For a month, my sister has been dealing with the scare of breast cancer. She had a mammogram, because she had found some sort of lump. While she was in Florida, hanging out with my mom and me, a letter came to her house saying that she needed to follow up. Fortunately, her husband failed to tell her of the letter while she was away, so, definitely, ignorance was bliss. There was certainly nothing that could have been done while she was in Florida, and I am fairly certain that she would not have been inclined toward coming home early if she had known. I am grateful that he spared us that worry.
Upon her return home, she made an appointment for a compression mammogram (what do they think the other kind is ~ that's my question) and an ultrasound. As a result, they wanted her to have a needle biopsy. She went for the needle biopsy at which time they did another ultrasound and the word "tentacles" was brought into the conversation. Do not google, "can a breast lump with tentacles be benign?" Nothing much good comes from that little search. They decided not to do the needle biopsy because this thing with the tentacles would have to come out anyway. Also, came the unwelcome news that the surgeon was out of town for the next two weeks.
So, here we all are waiting to hear from this "golf ball sized tumor with tentacles." You would not think that something the size of a golf ball could wield so much power over so many people. We all began to solicit prayers on her behalf as we waited and tried not to fret. Dozens, if not hundreds, of people were praying for her. I certainly uttered many a day...every time I mentioned my future grandchildren and their parents...so trust me, that is a lot of times a day. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I believe in just coming out and asking, "Lord, please do not let her have cancer."
Last Friday was the day for the lumpectomy. We waited to hear, hoping that in some way by its appearance, this thing would reveal its true nature. It did not. The best we got was, "if it is malignant, we caught it very early." There was great comfort in that, but being the older sister by 15 years, I just did not want to have to watch her and her family go through this trial known as cancer. I have many friends, young women, who have had to live through that. They are all doing well, now, it seems, but the struggle was mighty; the physical and emotional pain extreme. Sometimes (really all the time), you just would like for those you love to be spared.
So, the weekend proved to be a waiting game. Through it all, she was the one who seemed most at peace. I felt quite unglued, even though I tried not to show it to her. I know my mother was extremely anxious. Meals were cooked for the family. My precious niece came home from college for the weekend with two friends. She knows her mama well, and knew that the excitement of house guests would keep minds occupied and spirits elevated.
My sister was very sore from the surgery. The golf ball thing with tentacles was described by one as "a small, round, knot" and by another, "a peach-pit sort of thing." She has a tendency to sit and suffer without taking Advil or Tylenol. I'm not sure why. She walked a dog, after being told not to, and was certain that she had popped a stitch. Again, I do not know why, exactly, but that is just my sister. She was insistent that she was going by herself today to get the results of the pathology. I had to work, but my mother was more insistent that she would not go by herself. Her husband went.
The morning found me driving to Unionville to speak. It found my sister's two younger children home from school, sick, and my mother going to tend to them. Actually, they tend to her, because they are precious young people, and she kept them occupied as we waited. I finished my talk at Community Elementary School. As I was driving home, I received a text from my son asking when the results were to be revealed. I waited as long as I could before I called my mom, thinking for some reason they had failed to call me with the results. She had not heard a word.
A little after noon, I received a phone call from my mother, "no cancer present." "Praise God," I said, not too loudly as I was standing in line to get the tags for my car, ignoring the "turn off cell phones" sign on the door. Sorry Mr. County Court Clerk, but today, it will have to stay on vibrate. What I should have done was shout "Praise God," because I was in that line. I texted my kids and my friend Nancy. Within about 10 seconds they had all texted me back with "Woo Hoo!!! Prayers have been answered," "Great!," "PTL Such good news!,""yay!!," and from my son-in-law, "PRAISE GOD! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GLAD!" They were most sincere and heartfelt hallelujahs. Elaine Benes would have been proud of all those exclamation points.
So, I raise a voice of thanksgiving for good news. I remain without explanation why we received such wonderful news, and others I know and love have received the most dreaded words. I figure it is not for me to understand.
So, I celebrate with my sister and her family...with a haircut and a Cadbury Chocolate Caramel Egg. Many of you reading this blog were aware of this situation, and you offered petitions on our behalf. Many of you offered such words of concern and interest as we waited in high anxiety for the word. I thank you.
For today, I wish you abundant blessings,
Praise God!!!!!!
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