It’s been two weeks

I am incredibly happy to share that this week I have “turned the corner” and am basically back to regular everyday life. I’m having to remind myself not to lift heavy objects, and I am trying to be intentional pacing myself so as not to overdo it. But my appetite is back, for most of the day my energy is back (cue an early bedtime), my abdomen is healing nicely, and I can concentrate on tasks (which means I am back to driving). I’ve even started back “running” - gingerly, carefully - since we do have the WDW Half Marathon in just over 2 weeks!

Thank you for all of your kind words, visits, and support during this time.

I had my 3rd Lupron injection on Monday at Zimmer Cancer Center with Dr. Robinson, and I will see Dr. Rossi at the Duke Cancer Center on Monday, December 29. I am hopeful we’ll be able to agree on a plan of action for 2026. I am going to remind her that I want to live, not simply be alive. I believe there’s a huge difference in those two things.

No, Baby Clara is not here yet, but every day brings us closer to her arrival, and we will be seeing her very soon!

This morning I read Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The question from Catching Whimsy asked, “With all the mysteries and unknowns in your life, what would it look like for you to treasure up in your heart the ambiguity God allows?”

I’ll be pondering that question in the days ahead.

Merry Christmas!

My 2nd Lupron injection - November 24, 2025

I have to admit that being back at the Zimmer Cancer Center here in Wilmington is a little surreal, and I also feel like I have come back home. I am thankful for the opportunity to receive care locally in coordination with Duke.

Yesterday I received my 2nd Lupron injection - 21 days after my 1st. Again, it was administered in my flank, this time switching the left side. Very little discomfort, just a pinch. No noticeable side effects so far. In fact, I ran 2 miles, then walked 3 this morning and felt great.

I appreciated the opportunity to see Dr. Robinson yesterday. He is so incredibly kind and caring. I felt seen and heard.

He allowed me to have blood tests yesterday that I requested, and, at my request, he has ordered those same blood tests for December 8 - two days before my surgery with Dr. Rossi and Dr. Zani.

Further, we scheduled my 3rd Lupron injection and next office visit with him for December, as well as a follow-up visit in January before the WDW Half Marathon (which I am still hoping to complete).

Tomorrow I’ll be two weeks out from my scheduled liver resection and debulking surgery at Duke.

Don't burn bridges

Taking a great deal of advice from other women with GCT, this morning (October 13) at 7:30 I showed up at Zimmer Cancer Center without an appointment and asked to be seen.

The front desk said, "You have to have a referral." (Who just walks in at an oncology office and gets seen on request, right!?) I went on to do a bit of begging, and the front desk said they'd send a note back to the team of my former oncologist, Dr. Robinson,

A few minutes later, my favorite nurse, Melinda, walked out. She remembered me, and she had taken a look at my chart. It was 7:45 am, and she asked if I were willing to hang around until 9. Of course, I said yes. Five minutes later, a 9 am appointment appeared on my phone, but I didn’t even have to wait until 9 am.

At 8:30, I was called back. Dr. Robinson saw me in the hall, smiled, and gave me a hug before going to see another patient.

I went into another exam room where I asked the normal questions you get with a visit.

15 minutes later Dr. Robinson came in, and he gave me his full attention for an extended period of time, answering every question I had and affirming his willingness to talk to Dr. Hillman and his willingness to think outside the box.

I reminded him I am willing to drive full speed into a brick wall, but I am not willing to die by a thousand paper cuts.

He seems to be okay with that, too.

I look forward to sharing more after my telehealth consultation with Dr. Hillman at UCSD on Thursday.

Because relationships matter

3/13/2023

So, this morning God answered a very specific prayer in a very specific way. But it didn’t come without some tears and frustration first.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I value relationships. And this little comes down to that - relationships are important.

I was at Grinder’s with a friend, and the doctor's office called to change my surgery date from April 12 to April 5.   This created so many problems for me, and I was feeling like everything was out of control.  Multiple appointments would have to be rescheduled/multiple commitments shifted.  

So I sat down and typed out an email to my doctor.  He is on vacation April 10 - 15.  His office did not communicate well and get that on the calendar.  I wrote him and told him that I understood that he would be on vacation, but I told him all the ways this change was impacting me and my family - not the least of which being Steeve was planning to be here with me and he can't come April 5 because of Easter at his church on April 9.

(I had been praying for a few days that God would clearly show me if Dr Robinson was supposed to be my doctor through this)

So here's what happened.

Dr Robinson called me.  Again I told him how inconvenient April 5 was after all the planning that went into April 12.

So... Dr Robinson is actually going to come in to do my surgery while he's supposed to be on vacation because . . . he's just that kind of doctor.

After much discussion (including his offering to change his vacation plans completely and do it as promised originally on April 12) we settled on April 14 at 6 a.m.

This just confirms for me I want to keep my care with Dr Robinson and not transfer to UNC, though we both agreed I'll still see Dr Souper tomorrow - just for additional insight/advice.  

Relationships matter, and Dr Robinson knows me, and he obviously cares about me.

That was my answer to prayer.   God wants me to stay with Dr Robinson and hear his voice and trust him.  That is what God revealed to me today.

So many people are offering me advice right now, but I am going to settle my mind on the care of this incredibly compassionate and competent physician God has put right in front of me.

Also, Dr R gave me clearance to go to Haiti next week, as scheduled.   Could something happen medically?  Absolutely,  but he does not think the risk is great enough for me to cancel the trip.   That was good to hear one more time, too

The first text - March 2

After suspecting for weeks (okay, if I am honest, months) that I was experiencing a recurrence of GCT, this is the text I sent to friends and family after seeing Dr. Robinson on March 2.

The sample taken from my abdomen on Tuesday is cancerous.   Based on this fact, we are making the assumption my left ovary is cancerous, as well.

Here is what I can say with certainty at this point:

1) I have requested a referral to a specific physician at UNC

2)  I will be having surgery in the weeks ahead, but I am not rushing things.  I want to be fully informed before we move forward, and fully informed means gathering info from multiple sources.

3)  This is a recurrence of the cancer I had in 2019.

Thank you for caring.  Thank you for praying. 

It is my desire in the coming days that my life be characterized by these verses:

Psalm 90: 12 -  Teach us to number our days so that we can comprehend the brevity of life.

Job 13:15 -   Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face.

Daniel 3:17 - 18 -  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

John 9:2-3   “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”  

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

To quote a friend, “God is good, but God’s definition of goodness doesn’t really align with our human definition and understanding.”

He is the author of my story.  He has been in the past.  He is today.  And He will be in the future.

And that brings great peace in the face of much uncertainty.