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On Tuesday August 28th, I was blindsided by a unexpected obstacle. A few days before returning home from a wonderful excursion in Europe, I had experienced some shortness of breath when walking up steep inclines. When I was on a less steep or a flat walking surface, I was fine. Since our pace had been about the same for the whole month, this was a noticeable change. My friend and I decided that it would be good for me to see my physician.
When I called the clinic, I was able to get an appointment that day. My physician, Dr. Craig Whittlesey, examined me and decided to take a chest x-ray. After seeing the x-ray, he interviewed me closely concerning my symptoms. He said that I had significant fluid build-up on my left lung. I asked him what he suspected and he said that it looked like lung cancer. He asked me to stay within a few minutes of the hospital and if there was any change in my symptoms, to go to ER. We exchanged cell numbers and he said to keep my phone alert. He was going to arrange for me to see a pulmonologist as soon as possible. Before I left the appointment, he asked me if he could pray for me. This was so comforting to me. We placed my life and health in the hands of the Lord.
When he called me with the appointment scheduled for Thursday, he reemphasized that I was to go to ER if there was any change. My sons were with me at that point. We made arrangement for someone to be with me through the night.
The next morning, I began to have more labored breathing. We went to ER at Astria Regional, where they did a chest x-ray. I asked Dr. Waters, the ER doctor, to show me the x-ray and he was so kind as he explained that my left lung was full of fluid and that there was a tumor at the top of lung. He told me that it was very serious. He recommended doing a CT scan so that the pulmonologist would have that information. Because of risk of infection, we decided that I could go home for the night with emergency oxygen. My son Jared and my dear friend Karron Hanses spent the night with me.
Thursday, I had the appointment with the pulmonologist Dr. Chowdhury. She went over the CT scan that she had received from the ER. I was able to see that my left lung had been compressed severely. She was very kind as she explained what this revealed. She said that the diagnosis was stage 4 inoperable lung cancer with metastasis to the liver. She removed 1.3 liters of fluid off my left lung and prepared samples to go to lab. After the procedure, I had another chest x-ray and I could see my lung on the left side. My breathing was greatly improved. She set me up for a bronchoscopy and biopsy for this Thursday. A PET scan is also to be scheduled. This information is needed for the next step of meeting with an oncologist.
The Lord has repeatedly reassured me that He has me in His hand. The support of my family and friends has been tremendous through this week. My sons immediately said that they believed the Lord held off symptoms until I got to go on my long anticipated adventure. On that journey, my friend Jakki and I had to be flexible and trust the Lord to guide us. We had our plans; He had His way! We went along and discovered delightful things that we hadn’t anticipated.
The journey I am on right now with Him is not one that I would have planned for or anticipated. Yet I am assured that He will be with me and He will prevail. And within the dismal daunting wrappings of cancer, there is a treasure too. I am willing to be healed and I am confident that He planned my days, every one of them, when as yet there were none. Psalm 139
Everyone, Leslie is headed to the west side (11/25/18) and asks if we would pray specifically for her Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening. She is scheduled for a liver biopsy and infusion appointment. We are asking for a successful biopsy and safe travels.
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