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My follow up appointment got postponed until Wednesday am due to my surgeon's schedule. Boy, am I learning to wait upon You, Lord and Your timing - not mine.
The report from Dr. Duven was encouraging. The pathology report revealed that I have the most common type of breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma. When it comes to the next step of treatment, there shouldn't be any mysteries - it's a path that's been paved by many brave women before me. The size of the tumor was under 2 cm so they are predicting the stage of cancer is one - which means it's in the early stage. However, when I go to the oncologist they will do further scans to verify the stage. (My first appointment with an oncologist is Monday, March 16th)
Now the GREAT news - of the four lymph nodes that were removed and biopsied - ALL of them were beneign! With negative nodes, it is less likely the cancer has spread to other areas of my body. What a huge sigh of relief. For all of those who specifically prayed about this request, THANK YOU!
My doctor was surprised by the significant decrease in the amount of fluid from my drainage tube and even contemplated removing it. That's almost unheard of after week one, normally it's in for three to four weeks. My incision is healing well and Dr. Duven removed some of the staples today - the remainder will come out next week, along with that drainage tube. WooHoo!
The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer, a dear doctor friend of ours shared this quote from Sir William Osler - "Man treats; God heals." I am evidence of that.
Philippians 1:19 - For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me; this will all turn out for my deliverance.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Thy Will Be Done
I read Mark 11:22-25 this morning,
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
I pondered what the Lord may want to teach me from this passage,on the day of my first follow up appointment since surgery. Today I will receive the pathology report which will reveal conclusively what type of cancer I have and what stage it's in, so the next phase of treatment may be planned.
I read Mark 11:22-25 aloud to Rob a few minutes later. He responded with this insight, "We are to have faith in God, not the request. We are to pray according to His will, 'Thy will be done.' like Jesus' example when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane."
I reread the Scripture again then looked up the passage where Jesus prayed in the garden from Mark 14:35-37. It says,
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lord Jesus, help me to follow your example today. I pray with faith in You, the God of the universe who is capable of moving mountains. You are able to do anything. Forgive me for any doubt I have in You. Deepen my faith and belief in You first and foremost. You know the people I am still holding grudges against, forgive me and help me to release that to you. Help me to forgive others as You forgive me daily, numerous times over. Cleanse me and purify me of unforgiveness in my heart. Lord Jesus, prepare me to hear the pathology report today. I pray that it will reveal a less aggressive type of cancer that will not require aggressive chemotherapy. I trust that You know what's best for me in the long run, so I pray according to Your will. If I need to endure suffering to gain something greater in the end and You to be glorified through it, I submit to You.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy Name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom
the Power and the Glory
forever and ever.
AMEN.
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
I pondered what the Lord may want to teach me from this passage,on the day of my first follow up appointment since surgery. Today I will receive the pathology report which will reveal conclusively what type of cancer I have and what stage it's in, so the next phase of treatment may be planned.
I read Mark 11:22-25 aloud to Rob a few minutes later. He responded with this insight, "We are to have faith in God, not the request. We are to pray according to His will, 'Thy will be done.' like Jesus' example when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane."
I reread the Scripture again then looked up the passage where Jesus prayed in the garden from Mark 14:35-37. It says,
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lord Jesus, help me to follow your example today. I pray with faith in You, the God of the universe who is capable of moving mountains. You are able to do anything. Forgive me for any doubt I have in You. Deepen my faith and belief in You first and foremost. You know the people I am still holding grudges against, forgive me and help me to release that to you. Help me to forgive others as You forgive me daily, numerous times over. Cleanse me and purify me of unforgiveness in my heart. Lord Jesus, prepare me to hear the pathology report today. I pray that it will reveal a less aggressive type of cancer that will not require aggressive chemotherapy. I trust that You know what's best for me in the long run, so I pray according to Your will. If I need to endure suffering to gain something greater in the end and You to be glorified through it, I submit to You.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy Name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom
the Power and the Glory
forever and ever.
AMEN.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. II Corinthians 1:3-7
Last evening as I was going through the bedtime routine with Erin I read the Scripture above(verses 3-4)from a devotional book, "Every Teen Girl's Little Pink Book." As I read the Scripture aloud to her I began to weep uncontrollably. At that moment, I didn't understand why it hit me so deeply. I definitely was at a physically and emotionally weakened state by day end. A few hours before this, Rob had emptied the drainage tube attached to my chest. It was clogged more than ususal, so he had to work harder to get the fluid pushed through the tube. When we go through this necessary procedure, it often causes a burning sensation that makes me feel light headed and whoozy - this time I nearly fainted.
As I reread the Scripture this morning,I realized I experienced comfort from God at a whole new level last night. It was as though He was saying to me, "Daughter, come to Me in your weakened, discouraged state. It's ok to cry. I know you better than anyone else. I am your Father. I know exactly how you feel - even when no one else understands. I do. Come to Me. Weep with Me. I share in your suffering. I am your comfort. I know you are used to encouraging others, but right now you are to receive compassion and mercy from Me and others, so that you can give it again in My name. Receive this gift with grace."
Rob and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of encouragement in so many forms - cards, emails, meals, phone calls, visits, comfort food, flowers, gifts, hugs, prayers....all of these are examples of God's comfort being poured out in abundance. Jesus, you know exactly what we need and when we need it. Thank you, for being the God ALL comfort to us. Set our hope firmly on You - each new day.
Last evening as I was going through the bedtime routine with Erin I read the Scripture above(verses 3-4)from a devotional book, "Every Teen Girl's Little Pink Book." As I read the Scripture aloud to her I began to weep uncontrollably. At that moment, I didn't understand why it hit me so deeply. I definitely was at a physically and emotionally weakened state by day end. A few hours before this, Rob had emptied the drainage tube attached to my chest. It was clogged more than ususal, so he had to work harder to get the fluid pushed through the tube. When we go through this necessary procedure, it often causes a burning sensation that makes me feel light headed and whoozy - this time I nearly fainted.
As I reread the Scripture this morning,I realized I experienced comfort from God at a whole new level last night. It was as though He was saying to me, "Daughter, come to Me in your weakened, discouraged state. It's ok to cry. I know you better than anyone else. I am your Father. I know exactly how you feel - even when no one else understands. I do. Come to Me. Weep with Me. I share in your suffering. I am your comfort. I know you are used to encouraging others, but right now you are to receive compassion and mercy from Me and others, so that you can give it again in My name. Receive this gift with grace."
Rob and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of encouragement in so many forms - cards, emails, meals, phone calls, visits, comfort food, flowers, gifts, hugs, prayers....all of these are examples of God's comfort being poured out in abundance. Jesus, you know exactly what we need and when we need it. Thank you, for being the God ALL comfort to us. Set our hope firmly on You - each new day.
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