Wanda's Wacky Wonderful World

No cancer in the lymph nodes! What a relief to hear those words yesterday from my doctor. Which reminds me of one of my favorite treasures. Words. The most powerful force on earth. A mere word can change your life. Your heart. A single word. Think about it. Cancer. Clear. Goodbye. Accepted. Declined. Words... I have such a respect for them. Words can transport you - deflate you - immerse you - deliver you. If all my words were taken from me and I could only have one word - one word alone... that word would be ... Jesus. Talk about a word changing the atmosphere... that one word can change situations - lives - people! Immediately! I know I'm one of the privileged. I not only know this word... I know the meaning of the word. I know Who owns this word as His name. Wow. Know what else? This Jesus... He's my best friend - my faithful friend. Clear. Clear nodes. Uh-huh... that's what I'm talking about!

Forgot to mention... biopsy results should be in Wednesday when I go to get the staples out. I'll post as I get updates.

I was not trying to be difficult - or super woman - or any of the many other egotistical things of which my friends and family accused me. I simply wanted to go to NC Ladies' Conference. Bottom line. I had carefully protected these dates on my calendar all year... a chance to be with my dear NC lady friends AND to hear two of my favorite women in the world... Nona Freeman and Vesta Mangun! So what if the lymph node biopsy was scheduled for Thursday... the first day of the conference. Surely, I could leave the hospital and sleep on the two and a half hour road trip... rest a bit in the hotel and take in as much of the conference as possible. It's only been 24 years since I've had general anesthesia... probably why I forgot that afterwards you pretty much don't know what planet you are on or from! My wise husband suggested (although my bags were packed and ready to roll) that we go home first and see how I felt after a couple of hours rest. Well, long story short - I slep...

Peace... it still surrounds me; saturates me; empowers me. Bright and early tomorrow morning I go to the hospital for the lymph node mapping and biopsy. All is still well. I am wide-eyed and all ears; my heart and mind open to God. What will He show me? Where will He take me? How did He choose cancer? Will the healing come quickly - or will I pass through the fire? Questions that really don't need answers. Just anticipating the ride... praying that I bring Him glory. Honored that He trusts me. Grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life. My husband. My children. My parents. My siblings. My family. My Church. My wonderful friends. My grandbabies. I am so blessed - so loved - and totally amazed by it all. For the past two weeks it seems that time moves at a slower pace. In slow motion, I watch my husband work - preach - study - and I savor every moment together. Like a slow movie reel I watch my grandchildren play - sing - and fight over me (MawMaw), I watch my sons - study t...

God is continuing to blow my mind. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise from His Word... "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you... thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Amplified) Knowing that I am in His thoughts every day comforts me. He has proved to me that He is not only going to be WITH me, but that He is taking pains to ensure that I am comfortable with every detail. If you know me well, you know that I am very interested in the natural homeopathic healing methods of supplements, essential oils and such. I won't take the time to give every detail - but God just allowed me to re-connect with a friend via email that I have been out of touch with for about 15 years. She is an RN and has been for nearly 40 years. She had no idea what was going on with me - and I had no idea that she was working with a team of doctors and researchers as a consultant to people (like me) that have been diagnos...

Well, the results are in. The surgeon called me in a day early for my appointment. (my first clue something was going on) There is bad news and good news. The mass was cancer. A non-aggressive (well-behaved) type the doctor says. He is sure he got it all and I am so glad I told them to take the mass out instead of just doing a biopsy of it. It is totally treatable and totally curable... but totally inconvenient! The surgeon is sure they will do radiation to that breast. They are still waiting for a couple tests to come in to determine if the cancer is estrogen driven. I'm scheduled for another biopsy on Thursday, the 17th. This time they will inject a nuclear dye and follow it to the first couple of lymph nodes - which they will remove and biopsy. If there is no cancer in the nodes - that will be great news. If any of them are cancerous, they will remove them all from that side... and probably recommend chemotherapy. I am more afraid of the treatment than the cancer. When they gath...

I was just doing what I always do... getting my annual check-ups. Life has been so busy with no signs of letting up. Although mammograms are no fun, I know it is imperative that I get checked out regularly. Mom has had breast cancer and now two of her sisters have died with breast cancer being a contributing factor. This year, I didn't feel any kind of premonition or warning. I just went to my regular appointment. The phone call came while I was in St. Louis... they found something. A mass. A mass which was surgically removed yesterday. I am still on some major pain meds and feel like my head is in a fog, but I wanted to write. I want to try to share my feelings. Everyone tells me not to be afraid. Funny... fear is not one of the emotions I'm feeling. Uncertainity maybe. Not knowing stinks. I will get my lab results on Wednesday. But I already know that I can handle whatever comes my way. God is my peace... my refuge... my ever present help in the time of need. I feel so much p...