A Recap

FIRST,  the MD ANDERSON race: It was a blast. I and my family were surrounded by wonderful friends who made us laugh, gave us big hugs, encouraged us in walking more or agreeing with us that it really was time to head back to the finish line...early, drank Mimosa with us and enjoyed the tailgate spread after the race. We had all ages there including many young moms with their baby in strollers and many glowing pregnant women ( I think the glow was from the pregnancy but could have been from Houston's humidity!). I was happy to see the young women because Ovarian Cancer can effect young women also and their fertility will be threatened. So EARLY DETECTION and symptom awareness is very important! I will plan to do the race next year, going back to having my own team, so put Saturday, May 6, 2017 on your calendars now. I've already got my idea for a T-shirt. Not sure it will be "safety green" (although we DID stand out) which was the color chosen by this year's t-shirt designer, but I have the "tag"line. Thanks again for all of those who were there. And for those of you who were not there...we know you were there with us in spirit.

SECOND, the sixth and FINAL chemo is being infused now!! Did you read that...FINAL one going now. We reported at our appointed time...7am. It was 7:50 when they called me back, 8:10 when they started the pre-chemo drugs and 9am is when the first chemo Taxol was started. It will be finished at 12 noon. Then the Carboplatin is started for its 4 hour run. I am planning on a 5pm quitting time. YEA! Regardless when I leave, I will leave happy because this is the FINAL time!!!!!!!! I do not expect any set backs because when you are this close to the FINAL time, it would take something MAJOR to stop the process. And I truly feel this FINAL time is in God's plan for me today. So just know that today, May 16, 2016 is/was a wonderful day for me.

No so for my friend Shannon. This young mother came to MDA for treatment for scarcom from Alabama. I met her through a Houston friend whose daughter teaches with Shannon. She and her mom came in October? 2014 and lived here till August or September 2015? ( I am not really sure of the dates, but the dates don't matter. The point is they were here for a LONG time). They lived
here staying in hotels and extended stay apartments without family and friends -and for much of that they did it all without a car. The stories her mom could tell about Houston's mass transit! But the good news is First Baptist Church was able to give them a loaner car and had placed them in a free apartment. She returned to her home and family...husband, an elementary age daughter and a middle school son and was continuing treatment at the local med center...but we all knew it would be a matter of time. She was a fighter and a strong Christian, and she passed away yesterday. The funeral is tomorrow. Please pray for them and her mom, who has now lost her only child.

Lessons learned: I have always said it takes a Village to raise a child. What I never realized till now is the need for that Village does NOT go away when that child is grown. We still need the
Village...maybe this time for us. We need a Village for the "curves" life throws at us, for the challenges God puts in our paths; loss of a child, a grandchild, a spouse, caring for an aging parent, cancer. I marvel when I think of ALL THE BLESSINGS I have received from each of you. Your prayers to Almighty God have covered me, protected me from chemo's severe adverse effects (after all how many cancer patients gain weight while going through chemotherapy?) and kept me filled with HOPE and JOY. God has put friends in my life who have offered unconditional help, love and a listening ear whenever I feel like I need it and He has given me new friends who share the same diagnosis as me, either directly or indirectly, who I know will be a source of helpful first hand knowledge that will help me navigate future questions and concerns. All part of His perfect plan for me...and Bruce...and Lindsey (and her gang)...and Travis (and his gang). This is His plan and He meant it for good and I know something good will come from this experience. AWESOME!!!

Where do we go from here? As far as the medical side...in early June I will have another CT scan  (which I know will be negative...just like the one after chemo #3) and more blood work (CA125...which I know will be normal). These results will be my new "baseline" from which all future scans and blood values will be measured. I will see the good doctor after this test for my new "baseline" exam.  Then I will be scheduled to see him every  3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 years. Which is the same protocol as last time. He and I and his whole medical team pray that I get a full five years or more. Dr. Bevers does not put limits on God. He too knows anything is possible with God - BUT - his medical knowledge and experience tells him that my recurrent ovarian cancer is a tough one to beat. (There are many, many types of ovarian cancer - made up of different cell structures and sites of origin. This is a major factor in the prescribed treatment plan and in life expectancy.) And this brings me to my current conversation with God and my walk in faith.

I do know God is the great healer. That He can cure me of this cancer. He can make it go away with one word - one thought. BUT, I also know He has a plan for me, and it might mean NOT curing me. Does that mean He is ignoring my prayer request and yours? No!! It means I am not praying the right prayer...not my will, but His.

Job reminds me to "Submit to God and be at peace with Him, in this way prosperity will come to you" Job 22:21.  Job - now there was a man who knew a lot about suffering! And he gives such encouragement. Submit, be at peace, good things will happen. The good things He has planned for me. It might not feel good, I might not like it, but He loves me and He wants the best for me and my future and the future of others who walk this walk with me and might see something in this experience that might change their lives. That's the good, the prosperity He is talking about. I am to be His servant, being used by Him for good. That is a awesome task! Am I up to it?

I am struggling because some have suggested that my healing will not be complete because I do not truly believe this cancer will never come back. As if to imply I do not have enough faith. I know that can happen if it is His will - but it must be His will. I know that God may answer the prayers of those who have healing prayers over me, but it must be His will - not the person praying -  they are just God's instrument being used by God as He directs. And I am OK with that - but I wish I knew now what the outcome will be. Is that lack of faith? Shouldn't I be content knowing He is walking thru this with me. That I am in His arms, that He is holding my hand. Shouldn't I just take one step at a time, praising God always; being thankful for each beautiful, pain free day that He give me - taking just one step at a time? I know the answer is yes, but I am still asking Him for a sign. Maybe I will be asking for that sign for the next 5,10 or 15 years. And then it will dawn on me that I am pretty slow on seeing the "asked" for sign from God. So there you have it...another prayer request.

Time to close this blog. Thank you all for your prayers, support, love, friendship, caring, laughter, food, companionship and all the other things you did for me that I am forgetting to be thankful for. Let's promise to always offer these things to each other - to all God's children. I bet you have a new someone who needs to be at the top of your prayer list, top of the encouragement and support list. Don't get me wrong, I still want to be on your list, just move me to the bottom because I will always need prayers. And please let me do the same for you. Please let me know when you have a prayer need or if you just want to talk to someone who promises to be a listening ear. A sounding board. I will be your girl. I want to be there for you just as you have been there for me.What joy each of you has been to me. I am so thankful that God gave each of you to me. What an AWESOME God.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am so richly blessed to know each of you.

With much love and a thankful heart...
Dee Dee & Bruce

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Lessons Learned

 (I found this in my drafts. It was to be sent last week, but I forgot. But I am sending it now because I want all of you to know how much this does mean to me.)

