Pray without ceasing

"Pray without ceasing", these words are instructions to live by, they are the title of a bulletin board I had when I was teaching 4th grade at Lawton Christian Elementary School, and they have sustained me since Dev 14th.  On the 14th I knew I had cancer, I knew my thyroid had been removed, but the looming question was, "Now what?".  My thyroid cancer was Stage 1, which truly is the best of the worst.  Since the 14th my BIGGEST concern was a reoccurence of cancer.  I have known multiple friends/family that had been diagnoses with thyroid cancer and each of them had a reoccurence.  That is SCARY!  I didn't know if radiation was in the cards for me, I didn't know if there was maybe some left in the area, but I did know I would pray without ceasing.  Friends were praying, family was praying, I even think my dog began praying!  And I knew first hand prayer works!

Today I learned my plan of action!  I met with my endocrinologist whom I LOVE!!!  She listens, she hears my concerns, and she pays attention to me as a patient, not just lab results (thanks be to God!).  Dr. Dahir first asked me if the surgeon (Dr. Solarzano) had tried to talk me out of my surgery. 
(I guess I should have stated earlier that I really only had a few nodules on my ultrasound back in November when I had it done.  Yes, this is a small concern, but many people have nodules and they are nothing.  My surgeon stated, "many people think they need their thyroid out, when actuallity they don't."  I expressed to her that I really felt mine needed to be removed and I didn't feel comfortable leaving it in.  I pushed the issue because I didn't have a good feeling (listen to your intuition!). She was a little hesitant, but So I scheduled me for the surgery.  The surgeon really didn't think I would have an issue and was not expecting cancer at all.  We all know that wasn't the case! I think you are caught up now!)

Back to today's appointment... My tumor markers needed to be between 0.9-2 to show that there were no active cancer cells.  Mine were BELOW 0.9! (God is GOOD!!!)  That means they are TOTALLY undetectable!  This means as of now they got it all! Not only that, it means NO RADIATION!  Does this mean I am totally out of the woods for a reoccurence?  No.  (Although I am believing this is a one time deal~!)  But for now I feel like I have a huge burden lifted off my shoulders.  I will be going back every three months for the next year.  I will most likely have more testing done to see if I am predisposed to have a reoccurence, I will have to monitor my tumor markers like a hawk, and I will have an increase of meds to keep the thyroid tissue/hormone at a very low level.  But most of all I will pray without ceasing! 

The above statement is one that I used in my class/school.  And one I wish more people believed, not just verbalized. (As humans we provide the best lip service around!) The last month plus has been difficult and I know in the days ahead that the enemy is sure to try and attack me and place doubt in my head.  But today as I was leaving the doctor's office I knew that God never forsakes us, He never leaves us, He is good ALL the time.  Was it because I was blessed with a good report?  No, regardless of today's information, He is going to be with me through this all.

I don't know what you are dealing with at this very moment.  Maybe there is something you have kept to yourself and not shared with anyone.  Or maybe you have shared your story as I have.  What ever it is, whether it is a good situation (a job promotion, an addition to your family, a reconsiliation) or a difficult situation (a long deployment, a child who is trying your patience, or a relationship that is on the rocks), I encourage you, I am begging you, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.  You will find it may not change the exact situation, but I can guarantee you it will change you.  See, God works like that, when we least expect it, He helps us grow in ways we didn't know we were capable of (never really thought I would be a blog writer!), He comforts us when there seems to be no comfort, and He reminds us that rainbows appear after the rain.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who have read this blog, who have prayed for my family and I, and who have sent words of encouragement, messages of hope, and expressed acts of kindness. (There are to many to name!) They have meant the world to Aaron and I.  I know my story isn't over (and Aaron's is just getting started) and I have no doubt I have more blogs to write!   I look forward to many more days as a SURVIVOR and many more words to inspire! But tonight I pray a special blessing for you.  May you pray without ceasing, and allow God to do, what only He can! (Know I will be praying for you too!!!!!)