Monday, December 31, 2007

Pathology Report

My doctor called today to let us know the results of the pathology report. Two places in my neck did show up as cancer. Also, the biopsy of my gum was ruled as cancer, though just superficial. Nothing surprising to me. Of course, not what I wanted to hear, but not surprising. I will now need to see my medical oncologist to see about a maintenance treatment program, possibly monthly Erbitux. When I go to get my stitches removed next week, the doctor will remove a little more of the gum tissue, just to make sure he got it all.

What else can I say for now??...but another word of testimony to God's timing and faithfulness.
My first devotional email I read today was:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27 NIV


Not so surprising since He has been using this particular verse in my life for over 24 years. But then I proceed to the next devotional email, one that doesn't come daily:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:26-27

And both of those before we got the call from my doctor!

Yes, He will remind me of everything He has said to me!!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Off to Birmingham

Merry Christmas!

We celebrated Christmas with family on Sunday by enjoying Christmas dinner and opening presents. I'm glad we decided to have Christmas on Sunday rather than today. We were able to have a long leisurely, fun-filled day and not have to be so rushed since we have to leave for Birmingham today. With all of that in mind, none of it would even be thinkable without, first and foremost, the Christmas-time celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thanks to my children and their spouses, I have a cool way to help pass the time on the trip today. They all pitched in and gave me an iPod Nano! The inscription on the back reads, "Let My Lifesong Sing To You"! Is that not the coolest?? Again, a God thing! The iPod was already on its way with inscription and all before I had to tell them that I was going to be having surgery again.

Well, I've got to get busy so we can leave shortly. By the way, here's the verse in my email for today:
"My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."Psalm 121:2-4, New International Version

Friday, December 21, 2007

Not So Odd After All

Well, 2 for 2, PET scans don't work on the particular area of interest on my body. Yes, they can show whether there is metastasis to other organs. That is helpful, definitely.

I noticed a little bump...knot...lump on my neck a few days ago, wondering if it was something I should get checked out. Sunday night I wore a mock turtleneck sweater to church. It bothered my neck so much, I decided it was time to get it checked. I called my radiation onc's nurse Monday morning, and she told me to come in that afternoon. After examining me, my dr. said he felt it, too. He was going to go get a CT scan set up. He came back in to tell me it would be the next afternoon. He was going to have them do in at 2mm sections rather than 5mm sections like in a PET scan and most CT's. He told me to come back to his office when finished getting the CT scan. He would then walk over to see what it showed. So that's what I did. He came back from radiology to tell me it did look suspiciously like a lymph gland was involved. He had already called my dr.'s office in Birmingham as he wanted me to see him this week. He was in surgery and would call me as soon as possible. His schedule nurse called me Wednesday morning to tell me that he wanted her to go ahead and schedule surgery since he definitely would be removing whatever is there. So I will have surgery December 26th. We will go up to B'ham late Christmas afternoon.

As I was going back to work on Monday after first seeing my radiation onc, I had the radio on listening to Christmas music. Right in the middle of this Christmas music, the Casting Crowns song, Voice of Truth, comes on. I'm at first thinking how odd that they are playing this song in the middle of Christmas music! Then it dawned on me! This is not odd at all! God is talking to me! If you've read my blog from the beginning, you know that God has used this song many times in the last few years during diagnosis'. I just thought, "How awesome of God to reassure me of His presence...that this did not take Him by surprise...He is still in control". Then on Tuesday after leaving the onc's office late afternoon, I had a little more Christmas shopping to get done. So my mind stayed busy with that for a couple of hours. Once I was on my way back home, again, radio Christmas music playing in the background, my mind starts wandering on what I've just found out. Then, again, there's that song, Voice of Truth. What peace and comfort there is to know you are in the presence of the Almighty God who hung the moon and stars!

I was hoping to be able to wait till after Christmas to tell this news, but God had other ideas. My B'ham dr. had them schedule my surgery on a day he was supposed to be off. I have such great doctors. That means a whole lot...soooo much. My family will be having Christmas together on Sunday rather than Tuesday since we have to leave Tuesday afternoon to get to B'ham. That way we won't be rushed and can enjoy being with family and enjoying Christmas.

I guess we'll be waiting till after surgery to find out what this is going to be. For now, I'd appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers on my behalf...and my family's behalf. Only God knows just how far prayer takes us in times like these!

In a book I was reading while waiting for my CT scan and the results:
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3
And on Thursday from an email devotional:
"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever." Psalm 146:5-6 NIV