WELCOME!!

This is the first of many posts about my JOURNEY and the BLESSINGS I have been blessed with and continue to be blessed with!   I will try to update each day.  My purpose in blogging  is to count my Blessings and hopefully inspire others to do the same!   I am THANKFUL - I feel so much GRATITUDE and HOPE that all people will strive diligently to become the best person each one could possibly be!!  I BELIEVE in my SAVIOR Jesus Christ!  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that HE is there for ME - I know HE is there for YOU!!  Please help me ENJOY my JOURNEY!!

On November 30, 2011 I was diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine colonoscopy.  I would certainly URGE each and every one of you - if you are OF AGE - to schedule a routine colonoscopy.  Colonoscopies save lives!

I had NO idea at the beginning of that Wednesday morning that my life would FOREVER change.  My husband Kerm (i.e. BUBBA) was scheduled for his routine colonoscopy the same day and was scheduled first.  He was taken from the waiting room and it was 15-20 minutes before they came for me! 

As I awakened I heard the whispers and voices quietly trying to convey the news to my husband.  I heard "mass" and the other whisperings going on.  My sister,  Jill Andrews, is the Administrator of Central Utah Surgical Center where the procedure was done.  She of course was present and knew immediately the findings of the physician.  It was Jill who contacted some of my children and asked them to get to the Surgical Center.  I was vaguely aware that my bed had been placed next to Bubba's.  At some point Jill wheeled his bed to a quieter place.  I heard him on the phone talking to my daughter Kelsi.  I was trying to clear the FOG (anesthesia) and called out saying "I know what is going on".  Dr. Thorpe came by and explained to me that he had found what he believed to be cancer!  Kerm was then sitting on a chair next to my bed and we held hands and shared a tender moment with tears.  The next thing I knew there was beautiful Kelsi.  She cried as she hugged me and I cried a little then.  Kasey soon appeared and the four of us were there talking.  Kurt called on my phone and Kerm tried to talk to him but was moved to tears so I believe Kasey and Kelsi spoke with him.  My beloved daughter Kamie lives in Dayton, Ohio where she too is an R.N. and is a manager at the Hospital where she works.  I was aware she had called at some point. 

Before I even got dressed I was bundled up and was wheeled to the building across the road to the imaging department.  I had to drink more NASTY stuff and they prepared me for CT scanning.  I was injected with dye and my  brain, liver, pelvic area and lungs were scanned to see if there were more findings.  An appointment was made for Thursday, December 1st with Dr. Craig Cook - the surgeon who will guide my JOURNEY!! 

The blessings of November 30, 2011 are MANY!!  It was a HUGE blessing  that I was in the presence of people who know and love me!  People who care about ME!!  It was a HUGE blessing that my PRECIOUS husband was by my side - literally.  It was a HUGE blessing that my Sister Jill has the contacts and the CLOUT that it took to get me scheduled so quickly to begin my JOURNEY!!  I love that girl!! It was a HUGE blessing that I was amongst my precious family and FRIENDS at the Surgical Center.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS - NAME THEM ONE BY ONE!!