Just got back from the hospital, where I had an extended visit with my Mom. While I was there, the doctor finally came in with the results of the biopsy.
As we knew, it is cancer. Turns out it's colon cancer, and it has metasticized (sp) to her pelvic wall, which is where the biopsy tissue originated. It is in 2 lymph nodes as well, in her groin. It is classed as stage 4.
Dr. Pais said it is treatable but not curable. That doesn't mean terminal. She was not given a time left kind of thing; we are going to pursue this aggressively and with the determination of a 2 year-old trying to fit a crayon through a coffee straw.
To begin, she will go home tomorrow. She is feeling pretty strong, physically, through drained (as you can imagine) mentally, and chemotherapy treatments will start very soon to begin shrinking and ultimately reducing the cancer to a very miniscule area. It won't be gone. It can't be completely killed off.
I type that, but I have seen greater miracles. And dammit, I think she's due. It's not worth arguing the finer points of my mom's physical stature, but she's had a broken neck, broken wrist, back surgeries, neck surgeries, and now this. Believers in karma would probably think she'd killed a village of handicapped pygmies in her youth to deserve all of this.
Believers in God will resolve to pray and meditate for her to receive His peace and His grace through this.
When I was visiting yesterday, Pastor Robert from St. Paul stopped by to visit. As he and Mom talked Mom mentioned this quote: "He brought you to the fire, now let Him lead you through it."
And that's it. The war on this enemy of the flesh has begun, and we're going in with Him by our side, guns blazing with a John Wayne swagger and the fighting strength of William Wallace. Yarrr.
Mom is disappointed. She repeatedly said she was sorry, and I finally told her that's it; I don't want to hear "I'm sorry" again. Sure, she could've been checked out sooner. Doesn't mean they would have found anything. The past is just that, and we are in for the fight of her life, and now is not the time to dwell on anything past.
Dad is her rock, and is ready to do whatever it takes to keep Mom with us and healthy, as long as possible. We all are. We've resolved to just kick it into high gear and make things work, whatever it takes. It's gonna take a lot of strength from all of us.
And of course, you prayers. Your well-wishes. I know that I have a huge melting pot of friends, from Atheists to Deists to Christians and Buddhists. Even a couple from the Church of Bowling. But whatever you believe in, even if it's just yourself, lift Mama Jude up. We're in the foxholes here.
PLR,
D
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