Have I mentioned how much the "prayer project" has meant to me? The prayers that have been chronicled by Lindsey in the prayer book (Vol. 1) have given me much joy as I go back and read the prayers prayed since the beginning of this recurrence. As I was studying this week, I ran across this and thought it was a wonderful reminder..."Your imperfect prayers are a beautiful fragrance that pleases God." And that is really what it is all about...pleasing God. So thanks prayer warrior.

Love you all... 

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5 down, 1 to go!!!!!

Yep, chemo 5 is now a thing of the past! All went well. I had the most efficient nurse ever. She kept thing running smoothly and quickly. I actually thought I was going to get out of there in 10 hours, but...NO.  It was not a reaction. At the end I asked about my Neulasta shot, and when she went to check the orders, something was unclear. So it got kicked to the pharmacist, who kicked it back to the nurse, who had to call Dr. Bevers, who had to rewrite and resend the order. All that took 1 1/2 hours. So we still got out of there in under 12 hours, it was 11 hours, 15 minutes. But it was all GOOD.

I did develop that same arm rash, but that is now a non-event, so once again I got all my drugs and it was all GOOD! God has been so good to me. I feel His arms around me, protecting me, giving me such joy, and for that I am so thankful.

Chemo 6...hear that...Chemo 6...the final one...is scheduled for May 16th. I feel so good about all this, the treatment, my bodies response to it and mostly the cancer's sensitivity to it. BE GONE CANCER!! I am hoping these drug are God led to the smallest, microscopic cancer cells that might still be hiding in my body. GET THE CANCER! FIND THE CANCER! BE GONE! Could I make myself anymore clear?

I am feeling good. I have not had nor do I expect to have any side effects from the treatment. My biggest complaint is that I can't sleep. So while I am trying to be productive, my mind is tired and when I try to sleep, I keep thinking of things. I know that eventually sleep will win out...maybe tonight.

Love to you all...

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All is SOOOOO very good!!!

I know I have been quiet lately, but honestly there is not much to report! No news really is good news! I continue to feel great...even better as I approach the fifth chemo infusion. I saw the good Dr. on Friday, and all my lab was great, really GREAT! The CA125 continues downward which excites all of us. It is now 9.8, down from 13.2 on 3/30 and my white count is as good as a regular person...hey, that must mean I AM a regular person. There is only one way to explain all this good news, and that is God's healing hand and all you fabulous prayer warriors who have lifted me up to the Lord in your prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Once again on this beautiful Sunday morning, I heard a message from the pulpit that was as if God was speaking directly to me. This morning, Gregg Matte spoke about the need for preparation in our life. Looking back, I see so many way that I was "prepared" for the diagnosis of cancer. On the physical side, I was in Houston, where we have the best cancer care. I had good medical insurance (what a blessing!).  I was in "good" health, my body was in top form to fight cancer. On the spiritual side,  I had studied God's word and His promises and knew without a doubt that He loved me and that I was His child. Bruce and I have many wonderful friends who love God and trust Him and they have strengthened and encouraged us in our walk with God. And daily we are reminded of His promises for us as we spend time alone with Him. I know that God is at work behind the scenes...that He is at work at MDAnderson and in the chemo infusion room and guiding my medical care. I know that His hand is doing something for me/us in a great fashion. I don't now what is ahead for me but I do know that God is at work in my life and that His will be done! And with that I have much JOY. I see His hand and His power and I know that He placed me exactly where I am. Events have come and will continue to come in my life. And I will continue to trust Him. I believe that He is at work in all of this. God has prepared me for all of this...what was in the past and what will be in the future. Awesone!

TEAM BELIEVE is one mighty team! At last count, there were 68 members of TEAM BELIEVE and many of those are repeats from the Dee Dee/ Wonder Woman team of 2014. So, we will have a great reunion!!!
I will not be able to pick up the race packets and deliver them to you before the race. The packet pick up times are below. Packets can also be picked up the morning of the race. 

  Packet Pick-up/In-Person Registration

Saturday, April 30, 2016	10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Luke’s Locker, Houston River Oaks Shopping Center 1953 West Gray
Tuesday, May 3, 2016	10 a.m.-2 p.m.	MD Anderson campus Mays Clinic/CPB Hub, Floor 2, 1220 Holcombe Blvd.
Thursday, May 5, 2016	12 p.m.-7 p.m.	Luke’s Locker, Houston River Oaks Shopping Center 1953 West Gray
Friday, May 6, 2016	12 p.m.-7 p.m.	Luke’s Locker, Houston River Oaks Shopping Center 1953 West Gray

Race Day Schedule

6 a.m.	Boutique opens for business
6-7:25 a.m	Late registration
6:30-9 a.m.	Group and corporate team photos
7 a.m.	Survivors Tent and Lounge Opens Kids Zone opens
7:30 a.m.	5k Run/Walk Begins
7:45 a.m.	Food and Fun in the Post Race Party area
8:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m.	Presentations  and awards
8:45 a.m.	Survivor Group Photo at Post-Race Party Stage
9:20 a.m.	Sprouts Pep Rally, Tot Trot and Sprint for Sprouts races, Kids Zone closes
9:45 a.m.	Boutique closes, event concludes

Free parking will be available in the 1MC Parking Garage, 7007 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030. Please follow parking signs and race marshal instructions. Parking is also available in other TMC garages or lots at standard hourly rates. 

TEAM BELIEVE T-shirts:
Some of you ordered a TEAM BELIEVE t-shirt through CustomInk. The organizer of TEAM BELIEVE will try to get those to me prior to the race, and I in turn will try to get those delivered to you. However, if that does not work out, I will have them for you the morning of the race. Everyone who signed up to run/walk in the race will have a Sprint for Life T-shirt included with their race packet.   

We will be gathering in Teal Town. Look for the TEAM BELIEVE sign and table. After the race, we will have "snacks"' and Mimosa's! After all, we are the group who knows how to party. As you can see from the schedule, there is Food and Fun in the post race party area (this might be Teal Town). I encourage everyone to walk around and enjoy those eats and displays. 

I hope everyone is as excited about  this run/walk as my 5 year old grandson. He cannot wait to run the Sprouts Race! Oh, to be a child! 

Thanks again for all the love and support. I could not do this without each of you.
I am racing on to chemo #5 tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the main campus of MDAnderson. Once again I am on schedule...no delays due to uncooperating blood counts! That could only be by God's protection. 
Chemo #6 is scheduled for Monday, May 16th. And that will be the end of it!!!!! For good!!!!

Love you all...

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4 DOWN, 2 TO GO!!

