Good News

Waking this morning with gratitude in my heart and good news in my hands.

Late yesterday, my wonderful doctor handed me favorable news— no progression, no new growth and stable mets. There was even some shrinkage of lymph nodes and a couple of spots in my pelvis. “This is excellent news,”she said. “Your current treatment is working.” I don’t think she had finished her sentence before my tears began to flow. The weight began to lift. Praise Jesus.

For those of you interested in the science/medicine—this week’s scan is something brand new. Just this summer a new type of PET/CT was approved in Georgia. It’s called the FES PET and it measures estrogen instead of glucose. It’s a huge advancement for hormone positive breast cancer. Strangely enough, my cancer wasn’t able to be seen on traditional PET, therefore, last fall (literally a year ago this week) we thought we had received good news when the scan came back “all clear.” But it was misleading. There was, indeed, cancer present, just not readable cancer. As we found out earlier this year with further testing and biopsy. Confused? Yes, we were too. But lobular cancer especially isn’t always read on traditional modalities. So, this new (estrogen) tracing ability is more accurate for women like me.

When I went in for the scan this week the technician told me I was the first patient to be scanned this way at that particular location.

Not that long ago, Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) was considered a death sentence. In 2022, because of the advancements made in recent years, we now have the ability to (possibly) manage it as a chronic disease. How amazing to be living in these times and get to see such steps forward.

I am thankful for research, medicine and science.

I am grateful for those who push forward in finding new treatments.

I give God the glory for all of it.

In breast cancer awareness month, I urge you to keep in mind, every woman’s journey is different. Like with most things, there’s a wide spectrum when it comes to the diagnosis and disease. We must be careful to get informed and recognize this fact.

Thank you, dear friends, for standing and, more importantly, kneeling with us.

Only Mist

Every morning, on the way to school, Bella and I pass this lovely little farm tucked far back from the busy road.

This week as temperatures have cooled a bit there has been every morning the most beautiful blanket of mist covering the fields. Looks like snow doesn’t it? Well, y’all know we are nowhere near snow in the south at the start of October. No, it is only mist.

Only mist.

Often our lives can look blanketed in something heavy and cold. Blanketed in something too hard for us to handle. Blanketed in something not right for this season.

We see only so much.

We understand only so little.

I feel that way too some days. Especially in this past year.

But I was reminded this morning that even in the hardest of hard, God’s promises remain faithful and sure. Even when things look a certain way, God remains the same.

This morning, my girl, DJ Bella, had chosen to play Maverick City’s song, “Promises.” And, as we drove by, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty

… of those words

… and this landscape

… and His faithfulness

in this time.

“Great is Your faithfulness to me

Great is Your faithfulness to me

From the rising sun to the setting same

I will praise Your name

Great is Your faithfulness to me

When the seasons change

You remain the same

God from age to age

Though the earth may pass away

Your word remains the same, yeah

Your history can prove

There's nothing You can't do

You're faithful and true

Though the storms may come and the winds may blow

I'll remain steadfast

And let my heart learn,

when You speak a word

It will come to pass.”

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” ~ Hebrews 13:8

Link to Promises in comments below.

So Many Promises

It’s been a great summer. A pretty quiet and even kind of lovely 3 months. But tomorrow I face new scans. The plan is every 12 weeks and it’s time again to take a look and see what’s going on or, hopefully, what isn’t going on.

My PET/CT scan is tomorrow at 2pm and results by Friday. I’d love you to join us in our prayers for peace, for strength, for good news.

Yes, the scan matters, but these things have already been found at The Cross.

So though I care much about the results,

I cling most to my Redeemer.

Psalm 27. So many promises. Over the years, I have literally marked the stuffing out of this passage. Words circled, underlined, highlighted and clung to. God’s word is so beautiful.

This passage begins with — 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?” and ends with “I am confident of this: I will see goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong

and take heart

and wait for the Lord.” 

Psalm 27

Do you need these words tonight? My guess is you might. We are all needy, dear ones.

“My heart says of you, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.”