Steven Taylor

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. I am finally at a point that I can share the story.  Steven and I are not used to reaching out for prayers and support, but this has brought us full circle.  We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.

September 1, 2016 will be a day that I will never forget.  Prior to this date Steven had  pain which we believe derived from gall bladder issues, but test after test came back negative.   On August 23, 2016, the pain brought him to his knees, and he thought he was having a heart attack.  He went to see our family doctor which put him through tests that confirmed it was not his heart.  Which we were happy about, but there was still no explanation for the pain.  They then ordered a CT scan which showed a lesion on his spine, and the doctor sent us to the emergency room.  I had no idea what a lesion on the spine meant.  To me a lesion is a open sore.  After a 4 hour wait in the waiting room, we went back to a room, and the did an MRI.  Cancer was mentioned by the ER doctor, but I thought he had all these blood tests - wouldn't cancer show up?  The ER nurse stated not particularly.  The MRI showed only one spot which was a blessing.  The next tests was a biopsy which was not scheduled until the next Tuesday.  The emotional stress was almost unbearable.  Prior to the biopsy we were told that we might find something out that day - well that didn't happen.  They then said 24, then 48 hours still no Pathology.  Well Steven had a spinal surgeon appointment on 9/1/16, and the surgeon could view part of the biopsy results which were enough to diagnose cancer.  It is very hard to keep your emotions in check when this happens - I do not like to cry in front of people especially people I don't really know.  My world was turned upside down - you see this past year my best friend was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer and now my husband.  I truly know what a broken heart feels like.  The surgeon couldn't answer the cancer questions, and he scheduled us an immediate appointment with an Oncologist.  Our Oncologist diagnosed Steven with Plasmacytoma (lesion on the spine) with possible Myeloma.  None of the previous test show active Myeloma.  You see the Myeloma (blood cancer) caused the Plasmacytoma, but the Myeloma could be dormant right now.  He has had blood tests and full body x-ray which show only one spot and no sign of Myeloma.  We are waiting on bone marrow and urine test results.  This past week Steven went to see the Radiation Oncologist, and she was very positive with the radiation treatments (he will have between 20 & 25 treatments) removing the Plasmacytoma, and the Hematology/Oncologist is also positive with this treatment.  This is a cancer of bad luck, but it is a treatable cancer - the treatment for this cancer has improved a lot in the last 5 years.  If the remaining tests show Myeloma, he will have chemotherapy as well.  This past week has been a relief as far as answers and the treatability of this cancer.  I have seen God's blessing through this, and I know He was holding us through it.  God placed us in the places we needed to be for tests & doctors.  We ask that you not bombard us with a lot of questions because we will let you know as we know.  Our focus is to remain positive.  I know we have friends/family that have sad stories about someone they know that had a bad experience with Myeloma.  We understand the hurt, but please do not share those stories with us right now.  We want to remain positive, so acts of kindness and hope are appreciated.  We only ask for your prayers for Steven as he is going through treatment, and our family as we all now learn to LIVE with cancer. 

Love to all that took the time to read this,
Brenda