The countdown is officially on.
Chemo #4 was mildly eventful, meaning I did react to the carboplatin, but it was milder than last time, and I take that as a good thing. I am not sure however how Dr. Bever will interpret the reaction. But I learned my lesson from last time, and I am not anxious about what will happen next. I know there is a plan. And God continues to bless me with no side effects from the chemo. As long as I get my naps, all is good!

So once again, I say thank you to ALL of you who have prayed for my entire family as we walk this walk again. I did not want to walk this walk, but God wanted this for me/us. And when you look for God, you see Him in every part of your day; you see the ripple of what faith does for those close to you and those you may just have met. Awesome! We serve an awesome God. 

Next chemo is scheduled for Monday, April 25th. I will have my blood work drawn on Thursday, April 21, and see Dr. Bever's on Friday, April 22 to see if my blood work is good enough for the Monday chemo.

Thanks again for the prayers, support, love and friendship. I could not do this without each of you.

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Things just keep getting better and better!

Oh happy day!
The results of my CT scan showed...NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! God is so good to me!!! He has taken care of this recurrent disease, and although Dr. Bevers' expertise says the probability of it staying gone is remote, I believe God has taken care of it and that this cancer will be a part of my history and not my future.

The plan was always for me to have six chemo treatments, and I will continue with the remaining three treatments. And more evidence of answered prayer...I got clearance for chemo for Monday! Yea chemo!!! The neulasta shot which was to help my white blood cells multiply did the job...they were normal! (Yep, more confirmation that I am normal.) In my initial encounter with chemo, the neulasta shot helped my WBCs from falling dangerously low...but they were always below normal. Thank you prayer warriors for your prayers. The neulasta shot was so effective, I will not need the shot following this chemo treatment!

And another miracle...I have stayed on my chemo schedule. So far we have not once had to postpone for any reason...that is amazing. Another prayer answered.

This chemo WILL be the same drugs as before, that means I will be given the Carboplatin that I reacted to for the last two times. So please pray that I DO NOT react to the drug.

Can you tell that I am hopeful and full of joy! I am!!! Most of it is because I am so aware of God and His touch on my life. And part of it is because Bruce and I are in Austin getting lots of love from Drew & Ellie and Lindsey & Rob. We travel home tonight because I am to report to MD Anderson Mays Clinic for chemo tomorrow at 7:30am. I expect to be there all day and have packed my chemo bag with lots of reading material but no knitting :)
   
I have another prayer request. Thursday morning, April 7th at 11am, daughter Lindsey is having Lasik surgery. Please pray that God would be with the doctors using that laser and that the cuts will be accurate and will be 100% successful without any complications. Thanks in advance.


-----  Now from Lindsey ------

1. Prayer Project- I just handed Dee Dee the first book full of the prayers from surgery day until now. Sort of cool that book ended on the day her scans showed there was no evidence of disease.  Friends, your prayers played such a huge part in that.  Please continue to pray for mom as she completes these last rounds of chemo, especially that these rounds get EVERYTHING in her body so this disease doesn't have the option to come back. :)  Send any prayers you want recorded to prayfordeedee@gmail.com

2. Sprint for Life- Thanks to all who are joining us, we are looking forward to the event!  Right now Team BELIEVE is the top fundraising team.  While all donations to MD Anderson help the fight, these donations (and donations from the Robert's event) go right to ovarian cancer research, making them particularly impactful to us.  If you want to sign up to run, walk, see this post for details.

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A Shopping Recap

The Robert's shopping event was great...awesome...fantastic...supportive...encouraging...loving...filled with hugs...filled with shopping for all the ladies...happy...filled with joyful sounds...wonderful!!!! Thanks to all of you who came out to support me and the Ovarian Cancer Research Program at MD Anderson. And a super big thank you to all the folks at Robert's who made it all happen.

I have joked about never wanting to be a woman who had a signature color (ovarian cancer's color is teal)...but now I have one. And now I have a cause I believe in: research to find a cure and a test for the early detection of ovarian cancer! There is not a test for early detection now...which is why ovarian cancer is called the silent killer. By the time it is detected it is usually advanced making treatment less of a sure thing. So, thanks again to all of you who came to shop or donated to the cause. Your dollars will stay in Houston and will be used to make this cancer history!

Many of you asked if we will have a team this year for the Sprint for Life which is hosted by MD Anderson raising money for Ovarian Cancer Research. YES!! we will and I hope you will join us on Saturday, May 7th when we will be join forces with TEAM BELIEVE to make a really big group who can make a really big difference.  Here is what you need to do...

• Please go to sprintforlife.com and register for the 2016 Sprint for Life in the bottom right hand corner.

• As you register there is a bullet for "Join A Team"; click on that bullet and it will ask you to select a team from the list.

• Go to TEAM BELIEVE and click on our team. Then continue to finish the registration form.

We are also having our own TEAM BELIEVE t-shirt that will have our team name on the front and my name and those of others whom TEAM BELIEVE will be celebrating on the back of the shirt. If you would like a shirt...

• go to this link https://www.customink.com/g/gas0-00ag-fnsa and order your shirt. 

I will deliver your shirt before the race or have it for you that morning.

Tomorrow we celebrate Easter.  He is Risen!

Love you all...

 

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Ture Confessions

I know I get anxious before a chemo treatment. It starts the night before and is fully engaged (or enraged) by morning. I know it - I can hear it in my voice as I talk faster and f aster and with an "edge" to it. I see it on the face of my dear sweet husband (who at that time I am thinking is NOT my dear sweet husband...if you get my drift) and I saw it in my sister's eyes. Not that they fault me any, but it really isn't the person I want to be. It is just that all the unknows of cancer and it's treatment come to the forefront of my mind before chemo.

Just this week, I have become aware of my "post" chemo state. I stop praying! How can that be?!?! It dawned on me yesterday - I tried to have my quiet time, but I could not concentrate. (I could make a joke about the "devil" being in the chemo, but I still consider chemo my friend.) This morning I heard Him ask me to just be still and listen. I did. I tried. I felt so much better.

And today in Jesus Calling - this devotional hit me with "Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence." That is what I had done. I focused on my knowledge of the chemo drugs, what had been told to me before about "Plan A" and Plan B", I Googled searched it (not a wise choice), and I came up with my very own anticipated Dr. Bevers response to my chemo reaction on Monday. And that "anticipated response" filled me with anxiety. But my husband PRAYED. He prayed asking God to keep me on the first drug - on the Plan A. I didn't pray - I was fixing it on my own.

I got a call from Dr. Bevers yesterday (Thursday). He IS going to keep me on the "Plan A" drug. He feels the benefits out way the risk. ANSWERED PRAYER!

