Sunday, October 13, 2019

In God I take refuge...in Him I have strength.


It's been a whirlwind week and a half.  I had my pet scan on Friday, October 4th and then sat on pins and needles over the weekend wondering what the outcome would be. It was a long weekend, believe me.

Monday, we celebrated my husbands birthday and had lunch with our sons at our home before my youngest son had to go to work. I made my husband's favorite meal of cheese enchiladas and salad. My oldest son brought the beautiful, delicious birthday cake. It was a lovely time of family and celebration, however, it didn't last.

I received a phone call from my doctor's PA and she informed me that the pet scan showed the cancer had spread to my left lung (a small spot, about the size of a dime), and my liver, and a small spot on my trachea. To say I was shocked is the understatement of the century.  I tried to ask the right questions but was tongue tied and just listened as she explained the next steps.

She said they would do a biopsy either on the lung or liver to determine that it is indeed the uterine cancer that had spread. They would also put a port in so that I could start chemo therapy. So once again, I found myself on the phone arranging appointments to have this done.  My doctor suggested a specific hospital and I willingly went along with this because I had a biopsy on my thyroid back in 2004 and it was a fiasco. My hospital here was ill prepared to do the biopsy and her fear was that I could get to my hospital and they would refuse to do it. The hospital she recommended would not do that to me. 

So last Friday, on the 11th, I headed to the hospital to have my liver biopsy and port put in and then after that, to my doctor's office for what they call "chemo teach". I never thought I would ever hear those words. In any case, the biopsy and the insertion of the port went very well.  I was actually quite scared because I had no idea what to expect.  The hospital was beautiful and everyone so professional and kind. I felt absolutely nothing and, when I informed them I felt like I didn't have enough "twilight" medication, they immediately made sure I was comfortable.  I was so impressed with this hospital that I told my doctor I want to go there when they do my surgery after all the chemo is done.

I will be starting chemo next Friday, October 18th. They wanted to start it Monday the 14th, but my insurance had not approved it. I will be calling tomorrow to see if they got the approval yet, and if not, I will be calling the insurance company to move them along on this! My first chemo will be on a Friday but after that, I will have them on a Monday.  I will have 6 treatments, 3 weeks apart. Each treatment will take 6 hours! After I am done with the chemo, if they find it has eradicated the cancer in my organs, they will then do the surgery.

Friends, I've had some difficult moments through all this. I truly didn't think I would have any cancer outside my uterus. I had faith that God would keep it within it's boundaries. However, God's ways are not my ways and I must accept this path I am on. I am going to do my best to have a positive attitude throughout all this and trust that God will give me the strength I need to face and fight this. 

I have had so many of you praying for me and I am so thankful! Your prayers remind me that I am loved and not alone. I have been so blessed by the emails, private messages, text messages and packages that have arrived to cheer me. You have no idea how much all of this means to me!

We serve a God who cares and I am so thankful that I am sheltered under His wings and that I am shielded by His faithfulness.

In God I take refuge...in Him I have strength.

Blessings - Julie

4 comments:

  1. Oh Julie, I am one of your friends who is with you, supporting your in prayer during all of this. The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life;Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 I have quoted that to myself so many, many times over the decades. You are quite right! In the Lord YOU have strength!

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  2. My heart hurts for you. I’m going to continue to pray that the Lord will keep it contained to those areas and that the chemo will take it all away. Even though we don’t understand the “why” right now, we can trust in Him. We can trust that Jesus is with you, holding you through every stinking procedure. We can trust that He is going before you and behind you and that you are not going through this alone. We can trust that He loves you more than any one else and that he will sustain you. Covering you and your family in prayers.
    I absolutely understand the ups and downs of this journey. I go Wednesday, the 16th, to Mayo to get my next set of scans.
    Big Hugs! We met at Joanna Weaver’s page.
    Julie Agee

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  3. Dear, precious friend! There are no words to say how much my heart goes out to you. I was so shocked because I, too, thought the cancer would not be anywhere else in your body. God is not intimidated by the names doctors put on diseases, nor was He surprised by any of this. In spite of all that is going on, HE is in control, and HE is with you, and HE is your healer. Praying much for you and believing alongside you for healing and peace. I love and appreciate you and your friendship so much.

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