I was on the way to a routine obgyn visit. I had a few days off and I'd been in and out of the doctor's office anyway for nausea, fatigue, and a lump I found after the Christmas church service. I was scheduled for a biopsy the following week and things seemed to be moving pretty slowly. I thought about it all the time, wondering what could be wrong inside of me. I did my research and knew there was a possibility that it was cancer. I never focused on cancer though. I'm only 27, cancer doesn't really run in my family. I've always been healthy. I just had a baby! My bloodwork was fine.
I brought up how I'd been feeling to my obgyn, Dr. Martha, and she immediately took action. She noticed my liver felt enlarged and sent me to the hospital for a cat scan. After a few hours at the hospital I was sent back to my obgyn's office for them to discuss the results with me. Dr. Martin, my doctor who delivered Luke, came into the room and immediately my red flags flew up. He sat down across from me and told me how hard it was for him to tell me what he had seen. My cat scan was very discouraging. My abdomen was full of tumors. He said it had to be cancer. I felt the tears start, then stop as I went back into shock. How do I tell my husband this? My parents? They were all waiting on the results from the scan. Dr. Martin asked if I would like him to pray with me. I said yes and he did. How wonderful, to have a doctor who will pray with you! I went to my car, called my parents, and broke down. They kept passing the phone back and forth, scurrying about. They immediately came to me. I called my husband, Patrick, at work. All he could do was repeat "there's no way, it can't be." Of course he was just as shocked as I was.
I met with Dr. Martin's recommended surgeon who was very optimistic. He was certain it was Hodgkins lymphoma and I was going to be just fine. I'd have my biopsy the next day. I rode home, not sure how I felt. I was just thankful that nobody gave me a number. I was going to live, that was the most important thing to me. I never felt bitter towards God. I trust him completely. If anything, it was a wake up call. He needed my attention. He certainly has it now!
Stay strong.. you got this, we will all be praying for you!! <3
ReplyDeleteThank you!! <3
DeleteThankyou for sharing your journey. I just lost my sister last year to a rare form of cancer called soft tissue sarcoma, but she had battled cancer since 1990. She stayed strong all these years, raised four children, held a full time job, was a girl scout leader, and a teacher at church. She is proof that you can live with this disease for a very long journey. I will pray for you as well and watch your blog with great empathy.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your sister, she sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for your prayers. God bless! :)
DeleteWhere.did you find your lump? I'm breastfeeding and have found one and I'm not sure I should be worried about it or just assume it's due to breastfeeding. I'm also 27 and have a almost 5yr old and a 3 mn old. Your very inspirational. I love that with God you've found courage and.hope in even your darkest hour. You got this girl. We will be praying for you!
ReplyDeletePlease do get seen.. My sister was breastfeeding and noticed a lump, figured it to be a clogged milk duct or something caused from breastfeeding.. She waited a bit but it not go away and so she went to the doctor, She was diagnosed with melanoma... 29 years old. She had an operation to remove it and started chemo, long story short, she passed away at 33 with 2 children.. It may be nothing, but it may be something, better safe then sorry !!!
DeleteNever assume! I agree that you should be seen. Don't be afraid, but be cautious. If there is a problem, the sooner it is addressed the better! I thank you so much for the prayers and I will pray that your lump is just related to the milk build up and nothing more :) God bless!
DeleteHi Whitney,
ReplyDeleteOf all the blogs I stumble upon and news feeds I see, I can't help but write to you. I call myself a "cancer kid" because I was a 6 year old girl when I saw my mom lose her hair for the first time. She was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer when she was 31 and had two young girls and a husband at home that she refused to leave behind. Like you, she took it as a bump in the road, but not something that defined her. In the next 20 years, she would relapse and go through intensive treatment a total of 5 times. Her faith, undying love, and determination gave us TWENTY YEARS with her. Those 20 years included some of the most difficult times of our lives, but the happy times, the memories, and the relationship we developed with her, far outweighed those battles. She allowed her faith and her trust in God to give her life, regardless of what medicine says. I wanted to write you because your kids can't tell you quite yet how influential and amazing you are. The way they're watching you take on life's battles with a smile on your face and God on your side will undoubtably shape them into spectacular human beings. You will forever be their hero, and they will always see life as a gift, something to truly cherish. Cancer affects people differently. For me, I dove right in. I had to be by my mom's side and caring for her no matter what. As an adult, it's translated into being an oncology nurse. Patients ask all the time how often people beat their disease. Cancer is a tricky little devil and we can't ever give exact numbers, but the one thing I can say for certain, is faith and attitude go a long way, maybe even further than chemo. YOU are your miracle, you were born to impact this world with your love and your burning desire to make your life worth living. Fight fiercely, you've got this!
