Friday, October 31, 2008

This Week- Daughter's birthday- and Dr. Reports

Saturday is my Sister's Birthday. Sunday is my Daughter's Birthday which we are looking forward to the family dinner. Monday is a visit to the surgeon for the medical records. Wednesday is a visit to the dermatologist and Thursday is the visit to the Appendix specialist. There are only 2 doctors that deal with this and they are in Maryland. I will be going to the one at St. Agnes hospital and then getting a second opinion from the one at Mercy hospital.

Big Foot, Flowers, Notes, Care, Dinners, Prayers

The love we have received has been overwhelming. Thank YOu Thank YOu Thank YOu. The notes have made us smile, laugh, cry, rest, etc. The flowers are gorgeous and no two alike!

I must share a lovely stuffed giraffe I received called Big Foot. It is so soft and it works perfect for rubbing instead of itching the rash from the allergic reaction. When I use it it know I am being rubbed with the love and care with which it was sent .

Several times I've asked people to feel how soft this giraffe is and they seem to hold back. Duh! It took me a bit to realize they are afraid of getting the "itch". It is not contagious to anyone else. It just lives within me.

For you Sci- Fi Fans- The Alien invades my body

While in the hospital, an alien in the form of an allergic reaction invaded my body.

Let me back up a minute and let your know that I was spoiled by family, friends etc. My sister spent night one with me and explained through out the night what the doctor had said and helped me stay comfortable. Two nights my dear friend Dorothy a nurse stayed with me and what a gift that was as we visited John every 15 mins. carrying "the Pole" with us. it was Dorothy that noticed the rash but it was not important to the staff of the hospital.

It seems that when I was released from the hospital- the alien really took over my body and began to grow. A visit to the surgeon- led to an emergency visit to my dermatologist who said " this is very unique - ( see I am and so are you uniquely made by God) I'm not sure what it is from but it is inside and is very serious. He put me on 2 medications and designed a special cream just for me adding a touch of cool mint. What love . Yes the beast is coming under control.

Surgery Over- One in a million

My husband came into the recovery room and I remember looking at him and saying "It's cancer!?" With tears he said yes. I heard him say to someone it was the first thing she said.

Yes, I am one in a million. I have a rare cancer of the appendix. I could have told you I was rare and one in a million but then you knnow that better than I do. Actually God says in the Psalms that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. There are no two alike. Our DNA's are all different!

But I am living proof.

The presentation to the family was very direct and devastating and I slept through it all.

As the Lord would have it my sister's dear friend has been battling with appendix cancer for 4 years and so Martha (my youngest sister could ask questions) The result is My cancer is contained ! great news ! Although the cancer is incurable , it is not untreatable.
This surgery removed my appendix, cyst, and part of the colon. I must tell you that the pain from the colonoscopy is gone and I feel like anyone else that has had an appendectomy.

I will face a future surgery for the cysts in the lower cavity . It is to be a complete hysterectomy with a portion of the small colon removed. The plan is to use a technic found in Maryland of inserting Hot Chemo at the time of surgery and removing it.

Surgery Arrives

October 23rd- The night before my daughter had her 16th birthday dinner without me as I prepped for today. There was much laughter but to her loss too much talk about the surgery.

When I arrived at the hospital with my husband we were ushered into our "suite". I was so sure we would not go on time I told my older daughter to come after work and my younger daughter went to school.

While in pre op I was in a chair and the nurse said she would be lowering the head of the chair. I said fine . I don't know if you can picture this but as the head reclined for some reason-- I held my feet straight out in front of me . Pat was in the room with my husband as she works in the hospital and she said Aunt Becky did you know there is a foot rest under your feet. Laughter followed , joking with the nurse too. Quite the cartoon.

Later after the surgery -- as I read verses in Isaiah about resting in the Lord. The Lord reminded me of this cartoon and seemed to say I'm here to support you all the time and way through this rest on me-- You don't need to support yourself-- I Am your support. and there was that "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh"

God's Preparation

As I prepared for the surgery on October 23, 2008; my daily Bible reading, verses that arrived on cards for my 16 yr.old's birthday, discussions, circumstance etc. also prepared my for the possiblility that this may not be just a routine surgery. I am not God nor am I a prophet, but I believed with peace that the outcome of this surgery would be cancer.

I shared with my husband only a bit to possible prepare him. I shared with my youngest daughter that there is such confusion about God . That just because a person does good does not mean that tough things won't happen. God's promise is that He is with us and will be with us through whatever we face.

I thought the rings were the illustration for my older daughter.

To prepare them further would have been a lie for I did not know- I only had that peace and preparation from the Lord.

Lord of the rings

On Sunday October 19, 2008 My "Lord of the Rings experience took place. I was told I needed to get off my wedding rings . I have not been able to remove my rings for years and new that this Christmas I was going to ask to have them cut off and reset for a gift. I was planning to move the date due to the surgery and trying to figure out where to fit it in with work.

While fixing lunch after church on Sunday, with my lovely older daughter present- my engagement ring came off my finger and within minutes my wedding band with some added effort came off. My Lord said to me I care about every detail of you and I am with you. I found it a great reminder as this adventure unfolds.

October Colonoscopy

I had a colonoscopy on Friday October 10, 2008. It revealed what appeared to be a lipoma ( fatty tumor in where the large and small intestine meet near the appendix. I was in agony after this procedure and went to the emergency per the advice of my primary care dr. to be checked out. The Emergency room Dr. was superb and kept me over night after running catscan , blood test , etc. It was decided by the surgeon Dr.Kim that after utrasound as well that the situation was not life threatening and that I would get all the preop work done and have surgery on the following Thursday, October 23. A visit to the gynecologist on the Friday before revealed maybe a small cyst on the ovary but nothing to be operated on.