Visit to U of Penn October 25, 2011

What a beautiful Autumn day God gave us to travel to Philadelphia.  The trees along the turnpike were painted with radiant color; another of my "thousand gifts". 
If you haven't heard of the book; "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp you might want to secure a copy for yourself as well as a journal for your "thousand gifts".  We all have SO much to be thankful for; don't we!!!  Its a book I first learned about from our daughter Laura, whose church recommended the women read it.  I am enjoying it emensely.

Tim & I had a good visit with Dr. Rubin.  U of Penn is a large hospital and we were disappointed to learn that my pathology and slides had arrived there but their pathology department has NOT yet read my slides.  This might take another week.

However, Dr. Rubin recommended 6 rounds of chemo for my stage 2 cancer basing his decision on the written pathology report.  It doesn't seem like he will change his mind, however we will talk with him again after Penn Pathology reads my info sometime next week.

We were disappoint to say the least to not have a firm answer as to the direction the Lord wants us to take.  It has been quite the roller coaster of opinions, some doctors says yes, you must have chemo others saying chemo is not needed. 
Obviously, with a disease like ovarian cancer, it is not a decision we want to make quickly.  We must KNOW the direction of the Lord specifically for this answer. 


SO many good things, my CT scan and mamogram are clear! and an early find of this cancer.  God has been SO good to me!

Pray if you would for discernment to KNOW His will and if there are additional steps we need to take for answers.  We are content to wait (yet another week) for the report from Penn.

After much time in the Word and prayer last night, Psalms 62:5-8 really ministered to my heart and I was able to once again give the time in this "waiting room" of a roller coaster to my heavenly Father.

Psalms 62;5-8"Find rest O my soul, in God alone,
My hope comes from Him.
He alone is my Rock & my salvation!!
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God     (it was that part right there; its not my game; its God's and He can take as long as He plans to let us know the next step)
He is my mighty Rock, my fortress.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to Him for God is our Refuge..." 
Again, its not my game, I'm just the vessel God chose so on we go trusting Him for each day; as His grace is Sufficient, His power is made perfect in weakness...

3rd Opinion Oct 18, 2011

It was our third opinion, this one with a medical oncologist.  What a wonderful, kind intelligent doctor he was.  His recommendation; no chemo treatment necessary.  After some conversation with him, about the other two gynocologic oncologists and the three differing opinions, he wants to send us to University of Penn in Phila for another opinion.  He said he rarely ever sends a patient out for another opinion, but he wants to be sure about this.  He gave reference, and had his assistant call and make the appt.  as well as sending my pathology report and the slides to Penn.  It might take several weeks to get in...

God be praised, I have an appointment there on Tuesday, Oct 25.  God is continues to heal my body and I am stronger each day.
He continues to encourage me to trust Him one day at a time.

Oct recovery

I was challenged to look for "One thousand gifts" during this season of life. That has been such a blessing to focus on the many things I have to enjoy & be thankful for.

 This sister of mine and the one in OH have been an incrediable support in the most tangiable ways!!

 We arrive to our daughter & son-in-law's for family supper and I am informed that its an aqua party.

I look around to see each member of our family wearing aqua or blue in support

 of the fight against "ovarian cancer"; my ovarian cancer. 

She even made the above cookies for our after dinner treat.  What a support our family has been. 

I am a blessed woman!

A most delightful way to recover from surgery; snuggling with our newest grandson,

Hudson Jacob Sangrey.  Ahh, such joy!

Second Opinion October 13, 2011

Thursday, Oct 13, I met with another Gynocologic Oncologist in Lancaster for a second opinion.  She was very forth right and specific to tell us that this cancer is NOT one to watch. 
Her recommendation is 6 rounds of chemo and an additional surgery to further bioposy the pelvic area.
She stated that my kind of cancer goes to other places and we can't be sure that there are not some cancer cells still there since the cancer was found in the ovary and the cyst and against the pelvic wall.

We are grateful for her direction.  We are looking for some medical guidance to direct our path as we seek the Lord for His wisdom to make decisions regarding treatment.

She was happy to know that I have a third opinion scheduled with a medical oncologist the following week.
She offered support for my nausea as well as scheduling a diagnositic CT scan of my abdomen on Monday Oct 17, 2011

We feel like we are getting some answers to help us make decisions.  God be praised. 

During these weeks of recovery our children & grandchildren visit often as I miss them all.
Above are the two local granddaughters.

Oct Tumor Board

The Tumor Board is a group of 40+ oncologists & pathologists.  After their meeting I went back to the Oncologist for another appt.  I had been suffering with some extreme nausea and was glad to ask some questions about it.  He ordered some blood work and another xray.

From his conclusion of tumor board, his recommendation was chemotherapy was up to us.  We could choose to take treatment of not.  Cancer could  come back either way.  Totally up to us.  We were frustrated to say the least.  What to do with that?  Trust the Lord for His direction...

By now, we had also secured an appt. with a noted Medical Oncologist in Lancaster for another opinion.  We will see him on Oct. 18.

Trip to VA...baptism of our grandchildren

Yes, I know it's hard to believe, we could hardly believe it either, but my oncologist gave me permission to travel to VA just 2 weeks post-op to be there for our three grandchildren's baptism that first Sunday in October.  Pictured above the 4 Virginia grandchildren.

So, I mustered all the strength from the Lord and off we went to VA, Tim made me a bed in the back seat and I traveled well those 5 + hours.  God in His mercy gave me strength to leave their house that sunday morning for the church/baptism service for our 12, 13, & 14 year old grandchildren who have given their hearts to the Lord and wanted to display their desire to serve Him.  It was a very special service that I sure didn't want to miss. 

Much to our surprise, both sets of grandparents on my side and Tim's traveled sunday just for the day to share this special time with us and our precious grandchildren.

What an honor to have them there for this special celebration!

Our Virginia Family; with Nana & Cousin A

First visit to the oncologist...September 26, 2011

It was just 10 days post-op and I weakly pulled my body out of bed and into the shower to get ready for  my first appointment with an Oncologist.  Never dreamed I would need one of those, but God doesn't ask us about such things; He just does what pleases Him (Ps. 115:3)  and I can trust in that!!!

Tim came home from work to take me to this appt.  Drew attended so graciously to be the "extra pair of ears"  The Doc was unsure about the pathology report, so he called my OB and discussed more of the surgery with her while we were there.  He was in my surgery and checked me for cancer but said it didn't look like cancer, so he expected a good path report. 

After lots of questions, the Oncologist said he would take my pathology and the slides to "Tumor Board" the following week and get an opinion from this group of about 40 oncologists & pathologists.
My Pathology report said it was a grade 1 Stage 2 Ovarian Cancer.  But he had some questions.

We would wait another 9 days for more definate answers regarding treatment, etc.  I was content to take one day at a time.  God gave me verses like...

Psalms 112:7
He will have NO fear of bad news...for his heart is steadfast; trusting in the Lord!

Psalms 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him...

Oh what peace these brought to my heart.