A lot of people compare the battle with cancer as a roller-coaster ride. I suppose that’s true. Especially if there is barfing involved.
The good news is…I’m not barfing this week. The bad news is…that’s because my counts are too low for treatment. So, I drove to Indianapolis only to be sent back home.
The trip wasn’t a complete waste. On Thursday of last week, a nurse called to say I need to come up for a C-T scan because my tumor markers are headed back up. They went from a low of around 400 to about 700 now. In this case, bigger numbers are bad news. It got worse. They could only get me in for a scan at 8am Indy time. That’s 7am Evansville time which means arriving at the hospital at 4:30am (my time) to register and begin drinking liquid. How rude is that?! Isn’t having cancer bad enough without that kind of stress? So I reserved a hotel room and my son Andrew went up with me the night before.
I don’t have to tell you this news placed me on edge. The scan would give the doctors a look at my lungs, liver, and elsewhere to see if the cancer had spread.
During worship service on Sunday our dear friend and pastor Peter Mageto prayed over the sound system via cell phone from Nairobi, Kenya as it was World Communion Sunday. It was wonderful to hear his voice. Afterward, Lynn Renne called him back and told him what I was facing. So I went into the prayer room at church and Peter prayed for me over the phone. Peter is full of grace and his prayers are powerful. When Peter prays for you…you know you’ve been prayed for. I felt a sense of peace (Amani) afterward. We need to continue to lift up Peter and his family daily as his ministry grows in Africa. The Magetos certainly need God’s strength and protection. Thank you Peter, you and your family will always be a part of us.
Back to Indy. I got through the C-T scan. I then walked over to the Cancer Pavillion to get my blood drawn. I plopped down in the waiting room for an hour and a half before a nurse came out to say they can’t give me chemo due to my low blood counts. She said Dr. Chiorean would call me later in the day to give me the results of the C-T scan. I waited…and I waited…and I waited…and the call didn’t come.
The next morning, (today) I finally got the call. Dr. Chiorean told me my tumor is stable and might even be a little smaller! She explained that sometimes tumor markers go up as a tumor dies. Now, that doesn’t mean my tumor is dying…it is simply one explanation for why the markers go up when a tumor doesn’t grow.
I also believe that some powerful prayers from Kenya and from all of you are being heard!
As always, Much Agape,
Ann
Ann;
Awesome news on the tumor becoming stable! That means all of your efforts through your first regimine of chemoradiation were not for nothing.
Last Friday when I had the pleasure of your company at dinner, along with the rest of the nascent East Side Nut Club, I was struck by how much you were back to being the Ann Moore we have all come to know and love over the years. Your stories, your perceptiveness, your wit, your wisecracks… all were as sharp and as on-target as they ever were. You had me rolling. For the first time in a long time, I saw you not as Ann Moore The Woman With Cancer. I saw you as Ann Moore. Just plain wonderful Ann Moore.
Thank you for being just plain wonderful Ann Moore.
I admit, throughout the rigors of this ordeal, there have been times when I have lost my ability to see that deep down inside, you are still just the same plain wonderful Ann Moore that you have always been. Thank you for reminding me that she is still there. Because that is the Ann Moore we love.
A friend.
I am so drawn to your site…….and I don’t even know you……may you be blessed…..may that tumor shrivel up and go away…….in HIS name……blessings to you and yours…you are a true inspiration!
Dearest Ann,
Praise God, He is still in control and HE does hear all of our
prayers. All week as I have prayed for you and many , God keeps
reminding me of good things come to those who wait and are faithful
and you have been faithful. I read you and Randy have worked Chrysalis,
i have been on Emmaus walk and my kids have been on chrysalis. Wonderful
experience. Anyway, Keep good thoughts and keep saying every healing scripture
you can find, say them out loud and claim them. We all areclaiming them for you.
Agape
Melanie
Oh, Ann, awesome news. If you need me, I’ll be right over here in the shrinking tumor camp. I’m rather fond of the shrinking tumor camp.
And you are so right. Peter is so full of grace and his prayer is powerful. Thank you, Peter and Irene. Ann, you and your family are also full of grace, you know. (And Bunty, so are you, btw.)
My faith remains strong and steadfast and true.
xox
Oh Ann!!! YAY!! How wonderful- that just brightens my day!!
Know that I have been thinking and praying for you and will
continue to do so as you keep pushing through these rough weeks….and prepare for the most knock-out Chrysalis experience yet! Your talk will be amazing and you will impact and touch lives in a way only God can imagine (just like you are right now!) I only wish I were going to be there to witness it……I love you Ann, and just keep pushing……..; )
Ups and down, sweet and sour, pleasure and pain. It’s difficult, but I try to keep in mind that it’s the lows that make the highs all that higher.
I had to miss a recent treatment because my platelets decided to take the day off. I tried to bribe my doctor into giving me treatment (not seriously, of course) and he reminded me that I need to listen to my body, especially when it’s telling me it needs a rest. So, after spending a few hours on the couch, I decided to invest in a juicer to make sure that my body is getting all its veggies. Hopefully neither one us will have to skip a treatment again.
It’s getting late – I’m tired and starting to ramble. I hope you have a wonderful week and that the nasty nausea stays away.
Warm hug.
k
Since hearing of your lingering life storm, called cancer, I have
I have put you on my prayer list . I just found this web
site, and hope it has proved to be an uplifting,
inspiritational, comforting, prayer inspiring, experience
for you. My husband has cancer, it is life-changing.
I do not pray away trials, just the strength to get through
the storm since God is in control. Each trial goes
through his loving hands before it reaches us, with
Godly purpose in each and every one. So many
reaching out to you will be drawn into Christ. Praise
God for your recent good news. You will continue
to be in our prayers. I remember watching you on the
news a few years ago, you had a certain loving
spirit about you that even came through the TV!!!
May God continue to wrap you up and carry you
through each day.