DON’T… GOOGLE… MEDICAL… SYMPTOMS!!!
That was the first rule I broke. After breaking that rule, I swiftly broke another rule I have in life “It is nothing until it is something”. The premise of this second rule is not to assign motives to others without getting a direct explanation OR to not worry about circumstances that I don’t have all of the information for yet.
The following example is one you should take note of. Here is the story of how I crumbled into a pile of weeping sad goo then jumped for joy in celebration within 24 hours. Spoiler alert, all of her scans were clear.
On Wednesday Elizabeth had two scans done, a bone scan and a CT scan. These were to check to see if the cancer had spread to her bones or other organs. After the scans were done she came out crying… uh oh. She said in the scan she could see an image of her pelvis and spine all lit up and was afraid that was cancer. For those who didn’t know, her father has battled leukemia and lymphoma for 13 years. One thing she had heard over the years was how his scans “lit up with cancer spots”. So her fear was grounded in experience.
When she got in the car with me I told her, “it is nothing until it is something”. Then when we got home I jumped on the o’ Dr. Google and searched “breast cancer spread to bones” because she saw stuff on the bone scan… bad idea. What I saw was enough to break any husband.
“Incurable and 1-4 year life expectancy once diagnosed”
She didn’t know what I had just read and I couldn’t bring myself to tell her. So I sat stone faced and said nothing, but was dying inside. I sent out a text to a few of my prayer brothers and explained what happened, to which two of them called me and said “but they haven’t told you anything right? So you don’t actually know..”
“BUT SHE SAW PELVIS AND SPINE!!!” Why is that a big deal? Those are two of the three most common places breast cancer spreads to the bones (ribs are the third).
-insert miserable night sleep here-
Next day we get the call at 10am “scans are clear, no spread”
Jaw. Drop. Commence happy dance.
The Medical Process
We met with the oncologist and breast surgeon at Henry Ford in Jackson and were really happy with both of them. Impressive individuals who are very personable. We started the process at St. Joe’s in Chelsea but wanted to avoid the logistics of a 30 minute drive for every appointment.
The plan going forward is to get a port put in next week then chemo starts November 2nd, then eight sessions every other week for four months followed by surgery. Given the size of the tumor it is most likely to be a full mastectomy and not a partial (lumpectomy). Then another four months of treatment. Let the marathon begin.
The Love Process
I cannot begin to express the gratitude we have for you. We have felt the power of your prayers. We have been brought meals, gotten rides for kids activities, people watching our kids, breast milk galore (up to 15 different donors), and my mother in law filling in every gap possible. This weekend we are off to do a little get away before the chaos of treatment begins. Even in that we have had people Venmo us to “have a good time” up north as we go to see the fall colors around Petoskey.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Be careful helping us… those who do will end up getting a giant bear hug from me as well as possible ugly crying on your shoulder.
But seriously, Thank you.
Here is the VERY well fed Judah. Ya don’t get into the 99th percentile in height and weight on accident…
