Living a Blessed Life

My journey with colon cancer began on March 26th, 2020. At that time it seemed that our entire world started spinning in a different direction. COVID became a household term. Fear and panic struck the hearts of many, but we were merely trying to grapple with a different life-threatening disease. Cancer. I know God’s timing is always perfect, but it was difficult to see how this could be so. In my mind this scenario was far from perfect! How do we find our way through these murky waters when the world is literally shutting down? Hindsight is always 20/20 I can now look back and see the many, many, many ways God was working this for my good. GI clinics were not taking routine cases, so my case was expedited as emergent in order to gain approval for my first colonoscopy. (WooHoo, right?) I definitely was not excited for this, but I am grateful that I was able to get in within a week. Once I was diagnosed, I met with a surgeon. Finding available appointment times ...

Today was supposed to be the day that we received the “GOOD NEWS” of a clear PET scan. Darek and I were ready for this appointment, armed with positive thoughts and expectations. I picked Darek up from work and we journeyed on toward the Oncologist office. We checked in and were called back within a couple of minutes. I was greeted by a nurse I have had previously who has a son he same age as Toby. We discussed baseball, as her son plays too, and he has played against Toby’s team. It was great having such a friendly person start our visit. Shortly after she left the room my Oncologist (Dr. L.) came in. She was friendly and pleasant as usual, but she got right to the point this time. Typically the results from tests and scans appear in the MyChart app as soon as they are read by the Radiologist. This time the PET scan results were not there so I didn’t even have the opportunity to nervously read through them ahead of time. I believe this was by design. Dr. L informed us that the tw...

We are on day number two of, “Snow Day!! - NO SCHOOL!!” I made a paper snowflake and slipped it under Toby’s door while he was still asleep, to alert him of the fun day ahead today. The kids are thrilled to have another cozy day at home, sleeping in, eating pancakes, doing puzzles, and shoveling / playing in the snow. This snow is DEEP ! It seems that no matter how many times I shovel a path for our beagle, Maple, she insists on pouncing through the deep, and playing in it. I am thankful that she enjoys it, and does not resist going outside no matter how cold it gets here. She brings the entertainment in our backyard. I honestly have no idea how many inches have fallen at this point, but it feels like we are over 12” so far between yesterday and this morning, with snow continuing until tomorrow morning. I found myself looking at the radar this morning, and instead of a typical storm system that moves through, it is swirling in place! :) It sure is beautiful...