July 6, 2009 · 4:36 pm

Final Pathology Report

I went to the surgeon’s office today for my one-week post-op appointment. The surgeon was in the OR but Karen, the nurse, attended me and removed the drains and staples.

Karen gave me a copy of the final pathology report and Stephen & I are celebrating the good news:

– The lymph nodes ARE clear!
– The margins around the tumor ARE clear!

My dear friends & family, you who have so faithfully prayed for me during this long journey, I sincerely thank you and ask you to please join me in proclaiming:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen, Amen!”

Margo

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July 5, 2009 · 8:56 pm

Incredibly Grateful!

When I think of all the prayers that have been offered on behalf of my needs, I am filled with gratitude to recount how many prayers were answered last week.

Only a few requests remain, dear family & friends:

– That the final pathology report would confirm that the sentinel lymph nodes are clear.
– That I would require no further treatment.
– That I would continue to recover to full and complete health and resume exercise.

My sister, Amy, leaves for home tomorrow. I’m sad to see her go! What a blessing she has been!

Stephen & I are so grateful for your continuing care & concern for us, expressed in so many ways!

Margo

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July 2, 2009 · 3:29 pm

Surgery Day +3

Sleeping & eating well. So happy to be home! Still on Tylenol but no significant pain. Gaining freedom of movement in arms. Still no word from surgeon on results of “official” pathology report. Amy will drive me to surgeon’s office on Monday PM for appointment. Hopefully, he will remove “drains” and will also have pathology report to discuss with us.

Stephen & Amy shampooed my hair and Amy helped me with bath. Bliss.

Thank you for continued prayers for my full & complete recovery to health.

Margo

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July 1, 2009 · 10:03 am

Surgery Day +2

Dr. Crooms came to see mom at 8:30 this morning.  She will be discharged today at 12 noon.  She’s off all pain meds, off catheter and IV, walking halls, eating solid foods — since yesterday evening.

Garrett

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June 30, 2009 · 8:58 pm

Update from Margo

Dr. Crooms, Surgeon, came to see me at 9 pm last night. He is waiting for the results of a second dissection of lymph nodes, which will take 2-3 days. The two test results rarely conflict but do pray that the results of this more permanent test show clear cells also, free of cancer, as did the first test.

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June 30, 2009 · 5:58 pm

Surgery Day +1

Only good things to report.  I just saw mom again today and she’s doing very well.  She will spend one more night in hospital, probably going home tomorrow afternoon.  She is off heavy medication which was making her nauseous.

Father Eric Dudley from St. Peter’s was visiting mom just as I got there.  Before he left, we all gathered around mom, held hands, and Fr. Eric said a prayer and blessing for her.

Garrett

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June 29, 2009 · 12:06 pm

Out Of Surgery

The Surgery went very well.  Her lymph nodes are clean, which means it has NOT SPREAD!  She went into OR at 9:30am and surgery was completed at 11:40am.  She is now in recovery room.  Dad and Aunt Amy will be able to see her very soon.  I will be blogging all week, so check back often.

Garrett

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June 26, 2009 · 10:08 pm

Prayers & Heroines

I attended the Wednesday Noon Eucharist Service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, which included portions of the “Ministration to the Sick,” from pages 453-461 of the Book of Common Prayer.  In the quiet before the service began, I read the “Prayers for the Sick,” pages 458-461.  I invite you to pray those prayers for me.  Within pages 453-457, there are Scripture Readings.  [I am sure you can Google the Book of Common Prayer, 1979 Version.]

Several of you who have contacted me are my heroines!  You are the women who have taken this path ahead of me and you have reached out to me in compassion and generosity of spirit.  I am trying very hard to keep all names and stories private but you know who you are and your words of comfort and reassurance give me strength!

My Tallahassee friend, Kim, came over last night.  She gave me permission to explain that, two years ago, she had a bilateral masectomy AND elected not to have reconstructive surgery.  She gave me wise counsel & encouragement, answered my many questions, and prayed with me.   Thank you, Kim, for ministering to me!

My cousin, Teresa Van Hoy, whom I have mentioned in this blog, [see below] sent me a text message last week, which reads:  “In answer to your question, I have never regretted not having reconstructive surgery.   I have always felt beautiful and you will, too.” 

As the surgery day approaches, I struggle to be brave so I must ask you to pray faithfully for me all weekend!

On Monday morning, I  report to the hospital at 7 AM and the procedure begins at 9 AM.

I have been meditating on the words of this hymn:

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

In Light Inaccesible, Hid From Our Eyes,

Most Blessed, Most Glorious, The Ancient of Days

Almighty Victorious, Thy Great Name We Praise!

Margo

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June 23, 2009 · 7:45 pm

An Ancient Hymn

Today, I have no news to report, just thankfulness to express to my family & friends!  Like “streams in a desert” are your prayers for me and your messages to me:  comments on this blog, email, text messages, phone calls, voice mail, snail mail, stuffed animals, and little gift bags left at my kitchen door!  These gestures of friendship, concern, and care are what keep my spirits buoyant as I approach the day of surgery.  Please continue to pray!

Today, I am meditating on this ancient hymn, pondering the depth and richness of the theological truths.  I wish you could also hear the tune, which is as beautiful as the words:

“Let all mortal flesh keep silent, and with fear and trembling stand, ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descended, our full homage to demand.”

“King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lord in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood, he will give to all the faithful, his own self for heavenly food.”

“Rank on rank the host of heaven, spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendeth, from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish, as the darkness clears away.”

“At his feet the six wing-ed seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, ‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High!’

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June 22, 2009 · 10:18 pm

Pre-Surgery Prayer

Dear Faithful Praying Family & Friends,

Thank you for reading this blog and for praying!  Here are some specific things to pray for, during the next 6 days before surgery on June 29.  Our final decision is for a double mastectomy and for no reconstruction at this time.

Please pray for :

~lymph nodes:  that the surgeon will be able to clearly identify the “sentinel” nodes and take only a minimum number of nodes, resulting in NO complications, [like lymphedema];  that the lymph nodes are free of cancer cells.

~surgery in general:  that there would be no complications [blood clots come to mind] during and after surgery, protection from harm; wisdom, skill,  discernment, judgement, stamina for the medical team.

~recuperation:  that, in a reasonable amount of time, I would heal properly and completely, with no complications.

~further treatment:  that there will be no future recurrence, that I will not require radiation or chemo, that the cancer cells will be completely contained within the breast.

~psychological/emotional:  that I would grieve honestly but with courage and dignity; that I would bear the reality of this loss without becoming completely unglued.

AND please pray that I would offer myself in in glad obedience to the Triune God, whom I am to love with my WHOLE heart, soul, mind, and body.  From the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:”  “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Benedictus es, Domine.

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