October 22nd

This is day 4 since we got the preliminary results from mom's lung biopsy last Thursday indicating a diagnosis of lung cancer. Needless to say, we were all in shock! The reality is setting in for us all now but we will never be comfortable with this news. My mom is the picture of happiness, health and beauty. She just became the world's most excited and loving grandmother on August 29th. Mom is ready to fight this cancer to see and help raise many more grandchildren, God willing, otherwise she will be stuck spoiling this one rotten:)
The oncologist that we met with Tuesday was amazing. We were all taken with her compassion, information and commitment to be as up front with us as possible and to fight as aggressively as my mom's body can handle. What we know so far is this is not small or large lung cancer- its just lung cancer. The tumors are only in her right lung however since you can't shut one lung down from the other the lymphatic system is effected in both. The tumors are the size of lymphnodes and that is why they went undetected in xrays. The lung cancer is the primary source and is stage 4. There is a spot in the xrays at T11 in her back that they are interested in researching further but are unsure at this time what that might be. My mom has kept up to date with all her physicals, screenings and check ups so all indications are optimistic. She had the MRI Tuesday night, before leaving the hospital, to scan the brain.
She got to go home yesterday afternoon and was so glad to be back in her favorite chair and sleep in her own bed. Ken told me she passed out before 9pm last night- praise God for a good night's rest in her own bed! Todd ran cable to her room so she can watch TV there so they can no longer brag about only owning one TV in the house-LOL
Haidyn and I picked mom up this morning and took her back to the hospital at 11:30am for her to have the portacath inserted. She was very hungry and not looking forward to 2 or 3pm which is when they told her it would probably begin. She is still wondering why she had to be there at 11:30am but I am sure we will get very comfortable with the waiting game. Tomorrow mom will go to the West Clinic for her PETscan which will identify any and all cancer cells in her body. Once we have the results from the PETscan and MRI they will be able to give this cancer a definite name and identify the most aggressive treatment to attack it.
My mom is so strong and positive always. She is the head cheerleader of our entire family. She has amazed me this week at her grace and beauty in the face of such scary news. She is optimistic and has faith that God is good always and is a healing God. We are all, especially mama, ready to start the fight and get these "cool drugs" (that's what Dr. B called them) in her system and attacking the cancer.
Our family wants everyone to know how grateful we are for all the love sent our way through phone calls, emails, text messages, IM's, FB wall post and cards. We are humbled by the offers of love and service this week. I am begging mom and Ken to please give us all something we can do and stop doing it all on their own. This may be a battle we have to continue to fight but John Hite was a great friend by refusing to accepted that and cutting their grass the other day- thank you brother. That really meant more to them than I think John will ever know. We will continue to ask you to pray for my mom, our family, and the doctors that are treating her. As Dr. B told us- they have VERY good drugs and they are improving everyday but they will NEVER compete with the power of prayer. Praise be to God in all that we do and may he bless our lives through this trial so that we can be an example of his miracles of love forever more.