Medical Leave
So, I’m in MD Anderson.
Turns out old Cletus was a bit more aggressive than we first realized.
Tuesday, I went to see my oncologist and she was a little concerned about how much Cletus was restricting my breathing, so she had me admitted on an emergency basis Tuesday night. Thankfully, I have an amazing array of friends who all jumpped in and started taking care of everything for me right away. So, my darling Hilda is being taken care of, and, in fact is probably being spoiled by someone who’s even more codependant with my dog than I am. I actually think she went and bought McDonald’s fries just because Hilda likes them.
Tomorrow, and most likely Saturday, I’ll have people all up in my house cleaning it and stocking it with food for my parents who will be arriving Tuesday evening. Someone else has already made arrangements to pick them up from the airport and help them find their way around Houston. At least, as far as getting to the medical center and back home. Naturally, they’ll be staying at my house. All that room does come in handy.
Now, I suppose you’re wondering about what kind of cancer I have and what my treatment will be. Okay, I have diffuse large B cell lymphoma, which, in case you’re wondering, is not good. On the menu of cancers, this is not one a wise person would pick. What’s more, it’s an aggresive case. On a scale of 1 to 100, Cletus rates a 90. Not the best way to be an overachiever, is it?
The concern is, however, how fast and far it’s spread. That’s the problem with lymphoma like Cletus, he tends to sleep around and spred his problems all over, real quick. So, after having had several different kinds of scans in the past two days, tomorrow, I’ll have a few more and then follow that with a couple of bone marrow biopsies, which will most likely be a pain the ass, literally. They seem to want to take samples out of my hips, by way of holes in my backside. So, we’ll see how that goes. I haven’t started chemotherapy yet, either, but I should be starting that soon, too. I expect that it will be as aggressive as Cletus. Not sure if I’ll lose my hair or not, but I do rather expect this to knock me on my ass for a bit.
But, all that being said, I don’t expect to die. I think some people who have been following this the past couple weeks might be afraid that I’m going to, but I’m not. I don’t know quite what God has in mind for me, but I really don’t think He’s brought me through all the crap of the last five years to kill me now. I just don’t think it’s part of His plan to kill me at 38 with so much left to do.
Rather, I think I’m meant to survive this, too, so that someone I haven’t even met yet, who will need an extra helping of hope that I’ll be able to provide after I’m well. I feel this deep in my heart and bones. I know that my life’s purpose has not quite been fullfilled yet, and that is why I will, why I must, make it through all this. I don’t think it will be pleasant and I’m sure parts of it will hurt, but I don’t plan on dying any time soon.
So, keep up your prayers for me, and keep on living your lives. I’ll be well soon and I’ll do my best to keep you all updated via the blog.
Thank you for your support.
Advice from your Uncle Jim:
"While it may be true that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, sometimes it can be much more satisfying hacking your way through the rib cage."
--Cara-Beth Lillback
