Deryl says........Well tomorrow is the day. I am surprisingly calm at the moment. I have been very nervous the last couple of days. They gave Kelley some xanax for the anxiety. I should have asked for some as well. I didn't sleep well last night. I don't know if I will be able to sleep at all tonight. It is scary to know what she is going to go through. I feel the most anxiety when I imagine what it must be like to be in her shoes. She is so strong it amazes me.
She came home from the plastic surgeon today and the surgeon had drawn all over her boobs with a permanent purple marker. She has to take a shower tonight and when she is done I am charged with the task of redrawing those lines for her. I asked if I could color them in as well but she said no. I was thinking that it might be fun to draw on her on a regular basis. She could be my canvas! Well, I like the idea but we will see if she does when all of this is over.
We have had a lot of laughter tonight. Kelley's sister is here and our friend Naomi from Oklahoma is here as well. It is moments like this when I cherish family and friends most. Why do we need a crisis to bring everyone together. Even though I have been nervous and Kelley has had her emotional moments this has been a great week. The friends who have been there for us in so many ways has been so humbling. Just laughing and hanging out together at our "Screw Cancer" party. I have loved it. There is so much to be grateful for. It is so much more obvious now. I knew it before but I notice it more often these days. The company I work for is so great. They are letting me work from home while Kelley is recovering. They have been so understanding when I have had to go to doctor after doctor with Kelley. If you are ever looking for a good company to work for I highly recommend Nationstar Mortgage. I think you can tell a lot about a person or an organization by how they treat you in a time of trouble and my company has been nothing but supportive and understanding.
Well my wife is never going to look the same after tomorrow. I have thought about that quite a bit. I have wondered to myself if it was going to bother me at all. But all need is one look at her smiling face to know I could say bye bye boobies forever without one regret. Kelley is not her body. Her looks may be what attracted me to her initially but you cannot stay happily married for 15+ years when your relationship is based on looks. She is an exceptional woman. She has been through so much in her life. She really deserves a break. You would never know that she was raised in poverty by a single mother, lost her 3 month old son to SIDS when she was a teen, lost her mother to cancer when her mother was 53, and is now battling the very same disease that took her mother's life. If you know Kelley you would know that she doesn't live back there in the difficult places of the past. She lives in the moment now more than ever. She is an inspiration to all who know her. I feel honored to be her husband. She feels things so deeply. When she loves someone she love them with all her soul. When she cares for someone she cares sincerely with all her heart. She empathizes so deeply she has to be careful what she gets involved in as it can overwhelm her emotionally. She love all those crazy ladies from her womens group. I don't know what you ladies talk about but I see her smirking and talking on the phone some times to you girls. She will hang up and have a big smile on her face or sometimes tears in her eyes. She tells me she just wants to have an impact on the lives of women. She has obviously been very successful at doing that already.
I think the thing I want to communicate most is that we will be OK. This is not going to be fun. But we will come out on the other side better than we are now. Wear pink tomorrow if you can and please pray for Kelley. Much love!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saying Good-bye to the Ta-Tas
Kelley says...........
Well, I feel like there should be some kind of ceremony or a going away party for my Ta-Ta's, HA! Out with the old and in with the new, right? I went to the plastic surgeon today and he marked me all up for surgery. So, I have nice purple permanent marker all over my chest area. But he did say that when I take a shower tonight and in the morning Deryl will have to go back over the lines. To which Deryl is happy to to follow the doctors orders!!
Last night, for the first time, I started getting really anxious and nervous. Same thing this morning. But I know people must have been praying because I had an overwhelming sense of peace and calmness come over me. Then, when I got to the doctors office, I was so nervous I felt like I could run laps around the building and I was about to jump out of my skin. Then the doctor came in, marked me all up and then he said the following....."I want you to know something. Tomorrow when you wake up from surgery, you are going to be much healthier than you are standing here today. And from now on, that is how we are going to treat you, like you are healthy. This is all going to be okay and you are going to get through this just fine". I just love this doctor, he is incredible. I instantly felt that peace just come over me again. I have been talking 90 miles and hour so I guess I am still nervous but I don't feel like I am about to have a nervous breakdown anymore!
My surgery is tomorrow at 1:30 but I have to be there at 9:00. I will not be putting the location here on this blog because I wouldn't want any crazy person showing up that I don't even know! So, if you know us personally, you should already know where it is or how to find that out. I will be out of it most of the afternoon and evening tomorrow. So if you want to come it will be for support for my family. I just want to say now that if I am just not up to visiting when you happen to come by, please don't be offended. Because the last thing I can be concerned with right now is hurting anyone's feelings! I know you all will be very understanding as you already have.
