Has It Really Been a Year? (Jan. 16, 2006)
One year ago today Laurie was wheeled into the operating room for the first of two surgeries to remove her breast cancer tumor. At the time we were unsure of what God had in store for her or for us as a family. Those who have been through the ordeal of cancer know what it is like to wonder about the future. It wasn't that we weren't trusting God, we just weren't sure what He had planned.
Looking back, we are amazed at how God blessed and cared for us during the last year. So many of you were our constant support and encouragement, and we will always be so very greatful for all of you. Looking back, we thought this would be a good time to reflect and bring everyone up to the present regarding Laurie's treatment and current health.
We last left you on May 23 with Laurie having finished her last chemo treatment and a third of the way through her radiation treatments. It was a week later that we packed our bags and headed to Disney World in Orlando for Memorial Day Weekend. The radiation oncologist gave us a few extra days off from the radiation treatments, and we enjoyed four very relaxing days away from "cancer." The trip seemed too short. When we returned to Dallas, Laurie immediately began the remainder of her once-a-day radiation treatments. The side effects of tenderness and irritation as well as the fatigue continued to become more noticeable, but not intolerable. Laurie knew that all she needed to do was make it through to the end of the month of June.
We had begun Laurie's radiation with the trip to Orlando and our planned vacation to Colorado in mind. The treatments began a little sooner than the doctor would normally have liked so that we could keep our reservations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The accelerated schedule may have resulted in a slight increase in the intensity of the radiation side effects, but not excessively. None-the-less, Laurie was more than ready when she went in for her last treatment at the end of June. The trip to Colorado was never more sweet to her knowing that she would return to a more normal life.
The two weeks in Colorado were wonderful. We spent time with Jim's mom in Grand Junction, and then met our friends, the Joslins, in Rocky Mountain National Park the second week. Laurie's friend, Ann, had been her constant companion and prayer warrior during Laurie's months of treatments, and it was good to spend time with them in a more relaxed environment with no medical schedules. Little did we know what was in store for our families.
We returned from Colorado in late July. Ann had visited the doctor in late spring for an enlarged spleen, but tests to that point had not indicated any problems. The doctors thought it was likely the result of an infection of some kind. She went back to the doctor after we returned. Her spleen was still enlarged, and the doctor thought it best to remove it as a precautionary measure. We found ourselves back at Baylor hospital a couple weeks later, but this time not for Laurie. Ann's surgery revealed that her spleen contained several tumors. A few weeks later and after some confusion in the diagnosis, the doctors determined that Ann had a very rare form of cancer called angio sarcoma of the spleen. Tests futher revealed that it had spread to her liver. We were all devastated. Ann had faithfully walked the road with Laurie during her treatments only to discover that she was afflicted with cancer as well.
So while Laurie was receiving great news from her doctors in August, the Joslins were bracing themselves for an even bigger battle. The shift was hard for Laurie, not wanting her friend to go through what she had just experienced, but at the same time, Laurie was uniquely qualified to stand by her friend. Something we are still doing to this day.
Ann has been travelling to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for treatments for the last several months. She has handled chemo very well, and the leisions appear to be shrinking. The doctors say that her condition isn't curable, but it is treatable. We think God can easily cure her, and if the current results are any indicator, He appears to be doing just that. Time will tell, and we know that Ann is in His mighty grip. I know the Joslins would be blessed by your prayers for them as we were blessed by your prayers for us.
Laurie has had two checkups since her treatments ended. No evidence of any cancer has been found. In fact, Dr. O'Shaughnessy told us that she would be very surprised if Laurie ever dealt with her cancer again. Laurie continues to take her daily tamoxifen tablet, and still has some residual fatigue, especially in the afternoons, but she is doing very well. She even gave up her prized trophy wig over Christmas and now sports what Jim thinks is a very cute, albeit short and curly, hair do. :-)
Of course, cancer still weighs heavily on our hearts and minds as we go through the experience with Ann and the rest of the Joslin family, but for Laurie, at least, the future is bright. We are so thankful that God allowed Laurie's cancer to be diagnosed early and to be so treatable. We know it doesn't work that way in all cases and we don't take the blessing for granted.
One other interesting side note came as a result of Laurie's journey. One of her college friends, Ivey (Harrington) Beckman, is the editor in chief of HOMELIFE magazine. When she heard of Laurie's diagnosis last year, she was among the first to call. As Ivey followed Laurie's journey through this blog, she wanted to include it in an article the magazine wanted to publish on how husbands and wives walk through breast cancer together. That article came out in the October issue of the magazine. It is our hope and prayer that our journey may give hope and courage to others who are walking the same path.
So we look back at what can only be called "quite a year." By God's grace, Laurie appears to have won a life threatening battle. Obviously we can't know for sure what the future holds, and each checkup will be faced with a little uncertainty, but we know who's in control and we are confident that He holds the future, our future, in His loving hands. We are greatful for the prospect of many more years together. The gift is even more meaningful and tender when we think of dear friends who are in the throes of the battle at this moment.
We take nothing for granted. But one thing we know for sure. We are eternal creatures. All of us who have put our faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross will one day stand in His presence, in perfect health and with unimagineable joy. Some of us will get there sooner than we might expect, but never sooner than God has planned. Jim has often commented over the last several months on what he imagines God might be saying to each of us as we face the challenges of life. He can almost hear God saying, "If you only knew what was in store for you in heaven, you wouldn't worry so about the life you now live nor fret so when it seems to be more tenuous and fleeting. We both pray that we can keep our focus on the hope that is set before us and not discouragement that so easily besets us. We pray the same for you as well.
