Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. Please feel free to share the site with those who are interested in my situation.
Here is a little background: In mid-June, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer after a steep decline in my general health and strength over more than several months. Shocked as we were with the diagnosis, our GYN-Oncologist informed us that 70-80% of patients are already at Stage III or IV by diagnosis time. My cancer was in a full-court press--invading lung, liver, lymph, and peritoneum from its origin on the left ovary. The large ovarian tumor had also compressed the right ureter greatly reducing the flow of urine from my right kidney to the bladder. We learned a lot about ovarian cancer in a short time, most notably that it is a silent invader.
Our children had planned way in advance a wonderful reunion and 70th birthday celebration in Woodstock, VT for the last weekend in June. As we had received the grim news a week before, the timing was perfect! After that weekend, with our family’s encouragement, we decided to pursue an initial 3 rounds of chemotherapy to see if my tumors would respond. All but one did, so I 'qualified' for surgery—total hysterectomy plus omentum and affected lymph nodes, resection of 2 tumors of the liver and microwave ablation of the third, and replacement of a ureter stent which is keeping my kidney clear. There will be quite a cast of medical folks in the operating theatre on Thursday, October 3, 2019! I am grateful for each one. Surgery begins at 7:30 a.m.
Please pray for Bill and me, our beloved family, and the medical team gathering who will use their considerable skills to remove all the cancer they can see and reach. Our trust rests in the Sovereign Lord, our Maker, Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. He continues to keep us in His perfect peace that passes understanding. To God be the glory!