I also want to say thank you to everyone I know. I so appreciate the fact that no one shared their opinions with me about the surgery option before I made my decision. You cannot even imagine how much that helped me. I had four weeks to contemplate this and am 100% confident I have made the right choice and have a great peace about it. And it was one me and God decided on alone. I discussed it thoroughly with Deryl of course but even he was completely neutral.
And lastly, my prayer request today is the following...
Love you all!!!!
Well, I feel like there should be some kind of ceremony or a going away party for my Ta-Ta's, HA! Out with the old and in with the new, right? I went to the plastic surgeon today and he marked me all up for surgery. So, I have nice purple permanent marker all over my chest area. But he did say that when I take a shower tonight and in the morning Deryl will have to go back over the lines. To which Deryl is happy to to follow the doctors orders!!
Last night, for the first time, I started getting really anxious and nervous. Same thing this morning. But I know people must have been praying because I had an overwhelming sense of peace and calmness come over me. Then, when I got to the doctors office, I was so nervous I felt like I could run laps around the building and I was about to jump out of my skin. Then the doctor came in, marked me all up and then he said the following....."I want you to know something. Tomorrow when you wake up from surgery, you are going to be much healthier than you are standing here today. And from now on, that is how we are going to treat you, like you are healthy. This is all going to be okay and you are going to get through this just fine". I just love this doctor, he is incredible. I instantly felt that peace just come over me again. I have been talking 90 miles and hour so I guess I am still nervous but I don't feel like I am about to have a nervous breakdown anymore!
My surgery is tomorrow at 1:30 but I have to be there at 9:00. I will not be putting the location here on this blog because I wouldn't want any crazy person showing up that I don't even know! So, if you know us personally, you should already know where it is or how to find that out. I will be out of it most of the afternoon and evening tomorrow. So if you want to come it will be for support for my family. I just want to say now that if I am just not up to visiting when you happen to come by, please don't be offended. Because the last thing I can be concerned with right now is hurting anyone's feelings! I know you all will be very understanding as you already have.
I also want to say thank you to everyone I know. I so appreciate the fact that no one shared their opinions with me about the surgery option before I made my decision. You cannot even imagine how much that helped me. I had four weeks to contemplate this and am 100% confident I have made the right choice and have a great peace about it. And it was one me and God decided on alone. I discussed it thoroughly with Deryl of course but even he was completely neutral.
And lastly, my prayer request today is the following...
- For Deryl & the girls and my family
- That every single person I come into contact with will be extremely nice and caring and have an awesome bedside manner
- That I will have a quick recovery
- That I will not get any infection or have any complications
- And that I will not have to have CHEMO!!!! I still believe in miracles!!!!
Love you all!!!!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Infected or Contagious?
Kelley says..................
Last weekend, I went to watch my niece compete in a Fine Arts competition. One of the categories was "Short Sermon". One of the girls competing talked about the differences of being infected or being contagious. She said that contagious means ""tending to spread from person to person". I started thinking about this. The more I thought about it I realized that I am "infected" with cancer but not "contagious".
It started coming to my mind that that is exactly how we are a lot of the time as Christians. We get infected with Jesus but we stay that way and never get contagious. We never share him with anyone and we don't allow him to rub off on others. Honestly, I have never been the kind of person to go out and "witness" to other people. I couldn't stand it when someone did that to me when I was not saved and I would never want to push someone the other direction. But I do know for sure that when it comes to my walk with God, I want to be contagious!! I don't want to have this awesome gift and keep it all to myself.
I'm not going to sit here and not be real with you and say I haven't questioned my faith through all of this at different times. I mean, it is hard, it sucks, I wish I didn't have to go through this, I wish my family didn't have to go through it. I have lost two of the closest people to me in my life and that alone should be enough for a lifetime. But these moments of questioning don't last long. I try to focus on what all God HAS done in my life. And you know what? He's done some pretty incredible things. Especially with timing. Of course, I always think at the time that his timing couldn't be worse. But as I look back on my life, there are countless things where later on I realized they couldn't have happened at a better time in my life and that God knew exactly what he was doing. I ask myself, "What if you having this at this time in your own life is going to save many others through early detection?" Well, that brings joy to my heart and is something I hold onto.
