This week is a big week. It is also a bit scary. Monday Mom will be going in for another CT scan. This one will hopefully be easier with some better pain management that has been prescribed. Tuesday will bring an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Wednesday she will meet with Dr. Gilcrease to find out the actual diagnosis and treatment options. We will update the blog as we know more.
As she gets ready for this week, I keep thinking about how strong she is and how much she has already come through. This whole thing started in August. She wasn't feeling well, dizzy and light headed. The Dr. thought it was stress and burnout. This made since to all of us. I mean just the fact that she gave birth to 7 children in 10 years and raised those same seven very strong willed, kind of intense kids, would make anyone want to take a five to six year Caribbean vacation. But that was not all, she cared for her mother for years in her home and nursed her lovingly through the last few weeks of her life. She has cared for Dad through his diabetes, and all the issues to his health, carried out multiple callings and responsibilities in our church. She took gifts to neighbors, treats to her primary girls, babysat grand kids, worked at the Library, cared for the yard work and many other numerous things on any given day. The burnout seemed like a quick fix. Medicines to help were ineffective and seemed to make things worse. Several doctors had suggestions but little actual help. Her health over the past few months has declined. She has lost weight, because she has been unable to eat or sleep comfortably. She has been in pain and with no answers coming she kept getting worse and not knowing was even more tortuous.
Then a friend and doctor was inspired to come and visit. He came and paid attention, showed true concern and then he took action. Suddenly within a matter of days she was getting tests done. On January 9, 2014 the news came in. A mass had been found, in her abdomen by her stomach. It was most likely cancer, they thought Lymphoma. We felt nervous, but glad too, to finally understand what was happening, why she had been so sick.
Another CT scan with biopsy was ordered. When we arrived at the clinic for the procedure she was so worried. The previous CT scan had been difficult and painful for her. Arriving we found out there was no pain management prescribed. While she went to the lab, Dad and I ran upstairs to talk to the Doctor. It was her day off. The on-call physician could not prescribe a narcotic. Dad and I were trying to figure out what to do. They mentioned rescheduling, that didn't seem like an option. It had taken so much to get her there already.
We went back. Dad encouraged her to stay strong, that she could do this. I stood in the hall talking to Samuel on the phone. I heard someone say, "Hi, Dr. Whitten" it was Mom's doctor. I ran after her. I think she thought I was crazy. I was a little. This was my Mom. I explained the situation. Dad came out and even though it was her day off, even though she was on her way out, she took ten extra minutes ran up to her office and got Mom a prescription.
This may seem like a little thing. But to all of us this day it was a tender mercy. It was clearly God showing forth His hand and His love. Mom, was the one who had seen her. She was turned in just the right direction, was looking up at that exact moment. Dr. Whitten was two floors down from her office, on her day off, just happened to be walking down that hallway, at the same time I was standing in it, at the exact moment when we needed something. Tender mercies are everywhere. God is mindful of our sweet mother.
Since that day, the prognosis has not been easy to hear. A mass around her aorta, along with the one in her abdomen, Adenocarcinoma has metastasized through her body. This week we find out the details. We learn what can be done. She is walking into the darkness, putting one foot in front of the other with faith. We don't know where this journey is leading, but we see the Hand of the Lord. The tender mercies of comfort and care. So we walk in faith. We proceed with our hand placed in a loving Father's. We trust that comfort and healing will come through a loving Savior who is the Great Physician. We walk in faith. The journey is starting. She is scared. We are scared, but God is mindful and we walk in Faith.
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