So its been a pretty eventful week for me. About 4 months ago, I found myself facing some medical issues that I had been ignoring for the better part of a year. It had come to the point that I was being told by my doctor that I would be admitted and given blood transfusions whether I liked it or not...It was just too risky to become anymore anemic since I was well below the limit they let most patients go. My response to this was to just double and triple my iron intake...treating the symptoms but not dealing with the underlying problem. You see, I am not one that really goes to the doctor unless I am just forced to. And when I had to call my husband from work one day because the pain had become so unbearable that it nauseated me to point of vomiting. I knew I couldn't wait anymore.
Of course that began a journey down a pretty scary path. Without getting too graphic there were some female problems that were causing the anemia which in and of itself probably wasn't causing all of the other symptoms I had been dealing with. My doctor was pretty frank with me and said that in these type situations, she always ran preliminary lab testing for cancer since ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer and it was very difficult to determine without doing surgery. So we went ahead and did the CA125 cancer antigen test which came back positive for cancer antigens. I am so thankful for my doctor and her reassuring spirit...while telling me that it was something to be concerned about and not something to ignore...there could be other things causing this to read high. For those females out there like myself...please don't wait when you know you are experiencing problems...but that is another post for another time. So for myself, we tried some hormone therapy in order to see if we could shrink or control some of the problem sites over the next month. Unfortunately, instead of shrinking, it grew, and this to my doctor was problematic as most generally, the hormone therapy always at least stops the growth. At this point, the only way to know for sure was to go in, take care of it and biopsy.
Of course...with my upcoming reunion...I only had one request...can I wait until after?? :o) So it was scheduled for Monday after :o) I've got my priorities in order huh?
My only prayer throughout this time has been that I could live with whatever the outcome. That God would receive glory through whatever the outcome was to be. But I have to tell you friends...everything becomes more poignant when you are faced with your immortality. I have known many who have lost ones they cherished to cancer and no ones wants their loved ones to have to endure that or have to watch it happen. And as I sit here and type this, knowing everything is fine and all pathology was benign...I can't help in my relief to remember those that did not receive good news. I can only imagine their breath catching as mine did when I said "hello" into the receiver...waiting to hear the words that would either release the weight or bring a whole new perspective to life as I have known it.
I am so grateful that God is always there...and thankful that the news was good! At the same time, I want to give God all the glory and not just forget the blessing but remember it daily in order to learn to see the blessings in my life so much clearer. This is a short life...am I living for just this short time I am here on earth or for the eternity that will never end in Christ Jesus! I am so privileged to be Saved by Grace! I know dramatic experiences naturally make us refocus...my prayer is that this experience does nothing less than provide me with a renewed perspective when it comes to this short time I have been given in order to love my Savior, husband, children, family and friends to the fullest!!