I am the "little sister", "the baby". My brother is 9 years older and my sister is 10 years older. My brother just cannot understand why God would allow this to happen to me. He is taking it all very, very hard. I know all the memories of everything we went through with watching our mother die must make it that much harder. But I have never once said to myself "Why me?" I just think that to say that is pointless in my situation. All I can think about is "Why NOT me?" Little kid's with their entire lives ahead of them get cancer. People go through major trials and health issues every day. The biggest question to me is "How am I going to get the message out about self-breast exams?" I want to start speaking at events NOW to spread the word. I hate that I have to go through surgery & recovery first because I want to shout it from the roof tops NOW, so more and more women will see how important it is.
I feel like there are lives God wants to save and he is offering ME the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than myself. I cannot sit idly by and watch the opportunity pass me by. So again I ask, "Have you Felt your Ta-Tas this month?" If not, why not? Please, go do it now!!!! It could save your life! Here I am, a living example.
Love you all so much. Thanks for reading our blog.
Last weekend, I went to watch my niece compete in a Fine Arts competition. One of the categories was "Short Sermon". One of the girls competing talked about the differences of being infected or being contagious. She said that contagious means ""tending to spread from person to person". I started thinking about this. The more I thought about it I realized that I am "infected" with cancer but not "contagious".
It started coming to my mind that that is exactly how we are a lot of the time as Christians. We get infected with Jesus but we stay that way and never get contagious. We never share him with anyone and we don't allow him to rub off on others. Honestly, I have never been the kind of person to go out and "witness" to other people. I couldn't stand it when someone did that to me when I was not saved and I would never want to push someone the other direction. But I do know for sure that when it comes to my walk with God, I want to be contagious!! I don't want to have this awesome gift and keep it all to myself.
I'm not going to sit here and not be real with you and say I haven't questioned my faith through all of this at different times. I mean, it is hard, it sucks, I wish I didn't have to go through this, I wish my family didn't have to go through it. I have lost two of the closest people to me in my life and that alone should be enough for a lifetime. But these moments of questioning don't last long. I try to focus on what all God HAS done in my life. And you know what? He's done some pretty incredible things. Especially with timing. Of course, I always think at the time that his timing couldn't be worse. But as I look back on my life, there are countless things where later on I realized they couldn't have happened at a better time in my life and that God knew exactly what he was doing. I ask myself, "What if you having this at this time in your own life is going to save many others through early detection?" Well, that brings joy to my heart and is something I hold onto.
I am the "little sister", "the baby". My brother is 9 years older and my sister is 10 years older. My brother just cannot understand why God would allow this to happen to me. He is taking it all very, very hard. I know all the memories of everything we went through with watching our mother die must make it that much harder. But I have never once said to myself "Why me?" I just think that to say that is pointless in my situation. All I can think about is "Why NOT me?" Little kid's with their entire lives ahead of them get cancer. People go through major trials and health issues every day. The biggest question to me is "How am I going to get the message out about self-breast exams?" I want to start speaking at events NOW to spread the word. I hate that I have to go through surgery & recovery first because I want to shout it from the roof tops NOW, so more and more women will see how important it is.
I feel like there are lives God wants to save and he is offering ME the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than myself. I cannot sit idly by and watch the opportunity pass me by. So again I ask, "Have you Felt your Ta-Tas this month?" If not, why not? Please, go do it now!!!! It could save your life! Here I am, a living example.
Love you all so much. Thanks for reading our blog.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
We All Need Someone to Lean On
Deryl says..........The surgery date looms. As it gets closer I find myself getting more nervous. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Kelley. I realize that this is our last "normal" weekend together. Life will be dramatically different for a long time after this week. Maybe we will get back to a kind of normal but our previous life is gone. That will have its positives and negatives. I do find myself afraid of the unknown. I have some idea from conversations I have had with some wonderful people who have been through this before what to expect. But you never really know until you have been through it. I fear how much Kelley is going to suffer. I fear the girls stressing out their mother with petty bickering. I fear I will lose my temper with the girls or even Kelley from stress. I am not normally a fearful person so feeling all of this tangible fear is strange and uncomfortable. I don't want to let Kelley down during this time. I have lots of offers for help. I welcome all the help. Right now I just don't know what kind of help I will need. I do know that if I am able to come through for Kelley on every front it will be because of the love and support offered by so many.
