Joey Feek Of Joey And Rory Cancer Update: Family Says They ‘Still Have Hope For A Miracle’
Joey Feek of the country music duo Joey and Rory was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, three months after her daughter Indiana (“Indy” for short) was born. She underwent a radical hysterectomy and rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, and seemed to make a full recovery. However, in mid-October, as Joey was preparing to start her latest round of chemo, her doctors made a grim discovery. Not only had Joey’s cancer returned, but it had also spread to her colon.
Through further testing, Joey’s doctors realized just how fast the cancer was spreading and told Joey there was not much more they could do. She could continue to undergo chemo and radiation, but that would only buy her time, not the cure she had been praying for. Therefore, with the help of her family and friends, Joey made the decision to end cancer treatment and returned home to spend what time she has left with her family in the care of hospice.
“Sometimes there just aren’t enough surgeries – or doctors – or chemotherapies – or prayers. And you have to wipe the tears from your cheeks and say the words that you were hoping to never have to say… Enough,” Rory wrote in a post on his blog titled “This Life I Live.”
The Feek family has been receiving an outpouring of support from their fans, and recently issued a statement, thanking them for all of their “kind words.”
“Thank you for the kind words, prayers and endless encouragement during this time,” a statement from the Joey and Rory family to People Magazine read. “Joey and Rory still have hope for a miracle, but realize one has already happened through the outpouring of love and prayers for them during this journey. They are cherishing every moment spent together and have found peace through the path God is leading them down.”
As the Inquisitr previously reported, Joey’s story about cancer, faith, and family has touched the lives of thousands of people. One little girl named Sophie is a huge fan of the country music duo and was so touched by Joey’s story that she decided to write a prayer, in the form of a letter, for the country music singer.
The letter, which Rory posted on Facebook, reads as follows.
“I hope there will be a miracle so that I can listen to Joey and Rory some more and that the baby is doing good and I really hope Joey is doing very very very good Amen.”
Rory later took the time to respond to Sophie’s prayer saying, “Dear Sophie, thank you for your beautiful prayer. Joey is feeling good today, and even though our little Indiana can’t talk, I think the noise that she made today before her nap was to tell you that she says hello. We love you and your family.”
In 2012, Joey and Rory released a song titled “When I’m Gone.” The song reads like a love letter, written from a wife to her husband while she lay on her deathbed. At the time, Joey said the concept of leaving someone, or losing someone, you loved was hard for her to grasp.
“You’ll lie down in our big bed, dread the dark and dread the dawn,” Joey sings in the song. “But you’ll be alright on that first night when I’m gone.”
Joey can now relate to the lyrics as she spends her final days with her family, making memories with her husband and young daughter while she still can.
“I don’t fear anything because I’m so close to God and we’ve talked about it so many times,” Joey said. “I know he’s close. And I know he loves me. I’m really at peace. I still believe there’s healing in prayer.”
[Photo by Josh Anderson/Associated Press]
