I didn't mention the fact that Tami had undergone the surgery to remove 1/2 her thyroid a few years before I did. Praise God that hers was not malignant and she was able to keep the other 1/2. She has had to continually monitor the other 1/2 with biopsies ever since, though--gross!! As you can probably tell by now, we have been very good friends for many years, but we do laugh now at our "twinness" (is that a word?) regarding the thyroid thing. However, her scar is a perfectly straight line, and mine is more of a smiley face. (God's way of saying same thing, but different?) She has been a complete sourse of strength and wisdom for me. She recently found out that she will have to have the other 1/2 of her thyroid removed now. She does not have malignancy, but "highly suspicious cells." It is not my story to tell, so I will keep the information just to that minimum. The point I am making is this.......Isn't it amazing how God works and prepares the way? This is another facet in the area of how women will be healed. Tami and I are experiencing the same kind of thing in two completely different ways. It's all about what God is doing in us so that we can give it away to others! God is totally revealing the massive amount of women who are dealing with thyroid issues--mind boggling.
God, we are willing to go through the fire, for we know that you are IN the fire WITH us. We know that in all things You work for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The next step....
Can’t do another scan for a year, because it is too harmful to the body. In 6 months my doctor will check the thyrogobulin levels in my blood. Right now it is 237, should be 0. Where that level is at determines if the radiation killed all of the cancer cells. I think the reason we wait 6 months is because the radiation stays in your body for that long. Can't do anything surgically because there isn't a tumor or something that can be seen. In a year, we'll do another low-dose radioactive pill and full body scan.
In the meantime, God is doing a great work! He already has used this to bring so many women together! It is an honor to be used by Him in whatever way He needs.
In the meantime, God is doing a great work! He already has used this to bring so many women together! It is an honor to be used by Him in whatever way He needs.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008. Healing is coming!!
God has a plan for healing me! I am praying He will heal me before I'm supposed to take the next radioactive pill on Wednesday, Sept. 24, but I know His timing is perfect, whenever it is. If His will is not to heal me before Wednesday, I will take the radioactive pill. If I do have to take the pill, Roger will be taking Thursday and Friday off work. I will be quarantined in the downstairs area of our home, which flooded last weekend. We have a bi-level home, so downstairs is half of our living space--a large family room, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. Currently, the carpet down there is all rolled up and everything that belongs down there is upstairs on our balcony (indoors).
We are asking you to join with us in believing for healing. We are FERVENTLY praying for healing before Wednesday. Please pray for our kids, that they would have peace. Their picture of cancer right now looks like watching their Auntie die from it. The Lord has not given them a spirit of fear, but of love, power and sound mind! We are also asking for prayer for Roger’s Mom. We haven’t told her yet and wish we didn’t have to add this to her plate. She is having a very difficult time recovering from the loss of her daughter to cancer in June. For those of you who don't know....Roger's younger sister, Elizabeth VanAvery, went home to be with our Lord on June 9, 2008. She was found to have cancer throughout much of her body in March, 2008. Please also stand with us against Satan, for our fight is not with flesh and blood.
So here comes the great part……GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED!!! Through this, so many women are going to be set free! I don’t know how or what exactly they will be set free from, but I do know God told me to put on some worship music and worship Him last night. During this time, he told me that women were going to be set free because of this! How fun it will be to see that come to pass!
Some tests may have shown there to be cancer cells in a certain part of my body, but I am not claiming to have cancer!!! I am walking in His victory!!!
We are asking you to join with us in believing for healing. We are FERVENTLY praying for healing before Wednesday. Please pray for our kids, that they would have peace. Their picture of cancer right now looks like watching their Auntie die from it. The Lord has not given them a spirit of fear, but of love, power and sound mind! We are also asking for prayer for Roger’s Mom. We haven’t told her yet and wish we didn’t have to add this to her plate. She is having a very difficult time recovering from the loss of her daughter to cancer in June. For those of you who don't know....Roger's younger sister, Elizabeth VanAvery, went home to be with our Lord on June 9, 2008. She was found to have cancer throughout much of her body in March, 2008. Please also stand with us against Satan, for our fight is not with flesh and blood.
So here comes the great part……GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED!!! Through this, so many women are going to be set free! I don’t know how or what exactly they will be set free from, but I do know God told me to put on some worship music and worship Him last night. During this time, he told me that women were going to be set free because of this! How fun it will be to see that come to pass!
Some tests may have shown there to be cancer cells in a certain part of my body, but I am not claiming to have cancer!!! I am walking in His victory!!!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The next body scan. Sept., 2008
It is now approximately 6 months after the second surgery (more like 9 months but who's counting). Time for the 2nd full body scan.........................
At this point I have been off the synthroid medication for more than 2 months. This was necessary in order to have the next full body scan (which is supposed to confirm all is well). You would not believe what the thyroid/synthroid controls!!! (If you have noticed that I have been a complete flake or emotional train wreck, this may help you understand why! For example: I could not find my cell phone one day. I looked everywhere for it. Guess where it was….in the fridge, right where I left it!)
