Feb. 6, 2015
First I want to thank you ALL for your love, concern, and prayers. I appreciate them more than you can imagine, and I feel them every day!
On January 12, 2015 I had a routine CT scan to follow up on the colon cancer I was diagnosed with in June 2013. It showed a new 3 x 3.9 cm soft tissue mass at the original cancer site. The recommendation was to have it removed, so on January 27, 2015 I had surgery at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City. The mass was removed along with surrounding tissue, lymph nodes, etc., and two other incapsulated nodules. Pathology confirmed that it was recurrent colon cancer in each mass/nodule and also in one lymph node.
After 5 days in the hospital I was released to go home and continue my recovery. It's been wonderful to be home. I am sleeping well, eating just about anything I want, and able to move around very well. Devon is a wonderful caregiver - very attentive to my every whim. He even made chocolate chip cookies yesterday - a first for him and oh are they yummy! I went to the doctor today and had my staples removed and was very pleased to have lost only 4 pounds.
I am scheduled to see my oncologist at Huntsman on Monday. We are anxious for information regarding the next step - chemo. But for at least a month the plan is to just recover from surgery. Thankfully I am well on my way, and thankfully it has not spread to my lungs or liver.
Our mission assignment to Hawaii while initially postponed, is now officially cancelled. Our new mission is to complete treatment, get strong, and re-submit our mission papers.
I feel truly blessed - not to to have this diagnosis return, but for the many little miracles we've already experienced. We are optimistic. It's not the journey we had planned, but it's one we'll get through together.
Definitely sending prayers heavenward for your complete and a speedy recovery so you can once again submit your mission papers! I know that is where your heart is.
ReplyDeleteWe love you and are praying hard! When the going gets tough, think of Josh. He is the perfect example of getting through it. I know you can too! (prayer really does work!)
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ReplyDeleteWe are thinking of you. I hope you have a speedy and full recovery. It will be great to share these experiences and small miracles with others when you go into the mission field again.
ReplyDeleteJohn Beckstead.