My Health Journey

March 16, 2021

I was asked recently to give my testimony, via a taped talk, for my church. To say it was a bit of a challenge would be understating it. I struggled with sitting and talking to my computer alone in my hobbyroom more than anything, that is a weird feeling. Also with getting the right words, so I prayed about it for a few weeks and then just taped, deleted and taped again, till I finally just sent off a piece without reviewing it so I wouldn't delete yet another attempt. Seems I am a bit chatty, lol, so my piece was edited for viewing when it was played this passed Sunday at our virtual service. I thought I would add a link here to the YouTube channel where it played for my church (the shorter version) and also download the full video incase anyone is interested in listening while they enjoy their morning coffee, I think it is around 11 minutes (chatty). My prayer is that it helps someone who maybe going through any struggle, not just cancer, but know this is me speaking from my heart about my relationship with God and all He has and is doing in my life.

Side note: My daughter texted me after church to let me know that Ava (4) was disappointed that Nana didn't say Hi, Girlie to her on the video, lol... (the way I always great her when she arrives at our home ❤️)

Also, sorry the video is so dark, my first attempt doing any kind of video and using my computer, but on the positive side the quilt blocks in the background look great on camera😉

Skip ahead to 19:25 on the time line

https://youtu.be/hbjv0YLd29I

Here is the link to my YouTube Channel where the full video is: 

February 9, 2021

I thought I would pop on and give a brief update...Again, all good! My January in person visit to the oncologist turned into a phone call because we were and still are in lockdown (stay home order) My blood work was almost all within normal range, with the exception of my Platelets, but they were up 20 points and only 4 off of the lowest in the normal range. Amen! 

I will continue to do blood work every 3 months and the next visit, in April, will be an in person visit. They really want to be able to see me and examine me so nothing is getting missed.

I am rejoicing in my miracle, and thanking God everyday for everyday!

Please continue to pray for me, I so appreciate each and every one!

October 6, 2020.

When I shared this picture that my son took last week, someone said it was a good sign...

Do you know that the rainbow is God's sign? After the flood with Noah, God said He would never again flood the whole earth and this would be the sign of that promise. (Genesis 9:13)

I spoke with my oncologist's assistant, nurse practitioner, today....

No waiting till the end, spoiler alert, only good news!!! Amen!

The Jarvinski Hospital and my oncologist all agree...my blood work is consistent, I am not exhibiting symptoms anymore so they are adapting a wait and see plan. Which means regular blood work, the first in 6 weeks; in person visit (January) and then moving forward they will let me know the intervals. 

Seriously praising God for His many blessings right now...He sees, He hears and He answers....

all the prayers that have been sent up for me....I feel so truly blessed beyond measure 

I can't thank you all enough. Lord willing the lymphoma never rears its ugly head again. 

Please take time to thank God today and please continue to lift me up in prayer as my platelets are low and I am tired, but today I am so grateful, thankful and beyond joyous. 

Isn't His timing always so perfect...here we are heading into our Thanksgiving weekend and I have so much more to be thankful for!

 September 11, 2020.

It has been quite a time over the last 10 days, and while I sit waiting for the second phone call from my Dr. at the Juravinski Cancer Hospital I thought I would start on giving an update post.

Let's go back a few days...there are so many even without a cancer diagnosis that dealing with heavy and hard issues right now, so I know I am not alone in this, but having to make the choice to stay away from my nieces wedding last week, that was heart breaking. My daughter and brother kept sending me pictures but I have to say that was a hard weekend. I was very emotional and on the verge of tears often. I know my sister and niece understood and I know it was the right thing to do under the circumstances, but....still hard.

Fast forward to yesterday when this BOOK, came priority delivery...I knew the doctors were meeting on the 8th and my treatment plan was part of the discussion, and I knew that I would be receiving a phone call today and yet I am still shocked when these things happen...and reading over the treatment plan in black and white...I was without word and full of tears that spilled over...

It's funny I think of it like another wave has just hit me or an earthquake that is shaking me....and I prayed and just kept saying Jesus over and over...that's all I had...and that name is enough.

And I asked Him to speak to me again, clearly, because I have felt from the beginning of knowing the cancer was back, His word to me was, He was going before me to fight. Just like in the old testament when God would go into battle for the children of Israel. Sometimes that would be God destroying the enemy (like my cancer) all on His own and other times God strengthened them and fought through them to conquer the enemy....

Well today my bible reading/study time was Mark, and boy did Jesus speak....

Mark 5:36 ...Do not be afraid any longer, only believe. That was the first verse that just jumped out like God spoke it right into my heart...

Mark 9:23 ...All things are possible to him who believes

Mark 10:27 ...With men it is impossible, but not with God; For all things are possible with God.

and on and on....so many beautiful scriptures about believing, fasting and praying and healing. 

Mark 8:22-25 Then I reread the healing of the blind man, I know this story, but today it was again like God was showing me something new....2 times, Jesus touch the man 2 times. I burst into tears, I could feel God talking to me through this story and I felt blessed and so unworthy, but God's love is not about my worth...thank God for mercy and grace...

