The road we've been traveling has been varied. There was the impossible to miss sinkhole spanning the width of the road at the preliminary diagnosis of liver cancer, possibly originating in the pancreas. We were told Matt had 2 months to a year to live. It was a worst case scenario.
Lifted from the cavernous hole by our loving Savior, we continued our journey. The road turned into an oasis of hope when the prognosis changed to a rare slow-growing type of pancreatic cancer. Though it was Stage IV and had already metastasized to the liver, surgery offered the hope of a cure. It was a best case scenario.
The day of the surgery came, revealing that the cancer was more extensive than the scans had shown. The surgery was not a possibility. Was this a pothole ... or a sinkhole? We didn't know for sure. We continued on hoping for the best, not ready to accept another worst case scenario before it could be spelled out for us. It was the hopeful, yet unknown scenario.
Today we had an appointment with the oncologist to determine what we are really facing and what the current prognosis is. The doctor explained that because this is a slow-growing cancer, the prognosis is 3-5 years without surgery -- possibly even longer. Options included radiation & chemotherapy. However, due to Matt's current good health and the slow-growing nature of this particular cancer, the doctor's recommendation is to wait, have a three-month scan in March to determine how slow slow-growing is -- and make decisions from there. He said that though a second opinion is not essential, he would recommend it. We will be setting up a second-opinion appointment within a few weeks time at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It's not a worst case scenario nor a best case scenario -- but it's definitely a better case scenario.
Thanks for keeping us updated. Praying for you as I go off to bed.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Roundy
Dear Matt, you are in the Mighty Physicans hands, and there could be no better spot/place, while you walk this journey. Rosie, dear one, thank you for all the postings. You must be feeling fatigued with all this running around. (I'm going through this with my darlin' daddy-stage 4-bone cancer.)
ReplyDeleteJust be assured that you are both loved and being lifted up in prayer.
I am thankful for the "better case scenario" but I am still fervently praying for God's "Bestest scenario."
Lots of hugs dear one's.
Blessings, Susan xx (Canada)
We are beside you in your journey and always in our thoughts and prayers. Our Hope is Eternal
ReplyDeletegwl
Relieved, rejoicing and praising 'the God of all comfort'!
ReplyDeleteWith all of your friends we continue in prayer for you to ' Him that can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or (even) think!
Love,
Mom and Dad Fletcher
Thanks for the update, was thinking of you both and praying yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAndrea S.
I'm thankful for this better case scenario. I know it's still not easy though. May His comfort continue to be your constant companion and may He be your security and the "stability of your times", rather than a diagnosis. You are prayed for!
ReplyDeleteYep I am with Shilo...I am for the better case senario...and so thankful you have Doctors that talk with you and to you about your beloveds case...That is wonderful...a real blessing from God! How are your boys taking all of this? Are they as strong as their momma? I surely hope so :)
ReplyDeleteSomething I read this morning....Out of Wounding
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22.).
The best things of life come out of wounding. Wheat is crushed before it becomes bread. Incense must be cast upon the fire before its odors are set free. The ground must be broken with the sharp plough before it is ready to receive the seed. It is the broken heart that pleases God. The sweetest joys in life are the fruits of sorrow. Human nature seems to need suffering to fit it for being a blessing to the world.
"Beside my cottage door it grows,
The loveliest, daintiest flower that blows,
A sweetbriar rose.
"At dewy morn or twilight's close,
The rarest perfume from it flows,
This strange wild rose.
"But when the rain-drops on it beat,
Ah, then, its odors grow more sweet,
About my feet.
"Ofttimes with loving tenderness,
Its soft green leaves I gently press,
In sweet caress.
"A still more wondrous fragrance flows
The more my fingers close
And crush the rose.
"Dear Lord, oh, let my life be so
Its perfume when tempests blow,
The sweeter flow.
"And should it be Thy blessed will,
With crushing grief my soul to fill,
Press harder still.
"And while its dying fragrance flows
I'll whisper low, 'He loves and knows
His crushed briar rose.'"
If you aspire to be a son of consolation; if you would partake of the priestly gift of sympathy; if you would pour something beyond commonplace consolation into a tempted heart; if you would pass through the intercourse of daily life with the delicate tact that never inflicts pain; you must be content to pay the price of a costly education--like Him, you must suffer.
--F. W. Robertson
Thanks forthe update!1 PTL for even 3 years ( & maybe more!!!)
ReplyDelete