadn’t because I didn’t know how to. I am so thankful for the incredible grace God has shown to me throughout my life, and the incredible family He has place me in. Scripture tells us, God places the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).

I commend anyone who has it in their hearts to adopt. I think it is such an incredible act of love! For years I struggled with the reality of being adopted. I struggled with my feelings towards my biological mother, rejection, a lack of identity. Then one day, God revealed to me that I was loved! I had read John 3:16 thousands of times, but it came alive to me one day and I have never been the same since. God showed me that my biological mother loved me deeply, that she knew she couldn’t give me the life she wanted for me so she gave! WOW! It took me many years to come to that revelation, but I am glad I did.

For those who may come across this post, I hope that my story can be a help to you and to your journey whether you are the parent who has adopted or the one who has been adopted. To the parents – thank you for the gift you give. To those who have been adopted – you are loved! I would love to hear from you.




Blog Family Life My Story Update

Thank You

Posted on April 30, 2016

Sometimes these two words just don’t seem to be enough when trying to convey your heart on a specific matter.

Often, our words are inadequate to describe how we feel about a particular person or thing.

Over the past 9 months, our family has been loved, supported, and cared for by so many people. Our families, friends, acquaintances, our kid’s school, church family, and even complete strangers have gone out of there way to help us during this time. It has been overwhelming and quite humbling to experience such generosity!

From the new back to school clothes in September, to the numerous gift cards we have received – they are all greatly appreciated! All the cards, phone calls, and text messages we have received have helped profoundly with remaining positive during this time.

You just never know when your words may bring healing into someone’s life.

It is stressful enough having to deal with cancer, let alone everything else that happens on a daily basis. Paying bills, finances, working, getting the kids to and from school, appointments, enemas, treatments, watching our kids, and everything else that happens can be somewhat taxing. It is obvious to me that wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing even if we didn’t have the support from so many people!

So, THANK YOU!

Love,

the Sabourin’s




Family Journey Life My Story Update

Untitled

Posted on February 17, 2016

It’s not easy asking for help.

Our pride gets in the way.

It can be embarrassing to ask for help.

You are afraid of what others are going to think about you.

What are people saying behind your back?

There are a lot of ‘reasons’ that keep people from asking for help.

No one wants to admit, or show weakness.

But the reality is, we all need help. There are times and seasons in all of our lives when we will need to reach out, and utter the four letters – HELP!

That’s the problem! – Reaching out to others. It can be so hard to do.

Over the past 6 months, our family has been loved on, cared for, prayed over, encouraged, and comforted by many people. The generosity and support that has been extended to our family has been incredible! Words are inadequate to describe or express my heart-felt gratitude to all who have helped our family through this difficult time.

That is why it pains me to ask for help once again.

I have wrestled with writing this for the past few weeks as my pride keeps getting in the way. Jamie and I have been praying and discussing what we should do. We know it seems crazy to many of you the path we have chosen to fight this deadly disease, but we feel this is the path we are to take. It would be obviously easier, and cheaper to go the conventional route, but we are not willing to go down that path again.

Because of our choice, we now have to live with new realities.

The cost of weekly treatments. (Approx. $1600 per week)

The cost of my medications. (A few hundred a month)

Even the cost of food. (Don’t ask)

We are not looking for a bailout – just help, as we know we are not the only ones facing difficult times. We are also thinking of ways to create new revenue streams because we will need them to keep covering the ongoing costs of this long, journey ahead. Here are a few ideas we are working on…

Jamie is a gifted cook and I have been trying to encourage her to try to sell some of her creations. The other day she made some of her homemade protein bars for a friend who decided to give her a few bucks for them. It was so satisfying seeing Jamie get so excited about the possibilities. If you or if you know anyone who would be interested in some of Jamie’s incredible cooking let us know, and send us an email at sean@seansabourin.com We are still working on the details, but we are very excited about this.

We have also created some other items to sell such as: etsy type prints, t-shirts, and wood coasters to try and sell to help cover the ongoing costs.

This may seem desperate to some, and I agree – it is. I am desperate. Wouldn’t you be? I want to live! I not ready to die. I don’t want to be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help – so I am asking for your help. If you can help out great! If not, we understand. Maybe you can’t help in a tangible way, but maybe you know someone who can. I am helping a few companies out right now with their social media as I have a lot of time sitting around during my treatments. I am looking for ways to not only pass the time, but if there are things I can do, or help with than I want to. I also have experience with Photoshop and website design. If you know anyone, would you consider sharing a story with them? We could use all the help we can get right now. Thanks.