Worth the Wait
Today is what I would call a typical Sunday in our home. We attended church this morning and came home to have a light lunch so we could relax this afternoon. The skies are their regular shade of overcast gray (thank you Minnesota) and as I occasionally look out the window I notice the now exposed squirrel nest in the trees void of leaves. All signs point to BRRRRR!!!!!
The MN Vikings football team graces our living room TV and the fireplace does its magical work of keeping me warm and offering ambiance.
For those who are still following my updates, you may wonder how I am doing and if I have had any recent appointments. I did, in fact, have my quarterly CT scan two weeks ago as well as my regular panel of labs drawn. I had to wait EIGHT long days between those appointments until I saw my oncologist to discuss the results and how she interpreted everything. I have mentioned previously that I have a bittersweet relationship with the Patient Portal App. This is an incredibly useful tool and I am appreciative that all of my records are at my fingertips, however, I struggle with the anxiety that comes with reading the results and not always understanding how to interpret what is being stated.
The wait is where my faith grows, and that continues to keep me grounded. It is a continual reminder of every good and perfect gift that comes from God, and that He will use my story for good.
FRAMILY
I recently attended a Sisterhood Night where the speaker, (one of my all-time favorite speakers & authors) Susie Larson, said this:
“Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not God.”
She is filled with wisdom! She has been through many trials in this life and her story offers her an opportunity to offer HOPE to people who are also in the fire. She continued to say that “Our heart cannot live without hope.” The truth in that statement stopped me for a moment. My mission is to offer hope to this desperate world. God is always moving and working, and we quickly forget that God uses the hard to bring about good. We may not see it right away, or ever in our lifetime, but that doesn’t make it untrue.
When I entered my oncologist’s office thoughts, feelings, and memories came flooding back to me. Then, my favorite nurse, Margaret, came to greet me and get everything ready for my appointment. We bonded two years ago over our sons who are the same age and play baseball against one another, as she lives in a different city. It may seem silly, but she always remembers me and asks about Toby, and I will always remember her and her son. I look for them every time we play a team from her city. Being a patient in a large healthcare system can sometimes feel impersonal and as though we are just the next number on the schedule. Margaret has never made me feel like I was simply the next person on her list of patients. We are all part of humanity together and I appreciate that she finds ways to add a personal touch.
Enter Dr. Lassi. At this point, I feel like she is a dear friend, and someone who believed in my successful healing and recovery (even if she had doubts initially). She came into the room and gave me a big hug, proceeded to let me know that everything looked great, she had no concerns, and I don’t need to return for 6 months!!! WOOHOO!! This is the news I was hoping for! The eight-day wait was worth it. I was able to schedule those appointments for the first of May. Hallelujah!
“God has a 100% success rate at redeeming stories!”
It is my prayer that my story will continue to offer HOPE. We are entering the week leading up to Thanksgiving and while I know this season is not easy for everybody, I pray that you will find hope this year. Remember, everybody is fighting their own battle.
Be kind and grateful Every Day.
