Husband and wife duo Joey + Rory Feek shared an update on Joey’s fight against cancer on Wednesday (July 8), revealing that her surgery is taking place Thursday morning, July 9. Rory posted a photo of the family in Chicago, smiling and looking hopeful with their daughter Indiana, who has Down syndrome. Always maintaining their faith and optimism, the caption of the photo says they are “praying and believing.”

The couple has been walking through a tough season lately, as Joey’s cervical cancer has returned after the singer underwent surgery to remove it about a year ago. They have been keeping fans updated along the journey, sharing blog posts and photos on their Facebook page, as Joey receives treatment.

“The doctors say there is a 9 cm tumor in Joey’s sigmoid colon,” Rory wrote when he first shared the news on the family’s blog. “Even though the cancer is now in the colon, they said it’s the same cells as before … and that the original cancer has now spread to a new organ and the tumor and cells are rapidly growing, so that is the big concern.”

Though the road has been difficult, the couple is always hopeful, and Rory continues to pour out admiration for his wife, whom he calls his “beautiful brave bride."

“My wife is in her garden, the baby on a blanket near her. She’s weeding her squash, and broccoli and kale, and the cucumbers that have just poked their heads up out of the soil. But she’s not just tending to her vegetables — she’s tending to her soul,” Rory wrote on their site. “There are many things that are very important to my wife, and those things never change, they never waver. Not through good times or bad times, not through tears or joy. She knows what the good stuff in life is and she reaches for it and pushes away the things that don’t matter. She’s always been this way ... It’s just part of her …”

To keep up with their journey, visit the couple’s website or Facebook page. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joey + Rory!

Country Stars Who Have Endured Terrible Tragedy

More From 98.1 The Hawk