The Next Step!

December 1, 2011 - Thursday morning early - Jill called me with the CT scan reports.  Dr. Thorpe had come to the Surgical Center and together they reviewed the results.  I had been told Wednesday that the biopsy results would take about a week.  All scans were CLEAR and not even the problem area had  been identified on the CT scan.  Jill had scheduled an appointment for me to meet with my surgeon, Dr. Craig Cook on Thursday afternoon.  Dr. Cook had reviewed the CT scan results and while I was in his office Dr. Thorpe called to speak with him.  They had put a rush on the biopsy testing.  The results came back as INVASIVE ADENOCARCINOMA.  That is CANCER!  Because Dr. Cook did not know exactly WHERE the problem area was, a new procedure was scheduled for Wednesday December 7th.  I was to go through the same preparation as I had the week previous for the colonoscopy.  Clear liquids the day before, drinking the NASTY stuff the evening before!  I had previously scheduled a bridal shower at my home Tuesday, December 6h.  We had soups, rolls and brownies  - such GREAT food.  You would have been proud of me - I did not even sneak a bite! 

Wednesday morning December 7th I was at the Surgical Center at 5 am.  This time it was not in the endoscopy lab - this was for the operating room.  Dr. Cook needed to see the area for himself.  He forewarned me that depending on his findings including the position of the lesion, I would either awaken with a Portacath underneath my left clavicle OR I would be scheduled for surgery immediately.  If I awoke with the Portacath it would mean that I would need chemotherapy FIRST and perhaps radiation  to shrink the area - and then I would be scheduled for surgery.  Upon awakening I was vaguely aware of a slight PAIN in my left clavicle area.  I knew the Portacath had been installed.  For those of you who do not know - a Portacath is a round device which is about 1 1/2 inches in circumference with a tube which is sewn into the subclavian vein.  Through this blood can be drawn - thus preventing STICKING me a million times AND chemotherapy can be administered directly into the vein there.  SUPPOSEDLY it won't really bother  me- once it has healed. 

I was to meet with Dr. Cook again Thursday afternoon December 8th.  At that time he told me the lesion was a little bigger than they first thought.  Dr. Cook advised a course of chemotherapy and radiation first - then we will schedule surgery.  An appointment had already been made with Dr. Bott - the Oncologist - for Monday December 12th.  A BLESSING once again.  The doctors were conversing and moving quickly in my behalf.

My feelings from the very beginning have been very POSITIVE.  I want to meet this CANCER head-on as I have always met problems I have encountered.  There is no other way around it.  I have more faith than most people I know.  I believe in miracles.  I AM a miracle.  That will be a blog for later but in short - I was hit by a car two weeks before my 5th birthday. I AM a living miracle.  I also KNOW what my job is upon this earth.  It has NOT been completed.  It is my belief that we are on this earth for a reason.  It is up to each of us to determine exactly what our purpose is here on earth.  We are not here by chance.  I am so thankful for my earthly journey and for the paths I have explored  and will continue to explore along the way!  No two of us have the same experiences.  That is the BEAUTY of this earth life and it is indeed a HUGE Blessing to be here!

I met with Dr. Bott Monday December 12th.  What you need to know is this - I have owned and operated a medical transcription business for over 25 years.  Years ago I worked with the physicians at the Central Utah Surgical Center.  They are my friends.  Dr. Bott came in and it was so great to see him again!  He told his staff that I am FRIEND first - PATIENT second!  That is a BLESSING!  He outlined the course of action we will take.  Six weeks of chemotherapy in conjunction with six weeks of radiation therapy.  The chemotherapy MAY thin my hair.  I have always kept my hair quite short and each time I get it trimmed - it is thinned for me because it is thick!  That is a BLESSING.  I can handle a little thinning.  I may get sick - there are a lot of things that MAY happen to me.  This is what you need to know!!!   I have faith that I will be FINE!  There MAY be bad days but that will be up to ME!  My husband will give me a BLESSING asking Heavenly Father that I might be EQUAL to the medications and radiation.  I have FAITH that I will get through this.  This is my NEW journey and I am up for it.  I will need you ALL to help me get through it.

Friday December 15th I will meet with the Radiation Department to start the process of getting TATOOED and ready for the radiation.  I have done research.  I believe in modern medicine.  I believe in the course that has been decided for me - it was MY decision.  I am drinking some different things that people have brought to me.  I am open to everything really. 

The BLESSINGS I have experienced have been NUMEROUS.  I am so BLESSED with a loving, wonderful husband.  He is also a story for a different blog but in short - He is my EVERYTHING.   He has ALWAYS stood by my side and encouraged me to be my very best!  He has supported me in my adventures and has literally been the wind beneath my wings.  He is a HUGE BLESSING.  I am incredibly thankful for him.  I give thanks every day to my Heavenly Father for Bubba! 

Dear Friends - Life is a HUGE BLESSING.  I CHOOSE TO LIVE!!   I am so excited to get through with the next few weeks of this new journey.  I am so excited to get better and be cured!  I believe I will be.  I believe they have caught this soon enough and that I will be FINE!   AND AND AND - My daughter Kelsi will be having her FIRST baby in March.  Kelsi is MY baby!   I need to be in tip top shape to be able to help her with this new little baby girl she is expecting.  Please continue to pray for me.  Pray for Bubba.  He needs support to be able to help me through this.  I believe in PRAYER!!  Prayer is a BLESSING!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  There is no medicine like HOPE - no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow!  May you ALL be BLESSED by the LORD - the maker of Heaven and Earth!  LOVE AND HUGS TO EVERYONE!!