Since so many friends have asked for a 'chronology of events' leading up to my diagnosis, I am posting it here. If you wish to accompany me on this journey, please sign up for FeedBlitz email updates (on the right, above the picture.) I will be posting progress reports and prayer requests, and I treasure your love and concern. ~Found the lump before Thanksgiving. Bad feeling.
~Doctor's appointment on November 30th. Schedule diagnostic mammogram and sonogram.
~December 13th--Sonography reveals a solid mass. Bad news. Schedule biopsy.
~December 28th--Biopsy not too painful, but I can see the image, which is irregular. They don't tell me, but I know that's bad, too.
~January 2nd--My physician, Joyce Bowser, calls. "It's not good, Mindy." I know the pathology report identifies the type of cancer, so I ask. "Invasive ductal carcinoma." OK, Lord. I thought I could handle the 'cancer' part; having a few issues with the 'invasive' part, though.
Spent the rest of the week sharing the news with husband, daughter (so hard), sister, family, friends, coworkers. Everyone cries. I cry. I feel so badly causing the ones I love this pain.
Friday 5 January visit Aunt Sally and Uncle Keith. Uncle Keith, bless his heart, is retired, but immediately goes into "Uncle Doctor Mode." Doesn't know my surgeon, makes some calls. Gets me an appointment with Dr. Marguerite Bonaventura, a surgeon specializing in breast cancer, at McGee Women's Hospital. Two different friends have told me that this woman has a gift, and McGee is a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. Thank you, Uncle Keith, and thank you, Lord!
So--appointment with Dr. Bonaventura tomorrow morning. Please pray for an encouraging visit. I'll keep you posted.
5 comments:
Hi Mindy. You have been on my mind so much and I am wondering how you are doing? Thank you for sharing your strength and faith.I have never been around anyone who has just found out what you had and has had your attitude. Well, they may have and just not voiced it. Especially in such a way that made me feel good, when I was the one who should have done that for you. I have an aunt who is my inspiration in things like this. She had such an aggressive cancer, that she actually looked like she grew another breast. She had chemotherapy before and after her surgery. She by all rights should not be here today, but that was in 1987. Her only constant was her faith in God and her family and those around her that loved her. Treatments and medicines are so advanced, and you will have the best of what science has to help you that no other woman has had before you. Look at Dr. Garrott. He had the worse cancer, and is now in remission. I am the eternal optomist. And I know the road will not be an easy one. But like it says in the beginning of the book of James it says that we have to go through EVERYTHING to be closer to God. Know that I am thinking of you. And how much I admire your strength and positive way that you had of helping us to deal on Sunday.
Okay, sister, one correction (I know, it's not nice to correct a woman who is fighting illness, but who ever said I was nice?):
You didn't make us sad! There is an enemy here, and it's not you. Sin is the enemy. The devil is the enemy. We cry for you, with you, for ourselves, because sin is the enemy.
You, we love. So, no more of this stuff about, you making others sad. You make us happy, otherwise, we wouldn't be sad (know what I mean?). :)
Mindy,
You are in my prayers and have been since I learned of your cancer diagnosis on Sunday. I love your positive attitude and the faith evident in your message on the blog. I know a bit about grief and know for sure that God is with us through our pain. His presence is a sustaining, strengthening, and calming force (in my experience). I pray the same for you as you travel a journey that is new and unexpected. I learned that we are not in control, but that we can survive and come through our struggle a different but better, stronger, and more compassionate person. May God bless you with peace and comfort. One day at a time.
Mindy-Robin just told me your bad news a couple days ago, and passed on your blog site, which I visited today.
So sorry to hear about the cancer. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
I saw on your blog that you have an appointment with Dr Bonaventura. A couple years ago, we found a lump in my left breast –went through the mammogram, sonogram, biopsy, etc, and Garrett sent me to Bonaventura. Thankfully, it turned out to be a (non cancerous) Phyllodes tumor, which she removed. She is a nice person and a very capable MD, so you will be in good hands. We are so lucky to have Magee nearby, too!
We’ll keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
BYW, I have to agree with you on your blog site about your daughter being beautiful!
Hang in there! Remember the good Lord doesn’t give us more than we can handle, so you have the strength and support to get you through this!
Mike ~ Thank you for your encouraging and loving comment! Just consider me an Epaphroditus: When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, "He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill" (Philippians 2:26-27). I was excited to see that someone had the same response as I did . . .
Post a Comment