As I've mentioned in previous diary entries, the months of September and October were going to be like an "Appointmentpalooza" for mom and me, with most of them being routine and things we wanted to check off the "need to do" list before the start of the holiday season.
Outside of a brief scare from one of my dermatologist office visits (nothing cancerous, but there were some "moderately abnormal" cells on a biopsy that resulted in a second visit to remove a little more in the area), we sailed through. Mom's dermatologist, dental, and PCP visits went well; I got good reports from my other appointments, too. So we were feeling pretty good going into October.
But the big enchilada of appointments comes next week, when Mom has her CT scans and then the follow-up visit that comes from that with her medical oncologist.
What's different about this CT and the ones she typically has done in the summer is that it's being done in response to a new, small spot (lesion?) found on her liver in late June that the doctor said is probably nothing to worry about, but which he recommended further evaluation on just in case. His initial recommendation was for her to do an MRI, but since she's uncomfortable lying on her back for long periods of time, we opted for his second suggestion, which was to do what he called a triphasic CT scan, which the doctor said "can sometimes clarify subtle liver lesions."
Needless to say, this scan and the follow-up with her oncologist are going to be big deals, and I've been having flashbacks to four Octobers ago, when Mom went in for her colonoscopy, and it was discovered that she had stage IIIB colon cancer.
She's been through so much and has come so far, and we've been extraordinarily blessed with the results she's gotten from previous CT scans and the numbers she's gotten from her lab work, including perhaps the most important one - the CEA tumor marker. But we're also well aware that at any point, all of this can change.
Something else of concern is a recommendation that was made by her PCP on her last visit. The upper part of Mom's right arm has been bothering her on and off for a couple of months now, and while her PCP thinks it's likely a strained or torn muscle, because there is swelling there he also wants her oncologist to feel it and make an assessment. So there is that to worry about and pray over, too. Not to mention whatever else might be found on the scan that potentially could be of concern.
All of this has caused me to have to dip into the strength reservoir, which, if I'm being completely honest, is not very deep. I've prayed about this so much over the years, right from the start, and have asked for prayers, too - primarily for Mom's health and well-being but also for my own, because it impacts us in different ways.
Calling on all prayer warriors. Mom was diagnosed last month w/ colon cancer & Mon. is her surgery day. Praying all goes well & that her recovery is smooth & that she will soon be declared cancer-free so she can enjoy the holidays w/ us free from worry about her health. 🙏❤️
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) November 6, 2022
a beautiful and timely message. You are so right - as my mom went through her chemo after her colon cancer diagnosis, we leaned on prayer more than we ever had before, and also requested prayers. It gave immeasurable comfort at a time of so much uncertainty. 🙏🙏
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) March 4, 2025
God's plan is His own, and that is something one comes to terms with the older they get, not just for themselves but also for their loved ones and their journey. My hope and prayer is that God's plan for these appointments is to give Mom and me some reassuring news about her health going into the holiday season and, later on this year at my yearly physical, some reassuring news about mine. I also pray that, in the event we don't get the news we're praying for, I will not fall apart and will be able to provide that sturdy shoulder for Mom to lean on.
Truly, to have good news come from these appointments would take a little bit of the worry off of us and would be one of the best Christmas blessings of all.
Asking my fellow RedState prayer warriors to do your thing ahead of these appointments. It means the world to us, and we feel it. They also help deepen that depleted strength reservoir, something that could use some help at this moment in time. :)
