Big things have happened over the last few weeks AND big things happening this week over here in my world! The end of October and the first week in November I got to have all the things tested, imaging done, contrast received, and more imaging done again! If there was a punch card or a bingo card I could get stamped I would have got to call, “BINGO”, because I have been to all the major health care systems in the OKC metro area! I could go on and on about my gratitude for health care workers. I could also talk a while about my gratitude for health care and technology and the wisdom allowed for those who can do and see and imagine all the things. I feel such gratitude for access and such a selection of health care facilities. It truly is such a gift. My heart hurts for so many around the world enduring such pain, loss, and chaos. This makes me that much more aware and thankful for the gift of health care.

The good news is all the tests and imaging shows that the treatment I have received is working! The lesion on my liver has decreased from 2.1 to 1.2, I do not know if that is mm or cm or inches or yards or a footlong, I just know it is shrinking! There has been no other progression and the tumors in breast and lymph nodes are also shrinking! I will have more imaging, hopefully this week to get a more exact picture of how much those have decreased!

Scripture talks about a “peace that passes understanding” (Phil. 4.7) and that is exactly what I have experienced! Especially, in that MRI machine! I do not know what it is, but it is like I am enveloped in love and peace when that table moves me in and out and the noise is clambering like construction workers with a jack hammer digging through cement! I just feel peace and imagined that clanging was the rigs and engine of a cruise ship. If I were laying on the deck of a cruise ship and men were hanging on side of ship cleaning the windows or painting some part of the ship or just the engine from the ship I would not mind the noise. This is partly what I imagined with that loud noise! Sadly, there was no drink with an umbrella or pool games happening when I got off the table, but there were sweet health care workers showing kindness and compassion! And, oooo, that sweet peace and love of Father God surrounding me!

Some other big news is my medicine. The medicine God has used to shrink all the things, well it has also knocked my liver enzyme numbers off the chart high. I am so special to be part of the 1% of people this does this too. This means I have had to stop that medicine to keep my liver healthy and safe. So, I will be beginning a new medicine this week! Please, pray it works and keeps shrinking the tumors, that my liver responds or doesn’t respond, and that the side effects are non-existent or at least tolerable!

Other big news is because the lesion in the liver has decreased I get to see a doctor about radiating/removing (?) doing something to what is left of it. This could lead to me being able to be in remission from the liver cancer! Not to get too far ahead of myself, but this is exciting possibility.

The next big news is I am getting my girl guts out, a hysterectomy. Due to my type of cancer I am at a higher risk for other types of cancer, so if I can remove some of the risks then I am going to do that. I am so thankful for the life these parts of me have provided, but I am at peace to let them go! Please, pray as I will be having this surgery, Monday, 11.13.23. I saw the surgeon on Friday, 11.3.23 and she said she was booking surgeries about 4-6 weeks out. Well, I then got a call the following Wednesday, last week and she said “how about Monday!??!”

Thank you to all of you that ordered an “Celebrate Today” t-shirt! The proceeds from this helped me pay some of the copays that were due with all the tests and imaging! So, thank you! If you would wear it some time this week and think of me, pray for me, and then send me a picture of you wearing it, this would make me so happy!

Another big thing was a really special time I had at a retreat for Stage IV a.k.a. advanced cancer a.k.a. metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients and their support person. We dubbed ourselves the lead singers and back up dancers. This was a really sweet time my sister and I experienced and I plan to share more about it with you soon!

Those are the highlights of the big things happening over here. I am sorry if any of it was more than you wanted to know. I just keep being reminded about pain and challenges that we all carry and I do not want to shy away from sharing the hard. Life is hard. My hard may look different than your hard, but that doesn’t make it any less/more hard. You may not be laying on an MRI table, but it still may be loud and scary. My hope and prayer for you is that you will take time to listen and be aware of Sweet Holy Spirit enveloping you. I hope you can hear and feel the Peace in the midst of the loud and chaotic. He is there. 💜jj