Not The Answer We Hoped For
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’”
(Philippians 4:6-7)
First of all, I need to acknowledge each of you - and the many prayers you have prayed for me, and encouraging messages you have sent my direction. I am grateful for each one and for each of YOU! I know that the confidence I have through this battle and the peace I am experiencing is because of you. I will detail out the results we have been presented with, but please know that right now I am okay. I am going to fight through this and come out stronger and ultimately healthier than before.
Now, for the information breakdown:
Darek & I met with an oncologist (Dr. L.) on Wednesday and have gained a better understanding of our next steps along this journey. She was absolutely a gem, and I believe God has his hand in this process, placing my health in her care for the coming months / years. She was confident, encouraging, caring, and honest in her approach. She took time to answer all of our questions and address any concerns we have.
The great news first: The thyroid biopsy came back negative (but I get to do it again in 6 weeks as a routine follow up). Apparently given my health history, and the fact that the biopsy sample is so small, they would like a follow up, and then I will meet with an endocrinologist. I really have no idea what that will entail. I am not looking forward to that biopsy, but will be relieved once that is completed.
The good news: There is only 1 lesion (tumor) on my liver and it is very small. There is no evidence of spread anywhere else in my body. This was identified as colon cancer, so it is consistent with a metastatic colon cancer diagnosis.
The other news: Due to the nature of this disease it is considered Stage IV. I will have surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy. (INSERT SAD FACE!) We meet with a surgeon on Friday to discuss those details and will have an even better idea of timing once we meet with him. There are a couple of scenarios here, so we will wait until our consultation on Friday and update everyone once that has taken place. I really, really, really do not wish to do chemotherapy, however I am also aware of the alternative. At this point, that is our very best option with curative opportunity. I am fully aware that numbers and statistics are for man, and do not define us. I tell you these things in order to answer the big questions.
Dr. L. was very optimistic about the outcome given this plan. She asked about supplements and my diet, and even said that she wished all of her patients were like me. That was encouraging! She promised to think outside the box and look for any alternatives or safe additions to my treatment plan, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Darek has reminded me a number of times that these past two years have prepared me for this. I have changed my diet in such a healthy way that my body will tolerate the treatment well, and have success in fully killing the cancer cells, while not damaging ALL of my healthy cells. My immune system will take a hit, however. I will combat that the best I can through guidance from Dr. O and Dr. L.. That being said, we (I) will have to live in a bubble for those 6 months during treatment. If you see me wearing a mask, please don’t hesitate to come talk to me. It’s just for my own protection and I still need to be social. It’s strange to go back to that, after so many things are finally loosening up the mask mandates. The great news is that as long as the MN weather cooperates (many prayers for this) I can be outside and enjoy outdoor events through most of this timeframe. I love the sunshine, and I cannot be in direct sun, so that is a bit of a bummer. I will enjoy the warmth and be sure to use a good sunscreen. :-)
I was told that I should not lose my hair with this chemotherapy, so if you wonder why I still have my hair, please know that I’m planning on keeping it there! :-)
Through it all, I am reminded that God is STILL good! Bad things happen in our blip of time here on Earth, and I honestly wish I could just protect everyone from all of it, including myself. I want people to know the goodness of God. Not just as an isolated event, but as an every day, in every moment, through every situation lifestyle.
“We have a specific role to play in bringing faith, hope, and love to a world in need.” - Tim Tebow
This is a lengthy post, but I would be remiss not to mention that I had a moment this week that brought great JOY to me. On Monday I opened the mailbox to a notecard that was hand - addressed to me. We all know that it is no longer the norm to receive meaningful mail in our physical mailboxes, so this brought a quick curiosity to me. The return address, I did not recognize. The name, however, I did. But for a moment I thought, there is no way because I have not seen this person since our high school graduation in 2000! I was so eager to open the envelope, and was delighted to see that the note was in fact from that high school friend. The note was more encouraging than she probably realizes. God’s timing is impeccable! This seemingly simple act of kindness brought a smile to my face and JOY to my week! I’m thankful for you! It reminded me that people need each other, and a quick note of encouragement can go a LONG way!
Thank you for your diligent prayers, and for standing with us through this trial. We are blessed to have such a great support team and family praying us through.
