December 1, 2010

• Cancer Thoughts

  This time, I’m adding some pictures of my house, as we transfer from fall to Christmas and winter.

                                    

  I know it’s a little late for me to be writing.

  And, the truth be known, I’m not up “a little late,” I’m up *A LOT* late –

  for me, anyway!

  This was a busy day, as I had my 3 month visit with my “would have been” breast surgeon and a routine mammogram.

                            

  The place where the mammogram is done usually keeps me for a couple of hours.  Today, I was in and out in less than an hour.  So, Jesse, the girls, and I went out for a quick Chinese buffet lunch before heading to the surgeon’s office.

                           

  My surgeon officially “cut me loose” today and said she’d plan a mammogram and breast ultrasound in 6 months.  I didn’t need to continue seeing her, unless something came back abnormal or I had reason for concern.

  I’ll miss her.  She’s been a dear person throughout all of my cancer trials.  We had a long talk today, about some female concerns in an area *other than my breasts* and I sought her opinion (a valuable one to me) as a surgeon.  She still marvels at my journey from close to death, due to  aggressive cancer, to no sign of cancer. 

  I continue to tell her (and anyone else that will listen), I had good doctors, good chemo therapy, good radiation therapy, and A GOOD GOD!!!!!

                         

  We discussed my Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the fact cancer has disappeared.  She said, I should make future medical decisions (like a hysterectomy) based on living a long life, not a life that will only last another few years. 

  She said she didn’t have that magical crystal ball that tells the future, but her gut told her something negative would have showed up in 18 months time.  I never trust that (or any timetable) as a definite gauge – because one never knows.  In fact, I’ve highlighted all the places in the Bible that tell us to NOT trust man, but to trust God.

  And that’s where God comes. 

  HE knows, and I’m okay *not* knowing, as long as I know HE knows!

  (did you follow that?!)

                                              

                                    

  I DID ask her if she thought it was wrong for me to encourage other people to pray and ask for healing (as well as accept medical help).  I’ve wondered if, maybe, my “preaching” was rubbing salt in the the wounds of others.  I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone by the words of my mouth. 

                     

  And, I’ve mulled over and questioned whether I shouldn’t rave on and on about what God has done for me. 

  I’ve wondered if, maybe, I should just let people believe what they believe and not encourage them to ask God and then trust Him.  In other words, *I* could pray for them, and if they *WANTED* to hear my story, they could ask.

  I know we are all here to bring glory to God, but if someone is experiencing declining health, due to cancer or any other dread disease, should I say nothing and watch them slowly fade away?  That doesn’t seem right.

  I really have dealt with this question many, many times.

                                                                          

  Today, my doctor answered that very question. 

  She said, “You aren’t a medical freak, if that’s what you’re thinking.  So, no!  Absolutely do NOT stop telling other people your story.  Your enthusiasm and faith are very contagious.  You offer hope and the encouragement to fight to those people you come in contact with.”

  She made a good point.

                                    

  And, I replied, “I don’t want to encourage only people who have cancer, but I want to encourage anyone with ANY problem (relationship, financial, parenting) to seek a binding relationship with God.”

  So, I’ll continue to speak of my healing to anyone who cares to listen and, maybe, to those who don’t think they want to hear what God has done for me. 

  I’ll keep praying (first) and then speak words of encouragement as I feel the Holy Spirit lead me.  I’m not “special” and I’m not more important to God than any other person.  The years added to my life haven’t been added because I’m some super woman out there making a huge dent in God’s kingdom.  I’m just me.

                                        ********************************************************************

  It was a bitterly cold day and tomorrow will only be slightly warmer.   I wore one of my wool sweaters and I had to crank the window down because I was overheated in the car!  Oh, yes!  Lovely menopausal heat rushes!
  

                   

   

  Stephanie and JanaLyn came over tonight.  JanaLyn has been coughing and the school nurse thought it might be more of an asthma problem.  Stephanie needed some medicine for JanaLyn’s nebulizer machine.  The same stuff Rissy just finished using.  I rubbed JanaLyn’s back, which was full of knots between her shoulder blades.  Probably from coughing so much.  We loaded them up with Vicks rub, LifeSavers, and the asthma medicine.

  We visited a while before they had to leave.  My girls were excited because of JanaLyn’s visit, and they were hard to put to bed tonight. 

  They kept popping back up with “one more thing” to say or do!

                                

  All is quite now and I’m ready to get off of here and get to bed. 

  I think I was a little excited by JanaLyn’s visit,  too!

         

   
        My cat (Chirper) keeps coming out here to see how close I am to heading back to bed.  He can’t sleep without me!

  Such loyalty!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 12:46 am
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