Blogging from my home away from home for the last four days (Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philly). "What time I am afraid I will trust in you." I have needed this verse as I approached surgery. God kept reminding me through songs and other verses about how he led the Israelites through The Red Sea. Nothing is too hard for Him. I could feel the prayers being prayed for me. Whenever I felt terrified, remembering that nothing is impossible for God and that many were holding me up in prayer helped calm me quickly. Through this experience the whole idea of bearing one another;s burdens has come alive for me.
Bad news first because I want to end on a positive note. Sorry for whining but I want to be real. Surgery was about 3 hours and I woke up with a considerable amount of pain. I stayed in recovery until they got that under control. The pain is still there but because of the pain meds it is not there all the time. I have been running a low grade fever. It hurts to breathe so I am not getting enough oxygen. I am on an oxygen tank. Apparently, I am not drinking enough so They have to give me IV fluids. It is difficult to stand up straight but I am trying to walk around the halls. Once I got the epidural and catheter out that was easier. The incision is about four inches long and seems to be healing nicely. I am trying to eat but my appetite is not good.
Good news and plenty of it. Right before surgery I checked the results of recent blood tests and saw that my CA 125 (cancer indicator for Ovarian cancer) Had gone from 770 to 294 in one month. That was super encouragement and it gave me some hope. I have a beautiful room to myself and all the staff have been great. The surgery was "wildly successful" in that the doctor was able to remove all visible signs of cancer and it had not affected any other organs. I am able to move around slowly and take short walks in the halls. I am so thankful that I am on the other side of this surgery. I am so thankful for all those thinking of me and praying for me. I told the surgeon people were praying and he responded "that is a good thing." Except for the first time I tried to get up and walk around I have not had nausea. I am hoping to go home today (Monday). I am looking forward to getting the pink bike out and riding it on the boardwalk in a few months. :-)
Monday, February 29, 2016
Thursday, February 11, 2016
February 11th Update - On Waiting
There may be some people out there who enjoy waiting and there may be some situations for which waiting is an enjoyable experience like waiting for Christmas or waiting for a new baby to arrive. For the most part though most people do not like to be kept waiting. I have had my fair share of being disciplined in this area. I can't say I am now good at it but there has been improvement. I admit these last two weeks while I was waiting to hear scan results and to set a date for surgery were hard. I struggled with feeling anxious and fearful. I recently finished a book a friend sent me and found this little gem in it. "...the things that annoy, irritate, and disappoint us have just as much power to reveal the truth about ourselves as anything else. Learn to linger with what provokes you. You may just find the Spirit of God moving there." So I am learning to linger.
Charis and I met with Dr. Rubin today to discuss scan results and decide on a date for surgery. I know some of you were praying/hoping that perhaps I could avoid surgery altogether. Sorry, but that is not the case. In fact, it is a good thing that Dr. Rubin is going to go ahead with the surgery because it means that I tolerated the treatment well, the treatment (and all my various attempts to enhance it) is working, the cancer is shrinking and the surgery is worth doing. (It will help me.) This is not always the case with this type of cancer in this stage. Today I met the mother of a 27 year old with stage 4 ovarian cancer who has not tolerated the treatment so far therefore I am adjusting my perspective and counting my blessings.
The surgery performed by Dr. Rubin at Fox Chase will be Friday February 26th. They plan to do a complete hysterectomy, remove a fatty layer around my stomach (and I was only joking about him throwing in some free liposuction) and any visible tumors. I should be in the hospital three nights.
Please pray against fear and anxiety. Pray for serenity for myself and my family. Pray that the cancer has not attached itself to other organs. (They won't know for sure until they operate.) Pray that the surgery is wildly successful!!!
Charis and I met with Dr. Rubin today to discuss scan results and decide on a date for surgery. I know some of you were praying/hoping that perhaps I could avoid surgery altogether. Sorry, but that is not the case. In fact, it is a good thing that Dr. Rubin is going to go ahead with the surgery because it means that I tolerated the treatment well, the treatment (and all my various attempts to enhance it) is working, the cancer is shrinking and the surgery is worth doing. (It will help me.) This is not always the case with this type of cancer in this stage. Today I met the mother of a 27 year old with stage 4 ovarian cancer who has not tolerated the treatment so far therefore I am adjusting my perspective and counting my blessings.
The surgery performed by Dr. Rubin at Fox Chase will be Friday February 26th. They plan to do a complete hysterectomy, remove a fatty layer around my stomach (and I was only joking about him throwing in some free liposuction) and any visible tumors. I should be in the hospital three nights.
Please pray against fear and anxiety. Pray for serenity for myself and my family. Pray that the cancer has not attached itself to other organs. (They won't know for sure until they operate.) Pray that the surgery is wildly successful!!!
Monday, February 1, 2016
"My brothers (and sisters), count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2,3
I am trying to include things I am learning along the way and there are so many it is difficult to choose but this was a good lesson. I need patience for this situation in so many ways. For waiting on appointments, and not feeling well, and so I won't be grumpy with others and for insurance issues and for the long months of treatment. I realized that if my faith had not already been tested and patience produced in me, this experience would be so much harder for me and for those around me. So I am learning to "count it all joy."
I am happy to report that I have completed 9 weeks of chemotherapy successfully. I now get at least 6 weeks without the healing poison. This week I will get a CT scan so we can see what the cancer looks like now compared to the November scan. February 11th I meet with the doctor to decide when surgery will be. As far as I understand the surgery will be a hysterectomy and removal of any visible cancer. We know the cancer has shrunk but we won't know how much until we see the scan.
Please pray that I will not be worried or anxious about the surgery. Pray that there will not be any negative surprises with the surgery. I am hoping no other organs are involved.
I have continued to be spoiled with kindness in the form of prayers, hugs, cards, gifts and food. I received a lovely gift from a friend this week as well as a care package from a Thirty-one sister who has a ministry to cancer patients. When I was at Fox Chase this week I was able to connect with Josephine again and met another lady, Linda, who was there for her first consult. I was so pleased that God enabled me to encourage someone else. This is another lesson in enduring trials... "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4
I am trying to include things I am learning along the way and there are so many it is difficult to choose but this was a good lesson. I need patience for this situation in so many ways. For waiting on appointments, and not feeling well, and so I won't be grumpy with others and for insurance issues and for the long months of treatment. I realized that if my faith had not already been tested and patience produced in me, this experience would be so much harder for me and for those around me. So I am learning to "count it all joy."
I am happy to report that I have completed 9 weeks of chemotherapy successfully. I now get at least 6 weeks without the healing poison. This week I will get a CT scan so we can see what the cancer looks like now compared to the November scan. February 11th I meet with the doctor to decide when surgery will be. As far as I understand the surgery will be a hysterectomy and removal of any visible cancer. We know the cancer has shrunk but we won't know how much until we see the scan.
Please pray that I will not be worried or anxious about the surgery. Pray that there will not be any negative surprises with the surgery. I am hoping no other organs are involved.
I have continued to be spoiled with kindness in the form of prayers, hugs, cards, gifts and food. I received a lovely gift from a friend this week as well as a care package from a Thirty-one sister who has a ministry to cancer patients. When I was at Fox Chase this week I was able to connect with Josephine again and met another lady, Linda, who was there for her first consult. I was so pleased that God enabled me to encourage someone else. This is another lesson in enduring trials... "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4
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