The "C" Word...the beginning

"I lift my eyes up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? It comes from you, Lord! You are the Maker of Earth and Heaven. And there is NOTHING that's too hard for you Lord. Lord, I run to you!" I love singing that song in choir because that particular verse in scripture was one of my mother's and grandmother's favorite verses to quote. I love the imagery it puts in your head when you recite it! The lifting up of your eyes, the expectancy, the yearning, the promises, the FAITH!

I have just begun a new faith journey. That's what I'm calling it. I have Stage 3 Colon Cancer, but it will be a journey of faith as God shows Himself strong!

On March 13, 2011 I awoke with a sharp pain in my right side. I just downplayed the pain and went on my merry way to church, then to work and other activities all week. By the time Friday came, the pain was really intense and I was running a fever. It was the last day of Spring Break and my sweet girls and precious grand babies and I were supposed to go to the zoo. Instead, I went to the zoo they call the hospital emergency room. After a few tests, they decided I had appendicitis, and needed an appendectomy. But when the surgeon came in, he wasn't as sure as the emergency room doctor. The surgeon told me he couldn't be certain about the diagnosis until he "got in there". So, my family was told the surgery would take about an hour. Five hours later, I awoke in the recovery room and the nurse told me the surgery was over. That first night was a blur of pain and morphine.

The next morning, Wilson was very quiet and serious (not his usual self), and told me he needed to tell me something. He then explained that when the surgeon began the procedure, I did have appendicitis. But, he also found cancer in my colon and small intestine and had to remove a section of each and restructure them both. We were both in shock. There were so many unanswered questions. We just sat there and stared at each other. I remember Wilson had opened the blinds in my room because I wanted to see the sunshine . My room was on the sixth floor. I literally lifted my eyes up and there straight out my window in some trees was a beautiful church steeple! I knew the Father was there and He was taking care of us. We cried and prayed and gave all this stuff to the Lord.

We had to wait two days to find out if the surgeon had gotten all the cancer. The oncologist came in on Monday morning and told us they had gotten all the cancer in the colon and small intestine, but it had spread to one little lymph node. So, because it is in one lymph node, they have to label it Stage 3 Colon Cancer. He then explained I would have to take chemo, but would be able to take it in pill form. Also, it should only take one round of chemo to kill the cancer cells. The Father blessed me with so many wonderful nurses during my hospital stay, one of them even prayed with me as she took my blood! Our wonderful friends have ministered to our family in so many different ways - we are truly blessed. Another chapter will begin as I begin chemo - I go to the oncologist next week.

I wanted to blog this journey so the Father would get all the glory and my faith would grow. I pray it will grow others and draw all of us closer to Him.