An abundance of miracles

I already knew miracles happen but I can't say I'd personally experienced as many miracles for myself as I have this last week. Getting as sick as I did when we were on the mountain was definitely not a fun experience but I am absolutely glad that I was able to have one completely enjoyable day there before things went really downhill. I don't really know how to explain how terrible I felt first thing Sunday morning but after I'd been up and down 5 times in less hours than that I just knew something wasn't right. Then when just sipping water and eating a few cheezits made me instantly nauseous enough that I could have easily vomited I wasn't questioning anymore at that point that I needed to get to an ER. My main concern at that point was that I'd get to the ER and they would tell me I'd lost my mind and was absolutely fine. Silly concern when you can't drink or eat anything but that's just how my mind works.

So, the removal of the appendix and one ovary ended up not happening on Tuesday. They got the NG tube in after the 4th try - the last time with the much needed use of drugs and numbing materials - and took me right into the OR after that. Dr D - seriously the most compassionate and caring doctor I've ever seen - got into my abdomen just fine but everything was so swollen that he couldn't even see anything really. He specifically mentioned not being able to see my ovaries/fallopian tubes, my appendix, my colon, or most of my intestines. So, obviously his plan changed in an instant to just grabbing tissue for biopsies wherever he could.

Then one Wednesday they were thinking of having a Gastrointestinal Oncologist do a colonoscopy on me but when he described how swollen everything was she said it wasn't worth putting any other tools in me that they didn't absolutely have to. Thus, the back-up plan to the back-up plan was born and that was to go straight for an open surgery with the goal of getting everything out that they possibly could. Dr D was heading everything- he's a gynecologic oncologist - but also had a GI doctor as well as a general surgeon on board to be right in the OR as well. On top of that he had the highest up person available in any of the other specialties on call if needed. I'm sure you're getting the idea but this was going to be a big surgery.

After telling us all of that he then had to tell us that I have cancer and proceed to explain the worst case scenario with the operation. I've always thought that would be such a hard thing to do - giving someone the worst case scenario - and now that I have seen someone have to do it with me personally I am positive that it is the worst job anyone could have to do. It was a lot to take in so there were a lot of emotions but Dr D and his assistant were both so understanding and ended up crying with us so it made me not feel like quite such an emotional basket case. He just kept telling me it was a hard thing to wrap your head and heart around and that I had teams of doctors and nurses rooting for me and that they'd get me through as best as they could.

I'm sure the question you are all wondering is what kind of cancer. That's unfortunately not an answer we have yet and one we won't know for at least another week and a half after the pathology team has worked their magic with what will probably be a gazillitrillion tests. We called our families Wednesday night and of course cried again but by the morning of surgery I was just fully determined that if I could just get through surgery than no matter the outcome of that I could get through the next step and then the next.

My parents came and were at the hospital all day and my brother and his wife watched our son all day. Having family nearby to lighten the burden has been such a blessing. My husband's family has been amazing as well checking in all the time and having crazy, funny text conversations that always put a smile on my face. My mom & dad-in-law drove for 3 hours just to come visit me and it was a wonderful visit. And countless others have been fasting and praying for us and I know those prayers and fasts have been answered and will continue to lead to more miracles. On a cute note - one of my younger cousins (he's 10 or 11 I believe?)

took it upon himself to get a bunch of his friends in their neighborhood to fast for me with him and none of them even knew exactly what was going on. All my cousin knew was that I was sick and needed some extra heavenly help. It seriously made my day when my aunt told me about that, kids are the cutest.

Now back to the big open surgery - Thursday at noon came and we were told my surgery had been pushed back a couple of hours due to complications with a surgery before mine. I don't remember much that we talked about in that extra time but I remember my mom asking if I was anxious at all. I think my answer surprised her a bit because I immediately said, "nope, not a bit" and Cliff echoed that sentiment. I will probably never be able to fully explain why I felt so strongly that I didn't need to be anxious about it but for now I'll just let that be one of the many miracles. The surgery lasted 4 hours and most of it was performed by Dr D and Dr L (she is a gastrointestinal oncologist) with a bit off assistance from a general oncologist....at least that's as far as I know yet. Dr D said one of the most concerning things to them was that when they got my last lab work back right before surgery my white blood cell count had jumped to the mid 120s and no one had ever seen a count that high. As we're all coming to know, I once again took a good long while coming off of the anesthesia and was wheeled back up to my about an hour and a half from the time surgery ended.

I didn't see Dr D that night myself but he had talked with Cliff and my parents for about 30 minutes and they said he almost looked giddy when he first spotted them to tell them how surgery had gone. As they retold it to me he said they had prepared for the worst of the worst and had ended up with the best of the best instead. They removed my appendix, my right ovary and fallopian tube (the cyst in the left one ended up being a completely normal part of the female cycle after all but vessels from the tumor were going through the right one hence it needing to be removed), a little over 10 cm of my small intestine, and around 3 cm (?) of my colon. They were also able to fix the obstructions of my small intestine and stomach and though I get to have a lovely ostomy bag for a few months at that time they can go in and repair my small intestine through an outpatient surgery.

Now the waiting game of getting the pathology report back to see what kind of cancer I'm dealing with and consequently what exact type of treatment I'll need for it moving forward. There must have been a lot of angels in that OR for them to be able to get all of my masses out - especially the large cyst and tumor since he said those two had touched just about everything in there. So, I know there will be a lot of angels around me still as we learn more and I enter a new part of this crazy ride I've been on. Miraculously they were able to get everything out and my white blood cell count has gone back down to the low20s just a couple of days later. I can't begin to say how wonderful all the doctors, nurses, and health care assistants have been here. It's quite a different feeling walking the hallways here knowing it's a place where so many people get the worst news yet feeling a sense of peace and having no doubt that miracles happen everyday.

Thanks again to everyone who has been reaching out, has prayed, fasted, or been keeping us in your thoughts. I've seen every text and comment and appreciate every single one. I think what I've learned the most out of this experience is to fully rely on God and let

Him do His part in making the miracles happen exactly when you need them. We love you all ❤️