As I sit here, thinking 🤔 about September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness month I remember where my cancer journey started. In April of 2003 I was at a point where I could not lay down to sleep and felt bloated, we had no clue what was wrong.
We ended up going to a clinic in our area and they immediately set up some tests at the hospital. I had had a ultrasound on my abdomen and as we were leaving, I told Scott I felt a little lightheaded and was going to just sit down while he went for the truck. About that time a nurse came outside, she looked at me and said, “honey you don’t look good,” she went inside got a wheelchair and we headed back inside.
Come to find out I had an ascites, which is fluid buildup in the abdomen. A doctor came in to let us know that they were going to drain off the fluid. So, as they tried, they were having trouble getting the needle in. So they took me back to the ultrasound area so they could watch the needle insertion. They drained over a liter of fluid. Wow, did I feel better. I thought I was ready to go home and eat something. That did not happen, they admitted me to the hospital.
That evening a doctor came in, he did not introduce himself, he said, “ma’am you have a cancerous tumor, and I will be back tomorrow to examine you.” We were shocked and the tears began to flow. That evening I got my Bible and started looking up verses on “faith” and “healing”. The 5th verse I read was II Kings 20:5 “…I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee:…” Immediately I had the peace of God and knew He was going to be with me.
I eventually ended up at MD Anderson in Houston, TX. God was so good to get me there. My first call from MD Anderson was to find out what kind of insurance I had, “I replied, we don’t have insurance”, they replied, “then you don’t have an appointment.” My husband started making several calls back to MD Anderson and reached a lady named “Tara”. She said, “we need to get your wife an appointment ASAP.” Long story short, she got us on a program at MD Anderson and my 1st appointment was May 19, 2003.
We showed up for my appointment, we got to meet Tara, with all of us crying, we hugged her neck and thanked her for everything. I had surgery the next week and began chemo. Every time we would go back, we would try to contact Tara. Scott would call the hospital, and nobody knew anyone named “Tara”. We never saw her again, she was our “Angel”. Thank you, Lord!
I received 6 rounds of chemo every 3 weeks with blood work every week. So, I went 6 years cancer free. In December 2009, while waiting for the doctor to come in, a lady came in for me to sign papers for a study I was on for the recurrence of ovarian cancer. As I was signing the papers, I thought to myself, “what if it recurs?” The doctor came in and she said, “your cancer is back.”
Wow, my thought was NOT AGAIN!
So, I got into my Bible again and God gave me another verse John 11:4 “…This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Peace from God again and we have been giving God the glory ever since. So, I had surgery again and was scheduled for another 6 rounds of chemo but due to reactions to chemo, I think I only had 4 rounds. Since May I am now 12 years cancer free. To God be the glory! I have had a “Great Physician”.
So, wherever you are in your cancer journey, just remember every individual is different, each situation is different, so DON’T compare yourself with someone else. Don’t get on the internet to investigate your cancer, just trust the Lord for his direction and healing. I had researched the first time and it was very depressing. I thank the Lord for my doctors, nurses, etc. but I know who the”healer” is, my Lord!