So, I ask that you would pray and extra prayer for me on the first few days after chemo. Please pray that I don't let my need to understand distract me from Him. But that I will exert my will to trust Him in all circumstances. Thanks in advance.


The response to the Robert's Event has been awesome. It is a pretty great feeling to be employed by such good folks who want to help make a difference and to be a part of such a wonderful community who gets behind a good cause AND wants to get their shopping done at the same time! 
 Robert's is located at 12651 D Memorial Dr. 77024. Opened Monday - Friday 10am - 6 pm, and Saturday 10am-5pm.
If I don't see you Monday or Tuesday, I hope to see you soon!
Love you all!!!!!

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This post is about something special!

Just for today, this blog won't be all about me! I know - I know- what will you do without your daily dose of Dee Dee drama! But, trust me, it's for a good cause.

Some of you may know that for the past several years, I have been working at Robert's, which is an ultra chic, hip spot to buy something stunning for your home. The people there have become like family to me and as you can see by the attached flyer, they have decided to try to make a difference for all the women who may struggle with ovarian cancer - now or in the future. How? Well, for two days next week a percentage of the proceeds from the till will go to ovarian cancer research at MD Anderson. I am of course humbled and at the same time proud as a peacock about this. Of course I will be in the store sporting my new blonde wig which I am told makes me look glam...well let's just say not the same ole me. And I will be sharing with all of you one of the things I do best - bake! Yes, all day long I will be serving up some "lite bites" I have whipped up. Maybe even put the happy into happy hour!

I hope to see you next Monday, March 21 or Tuesday, March 22 in the store, which is really beautiful all decked out for spring and Easter with new things on every display. And we will have a chance to visit.

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A Chemo 3 report

Well, let me just say it did not end as I had hoped, I did have a reaction...in spite of the desensitization process. The first three hours of  Carboplatin (Carbo) was given at different degrees of dilution, the fourth and final hour was a bag of the drug at full strength. About 3/4 of the way into the drip, I had the same red, itchy reaction as before. The drug was stopped and I was given other drugs to help combat the reaction. So, after almost 13 hours of being at MDAnderson, I was finally on my way home. To say I was disappointed in an understatement. But I have to trust that God has great things in store for me with "plan B".

So, "plan B" it is! I have not studied up on this new drug, but I do know it is the sister drug of Carbo and that many of the drug studies done on ovarian cancer were done with this drug and it was successful, so I expect it will continue with the forward progress I was making on the Carbo. That forward progress I speak of is the CA 125....after the second chemo treatment, my numbers went from 67 to 14.4....normal is any number less that 35. That means I am normal folks...in spite of what you may think!!! (that is suppose to be a funny)

My white counts did fall - although not so far that Dr Bevers felt we had to postpone this past treatment, so I received Neulasta - a shot that will help boost the production of the white blood cells in spite of the chemo trying to kill those same white blood cells...ain't medicine amazing. I will be given this shot at the conclusion of all remaining chemo treatments. I will see Dr. Bevers again April 1st and then we will have a more complete picture of the effectiveness of the treatment so far...but he and I are very optimistic.

Prayer request remain pretty much the same.
1. that the Neulasta would do it's job with minimal side effects for me
2. that the chemo drugs will seek out and destroy all the cancer...seen and unseen my man but not by God
3. that I would continue to protect me from the side effects of these drugs. Just do harm to the cancer and nothing else!

And now for the chemo knitting report. Turns out big sister Anne is a pretty good knitter...not a pretty knitter but she had speed and her technique improved over the course of the 13 hours. Little sister Dee Dee did not show as much promise, but I contend I was hampered by all the tubes running across me! Well, that is my excuse anyway.

Anne flew home to Phoenix Tuesday afternoon. It was great having her here with me. She definitely brightened my day!

Family and Friends...you make this walk so much easier for me. Thank you for everything. 

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Updates from the Mothership

Lindsey here, checking in on behalf of mom to spare you all having to decipher "texts from chemo."

Well, there are plusses and minuses to The Mothership (our affectionate name for the main MD Anderson campus).  On the plus side, mom and Anne have found free current movies and are catching up on everything they missed in the last year.  On the downside, more people mean more delays, and sure enough, this morning was delayed.

So it's 5:00, and instead of being on the way to happy hour (haha), mom has 2 more bags of carboplatin to go-- one diluted, and one at full strength.  This is the one that gave her issues last time, so if you could spare a prayer, now is the time. She should be finished at 6:30 or 7.

Besides the delay, the day has been uneventful (and perhaps even exciting with the discovery of the MD Anderson movie channel!).

I'm sure she will touch base either tonight or tomorrow with a full rundown.

Thanks for your prayers, friends!

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Chemo #3 is a GO!!

Yep, all white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets cooperated and chemo will be on Monday, March 14. My appointment is for 7:15 AM at the mothership (Bruce's name for the main MDA campus.)  I am told it will take 8-9 hours, so I am planning on 10. Better to expect the worse and be pleasantly surprised if all runs on time. My sister Anne is visiting from Phoenix and she insist that there is nothing she would rather do than witness this event, so she is going with me.  We are planning activities...like knitting...of which neither of us is very good. And if you think my texting is humorous while on chemo, I cannot imagine what my knitting will look like! 

Anne and I have been very busy since she arrived. Wig shopping was top on my agenda, and I am happy to report that I have a new do...or two...and I will be able to soon answer the question "do blondes really have more fun?". Both my sisters have been "blond" most of my life...now it is my turn. If you have to wear a wig, you might as well have fun...right? 

So upcoming prayer requests are much like the last request...

That I would successfully be desensitized to the carboplatin. 

That God would direct this (and all future) chemo directly to the cancer...even the microscopic cancers that are so tiny only God can see them and that He would protect the rest of my body's tissues and organs 

That I would not have any side effects from the chemo OR the neulasta shot (which will now be a part of my treatment plan...which will help regrow the white blood cells that the cancer is destroying) 

That I would not lose focus that this is His plan for me and that he would reveal to me the things He wants me to learn through this and how I am to glorify Him through all of this. 

Knowing that God is standing with me/us through this provides much joy and peace. And having all 

of you to pray with us and to encourage and remind us of His love and provisions...is such a 

wonderful gift. Thank you dear friends. 

Anne and I are off to Austin for a quick visit with the Callegaris. We have been invited to a tea party by a very special 3...almost 4 year old. 

Have a happy weekend. Love you all :)

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Let me make a few things clear...

First of all, the post yesterday titled "Meant" was NOT written by me, but by my daughter Lindsey. She is the original "communication czar" of this blog (her idea) and now part time theology student.  The depth of her faith and her ability to write about and share with others has been on of the many blessing Bruce and I have received as we walk this journey. God, in His infinite wisdom, meant all this to happen and as a result I have had the wonderful awareness of my family's (Bruce, Lindsey, Rob, Travis, Lyndsay love of and trust in the Lord...even the grandchildren. Awesome. 

