Today was the planned MRI to follow up on the spot that surfaced on my kidney with the PET scan.  I have let fear and anxiety control me more than I should have for the last 6 weeks.  It wasn’t for the fear of cancer, God has been beyond faithful in that journey so far, and if that is what was in store yet again, He would light the path and provide the strength we needed to get through.  It was my claustrophobia and the fear of that tube once again!  I called so many locations for independent MRI services seeking an “Open MRI” and came up short in every instance for any nearby locations.  Houston Methodist assured me their Closed MRI was the wide tube.  Even with my more svelte frame, this was NOT a wide tube. 

I leaned into a requested Pandora station with Contemporary Christian music, which Jessica the MRI tech immediately smiled and said, “I get that” with a big smile.  She knew I was leery as I eyeballed the machine like a formidable foe when I stepped in the room.  She also knew I had taken Xanax, and she reassured me all would be well as she hooked my IV to the contrast and then explained we’d do the test both with and without contrast and that I would not be able to doze off as they would call out directions as far as breathing over the music and that anything I missed would further my testing time.  You better believe I was all ears and on the mark with my deep breath and holds throughout! 

As the last preparations were made and they were raising the table I started to close my eyes.  Jessica assured me she’d have the music on as soon as she got back to the control board.  A simple thanks as I started to slide in was all I could muster up as I immediately turned to the Great Healer asking yet again for His peace and comfort.  Just let me get through this test once again…just help me to keep my eyes closed and resist the temptation to open them…and yes, it sure would be great if this was the affirmation that all was well. 

Once fully into the MRI, the music quickly kicked on as Jessica quickly asked if I was alright through the speaker.  “I am now.”  Lord, simply let me hang on and follow directions.  As the first song, “Rattle!” started to play…my calm settled in with the first, “Since when has impossible ever stopped You?”  and then, “My God is able to save and deliver and heal”.  He has done all of this and He carried me again through about 30-40 minutes of testing.  Whew…step 1…done!

Now the best part…I was home less than an hour and I received a notice that MyChart online had new test results posted.  There was no way that could be my results from today…perhaps my vitals, but not the results from the MRI?!  Not only was it the results from the MRI, but an encouraging note and assessment from my chemo oncologist.  The team at Houston Methodist has astonished us at each and every turn, so I guess we shouldn’t have been surprised with how quickly they resolved any anxiety today.

As hoped, the MRI confirmed a benign cyst is on the kidney with no further action needed for it.  The rest of the abdominal cavity had nothing else that looked anything but normal.  One final follow-up with each oncologist ahead and then the start of long-term maintenance with the ENT.

The immersion to work has been a great thing, including my first trip in quite some time last week.  How awesome to see, shake hands, and hug so many of the folks who supported me along the way!

Praying It Forward

We have a number of folks who we are continuing to lift in prayer and provide a steady flow of communication to, all who are fighting cancer, and some who are fighting head and neck cancer just like we did.  It pains me to see them each facing their battles and there isn’t anything we won’t do to help them each in their journeys.  We are thankful for the opportunity to support them in any way we can in the process, whether it be through any sharing of information or lifting them in prayer.  We look forward to continuing to support them and others ahead.

Spring Excitement

Paige has had a crush of activity recently, from the NCL tea, senior pictures, her mission trip to Costa Rica, continued prep for A&M, a final pep rally, a music festival in College Station, and planning ahead for even more trips, camps, orientations through the summer. 

Melissa and I actually got to spend a few days in Norman with Chase for a bit of his spring break.  It allowed us to meet Carman, his rescue cat who is absolutely amazing.  He has been swamped with some of his film production and writing courses this semester and continues to do great things there.  Lots of planning around summer logistics for work, trips, and starting to prep for the start of his senior year next fall.    

Melissa and I remain baffled that we’re approaching empty nest status, but our lives are busier than ever and will likely take us in separate directions over the course of the summer with so much of the preparations in both College Station and Norman.  We’ve also got our hands full with the Young Life golf tournament and the NCL senior recognition that’ll bring all the grandparents together here in Texas on Easter weekend.  Melissa has prom and graduation planning on top of all of that.  There is no rest for the weary, but it’s also helping us feel that we’re settling back into a rhythm.  We’ve committed we will not lose focus of the important things this journey has shown us due to the busy-ness of our world. 

A Final Thanks and Prayer for Our Community

I couldn’t be happier to inform you all that unless something crazy arises, I’m hoping to be done with these updates on CaringBridge.  That doesn’t mean I want to stop communicating, it means that I want to stop talking about my cancer because it is gone and I’m confident that God will continue my healing journey and then direct us to even greater days ahead.

If you haven’t already, find us on Facebook or even drop us old school notes!  We don’t want to lose touch with you.

This community here has prayed for us, loved on us, sent notes, and even sent care packages.  You’ve shown love in ways that we can only hope to emulate in the days and years ahead.  We’ve seen and we’ve learned what is important…and the number one thing is to love and pray for others, whether they are in times of trouble or times of joy.  Being there and letting folks know you are there is the greatest gift you can give and boy did we ever learn that lesson. 

We lift a prayer for each and every one of you, whether you are in a season of joy or a season in the wilderness.  We love you all and are forever indebted for your love, support, prayers, and hope when we were in our wilderness.  Collectively, you and God made sure we were never alone.  Our prayer is that everyone has that same feeling of never being alone because you never are.   

We will faithfully continue along our path that remains as well-lit today as it was in even our darkest days

Marching on…