Where shall I start?
Today has been a gorgeous fall/meteorological winter day! Sunshine. Mild. And God’s hands have been all over my day.
A month or more ago I gathered the Christmas lists for kids and grandkids and had fun pressing links for Christmas presents. Shipping here, there, and everywhere.
Then I wrote a short Christmas letter to send to those few with whom we don’t have contact through Facebook. A small group indeed. In that letter, I wrote a line that will probably haunt me for a while: Neither one of us have been hospitalized, praise God!
Hmmmmm
In early fall, I had begun having discomfort on the right side of my abdomen. No sharp pains, so I wasn’t concerned about appendicitis. But it felt like bloating and pressure, so I started consulting “Dr. Google.” I think we all have a love/hate relationship with Dr. Google.
I let it go for a couple of months, and noticed that I could palpably feel a mass deep on my right side. Still no real pain.
But right about this time, Mark’s sister came to visit. This is important in several ways. A couple of weeks before she came down from Minnesota, she was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. We were all shocked and praying. Because of her painful symptoms, she encouraged me (no, she pushed me!) to at least go to my general practitioner to get it checked out.
Forward to November 22. My GP felt the mass and suggested that it could be a hernia, but she sent through a referral for a CT scan. I felt in no hurry, and scheduled it for Tuesday, December 5. Mind you, I’m writing this on Friday, December 8.
My Chart is an incredible tool. Scheduling, messaging, test results … and all in a flash!
Bottom line of the CT results: consult a surgeon.
Five and a half years ago, I went through major surgery for breast cancer, and my surgeon was the best! Dr. Klade. She is a general surgeon, so I thought it appropriate to schedule with her. I got a time slot for Thursday, December 7. Amazing.
After showing me what she saw on the CT scan, she cautioned me that this could be more major than just an appendectomy. She told me of a surgeon who was well known for this kind of surgery: Dr. George Salti. She volunteered to call him as I was leaving her office, and … shocker … he had left me a message before I even got back home.
“I will get you in on Friday.”
Okay, now the wheels are spinning awfully fast, but that’s definitely an answer to prayer.
So at 10:30 this morning, I met Dr. Salti, the surgical oncologist. Something about “oncology” is foreboding. His demeanor is caring. He is an expert in the field of complex internal oncology surgery. And once again, we looked at the CT scan.
A mucocele tumor attached to the appendix. The danger is rupture. God has been gracious to get me this far!
As of right now, the doctor does not think it is cancer, but only pathology after surgery will rule that out.
And again, a major blessing that he would get me in for surgery … Tuesday, the 12th.
Surgery was NOT on my Christmas list! But God has moved schedules to get this taken care of, and even though I can tend to worry, deep down I know Who holds me for now and eternity!
What IS on my Christmas list is a prayer request:
- That the mucocele will stay intact.
- That I have no adverse side effects from the anesthesia and antibiotics (I’ve had issues before).
- That the mass is benign.
- That no resection of the colon would be necessary.
- That there be no infection.
- That my heart and head would remember God’s power, provision, and love for me.
- That I would be a godly representative to all with whom I come in contact.
Thank you! Now … what’s on your Christmas list?
