Decisions Made for Surgery #4

After much prayer, fact gathering, input from family and friends, and discussing my options and asking my questions of my surgeon and plastic surgeon I have decided to opt for a double mastectomy with reconstruction.  Thank you to all who were praying for this decision.  I trust this is how God is leading in my situation.

No one wanted to make the decision for me.  But given my cancer at a “young age” and my mom’s history of having breast cancer twice, most doctor’s tend to think that there is a high possibility of this being genetic.  My mom and I have both done the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene testing and the results were negative, but that only tests for the genes scientists currently know of causing breast cancer.  So far I’ve had 4 health professionals on my case say that it could definitely be a gene that they haven’t discovered yet.  So no one wanted to make the decision, but after I made it they all confirmed they would have made the same decision given my position.

I have much to be thankful for in this decision!  God is giving me peace once again about this upcoming surgery and the road ahead.  He will deliver me through this journey!  I was at first disappointed, but then thankful that when I called in on Tuesday morning I found that my surgeon was performing surgery when he said he would be available, so I wasn’t able to meet with him until Wednesday afternoon.  This allowed Eric to be able to come home from working in the Des Moines office to be with me at my appointments on Wednesday.  Also, the plastic surgeon was able to fit me in immediately after my appointment with my surgeon to offer more advice and go over the options for reconstruction.  Everything was falling into place so quickly and both the surgeons were optimistic of doing the surgery next week.

But apparently we need to wait longer, as my surgeon was extremely booked up this month and they could not find a time until September 27th at 10:30am.  While we are ready to get all this cancer out of me as soon as possible, this does allow Eric to fulfill his duties next week of working in Des Moines for a couple days and going to our Nebraska Association of Regular Baptist Churches’ Men’s Retreat next weekend.  He’s been helping to plan this retreat again this year and will be in charge of various activities throughout the weekend, so having surgery next week would have required quite a bit of juggling.

Another blessing we discovered on Tuesday has to do with our health insurance.  Through Eric’s company our benefits year will end September 30th and Principal is no longer doing health insurance, so we were looking at a new provider and healthcare plan starting October 1st.  Praise the Lord, a plan similar to the one we have is available AND our deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for the year will extend to the end of this calendar year!  That means we do not have to begin paying on a new deductible and out-of-pocket maximum on October 1st.  Once again the Lord has provided for our financial needs in ways we did not see possible!  “With God all things are possible!” (Matthew 19:26)

Another blessing was some dear, sweet friends shared Psalm 34 with me and prayed with me on Tuesday.  I’ve been meditating and reflecting on that Psalm this week.  Here are the first 7 verses:

“I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel^[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them”

As I meditate and reflect on this Psalm this week, I can see how blessed I am.  God hears me and delivers me!  As I seek Him, He is right there waiting to help me along this journey!  How can I do anything but praise Him as He supplies all my needs. To God be the glory!