You know some people look at the world and say why would you want to bring a child into this evil world. But I think most people are basically good and many are exceptionally good. There is nothing that brings out the best in people like a crisis. And there is something especially unique about the sisterhood of cancer survivors. And somehow I get to join the sorority just because I married the right girl. I don't want Kelley to suffer. But I am pleased to meet so many people that are so open about life and their cancer experience. Its like you lose a couple of layers of your ego instantly as you fight death. Priorities change immediately. Things like vanity and political correctness disappear. I have had more conversations about boobs and nipples with women I have barely known in the last week than I have in my entire life. That previous statement may offend some people. And I would have cared prior to April 12th. But now I will have any conversation I need to have with anyone I feel will be helpful without any shame or awkwardness. Because my sole goal in life is to do everything I can to aid my wife in her recovery.
We had an awesome party last night. Our friends Byron and Shai organized it in a couple of days. We called it our "Screw Cancer" pajama party. Our friends brought Kelley new pajamas. She will need some that button in the front since she won't be able to lift her hands above her head for a while. We have pictures on our facebook pages. If you are not friends with us just make a friend request and we will add you. It is amazing to know that I have friends that I have not seen in over 20 years yet still care and are praying for me and Kelley. I love you all and I am not just saying that.
At the party, instead of cocktails I made fresh juice for everyone with our new juicer. Kelley and I have gone on a complete vegetarian diet since the diagnosis and we juice fruits and vegetable 3 times a day for additional nutrients. This is something I never thought I would do. Kelley tried to get me on a juice kick a couple of years ago and I would have nothing to do with it. It is amazing how easy it is now to drink something I thought I would never enjoy. I wonder why it is so much easier to do something healthy for your loved ones than it is yourself. I have always known it was good for us but I could not get past the taste. Now I love the taste.
Kelley and I have decided we are going to start a non-profit to help breast cancer patients. We want to raise awareness, educate women on prevention and early detection, educate caregivers, raise money for more research, and most of all provide financial, emotional, and practical assistance to breast cancer patients. We have not come up with a name for it yet. I was thinking of calling it the Mary Parent (Kelley's Mom) Foundation or Peace, Love, Hope, Cure. But it is early in the process. I wonder if I can get Nancy Brinker and Lance Armstrong to be on our board of directors. That would be fun.
It is funny how often I think of women's breasts now. You may be saying to yourself well "Duh!" your a guy. But I don't mean in any kind of perverted, lustful way. I find myself looking at a woman and wondering if she has ever had a double mastectomy or currently has breast cancer. It is almost as if I see them now as potential health hazards instead of how you would expect a guy to normally see them. Because I look at my wife and think she looks better than ever yet she has a potentially fatal disease. I think that is why cancer is so scary. Because the person looks so normal and healthy. It just makes it hard to register in your mind that all of this is necessary to save her life. I am afraid yet hopeful. Please keep praying for us.
You know some people look at the world and say why would you want to bring a child into this evil world. But I think most people are basically good and many are exceptionally good. There is nothing that brings out the best in people like a crisis. And there is something especially unique about the sisterhood of cancer survivors. And somehow I get to join the sorority just because I married the right girl. I don't want Kelley to suffer. But I am pleased to meet so many people that are so open about life and their cancer experience. Its like you lose a couple of layers of your ego instantly as you fight death. Priorities change immediately. Things like vanity and political correctness disappear. I have had more conversations about boobs and nipples with women I have barely known in the last week than I have in my entire life. That previous statement may offend some people. And I would have cared prior to April 12th. But now I will have any conversation I need to have with anyone I feel will be helpful without any shame or awkwardness. Because my sole goal in life is to do everything I can to aid my wife in her recovery.
We had an awesome party last night. Our friends Byron and Shai organized it in a couple of days. We called it our "Screw Cancer" pajama party. Our friends brought Kelley new pajamas. She will need some that button in the front since she won't be able to lift her hands above her head for a while. We have pictures on our facebook pages. If you are not friends with us just make a friend request and we will add you. It is amazing to know that I have friends that I have not seen in over 20 years yet still care and are praying for me and Kelley. I love you all and I am not just saying that.
At the party, instead of cocktails I made fresh juice for everyone with our new juicer. Kelley and I have gone on a complete vegetarian diet since the diagnosis and we juice fruits and vegetable 3 times a day for additional nutrients. This is something I never thought I would do. Kelley tried to get me on a juice kick a couple of years ago and I would have nothing to do with it. It is amazing how easy it is now to drink something I thought I would never enjoy. I wonder why it is so much easier to do something healthy for your loved ones than it is yourself. I have always known it was good for us but I could not get past the taste. Now I love the taste.