Second, the red rash caused by the chemo drug reaction cleared up pretty quickly and without further complications Friday night. That little incident did not even prevent me from going out for my weekly Mexican food fix! (Once a girl regains her appetite, nothing will keep her away from her enchiladas!) 

And I had a GREAT weekend. Once again, NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE CHEMO! That is soooo hugh, and I know that is God's protection and I know that He is directing the chemo to kill the cancer cells...the CA125 results showed that, and I know all of this is answered prayer. And then the fact that my lab result was OK enough so that I could get my second treatment...answered prayer.  God even answered the prayers asking that I be given the " right" nurse and the "right" chemo infusion room. Nothing is to small for Him. Thank you prayer warriors. 

I ask that you continue those same prayers for me...protection from the harmful effects of the chemo on my blood cells, protection from the physical side effects of the chemo, continual targeting of the chemo to the cancer and nothing else. These prayers are what keep a smile on my face and they give me joy and peace and thankfulness that all of that keeps me going every day, knowing He meant this cancer for good. 

Third, my son helped me clear up my hairdo. Yep, we completed the second mother-son shave-a-thon  on Saturday. It did not take near as long as last time...much less hair, and I must admit, I was not sad to see the grey hair go. As much as I tried to embrace it, as much as I did love the color, I was not in love with it. So, it is back to the wigs. Although wearing them on a windy afternoon like today is a bit tricky! 

Friends, you are the best. Bruce and I could not do this without each of you. Your love and support means so much to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you 

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Meant

As some of you know, I've been taking a "Theology Lite" class this year.  Each week we read (in great, great detail) about one particular topic in Christian theology, and every Wednesday night we spend 3 hours in lecture and discussion about that topic.  And, as tends to happen with these sorts of things, the questions I go in with usually get answered, but I leave with an entirely new set.

Last week's topic was Providence, which can be boiled down to looking at God's ongoing relationship with his creation, including natural evil.  Natural evil-- you know, things like tsunamis and earthquakes and CANCER.  I bought myself a venti Starbucks on the way to class and prepared to take copious notes.

But what stuck with me most from the week was actually our memory verse, Genesis 50:20- "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."  This comes from the story of Joseph.  He was his dad's favorite, so his brothers tried to kill him and ultimately settled on selling him into slavery.  After a lot of not-so-good things happened to him, he caught the eye of the Egyptian king and rose to second in command in Egypt.  His brothers came to him asking for help with food during a famine, but didn't realize they were making a request of the brother they had treated so abhorrently.  Imagine their surprise and fear when they realized how the story was ending.  But Joseph, in his wisdom and with the ability to look at all had happened, knew God used all the circumstances in his life and meant them all for good.

Meant.

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Not God USED it for good.  That's what I tend to think.  That God will use everything for good.  I probably even said it on this blog, that God will "use" this cancer for good.  But friends, God MEANT this cancer.  He didn't wake up one morning, peer down at earth, rub his eyes and say "Woah!  Dee Dee has cancer!  How can I used this shocking development for good?"  He intended this cancer.  (Side note- God doesn't actually sleep.  And he is in all places at once, so he wasn't tending to a need in China and this snuck up on him.  It wasn't a surprise.  At all.)

And as it turns out, I'm thankful that this cancer was part of God's plan.  Because I don't want to follow a God who can just USE a tsunami or a earthquake or cancer for good, because that means something else- not God- ultimately caused the tsunami or earthquake or cancer.  That somehow he didn't have control or power over the tsunami or hurricane or cancer.  And if I don't believe that God is all powerful and in control of all things, then my faith falls apart.

Evil- moral or natural evil- affects all of us at some point.  Not one person on earth has ever been spared the impact of evil, including God's very own son.  A series of evil men and evil actions ultimately brought Jesus to the cross.  Isaiah 53:10 reads "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer."  It sounds horrid until you realize that he meant to do that so we could all come back into relationship with him.

I don't get this cancer, I don't get why so many people I know are suffering in so many ways.  But take comfort that this isn't plan B, but it's THE PLAN.  God sees all, and every action he takes is purposeful and meant for good.  He promises me that it's all meant for good-- and especially now, when I don't understand HOW it can be good-- I can believe that it IS good.

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Well, not so fast...

What could that mean?

Answer...it was still a good day. I did get my anxiously awaited second chemo. My CA125 did take a nose dive toward the "normal" range...not normal yet, but headed that way
But, BUt, BUT...THIS TIME I REACTED TO THE CARBOPLATIN!!!!!!!
Just as the nurse was unhooking me the final drug, she noticed me scratching my arm and upon further inspection, we discovered a red rash on my arms and tummy. So out came more Benadryl (which I dubbed as my happy hour cocktail since it was 5 pm) followed by a steroid. After observing me for an hour, and feeling confident that I was not going to experience any respiratory problems,  I was sent home. :(

I am not sure what the game plan is, but I am confident that Dr. Bevers will have one. It might be the same drug, with additional drugs given ahead of time to help combat an allergic reaction. Or maybe a new drug. And what I fear is that his new plan will involve a change in the place where I get the infusions...he may send me to the main campus for all further infusions meaning I will loose the convince of having chemo practically in my backyard. But, I need to take this one step at a time and focus on the good things. I know there will be a plan. I know God is in control, and I know I am at the best place I can be to have all the options I need to fight this cancer.

So it was a wonderful day but with a surprise ending. And that is what cancer is all about...there are always surprises, both good and bad. However, I am still going to view today as a WIN!!

Night,night. Love you all!!!

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Friday was/is a very good day!!

Yes, you assumed correctly...I am writing this post from Chemoland where I am receiving my second chemo treatment!!!!!! Thank you prayer warriors for all your prayers. The white blood cells cooperated resulting in a happy Dr. Bevers and an even happier Dee Dee.

And as an added bonus, my CA 125 (a blood test that is used to monitor ovarian cancer) was significantly lower than 3 weeks ago...meaning this chemo is WORKING!!! Again, thank you for all your prayers. We know that His plan might have have been different from mine, and I would have (had to be) OK with that, but He chose this for today and I am so filled with joy and peace and thankfulness!!!!

So far the only side effect from chemotherapy is "thinning" hair, and it is think going fast!!!! So be warned, next time you see me I probably will have different hair color and a longer length.

Thanks again for all your love, supports and most of all prayers. And for not only remembering me, but also Bruce, Lindsey and her family and Travis and his family.

Have a wonderful weekend all.Take the time to see and appreciate all the beauty God has in store for us these next few days. And be sure to give your family lots of kisses and hugs!

