Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 6:54 AM
This was sent to my church care group, a small, no more than a dozen families, who live near one another.
Thank you all for your prayer cover for my current situation.Colonoscopy/Biopsy revealed a rectal mass (small) that is cancerous.
There will be surgery - appointment with surgeon is Monday. It will be the same man who did my breast surgery. I really enjoy him - Dr A. When I see him I will learn more about the extent of the surgery (remember to praise God that this thing is small!) and will set a date for it.
Tuesday I get a scan to make sure cancer has not migrated to lungs/liver, which is where this kind tends to go next.
Keep praying for Dr C and family (wife/daughter) - the anesthesiologist at the c-oscopy who is thinking of coming to Lake.
Huge praise to God for my mental state. I'm a bit jumpy and my b/p is up, and I tripped on the stairs and wrenched my foot yesterday (urgent care provided an orthopedic shoe, crutches and ibuprofen), but I'm sleeping well, loving my God and confident that I'm in His hands and His plan is in place and will be revealed, each part in its time, same as always. Pray that it all is used for His glory!
K and his baseball team are doing great. Last night all the boys played well again and they won their semi final game. I got a kick out of making my grand entrance with crutches and clunky shoe! The big final is set for Saturday evening - playing for nothing more than bragging rights - at A-field main. Then comes post season. I am praying for K. The all star team is chosen. It would be great if he makes it, and hard for him to swallow if he doesn't, so I'm praying he can see God's hand on the decision and that he will recognize a gift from the Holy Spirit of humility and/or peace about which ever decision comes - on Monday or Tuesday.
See y'all Sunday in church - that is who ever of you God puts in my path! (Looks like I will be rid of the crutches by then, but may still have the shoe.)
Wishing everyone a great day in Him - Molly
Monday evening, June 13, 2011
Saw Dr. A, Surgeon, earlier today.
He thinks that I will probably not have surgery. Because of where the tumor is and the kind of cancer it is, it is better dealt with by a combination of chemo and radiation. He added that these things ‘melt away’ from chemo and radiation.
The specifics of treatment will be determined based on what is revealed by the CT scan I get tomorrow, and an ultra sound to be scheduled soon.
Doc A says he will talk to me about what is seen on the CT scan tomorrow afternoon.
It might be that I will end up with surgery if the tumor is sitting on the surface, but he thinks that is not very likely. The ultrasound gives the best read on that aspect.
Finally, my GP, Doc S, had all my blood work done last week at my annual exam and Doc A had the results. He said, ‘Aside from this thing you are healthy as a horse.”
So there you have it. The report for today.
There should be another tomorrow, around the same time, maybe later.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
No news. Some wires must have crossed somewhere. Stay tuned, will post news when I get it. Also, I have no news yet about K's post season baseball team assignment.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Again, no news from any Docs. Hopefully that means good news.
However! Cancer issues are totally trumped by K making his little league all star team.
When I read the text message, "K is an all-star!" wonderful shivers started running up and down my spine - even my whole body. My b/p was up. My tummy was jumping. It seems that anxiety and excitement feel very similar physically.They both can be tiring as well.
I am very grateful to be tired from excitement today!
And if I am to be doing chemo/radiation I will have as many as two months of baseball to distract me. Better than that, to get me excited!
Praise God yet again for brilliant timing!
Me to my friend S: She had asked if they played at a ball field near her house.
Yes! All his games in July will be there! We were there on Saturday playing for the spring ball championship, which his spring ball team won. The all star team is the top players from six teams. I've been driving by your house quite a bit lately, and always send blessings. T and L can see the field from their house, so I'm always thinking of them during the games we play there. It's a terrific facility.
If you're still around on July 10 you should come to a game. I think these boys are going to be a very good team. They're really nice kids too. As I said, I am so tickled with the timing of all this excitement that has put cancer on a back burner in my brain! I mean, I am sitting here writing this with a smiley face on! All together miraculous! Or extreme denial? No matter, I'm just plain pleased, and GRATEFUL!
And, speaking of cancer, How is J doing? I've been praying - more than usual, and mostly for others - there are so many folks who are in way more difficult circumstances than I am, and June is among them.
If you're still around on July 10 you should come to a game. I think these boys are going to be a very good team. They're really nice kids too. As I said, I am so tickled with the timing of all this excitement that has put cancer on a back burner in my brain! I mean, I am sitting here writing this with a smiley face on! All together miraculous! Or extreme denial? No matter, I'm just plain pleased, and GRATEFUL!
And, speaking of cancer, How is J doing? I've been praying - more than usual, and mostly for others - there are so many folks who are in way more difficult circumstances than I am, and June is among them.
S back to me:
You mentioned denial - and I want you to know that even if it is denial, I think it is a great thing... Really with J’s diagnosis I for a long while could not tell if she was just super optimistic or in denial, but either way it allowed her to go on rejoicing and enjoying her day to day life. And she continues to do well. Her cough is improving and I have even noticed she doesn't have to clear her throat nearly as often when she talks. They are down in California right now where H's grandpa will be buried, but the good part is that most of J’s family lives there so it should be a good visit.