Kelley and I have decided we are going to start a non-profit to help breast cancer patients. We want to raise awareness, educate women on prevention and early detection, educate caregivers, raise money for more research, and most of all provide financial, emotional, and practical assistance to breast cancer patients. We have not come up with a name for it yet. I was thinking of calling it the Mary Parent (Kelley's Mom) Foundation or Peace, Love, Hope, Cure. But it is early in the process. I wonder if I can get Nancy Brinker and Lance Armstrong to be on our board of directors. That would be fun.
It is funny how often I think of women's breasts now. You may be saying to yourself well "Duh!" your a guy. But I don't mean in any kind of perverted, lustful way. I find myself looking at a woman and wondering if she has ever had a double mastectomy or currently has breast cancer. It is almost as if I see them now as potential health hazards instead of how you would expect a guy to normally see them. Because I look at my wife and think she looks better than ever yet she has a potentially fatal disease. I think that is why cancer is so scary. Because the person looks so normal and healthy. It just makes it hard to register in your mind that all of this is necessary to save her life. I am afraid yet hopeful. Please keep praying for us.
New Friends from Sing for the Cure
Here is a picture of Michael and his son and Jan and her brother. Our new friends from Sing for the cure.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A Night of Beauty and Agony
As you might expect pink was the color of the evening and most were wearing pink of some sort. However, we met two exceptional men wearing pink suits. But not just pink suits but pink shoes, hats and hankies as well. They looked so good I had to have my picture taken with them. I asked the elder gentleman if his spouse was a breast cancer survivor. He replied "no, I am". I was floored. This guy had male breast cancer just over 5 years ago and was cancer free. We also met a lady named Jan who had obviously been through chemo within the last year. She had just gone through a recurrence of her cancer and was cancer free after her second round of chemo. She asked Kelley how long ago she had been through treatment. Kelley said "I have a double mastectomy next Tuesday". Poor Jan looked like someone stabbed her in the side. Tears welled up in her eyes and she immediately went and gave Kelley a hug. Now I am about to say some unbelievable things. Before I do let me just say "I am scared of what Kelley is facing and what the treatment of this cancer will do to her." But I can also say that this cancer is a blessing. And the interesting thing is Jan said the same thing when discussing her battle with cancer. I say that because if you knew Kelley just a few years ago a stranger trying to hug Kelley would typically not receive a warm response from her. And someone other than immediate family saying "I love you" would have received silence back. But that is not the case anymore. Kelley is so much more open to love and affection. One thing I find really interesting and refreshing is that when you meet another person or family that has gone through or is going through cancer there is an instant bond. Its like all the pretense and "b.s." of normal life have no meaning and life becomes about living and loving and giving. How can that not be a blessing? Oh don't think that there are not dark days that come with cancer. There are more than anyone would care to experience. But the light days are lighter, the love is deeper, and all the things you have to be grateful for are much more visible.
The guy in the pink suits name is Michael. Kelley and I both had an instant connection with Michael. I wish you could have seen him. Michael is probably in his late 40s or early 50s. And he is a big, black, sweet, encouraging man. And when I say big I mean big in every way. And being decked out from head to toe in pink he is impossible to miss. I don't know where he is from or his background or what he does for a living but I know he is a friend and I know Kelley and I will never forget him. I will post a picture of him in a later post.
You know I was planning on writing about how sad and afraid I have been today. But just writing about Michael and Jan have already made me feel better. I still don't want Kelley to have to go through this but maybe new relationships and helping others is worth all of this. I guess it is easy for me to say since no one is cutting on me but I think Kelley would agree. Our good friend Alvin can tell you that sometimes what feels like the worst thing that could possibly happen in the moment can wind up being the greatest thing that ever happened to you. I hope that will be the case with this and I believe it will eventually.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Surgery Decision
Kelley says............
After literally weeks of consideration. Talking with doctors, researching, praying, crying, talking to others who have been in my position, I have finally come to a conclusion. There is no doubt that a lumpectomy would be the easiest route for me to take. Much less surgery, less trauma on my body and I wouldn't be out of work as long. But when I really, really think about it, if I decided to go with that type of surgery and someone were to ask me if I felt good about that decision, I would not be able to say yes. When I think of only having the lumpectomy, I don't have any peace about it.
