First of all, thank you so much!!  Words fall short, and cannot express our gratitude for the ways so many of you have encouraged us along this journey.  We are amazed and humbled by your love and care!  Someone once said, "If you want to feel loved, just get cancer."  I'd say that's about right :). 

 

• UPDATES:  Recently, I met with my surgeon and discussed the pathology results from surgery.  In order to remove the tumor and surrounding area, Dr. P removed the last portion of my small intestines, my ascending colon/appendix, and a portion of my transverse colon.  Surgery was successful, and I am healing well.  To top it off, my lymph nodes are clear!  Because of this, no other treatment is needed at this time, but to be safe, I will continue to be monitored and scanned for the foreseeable future.  We are celebrating this fantastic blessing from God!!
  
  
• HOW DO I LIVE WITH THIS, LORD?  After being diagnosed with cancer, I felt disoriented in a way that's hard to explain.  I struggled with knowing how to go about normal life - driving carpool, helping with homework, making dinner, watching my son's basketball games, tending to the needs of each day - all while squeezing in a PET scan, CT scan, visits to my oncologist, waiting, and processing all of the unanswered questions in my head.  I poured out my heavy heart in prayer to Jesus one day, and He answered me with this verse from Psalm 91:1:  "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Lord Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Jesus showed me that if I would DWELL (live) with Him by spending time alone with Him in prayer and Bible study then I would REST in His shadow.  An immediate peace came over me, and as I have spent time with Him, He has certainly allowed me to rest in complete peace throughout this journey. God is so, so good!
  
  
• FYI: My cancer was a rare kind called a neuroendocrine tumor, or NET.  Strange fact:  Both Aretha Franklin and Steve Jobs died of NETs.  Oftentimes, NET patients are misdiagnosed and initially treated for the wrong disease.  By the time it's correctly diagnosed, the cancer has metastasized. Spread the word to raise awareness about NET and the need for timely detection and diagnosis!  
  
  
• SURPRISED BY JOY:  Even though it can be a scary and overwhelming journey, cancer has been filled with great gifts for me.  A few of these gifts have been:  a strong clarity of priorities and the passion to act upon them, appreciating the great value of my relationships, feeling the gift of being alive, experiencing the nearness of God in a deeper way than ever before, and knowing more of the joy and peace that He gives.  With each future scan, I'm betting that I'll have the chance to revisit these gifts :).  As we know, none of us are guaranteed another minute.  What a strange and wonderful joy to walk a bit closer to that reality!

Thank you again for joining us on this journey.  Your support means the world to us!