Ok Gang,
May 21st I woke up in extreme pain (left side at the belt-line) and hit the floor. I crawled to the door and yelled for my wife, no luck – she’s outside watering plants. Long story-Short: we make it to the E-Room and a CT scan confirms my suspicion. Never had a kidney stone before, but friends described it pretty well. I pass the pain-causing stone later in the E-Room, then two Docs come in and tell me I have at least two more stones, one in each kidney. They then tell me I have a tumor in my right kidney, which they believed to be cancer (My wife is sitting there with this “Fight Cancer” T-shirt on).
Well, not a great start to the day so far, BUT you know…. I am SO thankful I had that kidney stone, or else I wouldn’t have known about this tumor until, only God knows when. It’s simply a God thing… Him letting me know what’s going on, so It can be taken care of.
Doc #2 wanted more CT contrast scans. He got them and felt confident (98%) it was renal cell carcinoma – said the kidney is probably shot, and he could remove it and the tumor and likely have no radiation or chemo. He could schedule kidney resection surgery in 3 weeks. I tell him I want to talk to my PCP and possibly get a 2nd opinion.
In Bama, UAB hospital is generally the place to go for a cancer specialist. I tried several avenues to get a referral there, through my PCP, through my Neuro Dr. at UAB, but doors were shut every time.
The only referral I got was in H’ville and when I got it, it was like every door opened UP WIDE. it was God’s hand directing all of this, so I could get the right referral to get the right Dr for a 2nd opinion, with the resources to make things happen quickly. The CT’s didn’t look right to this Dr., so he lined up clinicals and a biopsy the next week in one day, so I would not have to travel twice.
The biopsy confirmed cancer, but NOT renal cell carcinoma, instead a B-cell NHL, so no kidney removal at this time. Chemo only for the near future, and hopefully the kidney can be saved. Thank the Lord for 2nd opinions and biopsies.
Fast-Forward about 10,000 gallons of drinking from a fire hydrant (information overload) and now I’ve had a surgery for the chemo-port install, and had two rounds of chemo.
You know, I do not look forward to this journey, and cancer is not a bed of roses. I’ve had sufferings with chronic migraines these past few years, but I really have an incredible peace about this that can only come from God’s Spirit. I look at how my savior Jesus, suffered on the cross. I look at how my younger daughter has suffered and fought intractable epilepsy for 20 years, and by God's hand is seizure-free. I look at my older daughter, born 3 months early at 26 weeks (1 lb-12 oz, 13” long) who spent her first 100 days in a hospital-now a healthy 25 yr old, and how can I not be thankful to suffer like they have, and seen God's hand overcome adversity?
HOW can I not be? I pray I can be, and I ask for your prayers to overcome. God bless you all.
Topic: In everything give thanks.... (Read 3607 times)
