Tuesday, November 25, 2008

1st Appointment w/ Dr. McMeekin

~I just returned from my appointment w/ Dr. McMeekin. I will write more later about it, but this is simply to let you know that Mom and I feel more encouraged and our hearts are lighter than they were.

~I WILL have surgery w/ complete removal of uterus, tubes, ovaries, and all lymph nodes. There is an 80% cure rate from surgery alone. After final pathology reports come back we will know whether or not chemo, radiation or a combination is necessary.

~Dr. McMeekin feels that I am probably "middle of the road" as far as how far along the cancer is. There are 3 stages and grades underneath each stage.

~Here's the BEST NEWS: Dr. McMeekin WILL do surgery at Mercy Hospital, which is only 10 minutes from my house! JOIN US IN THANKING GOD FOR HIS ANSWER TO THIS PRAYER!

~Dr. McMeekin believes that the surgery can be done in December, which would be another answer to prayer. Since Dr. McMeekin has no surgery times at Mercy, it will be scheduled through Dr. Rahhal's office. Please CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SURGERY TO BE SCHEDULED IN DECEMBER.

.~THANK YOU FOR PRAYING! I am excited to see how God is answering our prayers.

Love & prayers to you and yours!
Janet and Momma Faye

Saturday, November 22, 2008

New Doctor

I have an appointment with Dr. Scott McMeekin on Tuesday, November 25 at 1:15 pm. He is my new oncologist/gynecologist. I will have a 2-hour consultation/exam with him and my understanding is that by the end of this appointment I will know exactly what is going to happen medically for me. I do not know a surgery date, but it is certain that I will have surgery.

Join me in thanking God that I was able to get an appointment so quickly! I was told on November 19 that the November 17 biopsy was malignant for endometrial cancer. On November 20 I received the appointment with Dr. McMeekin! I am SO grateful to God for His intervention in all the details!

Please continue to pray for Mom and me, as I know that you will.

Love & prayers to you and yours,
Janet

Friday, November 21, 2008

Build a little fence of trust....

This morning Mom read this to me over the phone:
Build a little fence of trust
Around today;
Fill the space with loving work
And therein stay.
Look not through the protective rails
Upon tomorrow;
God will help you bear what comes
Of jor or sorrow.
by Mary Butts from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman (November 21 reading)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Good News/Bad News

UPDATE WRITTEN ON 11-17-08:
I went to my pre-op appointment on Monday, November 17 thinking I would do blood work, etc. Instead, my doctor had thought of another procedure he could try in the office to get a biopsy! Those biopsy results should be back by Wednesday, November 19. Pray that they will be. You'll see why this is so very important as you read on. I may still have to have the surgical biopsy on Thursday, November 20. I will not know for sure about that until the nurse calls me on Wednesday with the results from Monday's biopsy. So, I still need and appreciate your prayers. If I do have to have the hospital procedure, please pray that it can be done with no complications this time. Just like everyone who has to have a biopsy--a good, clear, benign report is something I'd like to have. I will let you know what I can as soon as I am told about if the surgery is on or off and what the biopsy report is from Monday &/or Thursday. Knowing that you are praying means so very much.

UPDATE WRITTEN ON 11-19-08:
Dr. Rahhal called me around 10:50 am on Thursday, November 19 and he did not have good news. The biopsy from Monday does show malignancy for endometrial cancer. This will involve a hysterectomy and removal of nodes. He is referring me to an ob/gyn/oncologist, Dr. D. Scott McMeekin; this doctor was in surgery this morning and Dr. Rahhal was unable to discuss my case with him. When Dr. Rahhal hears back from Dr. McMeekin I will be contacted again today and I will see the new doctor as soon as we can get an appointment. Dr. McMeekin’s office is over by University Hospital and that is where he usually does surgery, but sometimes he will come to Mercy and do surgery w/ Dr. Rahhal. For my Mom’s sake, would you pray that the surgery can be done at Mercy? She just could not drive back and forth to University Hospital by herself. Pray especially for her—Momma Faye—she is taking this very hard. (She was doing better this afternoon when I called to check on her. I have stayed at work as a way of coping.) Also, please pray that I could have surgery before the end of the year because that would help out financially. My insurance deductible is $1500 and I have already met that with all of these tests this autumn. If I have to wait until January, then the deductible starts over as you know. Okay—as my grandma Dovie used to say “Take life as it comes, not as you order it.” God is still in control and is faithful and good. I was able to tell Dr. Rahhal that Christians have hope beyond today and he agreed, so there's already been an opportunity to say a good word to someone about our marvelous God. Dr. Rahhal also said that if you’re going to have to have cancer that this is the kind to have because of the high cure rate. They will not be able to stage it until the actual surgery. Thanks for your prayer support and words of encouragement. Mom and I need them now more than ever. Please check up on Mom in person, by mail, or on the phone as often as you can.

The good news? I do not have to have the hospital biopsy on November 20.

Love & prayers to you and yours,
JFB

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Making Technology Work for You Spiritually

In the "Outlook Today" calendar section on my computer at work, I have the following two questions pop up for me daily.

1. Will I do today what God says to do?

2. What lesson(s) is God trying to teach me today?

Perhaps there are some spiritual things you'd like to be reminded of daily. This is a consistent way to do it. I also have my computer remind me throughout the day of different prayer requests that have been sent to me. I have them reappear either daily or even several times a day until God answers the prayer and then I thank Him for His answer after that. Make technology work for you in causing you to grow spiritually.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Prayer Update for JFB

The next attempt to obtain a biopsy for me is on Thursday, November 20. Please pray that the procedure can be done without any complications this time. Pray for Mom and me to continue to have God's Peace that passes human understanding.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voting Instructions

PRAY
Pray for our nation.
2 Chronicles 7:14

VOTE
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is
for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke

Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 7:00 am to 7:00 PM

PRAY
Pray for those in authority over us.
1 Timothy 2:2