And then right at the end of Mark the last chapter verse 17 ...And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name the will....pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

God is good even in the storm, so good. 

Please continue to pray for me and if you are so inclined to fast and pray for a period of time that would be so appreciated too....

I will continue to update you as I know more, as I am still waiting for the phone call, I don't know any time frame details right now.  

September 1, 2020

Hi All...I decided to move my health updates to it's own page so anyone who is interested can read and follow along, but those who would prefer to just see what I'm up to creativley will not have the other posts coming up. 

I want to be as honest and transparent as possible in these posts without getting too deep into everything that is going on... I also want to say up front, I am a Christian and totally believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. So my posts and updates will reference that, because how can they not. I will not be offended in the least if this causes you to unfollow me.

Here's a "quick" overview of what has been happening:

In December of 2018 (this is a story in itself) I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's B Cell Follicular Lymphoma (mouthful I know) and under went 6 months of chemo, from January 2019 -June. My cancer reacted well to the treatments and I went into remission. 

In November of 2019 I noticed some lumps in my groin and made a quick trip to see my Oncologist who said it was a ropey tendon and she felt a small lyphm node but wasn't worried, not sure why at that point an ultrasound wasn't scheduled just to make sure, but hind sight is 20/20. 

In January I was having other issues and had some tests. When my doctor examined the groin, I now know the look I saw flash across her face when I told her what my Oncologist said, she didn't agree, but she just let the lumps slide and didn't ask for an ultrasound either. Get to February lumps are still there, bigger and I ask for an ultrasound. Now I am sure you can figure out what is coming next...the day before my ultrasound the hospital calls and everything is shut down due to covid-19....yup....

Fast forward a month or so and now the lumps are getting bigger and I'm also noticing them in my neck....swollen lymphnodes for sure....I call my doctor's office explain to the receptionist the issue ask that the doctor request an ultrasound, who talks to the doctor, who through the receptionist says, knowing my history and what is going on, I am not a priority.

After discussions with my Oncologist's nurse I finally went to the emergency department at my local hospital and an ultrasound, CT scan and a biopsy were scheduled within the week....unfortunately the biopsy they preformed was not the one I needed and the lack of remaining tissue caused me to have to go for surgery to have a lymph node removed....which brings us to this latest update....

So the good news in a bad situation...the biopsy showed that the lymphoma hasn't changed or morphed into a more aggressive form, but the lymphoma is back, so my Oncologist wanted a second option on how to proceed with a treatment plan. My information was sent to the cancer hospital in Hamilton and since I have been contacted by a very pleasant Dr. who discussed a treatment option. 

The facts: the cancer I have is not curable (by doctors...) and the problem with my cancer coming back so soon after treatment,  if continues like this they will run out of treatment options to help me. So on the table for discussion when the drs meet on the 8th of Sept., stem cell replacement. The reason for it happening now, hopefully I am healthy enough at this point to harvest, if they wait till too many treatments have happened they might need a donor for the cells, plus they are hoping this treatment sticks and I get years of remission instead of months. 

What does this mean for me? My understanding of what the Dr. shared with me...I would be given a drug to help my body produce excess white blood cells which they would then harvest in a way that is similar to dialysis (central pick put in my neck). I would then be given 2 days of high dose chemotherapy, the return of my cells and a 2 week stay in the hospital, with antibiotics for at least part of the time to ward off any infection....do not quote me on all of that...as you can imagine this conversation was a bit (a lot) overwhelming, because none of that sounds the least bit fun or pain free. 

So I wait. I wait for the doctors to discuss me and my treatment plan. I wait to speak with the doctor again on the 15th of Sept.  and I wait on God's answers and timing, because with all the problems and all of this storm...this is what I know to be true....

I want a miracle! I pray for it it, hope in the Lord for it and know without a doubt He can accomplish it and so much more.....but as Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego said..."our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, But even if He does not we will not serve any God but Him.... 

This is exactly where I am. I rest in the knowledge that God hasn't changed and He sees me and knows me and loves me....None of this is out of His control, none of this is a shock to Him, me but not Him. Don't get me wrong here, I have cried and I feel fear in this situation, but I also have such a peace. God has sent messages of hope through my daily bible study (it is never a coincidence that I am reading exactly what I needed to hear or see or learn); what seems like random Youtube suggestions; a new to me worship song; someone else's struggle or testimony; all of you reaching out with love and prayers (it means so much)...There have just been so many words of encouragement and love from God.

I feel like God has said that He is going ahead of me to fight...now that could mean an awesome jaw dropping miracle like some of the battles in the old testament when God destroyed the enemy armies by sending His angel (2 Kings 19:35) or it could be that God will fight with me to victory.....God has left that up to faith in Him...so I am leaning in and holding on and asking Him to rain down His Spirit, His faith, His wisdom, His love, His compassion...

If you have made it this far...thank you...please add me to your prayers or pray list if you have one and haven't done so already. I know God hears and answers all our prayers...so never give up or stop communicating with God. 

Philippians 4:6,7