P.s. I vote no wig :)
Oh goodness this made me cry! Thank you so much for this. That is my main concern, how this will affect my children and you have definitely made me feel good about that. You're awesome!! <3
ReplyDeletequerida Whitney, leo atentamente tu blog, y comprendo la lucha diaria que tienes para salir adelante, el apoyo de la familia y amigos es fundamental y teniendo a dios como aliado la lucha es llevadera, soy terapeuta de reiki (terapia alternativa) en peru asisto a varias personas con cancer de distintos tipos y en distintos niveles de daño.....se que puede ayudarte a sobrellevar tu situacion puesto que se trabaja en distintos estados de conciencia del ser, fisico, emosiona, mental y espitirual,
DeleteLa fe y el entusiasmo de vivir hasen que cada minuto se viva intensamente, desde ya te reconosco como una guerrera, continua asi.....y cuando flaqueen tus fuerzas......pide ayuda...que el camino por mas difisil que sea si se hase en compañia, se camina mejor ....bendiciones
I found your blog from our local news site. I'm praying for you. Thank you for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!
DeleteAny time! I'll be following and cheering for you!
ReplyDelete"it was a wake up call. He needed my attention. He certainly has it now!" i loved when you wrote this sentence , it proves how much you're courageous , praying for you Whitney <3
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteDear Whitney, you are a beatifull and strong person. I jus started to read your history. I will pray for you and family.
ReplyDeleteI'm 27 too, I been married for one year, my husband and I are looking to get a baby, is our dream and we hope to hear greats news about it soon!
I know this has nothing to do ringht now but you inspired me to go on ♡
Stay strong even if you feel down, pray every day and enjoy your family God is blessing you! ♡
Thank you so much! I wish you and your husband the best and pray you get a baby soon! God bless you :)
DeleteYou are a sunshine God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! God bless you :)
DeleteTái sử dụng một nhà tư vấn thiết kế nội thất mất sản xuất giấy từ những năm 1990 thiết kế nội thất căn hộ chung cư biến đổi không gian nhà máy thành thiet ke noi that chung cu căn hộ dễ thương tại thành phố Anduze miền nam thiet ke noi that can ho nước Pháp. Hơn 100 thiet ke noi that van phong tấm pallet thùng gỗ được tái sử dụng tạo ra sàn, tường, và đồ nội thất cho một không gian văn phòng công ty tại Tokyo. Phòng khách là không gian dành cho nhiều hoạt động, sinh hoạt thiet ke noi that phong ngu do đó cần khá nhiều đồ đạc và vật dụng trang trí. Vì vậy khi thiet ke noi that nha hang bạn cần sắp xếp mọi thứ theo thiet ke van phong một trật tự hợp lý, khoa học để đạt được sự đẹp mắt, hài hòa, cân đối tuyệt vời nhất. thiet ke noi that lounge Diện tích cho phòng ngủ khá nhỏ, không có chỗ bày biện nhiều thứ như thêm một bàn trà trong phòng ngủ.
ReplyDeleteChúc các bạn thành công hoc nau an o dau và ngon miệng với cách nấu món cà ri gà! Hương vị đậm đà, béo ngậy lại bun rieu cua thoang thoảng hương thơm đặc trưng cach lam banh trang tron của cà ri chắc chắn sẽ là món ăn ngon banh bao chien miệng cho gia đình bạn trong vit nau chao ngày cuối tuần. Được coi là suon xao chua ngot một ” huyên thoại văn hóa” từ cổ xửa của Hàn Quốc. Ngày nay thì kim chi đã trở thành một món ăn vit om sau không thể thiếu của người dân Hàn Quốc. Trải qua hàng ngàn năm cach lam pate gan phát triển giờ đây thì Hàn Quốc đã có cả trăm loại kim chi khác nhau, trong đó nổi bật nhất là kim chi cải thảo. cach lam banh bong lan
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