And me back to S:
That is great news about J! My docs are already complementing me on my attitude - at the visit I had yesterday with primary doc S all I could talk about was baseball, and Sam,Taylor and kids (including Eliza who is 2 days younger than Maggie!) in Nepal, while the Doc was sharing about summiting Kilimanjaro. And a lot of laughs. A God given attitude, and a thought that says, 'I'm going to have fun with this', It amazes me. Even our thoughts originate with God, our job is to say yes, and S----. can stick some crummy ones in there - but, praise God, I haven't had much of a war on that front!!
It would have been so fun for you to join us at a game. Will keep you posted on their schedule, just in case you are visiting. If they win District they will be playing at Bend in the State tournament, in later July, in case you're planning a road trip to Bend - lol.
Life is good. I am so rejoicing about J's improvement, and it spurs me on to work hardest on keeping my attitude positive - even above what I eat (lol).
Every day verses jump out at me - God's word has a message wherever you look in it! So I haven't recorded any, although every day I go 'That is so great - must copy that one out!' Right now I have, This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Verse of the hour, so to speak!
Love to you all - In Christ - ONWARD!!
Evening: Went out to the ball field to give congratulatory hugs and stayed to sit in on a parents' meeting.These boys are going to be practicing every day for around three hours. They will be given intense training in baseball skills by all sorts of visiting friends alumni of the league. The coaches emphasized to the parents the importance of keeping positive. They said that a grumbling parent can bring down the whole team.
My take-away - Smile and trust the coaches. Smile and trust the docs. Smile and trust God. Smile.and make happy juice. Smile.
It would have been so fun for you to join us at a game. Will keep you posted on their schedule, just in case you are visiting. If they win District they will be playing at Bend in the State tournament, in later July, in case you're planning a road trip to Bend - lol.
Life is good. I am so rejoicing about J's improvement, and it spurs me on to work hardest on keeping my attitude positive - even above what I eat (lol).
Every day verses jump out at me - God's word has a message wherever you look in it! So I haven't recorded any, although every day I go 'That is so great - must copy that one out!' Right now I have, This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Verse of the hour, so to speak!
Love to you all - In Christ - ONWARD!!
Evening: Went out to the ball field to give congratulatory hugs and stayed to sit in on a parents' meeting.These boys are going to be practicing every day for around three hours. They will be given intense training in baseball skills by all sorts of visiting friends alumni of the league. The coaches emphasized to the parents the importance of keeping positive. They said that a grumbling parent can bring down the whole team.
My take-away - Smile and trust the coaches. Smile and trust the docs. Smile and trust God. Smile.and make happy juice. Smile.
The Team!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
No news is good news?
Busied myself making internal ‘happy juice.’ Just thinking about that baseball team getting together last night, listening intently as the coaches laid out the plans and schedules, makes me smile and sends a rush of the happy juice out to all body parts!
Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27
Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27
Here's another amazing thing from our Lord: Just before this cancer thing came down I began to implement my 'semi retirement' plan, and hired a new assistant/eventual replacement, toward the end that I would become the part-time assistant, phasing this in over 18 months. That has been my plan for some time - finally it was time to get going on it. Care group prayed with me and in no time a perfect assistant/replacement was found - guess who!! L! (she attended the church where I attend.) Her plans to phase into the workforce mesh perfectly with my plans to phase out, but she is willing to accelerate her plans I find I must accelerate mine. God be praised yet one more time again without ceasing!!
F (daughter, K's mom) and I had a great date nite! Love our F!! Went to dinner theater - saw Yeoman of the Guard, a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. John Vergin gave us a wonderful performance in the role of Jack Point, sad, inept, struggling and ultimately fatally heartbroken jester. My heart broke again for him and his lost love, as it has in years past. But this time I could share with F about filling that hole - that 'God-shaped" hole with knowledge and love for Him.
K is no longer a student. He is a ball player. We kept thinking of him practicing while we had dinner, and went to the show - at intermission he would have been still at it - practicing hard 'til dark! Jen says he admitted to feeling a bit intimidated, but I believe he will dig down to new levels of determination.
This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Friday, June 17, 2011 - News
Received news from Dr. A. Scan shows cancer is confined to the area of the tumor. Not in lungs. Not in liver. He did report that there is ‘a lot of junk in my gallbladder’. (You gotta love this doc.) so I am to get an ultrasound of that, as well as a different ultrasound procedure on the tumor.
Later had a vision of 'a lot of junk in my gallbladder'. A x-ray like picture showing stuff like nuts, bolts, coils, old tires, flat soccer balls, a bent egg beater, etc . . and there I am - having a lol (lol = text speak for laugh out loud) moment. More happy juice getting dumped onto the tumor. Yay.
Love your enemy.
Do not be overcome by evil, but over come evil with good. Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but over come evil with good. Romans 12:21
Overcome cancer with happy juice. Yes!
Today there are plenty of reasons to smile and keep on generating ‘happy juice’ aka endorphins, to boost the effects of the arsenal of cancer fighting tools the docs expect to unleash on the tumor after all the imaging and diagnostics are completed.
While walking this morning - it was a rare sunny one - I was motoring along, thinking my thoughts andplanning my plans, when I came to the top of a hill and there were the lovely green trees and beautiful blue sky. I'm thinking, how lovely, I am so grateful for this, and I felt a prompting:, "smile." Oh? OK. I can do that . . Well, I discovered that simply cracking a smile releases endorphins - I could feel them coursing through my body. Then the positive thoughts flow more freely.
Our minds and bodies – connected, by God’s perfect design, created for His good pleasure. Praise His name forever.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
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