2010 – The Year in Review Part 2

Over the next several months, I would find myself in and out of doctor’s offices, getting weekly blood work done, and constantly refilling medications. But, all of this “routine” had a point to it. I was finally starting to feel “normal.” I had some recollection of what it felt like to be “normal.” I started to feel like I could be healthy again…

Finally the day came. I was going to see my thyroid doctor for a follow up visit. I asked him a question I never thought I would ask ANYONE ever again. I asked him to start the process for me to have surgery. I wanted this done. I wanted the unhealthy part of me removed from my body. No more would this gland effect the way I was feeling. No more would I let it dictate my life.

The process of preparing for surgery happened so quick. I saw the surgeon and within twenty minutes I had a surgery date. After all…my neck look i had a swallowed a golf ball. Not good.

At the beach...

Over the next couple weeks, it was more doctor appointments and testings to make sure my heart would be able to handle the surgery. Then, the day finally came. I went to the hospital for the surgery at the end of September. I know I had the prayers of many surrounding me that day, and I had such a peace in my spirit that I was not nervous at all. In fact, I laughed at the fact that a doctor who I saw all of 20 minutes was about to slice open my neck.

The procedure was to take about 2 hours, but wound up taking close to 5! When the doctor opened me up…he noticed that my gland was quite large, and a piece of it was attached to my wind pipe. He had to carefully shave the piece off of my windpipe, in order that there was no damage. Anyway, there were no complications and I stayed overnight in the hospital for observation.

I woke up from the anesthesia at about 1:30am to a text message from my best friend. He was away at college, and was up due to some visitor’s in his room. His text of encouragement and prayer began a 2-hour text barrage back and forth. I had told him that I was going to the restroom real quick, and when I looked into the mirror, I began to cry, because I had a normal sized neck! God is good!

The funny part here is that my neck looked like I had just survived a knife fight (in a way I kind of did). The doctor stitched me up using dissolvable stitches and skin glue. It was quite a sight.

For my follow up visit, the doctor would tell me that the piece of thyroid he found on my windpipe had some unusual cells, and he sent out his findings for a 2nd opinion. They came back, and I had a diagnosis of Stage 1 Thyroid Cancer. But, the good news is that the amount of cancerous cells in my system were almost zero, which led the doctor to believe that it was localized to my thyroid. With having the gland out of my neck, the majority of the battle was over.

I am currently preparing to have a PET Scan done in about a week and a half, which will be followed by a radioactive iodine pill. This pill will kill off any remaining thyroid cells/cancerous cells that are in my system. The only downfall is I can’t be around people for too long for 3-5 days after this pill, and that they may not see the full effects of this treatment for 6 months to a year after I take the pill.

I serve a God who is bigger than my sickness, and He has already healed me! I do not claim this diagnosis (although I know I have it). I cannot wait for the day I can say I am cancer free and give HIM all the glory, honor, and praise that He is due!

–I just wanted to take a quick second and thank those who took the time to pray for me, encourage me, cry with me, visit me, etc. Thank you does not seem adequate enough, but for now that is all I can do. You may NEVER know the eternal impact you had on my life during this trying year. I love you more than you know, and I hope one day to be able to return the favor!–

That was a quick 2-part update on my life health wise. I have had many more revelations this past year, which I will share in my next post, and I hope you come back and check it out!

 

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