On Wednesday, September 17 I took a radioactive pill, which is used during the scan to determine if there are any remaining cancer cells. This pill came with a set of fun instructions--I could not touch my children for 3 days, could not sleep with Roger for 2 days, had to use separate, disposable plates and silverware, separate bathroom, etc. Praise God for my sister Cheryl, who is a flight attendant. She was able to rearrange her schedule to take Jordan home with her for 4 days after the first pill. (Actually, I think she called in sick for at least part of it but she would never tell me that). The girls are 10 and 9, they understand when I tell them to stay across the room from me for a few days, but you can't tell that to a 3 year old.
On Friday, September 19, I went in for the full body scan. I'm really not a worrier at all, nor do I get nervous about much so it wasn't a big deal to me. Besides, this was just a formality that I had to go through. I knew everything would check out fine.
We get the results the same day—thank you Lord that we don’t have to wait! Isn’t waiting the worst!! Well, good thing Roger was with me for the results! I really did want him to be there but when I asked him if he wanted to go I made it sound like I was fine either way. I knew he would either have to miss work or coaching tennis in order to be there and I didn't want to "inconvenience" him. (But seriously ladies, why do we play these games with our husbands? All we have to do is tell them what we want and they will do whatever it takes to give it to us! That's what they WANT to do!!) Praise God that Roger said he wanted to be there. He was coaching boys tennis at Goodrich at the time so he got his team started on practice and came to the hospital just in time. Dr. Frederick is the head of the nuclear medicine department at Genesys Hospital and he is the one who gave us the results. Poor guy had no idea what he was in for! I really thank God that He made our husbands to be strong, natural protectors and providers. If it weren't for Roger, I know I would have been on the floor when Dr. Frederick said that there were still malignant cells in the tissue surrounding where the thyroid was. We could actually see the area illuminated on the scan.
It just got worse when Dr. Frederick started explaining that the treatment meant that I would have to take another, higher dosage, radioactive pill. This new pill's instructions were even more fun than the first pill’s instructions--could not come in contact with any small children for 7 days, could not sleep with Roger for 7 days, stay 8 feet away from people for 7 days, stay away from public areas for 7 days, use a separate waste basket even. This news just did me in. At this point, I haven't seen Jordan in 3 days and have been continually reminding the girls to "stay away from Mommy". The thought of another 7 days not seeing Jordan or being near the girls was unbearable. You have to understand, our family is very touchy/feely. Roger and I really love to smother our kids with kisses and hugs! I’m not sure how much they like the smothering, but at least they tolerate it well for our sake! What am I going to do for ANOTHER 7 days of no touching my kids??
At this point I have been off the synthroid medication for more than 2 months. This was necessary in order to have the next full body scan (which is supposed to confirm all is well). You would not believe what the thyroid/synthroid controls!!! (If you have noticed that I have been a complete flake or emotional train wreck, this may help you understand why! For example: I could not find my cell phone one day. I looked everywhere for it. Guess where it was….in the fridge, right where I left it!)
On Wednesday, September 17 I took a radioactive pill, which is used during the scan to determine if there are any remaining cancer cells. This pill came with a set of fun instructions--I could not touch my children for 3 days, could not sleep with Roger for 2 days, had to use separate, disposable plates and silverware, separate bathroom, etc. Praise God for my sister Cheryl, who is a flight attendant. She was able to rearrange her schedule to take Jordan home with her for 4 days after the first pill. (Actually, I think she called in sick for at least part of it but she would never tell me that). The girls are 10 and 9, they understand when I tell them to stay across the room from me for a few days, but you can't tell that to a 3 year old.
On Friday, September 19, I went in for the full body scan. I'm really not a worrier at all, nor do I get nervous about much so it wasn't a big deal to me. Besides, this was just a formality that I had to go through. I knew everything would check out fine.
We get the results the same day—thank you Lord that we don’t have to wait! Isn’t waiting the worst!! Well, good thing Roger was with me for the results! I really did want him to be there but when I asked him if he wanted to go I made it sound like I was fine either way. I knew he would either have to miss work or coaching tennis in order to be there and I didn't want to "inconvenience" him. (But seriously ladies, why do we play these games with our husbands? All we have to do is tell them what we want and they will do whatever it takes to give it to us! That's what they WANT to do!!) Praise God that Roger said he wanted to be there. He was coaching boys tennis at Goodrich at the time so he got his team started on practice and came to the hospital just in time. Dr. Frederick is the head of the nuclear medicine department at Genesys Hospital and he is the one who gave us the results. Poor guy had no idea what he was in for! I really thank God that He made our husbands to be strong, natural protectors and providers. If it weren't for Roger, I know I would have been on the floor when Dr. Frederick said that there were still malignant cells in the tissue surrounding where the thyroid was. We could actually see the area illuminated on the scan.
It just got worse when Dr. Frederick started explaining that the treatment meant that I would have to take another, higher dosage, radioactive pill. This new pill's instructions were even more fun than the first pill’s instructions--could not come in contact with any small children for 7 days, could not sleep with Roger for 7 days, stay 8 feet away from people for 7 days, stay away from public areas for 7 days, use a separate waste basket even. This news just did me in. At this point, I haven't seen Jordan in 3 days and have been continually reminding the girls to "stay away from Mommy". The thought of another 7 days not seeing Jordan or being near the girls was unbearable. You have to understand, our family is very touchy/feely. Roger and I really love to smother our kids with kisses and hugs! I’m not sure how much they like the smothering, but at least they tolerate it well for our sake! What am I going to do for ANOTHER 7 days of no touching my kids??
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