The Post I've Been Avoiding... The Diagnosis

Hello my dear readers and friends,

You've no doubt noticed a change in my blog over the last few weeks and seen hints of health troubles and tests. This is the post I've been avoiding. I just haven't been ready to identify with the problem nor am I sure I want to now. After all, God is the God of miracles. I need miracles, I'll bet you do, too.

Here goes.

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 I found a lump on April 22nd. It's been an earth shaker to me and my family for the last few weeks.  This was the cause of the exhausting rounds of tests and appointments.

Yes. It is breast cancer. It's in all the lumps in my left breast and in a lymph node. My mother and maternal aunt both had breast cancer many years ago. 

To answer a few questions you might have:

• The CT scan showed no cancer in the rest of my body. Praise God!
• The oncologist scheduled me for chemo first because it is an aggressive cancer. They want to shrink it first before surgery.
• I will also have mastectomy surgery, radiation, Hormone IV drug therapy, and a pill to take long term. 
• They did surgery to implant a port for the chemo on Friday the 19th.
• Chemo began Tuesday the 23rd. It should take 18 weeks if all goes as planned.
• I didn't do well with a couple of the drugs, so I'll spend today, the 24th, my 31st wedding anniversary at the chemo center with the husband of my youth getting three or four more hours of chemo. They will slow delivery down to see if I can handle it better. The staff has been amazing.

But God.

Miracles:

• I haven't had insurance for years. On March 1st, I got great insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield! 
• We received a tax refund that we just left in the bank. We have enough money to pay all of our out-of-pocket expenses! 
• Remember me? The lady whose husband went four months without a paycheck, without unemployment, and lived completely dependent on God? Go God! He is so so good to us!
• I've had some friends locally who have offered to go to treatments with me so that I'm never alone. Thank you ladies!

My fight is the good fight of faith. I battle not against flesh and blood and tumors.

The weapons of my warfare

• the Word
• worship
• praise
• praying in English and in the Spirit 
• journaling
• keeping a book of thanksgiving
• rest
• eating well
• following the doctors' plan.

I invite you to join the fight in prayer. 

As you might guess, my emotions have been a bit overwhelmed, but I am continuing to trust in the Lord.

Notes: 

I've been told by many well meaning people lots of things that are supposed to cure cancer. My husband and I have prayed. We believe that we are supposed to follow my cancer team's treatment plan. This is not a mild case, it is life-threatening. When I hear people try to tell me not to do chemo and such, it just upsets me emotionally and makes me waiver. I have set my faith that God will lead us through this and that I need to have James 1 faith. 

Yes. That's worth looking up my friend.

Sincerely,

Laura Lane

Harvest Lane Cottage.com

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

My oh my! 

I am so overwhelmed with the love and prayers expressed in all these precious comments. I usually try to write back to each person individually, but truthfully, I don't think I can do it this time. Please understand. I send love, hugs, and thanks to each of you! May God bless you each and fill you with the wonder of his goodness and mercy. May your faith grow by leaps and bounds as you think on the goodness of the LORD. 

I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE AND DECLARE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! By the power of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for my sins and the torturous stripes he took on his back for my healing. I LOVE THE LORD JESUS. Thank you God! Holy Spirit, let's do this! Amen.

Hugs to you all,
Laura