Tuesday, December 14, 2010

No Monday Blues this Week


Mondays are not my favorite day of the week.  Typically I think that Monday mornings are pure evil better left for over achieving morning people.  This week, not so much.

Last week I went in for a PET/CT scan and a brain MRI.  This morning I received the results of the PET/CT scan with a smile, a Merry Christmas, and LOTS of hugs and kisses. No, I am NOT cancer free but the results were nothing short of amazing. Nothing short of miraculous.

As I type this up, I find myself getting pretty emotional - and I’ve had two days to process the news.  It’s as if I’m afraid to allow the greatness to really sink in.  Too many years of bad news, I guess. But what the scan results revealed was “marked” improvement in EVERY area...bones, liver, lung, breast, everywhere.  My wound is even completely closed now.  The first time in over 2 years.


Dr. Link is so thrilled with the results that he is planning on writing an article all about me and having it published in some medical journal!! 

All of this healing comes, in part, from a chemo pill that is not FDA approved for breast cancer.  But really it’s mostly from lots, and lots, and lots of consistent prayer. This is becoming very apparent and not just to me and Reed - but to those who’ve watched and medically understand what I’ve been going through far better than I do. 

During my appointment, I was overjoyed to be part of a beautiful conversation.  It’s a private story but I will tell you there were a good amount of happy tears and clapping because of the realization of how truly powerful prayer is and that it is “at least 50% responsible” for the healing I’m experiencing.  Of course I said I agreed but thought the percentage was a lot higher!! 


I desperately needed some good news during the month of November...THIS November.  Even though this news didn’t come in the “right” month, it is the results of the healing that occurred in November.  It was exactly what I needed to hear in order to feel alive again and to see that God IS keeping His promise.

I have been incredibly numb for a good while now.  Unable to feel emotions of any kind.  Other than a little bit of anger, a smidgen of compassion, and a decent amount of sadness when two out of three of my favorite nurses baled on me (kidding - good reasons behind both). Ok, ok, so I’ve had a few emotions but truly I’ve lived in Numbville for a long time and it really isn’t fun. 

God created us with feelings for a VERY good reason.  It’s hard to think rationally if you cannot feel. I developed an “I don’t care attitude” about virtually everything but was able to “fake it” well enough to appear as if I did care.  Mostly because I hoped one day I would not be numb and at that point, I would care. I didn’t want regrets. Or maybe I believed that I could fake it until it became real.  Who knows?

Today, I’m not numb but I also know that I am incredibly vulnerable and could slide back there at any point. 

In Mark 5:34 Jesus says...”Daughter, you took a risk of faith and now you’re healed and whole.  Live well, live blessed, be healed of your plague.”  As many of you know, God has spoken these words to my heart over and over and over again as His promise to me that, someday, I will be rid of this cancer for good.  I will admit that there have been times when I got to a point of serious doubt. Had I heard God incorrectly ALL those times?  No.

This scripture has been my life line for 5 1/2 years.  The woman in the verse had her ailment for 12 years before God healed her.  November marked the 12 year “anniversary” of my original diagnosis.  The woman spent all her money and used up all her medical options.  We’ve spent lots of money and are virtually at the end of options...in the same 12-year time frame.  Coincidence?  I don’t think so.

Four years ago November, God again spoke to me in an unusually loud and gut wrenching way telling me twice that I was on the right road and that I had only 4 more miles to go.  I couldn’t figure out what He meant but I knew that I had heard Him loud and clear.  Did He mean 4 minutes? 4 hours? 4 days? 4 months? 4 years?  WHAT???!!!  I was hoping for 4 seconds dreading the thought of dealing with this for 4 more years.  After months went by and then the 1 year anniversary of my “experience” came and went, dread took over and I realized He was likely saying 4 years.

About a year-plus-ish ago maybe two years (some things are a blur), several ladies from church spent an evening with me to pray for my emotional and physical health.  During their prayers, a mention was made of the woman in the Bible and the fact that she was ill for 12 years.  A “ding, ding, ding” went off in my head and I realized that my 12 year “anniversary” and the “you only have 4 more miles to go” time frame landed on the same November.

To those who haven’t walked in my tiny shoes, this easily sounds like religious mumbo jumbo and strange mysticism.  Because I’m living it, I know it’s neither of these.  It’s all very real. 

I was anxious the entire month of November wondering if what I hoped was going to happen, would actually take place.  To be honest, I believed/hoped God would bring healing in a more spectacular way.  I begged and begged until I just couldn’t beg anymore.  But God is choosing to heal me in His way and I just have to be ok with that.

Am I out of the woods yet?  For sure no.  Could the chemo stop working? Um...of course.  Do I think it’s going to keep working?  I really do. So for now, I continue with my current regimen.  This means I begin the chemo pills this Friday and take them for 5 consecutive days.  And, we continue the prayer regimen, which never ends.


P.S.

God is continuously telling me this too...

You will not die, but live to declare the works of the LORD. Psalm 118:17-18 (KJV)


P.S. #2

I have hair growing on my head!!!!!

13 comments:

  1. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...
    Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him!

    The beauty of a promise heard is tangible in your words of praise.

    I love hearing your heart sing. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Simply amazing. You have amazing courage and faith.

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  3. This is the best Christmas we have recieved in a long time! Thank you God and thank you to all the wonderful prayer warriors who do not stop remembering you to our LORD!!!!

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  4. We praise you and thank you, Sweet Jesus... and ask that you would give our beautiful Angela everything she needs to continue down this road to completion. Powerful Lord, please have mercy on Angela and give her your strength, discernment, wisdom, courage, hope... and the manifestation of healing in this world. Let it be for Your Glory!

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  5. Char Wagoner December 15, 2010 8:58 AMDecember 15, 2010 at 8:00 AM

    You have traveled a rocky road but it has spoken to many of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Thank you for the test you have endured that you might share an awesome testimony!

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  6. Thank you for sharing your story and I'm so glad to be able to pray for you. God is in the miracle business ! We'll keep giving Him the glory!!

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  7. It is so amazing when we know we have seen God's
    hand..even more amazing when we know that hand is holding us...and he is "counting the hairs on our head" I am so proud of you and praising God for revealing himself to you

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  8. The best news I have heard in ever so long!!! I am rejoicing with you, my friend, and will continue the praying with you, as well! What an amazing Christmas gift for your family! Love you!! Becky C.

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  9. Angela, Praise the Lord Praise the Lord... As I started reading this I felt tears of joy for you and your precious family. Thank you Lord for this miraculous news of Great Joy!!!!! You are such a faithful faithful precious daughter of our Mighty King.... We will continue our prayers of complete healing but for tonight it will be thanksgiving and praise.

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  10. I've been praying for an "epic" year this year and it has been happening...your healing would top it off and make my year the most epic Year EVER!!
    I love you Ange.. XO, Moya

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  11. Wow, wow, wow. Floored. Why are we surprised when God does what He said He would?? Beautiful thread of timing. I have no words. Love you.

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