Love you all 

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No news IS good news

Dear Friends,
Although I do not have anything to report, I wanted you to "hear" my voice and know that I am doing just fine. I think I have recovered from the surgery and am now feeling about 95%.  I have a smile on my face, I am finding joy in every day, I even caught myself singing the other day! So, all is good with me. I just want y'all to know that.

I am "lying low" as now is the time when my blood counts might drop due to the chemo and I am trying to keep away from large groups of people and exposure to any germs. I continue to pray that God will protect my red and white blood cells from the harmful effects of the chemo so that I will be in good shape for chemo #2 on Feb. 19.

I still have my hair, although the old wigs are ready to be put back into service when needed.  Many of you have encouraged me to go blond...so I just may go shopping soon for a new look.

 I so appreciate all your prayers, cards, thoughts and good wishes. Y'all are the best and each of you make this journey so much easier. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love and hugs to each of you...
Dee Dee

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Practically: Prayer Project

Since my dad was just asking about how to get on the prayer project, perhaps I haven't explained it well. :) :)

Pray whenever you want.  You people are blowing me out of the water with your "I want to pray every week/day/etc!"  We are grateful.  They are working.  Thank you!

Whenever it's important to you that the prayer be recorded in her prayer book and passed on to Dee Dee, email it to me at prayfordeedee @ gmail .com.  I compile them for the day, email them to her (so she knows what is being prayed) and handwrite them into her Prayer Project book.  I haven't written this much with a pen since about 8th grade, so this has turned into a handwriting project for me. Ha!

In terms of what you email me, I'll take anything.  Some people write out full prayers, which are beautiful.  Some people write out a sentence about what they prayed for that day.  Some people are sending verses, devotionals, prayers of others.  Whatever and however you want.

There were lots of prayers for a non-reaction during chemo, and they worked!  Carry on, everyone!

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It was a great day

It was a very good day at super happy Katychemoland today. No drug reaction!!!!! Thank you God for you protection. I continue to pray that you send the chemo directly to the cancer, make sure it destroys it and protect the good stuff in my body that does not need to be adversely effected from the chemo. 

The morning started with a few hiccups, but those were quickly tended to.  I displayed a God inspired amount of patience but did fail when it came to the "being anxious" department.  The nurse who did my chemo infusion was THE SAME NURSE AS MY VERY FIRST TIME...WHEN I REACTED TO THE DRUG! I was not sure how to interrupt that, but I always pray for God to do the nurse selection...and Belen, RN was the one. And it all went smoothly!!!!! Thank you all so much for praying me through this one.

So, in three weeks I will go back and we will start the game of seeing if my white count and platelets are normal enough for another infusion.  If not, we will have to put #2 off for one week while the WBC (white blood count) and platelets recover. Boring stuff...but good stuff.

I was whistling today as I walked the halls in the chemo infusion area. For those of you who know me well, whistling is a very good barometer of how I am feeling. I am filled with hope and peace and joy...lots of joy. And each of you have so much to do with that. Your support has done much to lift my spirits and keep me positive. Thank you friends.

Love to each of you. I am off to take a nap!!

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Round Two

cue the theme music from the movie Rocky

I am packing up my teal colored boxing gloves, and getting ready to start Round Two of chemotherapy tomorrow (Friday) morning.  I am to report to Katy Regional Care Center at 9 am...and I expect that if all the paperwork is in order, the infusion should start around 9:30-9:45. I will be anxious, as I did react to Taxol during my first encounter with the drug...so there is a chance that it might happen again. So prayer warriors, please pray for God's protection for me against any adverse reactions to this drug. 
 
The plan is to have three treatments, three weeks apart, and then we will access if the drugs are being successful in decreasing the tumor. If yes, we will do three more treatments, if not, then there will be some tweaking of the drugs. ...One step at a time...  We have every reason to believe that I should respond favorably to these drugs, so I am finding joy in that and expecting the best.

While I was on my two week cruise (that sounds so much better than admitting that the recovery kicked my butt!) I did a lot of soul searching. I still hold on to the fact that I know this is God's plan for me...there is a purpose in all of this...I want to glorify Him through it all...and I put my faith in Him. I just need to take one step at a time. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:20-21

Thank you for all your prayers (both those sent to the prayer project and those said on my behalf to the Almighty) and cards and kind and caring thoughts. 1Corinthians 10:13b says "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." My way out is definately my faith and my family and friends. Y'all are the best!

I'll keep you posted on my progress tomorrow and the decisions I will be faced with in the future...like what color of hair should I pick once I have to go back to wearing a wig?

Here is hoping I do not turn a lovely shade of red tomorrow morning!

Love you all,
Dee Dee

 

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Sistering

I fell down an internet rabbit hole the other day, and instead of coming up with a lot of wasted time and regret, I found this video:

So, in honor of mom's sister, Ellen, who is with her now,  and her other sister Anne, who is coming next week, and all of YOU, who have been sistering in so many ways already, THANK YOU.

(UPDATE- I can see the video on my computer, but no one else can?  Apparently I did this wrong.  Watch it online HERE.)

Mom Update
Well, there are two options here: (1) she's been on a 6 day cruise and without technology or (2) recovery is "kicking her butt."  I know I probably had a false sense of the ease of recovery since she was released from the hospital so soon, but in reality, it's still major abdominal surgery.  But Nurses Bruce and Ellen claim that she is better every day.  Your continued prayers for healing and her body to get back to "fighting strength" would be appreciated!

Prayer Project Update
You guys are rockstars.  Some of you have asked how this is working. Daily,  I collect any prayers that are emailed to me and make them into a digest that I email to mom each night- so she can know what has been prayed for her that day.  I'm also handwriting those requests into one of the books I bought for the Prayer Project so there will be a written record of the love and faith in this journey.   Email or touch base whenever it strikes you.  I'd love to add your words to the book.

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Technology has failed me!

Today I received the beautiful books I had made for the prayer project.  One of these will stay with me to record all of our prayers for mom, and one of these will go to her so she can record her requests and how she sees God answering all of our prayers. (Mom, which one do you want?)

But I have to admit, I've been little blue the last few days.  I thought I had set up the PrayForDeeDee email address to forward to my personal email, but not one thing had come in.  I was sad that it didn't look like what I had intended would come to fruition, but I knew the power of this was in the prayers, not my plan.  But I just went and signed directly into that email account and found SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PRAYERS!  You ladies (all ladies so far-- where are you, guys?) have quite the way with words.  I can't wait to write them down and share them with mom.

Clearly I'm not as tech savvy as I thought!