The fact that my mother and her mother both had breast cancer and my mother died from this, regardless of the genetics test, how can I not do every thing in my power to prevent a recurrence? When I said out loud to Deryl that my decision is to have the double mastectomy, as weird as it sounds, I felt happy. I felt a sense of calm and peace come over me. When I realized that this would change my surgery because the plastic surgeon would now have to be involved, I panicked. I called my doctor and she said I may have to reschedule surgery again! I just cried out to God and really believed in my heart that he was hearing me. I asked him to work this out for me. It really seemed impossible because I had to get in for a consultation with the plastic surgeon, make my decision on reconstruction, go back to see the breast surgeon and go in again to see the plastic surgeon and do all of this before next Tuesday!!
My surgeon called me last night at 6:30 and I started putting this into motion. Absolutely everything worked out. She got me in to see her at 1:00 today. I was scheduled to see the plastic surgeon tomorrow at 3:30. I just kept praying for God to work this all out. The plastic surgeon's office called me and asked if I could go ahead and come in today! So, I went to see him at 2:00. AND, my surgery date is still the same. They are actually moving other people's appointments around to make this happen. Is that amazing or what?!
The unfortunate news I found out today is that because of me getting this at such a young age, I will most likely have to get Chemo after all. But I am not letting that worry me right now. I am just going to focus on getting through the surgery and worry about that later. I can only be concerned with what I know now and that is the surgery.
So, my new prayer request is that I have peace and that surgery goes extremely well. That both surgeon's do an excellent job and that I have a speedy recovery with NO complications. And as always, for Deryl and the girls as we travel this journey. And above all, that God's will would be done and accomplished in all of this.
Deryl says....... Well I am relieved that she made this decision. I went back and forth on which direction I hoped she would take. I tried to stay as neutral as possible and not influence her decision. Because ultimately it is her body and her choice. I was planning on titling another post " Hey Doctor Give Me a Mastectomy..... and Make it a Double" but Kelley thought that was too long for a title. There have been so many people who have been such a blessing to us during this time but I want to give a special shout out to Byron and Shai Mitchmore. We have only recently gotten to know them and they have gone above and beyond to be a source of support and compassion and in ways you cannot imagine. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
After literally weeks of consideration. Talking with doctors, researching, praying, crying, talking to others who have been in my position, I have finally come to a conclusion. There is no doubt that a lumpectomy would be the easiest route for me to take. Much less surgery, less trauma on my body and I wouldn't be out of work as long. But when I really, really think about it, if I decided to go with that type of surgery and someone were to ask me if I felt good about that decision, I would not be able to say yes. When I think of only having the lumpectomy, I don't have any peace about it.
The fact that my mother and her mother both had breast cancer and my mother died from this, regardless of the genetics test, how can I not do every thing in my power to prevent a recurrence? When I said out loud to Deryl that my decision is to have the double mastectomy, as weird as it sounds, I felt happy. I felt a sense of calm and peace come over me. When I realized that this would change my surgery because the plastic surgeon would now have to be involved, I panicked. I called my doctor and she said I may have to reschedule surgery again! I just cried out to God and really believed in my heart that he was hearing me. I asked him to work this out for me. It really seemed impossible because I had to get in for a consultation with the plastic surgeon, make my decision on reconstruction, go back to see the breast surgeon and go in again to see the plastic surgeon and do all of this before next Tuesday!!
My surgeon called me last night at 6:30 and I started putting this into motion. Absolutely everything worked out. She got me in to see her at 1:00 today. I was scheduled to see the plastic surgeon tomorrow at 3:30. I just kept praying for God to work this all out. The plastic surgeon's office called me and asked if I could go ahead and come in today! So, I went to see him at 2:00. AND, my surgery date is still the same. They are actually moving other people's appointments around to make this happen. Is that amazing or what?!
The unfortunate news I found out today is that because of me getting this at such a young age, I will most likely have to get Chemo after all. But I am not letting that worry me right now. I am just going to focus on getting through the surgery and worry about that later. I can only be concerned with what I know now and that is the surgery.
So, my new prayer request is that I have peace and that surgery goes extremely well. That both surgeon's do an excellent job and that I have a speedy recovery with NO complications. And as always, for Deryl and the girls as we travel this journey. And above all, that God's will would be done and accomplished in all of this.
Deryl says....... Well I am relieved that she made this decision. I went back and forth on which direction I hoped she would take. I tried to stay as neutral as possible and not influence her decision. Because ultimately it is her body and her choice. I was planning on titling another post " Hey Doctor Give Me a Mastectomy..... and Make it a Double" but Kelley thought that was too long for a title. There have been so many people who have been such a blessing to us during this time but I want to give a special shout out to Byron and Shai Mitchmore. We have only recently gotten to know them and they have gone above and beyond to be a source of support and compassion and in ways you cannot imagine. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)