Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
This verse has always been one of my favorite Bible promises and it has taken on a whole new meaning for me personally since my health challenges began mid-February. I never thought that we would be creating a CaringBridge page for myself. I am blessed with so many people in my life who have already been praying for me and checking on me. CaringBridge is a wonderful way to communicate and update.
We have been overwhelmed with the love and encouragement that we have already received through these 5 weeks. My wonderful husband of almost 49 years is taking such good care of me as always. Joe’s answer to all of us is consistently, “Whatever you need me to do”! He serves with such kindness and humility.
Our four children and their families have showered us with their love and care in too many ways to even begin to mention! Our extended family and friends have sent messages, cards, food, gift cards and more. Our school community at Valor Christian Academy has been a big part of these blessings. We are forever grateful.
We are currently in a waiting period of more testing and figuring out my condition(s) along with a treatment plan. I continue to have no pain which is such a blessing. I get very tired easily and the pace of our life has been so much slower – for the first time since we can even remember!
In the meantime, thank you for your continued prayers for my precious granddaughter and namesake, Raven Nell. She has so many challenges and faces them with such courage. Her resilience and joy are inspiring. As many of you already know, Raven’s CaringBridge page is a www.CaringBridge.org/visit/PrayForBabyRaven (
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/PrayForBabyRaven). I started the site for her when she was about 5 days old and the Lord has sustained her through all of these years. She is our miracle girl! She was 7 in December!
My Journey So Far
February 16th: I was admitted to Northside Forsyth Hospital with acute jaundice. My bilirubin had been normal on 1-19-23 for a regular blood panel but quickly elevated to over 40. We had spent the morning of the 16th at Egleston while Raven had exploratory spinal surgery. But when my family noticed my complexion was progressively getting more yellow, and I was itching, my primary care doctor sent me straight to the hospital later that day.
February 26th: I returned home after a 10 day hospital stay. I had not been in the hospital since our Ruthie was born over 35 years ago! During those 10 days there were multiple procedures, tests and my first blood transfusion ever. After the 3rd procedure on the 24th a stent was successfully put in my clogged bile duct. My labs began to improve enough to go home. Thankfully, I was never in pain but felt terrible and exhausted from the imbalance in my system. CT and MRI scans revealed a tumor was pressing on my bile duct and that there is a small lesion on my pancreas. Initial brushings during one of the procedures resulted in a negative cytology which was encouraging.
March 9th: I went to Northside Atlanta for an outpatient procedure – an endoscopy with ultrasound and biopsies. In recovery we were told that the preliminary biopsies indicated stage 1 cancer that has not metastasized. I was immediately referred to Dr. Eddie Abdalla, specializing in Hepatobiliary Surgery and Surgical Oncology. He is a Director at the Northside Cancer Institute.
We are so thankful that the Lord immediately provided a world class doctor to direct my care. Dr. Abdalla leads a team approach. He has years of experience including time at MD Anderson. This link includes a wonderful interview with Dr. Abdalla on the Northside Atlanta website.
https://www.northside.com/services/cancer-institute/types-of-cancer/liver-pancreas-program March 21st: We met with Dr. Abdalla for the first time. He met our expectations and more! I will have a PET scan and meet with a genetic specialist before my next appointment with Dr. Abdalla on April 7th. By that time he will have more information for directing my care. He has concerns about conditions with my spleen and liver as well that he said could have developed over decades. If my bile duct had not been clogged, we have no idea how long it would have been until my medical issues were discovered. The most hopeful thing that Dr. Abdalla said strongly is “your condition is unequivocally treatable.”
I have chosen not to communicate about my health journey on FaceBook except to make it know that this site exists. You will notice that you can set an email or text alert to be notified every time this site is updated. I will probably not update again until after the next appointment with Dr. Abdall on April 7th.
It is sometimes challenging to respond to every communication that comes my way right now but please know how much you are loved and appreciated.
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3
With my love and appreciation,
Nell
nellestes22@gmail.com