So keep up the amazing work.  Someone told me once there is nothing better you can offer than having a personal conversation with the King on their behalf.  And when it comes to something like cancer, that's absolutely the truth.

If this is all news to you, more info on the prayer project can be found in the column on the right.

Also, many of you signed up to pray on a certain day every week.  THANK YOU.  If you want me to go through and put you on the schedule for all of those specific days, let me know.  I think I can do it much more easily behind the scenes than it is for you all to sign up for each day.

Love you you all.  Thanks for your help!

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Headed home

home today...one day earlier that I expected to be. I cannot say enough good things about the care given here at MD Anderson. Granted I do not have any experience with other hospital, but I still think this place is the best. Plus I had the privilege to meet one of the gynecological fellows, Dr. Makelia Onsted and I know in my heart this world is a better place just for having people like her in it. She is so loving and kind, answering tough questions with compassion and caring. It is comforting to know that there are people like her out there working to find answers about Ovarian Cancer. Maybe one day, with her help and MD Anderson we will find a means for early detection and treatment. Until then, I continue to hold on to joy and hope and faith that God is walking this walk with me and has me in His arms. 

Speaking of arms...soon I will have my arms around my newest grandson! Parker David is anxiously waiting to meet me!!!!! Ok, he has no idea who I am, but I plan on smothering him in kisses. Drew (the 5 year old grandson) has told me I am "to  kissy".  Suddenly he is to big to have me kissing on his sweet head when he sits in my lap. Isn't it wonderful that God gives me another child who can't complain about my kisses!!! 

My middle sister Ellen flies in tomorrow from Phoenix. There is nothing like family love (especially a sis) to make the healing go faster. 

So the game plan is for complete healing and then moving into chemo. 🤗☺️ YEA chemo. 

Love you all. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts.  

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An update and a baby!

Thanks so much for all your prayers.  The doctor came to talk to us about 11:30 after a 4 hour surgery.  The surgery went perfectly.  Unfortunately they did find more than one spot, so, as the plan always was for situation, they stopped the surgery and will proceed with chemo.  The doctor said the new spots were small and completely treatable with chemo, and he isn't one to tell us that if he had any concerns.

We left our meeting with the doctor, and within 5 minutes Travis called to let us know that PARKER DAVID FINCHER was born via c section.  8.7 lbs, 21 inches long.

We were quite the waiting room story- I think every nurse and volunteer here heard about the family waiting on not one, but TWO family members in surgery.

And a funny Dee Dee anecdote- one of the doctors PA's loves my mom's apple muffins.  So mom promised her some the morning of surgery, and true to her word, we packed up two tupperwares with treats.  We didn't see the doctor or PA prior to surgery, so they were with us in the waiting room.  Kelly just came to find me and told me that when mom woke up she looked at Kelly and said "Did you get your stuff?"

Seriously, even anesthesia can't keep this woman down.

Will post more updates (and maybe even a baby picture!) later.  Please pray for mom's spirits-- this was her least favorite of the possible scenarios and I know it will be hard when she finds out there were multiple spots.

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Surgery Updates Tomorrow

Hi Friends,

Heads up, if you get this blog by email it is sent at 5:45PM, no matter when we post tomorrow. We expect surgery to end around noon and will post an update then, but you will have to come directly to the blog (www.deedeefincher.blogspot.com) if you want the info before it hits your email box at 5:45.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! Mom and I are off to get pedicures, because surgery demands nice toes. :)

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Ready...Set....

Port in place...done

Surgery...Monday, Jan 11, 2016  (Previous surgery Monday, Jan 13, 2014)

Length of hospital stay...one day or three to five days...I am hoping for a three day stay!

Daughter Lindsey (aka The Communication Czar) will be coming in for the surgery. Son Travis will be at his wife's side as they wait for the birth of their baby.  Hubby Bruce imagines himself ubbering between MDAnderson and Women's Hospital to tend to me and his newest grandson. (We hope he will be making his arrival soon, but he is proving to be a boy who likes to do things on his own time schedule!)

As far as communicating to you all about the result of the surgery...the communication czar will be updating this blog.  Many people have said that they "must have been taken off the blog because they have not gotten the newest post..."we have not taken anyone off the blog. If someone is no longer receiving the post it is not intentional on our part. Please feel free to forward this site to anyone who is interested. www.deedeefincher.blogspot.com There is a box in the upper right hand corner where you can sign up for the blog. 

I cannot think of a thing funny to say. I guess I am a tad bit anxious.😮

I ask that you pray for Dr. Bevers that God will give him wisdom and the skills he needs to make this the best surgery possible 

Please pray that Dr. Bevers will be able to cut out the tumor without any complications and that I will recover quickly and without complications. 

Thank you friends for again sharing this journey with Bruce and I. I have no doubt that your prayers resulted in all the good of these last two years. I know God can do this again and I pray that He will. 

Love you all...Dee Dee

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The Prayer Project, Part 2

So following up from yesterday's post, as I began to pray and read about praying while stuck in the desert, I was struck by several things that became the basis for the Prayer Project.

1. That I am supposed to petition God for the things I want and need. ("Do not worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for what he has done."  Philippians 4:6)
2. There is power in many people praying together. ("Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree on anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in Heaven."  Matthew 18:19)
3. God will use my prayers to emotionally involve me in the needs of others, and I can learn more about myself and God while in prayer for others.

Thus, the idea for the Prayer Project was born-- to harness the power of all of us praying together for both the HOPE line and the REALITY line, and be able to chronicle the impact that is having on mom's cancer journey.  Here's how the Prayer Project will work:

Step 1: Go to this website and sign up for days to pray. The dates start next Monday, January 11th (the date of surgery) and go through the end of May. I will adjust the end dates once we know how long chemo will be- so check back!

Step 2: Email me at prayfordeedee @gmail .com each time that you pray. You can just tell me that you prayed that day, or you can give me any level of detail about WHAT you prayed that day. As much as you are comfortable with.

Other things to know

• Please sign up for more than one day!  You can sign up randomly, or on any sort of schedule that works for you.
• The website will email you prior to any day you sign up, so don't worry about picking days far into the future.
• I put 5 spots for each day to spread the love, but if you want to pray on a day where all 5 spots are taken, please feel free and just skip to Step 2.
• Please forward this link/email to anyone else who may be interested- I know this blog only goes so far.

I will take the daily Prayer Project emails and transcribe them into a journal by date.  I'm also going to give mom her own journal to write down her requests and how she sees God answering all of the requests.  Since she is the only one who will have all the prayers and see how they are being answered, hopefully she will share some on the blog about what she is noticing and what she is learning in her own desert.

We will probably never know why God allowed this cancer in mom's life (again!),  but I hope and pray this project will give us a little glimpse into the way God is using this for our good and growth.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for indulging me in supporting my mom in the very best way I know how.