Till next time, may God be your peace and encouragement in whatever circumstances you find yourself.
Looking back, we are amazed at how God blessed and cared for us during the last year. So many of you were our constant support and encouragement, and we will always be so very greatful for all of you. Looking back, we thought this would be a good time to reflect and bring everyone up to the present regarding Laurie's treatment and current health.
We last left you on May 23 with Laurie having finished her last chemo treatment and a third of the way through her radiation treatments. It was a week later that we packed our bags and headed to Disney World in Orlando for Memorial Day Weekend. The radiation oncologist gave us a few extra days off from the radiation treatments, and we enjoyed four very relaxing days away from "cancer." The trip seemed too short. When we returned to Dallas, Laurie immediately began the remainder of her once-a-day radiation treatments. The side effects of tenderness and irritation as well as the fatigue continued to become more noticeable, but not intolerable. Laurie knew that all she needed to do was make it through to the end of the month of June.
We had begun Laurie's radiation with the trip to Orlando and our planned vacation to Colorado in mind. The treatments began a little sooner than the doctor would normally have liked so that we could keep our reservations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The accelerated schedule may have resulted in a slight increase in the intensity of the radiation side effects, but not excessively. None-the-less, Laurie was more than ready when she went in for her last treatment at the end of June. The trip to Colorado was never more sweet to her knowing that she would return to a more normal life.
The two weeks in Colorado were wonderful. We spent time with Jim's mom in Grand Junction, and then met our friends, the Joslins, in Rocky Mountain National Park the second week. Laurie's friend, Ann, had been her constant companion and prayer warrior during Laurie's months of treatments, and it was good to spend time with them in a more relaxed environment with no medical schedules. Little did we know what was in store for our families.
We returned from Colorado in late July. Ann had visited the doctor in late spring for an enlarged spleen, but tests to that point had not indicated any problems. The doctors thought it was likely the result of an infection of some kind. She went back to the doctor after we returned. Her spleen was still enlarged, and the doctor thought it best to remove it as a precautionary measure. We found ourselves back at Baylor hospital a couple weeks later, but this time not for Laurie. Ann's surgery revealed that her spleen contained several tumors. A few weeks later and after some confusion in the diagnosis, the doctors determined that Ann had a very rare form of cancer called angio sarcoma of the spleen. Tests futher revealed that it had spread to her liver. We were all devastated. Ann had faithfully walked the road with Laurie during her treatments only to discover that she was afflicted with cancer as well.
So while Laurie was receiving great news from her doctors in August, the Joslins were bracing themselves for an even bigger battle. The shift was hard for Laurie, not wanting her friend to go through what she had just experienced, but at the same time, Laurie was uniquely qualified to stand by her friend. Something we are still doing to this day.
Ann has been travelling to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for treatments for the last several months. She has handled chemo very well, and the leisions appear to be shrinking. The doctors say that her condition isn't curable, but it is treatable. We think God can easily cure her, and if the current results are any indicator, He appears to be doing just that. Time will tell, and we know that Ann is in His mighty grip. I know the Joslins would be blessed by your prayers for them as we were blessed by your prayers for us.
Laurie has had two checkups since her treatments ended. No evidence of any cancer has been found. In fact, Dr. O'Shaughnessy told us that she would be very surprised if Laurie ever dealt with her cancer again. Laurie continues to take her daily tamoxifen tablet, and still has some residual fatigue, especially in the afternoons, but she is doing very well. She even gave up her prized trophy wig over Christmas and now sports what Jim thinks is a very cute, albeit short and curly, hair do. :-)
Of course, cancer still weighs heavily on our hearts and minds as we go through the experience with Ann and the rest of the Joslin family, but for Laurie, at least, the future is bright. We are so thankful that God allowed Laurie's cancer to be diagnosed early and to be so treatable. We know it doesn't work that way in all cases and we don't take the blessing for granted.
One other interesting side note came as a result of Laurie's journey. One of her college friends, Ivey (Harrington) Beckman, is the editor in chief of HOMELIFE magazine. When she heard of Laurie's diagnosis last year, she was among the first to call. As Ivey followed Laurie's journey through this blog, she wanted to include it in an article the magazine wanted to publish on how husbands and wives walk through breast cancer together. That article came out in the October issue of the magazine. It is our hope and prayer that our journey may give hope and courage to others who are walking the same path.
So we look back at what can only be called "quite a year." By God's grace, Laurie appears to have won a life threatening battle. Obviously we can't know for sure what the future holds, and each checkup will be faced with a little uncertainty, but we know who's in control and we are confident that He holds the future, our future, in His loving hands. We are greatful for the prospect of many more years together. The gift is even more meaningful and tender when we think of dear friends who are in the throes of the battle at this moment.
We take nothing for granted. But one thing we know for sure. We are eternal creatures. All of us who have put our faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross will one day stand in His presence, in perfect health and with unimagineable joy. Some of us will get there sooner than we might expect, but never sooner than God has planned. Jim has often commented over the last several months on what he imagines God might be saying to each of us as we face the challenges of life. He can almost hear God saying, "If you only knew what was in store for you in heaven, you wouldn't worry so about the life you now live nor fret so when it seems to be more tenuous and fleeting. We both pray that we can keep our focus on the hope that is set before us and not discouragement that so easily besets us. We pray the same for you as well.
Till next time, may God be your peace and encouragement in whatever circumstances you find yourself.
posted by Laurie Thames | 10:13 PM
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