One day you’re thinking “boy am I gassy” and the next day the doctor diagnosis advanced ovarian cancer. Surreal does not even cover the reaction. From that day forward, my brain keeps jumping back to all the signs (now that I know what they are!) and all those fleeting thoughts that came and went and should have been given more merit. Although the shoulda, woulda, coulda, serves now good purpose in my situation, I do want to encourage all my sistas to not blow off tummy issues that seem to come and go and never really feel that serious. And don’t hesitate to insist on further testing. Despite annual physical and basic testing, ultrasound, basic blood work, that nasty little c appears to have been sneaking around inside for a while. Even when I went for the CT, my doctor was thinking it was just some ongoing gastrointestinal issues. Sneaky little guy looks like all kinds of everyday tummy issues - which come and go – so they don’t even stay on your radar. While I initially struggled with this and all the lost time, my friend James came to the rescue. The passage in James 1:5 where he tells us to ask God for wisdom and He will gladly give it is a daily prayer for me. In The Passion Translation it reads, “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and He will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but He will overwhelm your failures with His generous grace.” How reassuring is that! It really matters not about my lack of wisdom because He is overwhelming my lack with His generous grace. Once again I am reminded that it is all about His power and not about my lack.
So I have now embarked on this rather overwhelming journey with so much love and encouragement from my friends, family, church family, and medical team. I received my first “chemical solution” (I much prefer that term to chemotherapy) on May 7 and have been adjusting to that. So many of you have asked how you can help and I am just now realizing all there is to do so I’ll be very gratefully accepting those offers as I gain more clarity. I’m most overwhelmed by the need for healthy eating (what? enchiladas and a chocolate bar isn’t a good breakfast!) so I’m investigating the what and how of that. My second "chemical solution" appointment was today, Tuesday, May 28th. Thanks to all of you for your love and support and most especially your ongoing prayers. I’m believing for God’s miracle healing and excited for the display of His glory.
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