Love,
Lindsey

PS- As I have written these posts, I have gotten absolutely snarled in the amount of information that is out there about prayer.  I've had to boil down big theology and big concepts into something that is readable.  Some of you reading this post are probably Christian but still confused about how prayer works (honestly, that is probably all of us to some extent!).  Some of you may not identify as Christian, but want to know more.  I definitely don't know all the answers, but if you have any questions and want to talk more, please feel free to reach out at the address above.

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The Prayer Project, Part 1

Written by Lindsey

Well, it took me several attempts at remembering my password to this blog, if that gives you any indication of where we thought we stood with this cancer thing.  It was done, the battle was over, prayers had been answered, and she had won.

I prayed many a prayer during Round 1:

"God, please give my mom strength." Yes.

"God, please give my mom wise doctors and nurses." Yes.

"God, please help chemo be kind to her body." Yes.

"God, please keep her spirits up."  Yes.

"God, please take this away."

I thought the answer to that last one was also "Yes," but it appears the answer is actually "not yet."  Or potentially even "No."  And I've spent the last three weeks pondering that.

And then I saw this graph in a book about prayer.  I'll explain it in a second, but, spoiler alert, I'm in the desert.

The bottom left hand corner where everything starts?  That's me on December 11th, when "chemo", "cancer" and "MDAnderson" were no longer parts of my vocabulary.  And then mom and dad arrived -- under the guise of dropping off furniture and staying off freshly cleaned, wet carpet -- bearing bad news.

My heart was torn between despair and hope.  To be honest, it was mostly despair at first -- how could this be happening again?  My hope was being crushed by doctors we greatly trust calling it "chronic" and indicating it was a battle that may need to be fought again and again.  But I was pondering all of this during the Christmas season, and everywhere I turned was the image of a baby, born to a virgin.  Lots of trained, smart medical doctors would tell you a child can't be born of a virgin.  But Jesus was.  God is not contained by our science, and I slowly began to see hope.  And pray.

So I re-set my "hope" line as mom takes this journey again.  My HOPE is for the cancer to go and to never come back.  And my God can do that, and will do that when it falls in line with his divine will (Hebrews 2:4).  So for healing I will pray, all the while knowing that God is good and all things work together for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

But I also must pray along the reality line.  I will pray for a successful surgery, the wisdom of the doctors, that chemo is yet again gentle on her body.

And as I pray those prayers, I will wait in the desert.  To be honest, I'm really, really terrible about being in a state of unknown.  It's hard and uncomfortable and I'd like to just move on already.  But over and over God does his best work on people when they are in the desert and all they have to reply on is faith.  And I trust that he will work on my heart, and moms, and yours, if you will let Him.

During Round 1, so many of you reached out to us to help, and we are still so thankful.  You offered meals and rides and all sorts of emotional support, and i rolled that into the Morale Project.  Just weeks before she found out about Round 2, mom told me again that she had just re-read through everything and it brought her so much joy.  So it was obvious to me that I was going to do it again, but with a twist.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about my plans for the Prayer Project.  And I hope you will join me in covering mom in prayer every single day of Round 2.  Big, HOPE prayers, and smaller, Reality prayers.  Because truly, those prayers will make the difference.

(Note: Since apparently we are going to be on the blog for awhile, check out the updates and new features at www.deedeefincher.blogspot.com.  If you got this post to your email account, you are set up to get anything new that is posted via email.  If you viewed it on the website or were forwarded the email and would like to get updates on all new posts via email, go to www.deedeefincher.blogspot.com and put your email address in the box on the lefthand side that says "Follow by Email.")

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Baby report (no, not me silly!) & Surgery update

Baby report first...

Many of you know that Travis and his wife Lyndsay are expecting the birth of their son very soon. Actually,we have been anticipating his arrival since Christmas. In spite of being head first, then breech and now head first again, he apparently has decided that he is quite comfortable and is happy where he is. In other words, we are like every other expectant family and we are waiting. I will update y'all here whenever he arrives. 

Surgery report...

Tomorrow I return to MDAnderson to have a port put back into my chest for future chemotherapy treatments. 

On Monday, I will report early for an expected 9:30 surgery to remove the "pelvic implant". There are a lot of "ifs" with this surgery. 

Dr. Bevers will start with a laproscope meaning a smaller, less invasive surgery. If thru the scope, he sees more than one implant (we used to call them tumors), he will withdraw the scope and not proceed further as he does not believe it would be to my advantage. I would go home the next day,and we would start chemo. 

However, he only sees ONE implant on the PET scan, and assuming that is indeed what they find, the issue now becomes what it is attached to. This will determine what is done. If it is attached to the bowel, he will not proceed further, I will go home the next day and head to chemo. If they can remove the implant without resecting the small bowel, they will open up my belly and go to work...kicking this cancer...of maybe knifing is a better word. Anyway, that would be the most ideal outcome for me and would require a 3-5 day hospitalization. 

So many variables. 

But I am sure God has his hand on all those variables. I am filled with joy and at peace with this decision. I am going to fight!!!!!!

So prayer warriors, I ask again that you pray for the healthy delivery of baby Fincher without complications for baby or mom. 

And that you pray for an uncomplicated port placement tomorrow and a successful surgery on Monday without complications and with a rapid recovery. Because, I can't wait to start chemo! :)

Love you all. 

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The title of this post should be…

Oh No!!! Say it Ain’t So!!!!!!

or

Second Verse, Same as the First

or

Round Two

Ok, all three are good!

Yes, it is back!!! The cancer has reared it's ugly head once more.

I was surprised.  I thought I had beaten this damn disease.  Even though the odds were aagainst me, I thought I was going to beat it.  So now I am on the second verse in this battle.  And I pray the second verse is as successful as the first time. I will have surgery to remove the mass in my pelvis on January 11th. Dr. Bevers has referred to this reoccurrence as the beginning of a "chronic" problem, Meaning it will not go away, but there are treatment choices...mainly chemo. I am praying that the next reoccurrence will be years down the road. In the meantime, I am on to round two!

So Prayer warriors, I need you.

Please pray that the surgery is successful and without complications.  Pray that I will recover quickly and will be  able to start chemo with 2-3 weeks. Please pray that I will respond to the chemo with maximum results and minimum side effects...just like last time.

In the meantime, I am choosing JOY.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will  for you me in Christ Jesus."

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you me with all joy and peace as I you trust in him so that I you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I know God is in control. I know this is His plan for me. But I will admit that I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this latest development. I ask God to give me peace.

I will keep you posted on any new developments, but in the meantime, I wish you joy and peace as we start this new year. 

 

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