News From Room 7113B

I am here WAITING....not a strength of mine but am learning. The surgeon was just here and is trying his best to get to me today to install my port. I don't have a great deal of time but wanted to give everyone the facts as they have been presented to me. I don't have time nor the energy to rewrite everything so I am going to paste a portion of a letter than will be read to the faculty and staff at my school today. Just remember, these are the FACTS as we know them as of today.

Thanks for all of the prayers, cards and phone calls.

Love,
Doris
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This is a difficult time for sure but nothing that has been presented to me to date has taken away my hopeful spirit and my zest for life.

I want you to know the FACTS so that rumors and half truths do not taint your thought process. I NEED YOU ALL TO REMAIN POSITIVE for me. I will draw from your positive energy.

The news presented to me yesterday was not what we had hoped for but it is my reality.

What we know for fact:

1. I have follicular lymphoma......a rare form of cancer (only about 5000 people in the world have it). It is stage III only because it is both above and below my diaphragm. I have a 90% chance of a successful treatment into remission. There is no cure and it cannot be removed surgically. A complete remission is what I am praying for.

2. NONE of my vital organs are cancerous. The blood supply to my liver, bile duct and pancreas currently is being restricted by the large tumor in my abdomen. As soon as the chemo shrinks the tumor this will all return to normal.

3. I am NOT carrying any of the trace markers for any specific cancers such as colon, pancreas, liver, etc. Those results were ALL negative.

4. I will be starting chemo, probably by Thursday, in the hospital. A port will be placed today (Wednesday) sometime. (As of this time I JUST saw the surgeon and he is going to try his best to get into the OR today for the port because his next time will be Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!)

5. I hope to return home by the weekend and continue my treatment at Apple Hill. The first course of treatment is once a week for three weeks. Week four will begin the second round of chemo. One chemo treatment builds on the next. We are looking to shrink the tumor, restore my blood supply to 100% and put the cancer into remission.

6. THIS IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE. As I begin to respond favorably to the chemo I will simply (or perhaps at times not so simply) live my life with cancer as other people live their lives with diabetes, heart disease, or some other chronic condition. Three of my nurses so far are current cancer survivors, working through their treatment and living life to the fullest.

I am asking for specific prayer for a TOTAL REMISSION (and if God sees fit I will even take the honor of being the first person ever to be cured of this cancer).

I will work hard to remain strong and on the days when I can't be, because of the side effects of the chemo, I will ask everyone to be strong for me. I will draw from your prayers and strength. Your energy will be my energy.

Everyone wants to know what they can do for me. My physical and medical needs are being met. I have had EXCELLENT care at York Hospital.

I have an AWESOME spiritual support system through my minister friends Doug Winward, Dennis and Jean McCleary and Larry Parlett. What I need the most are prayers and positive thoughts because 50% of my healing will come from these kinds of support.

Please keep my children and Michael in your prayers as well. This is the second time for my children to go through this "cancer process". As Travis said, "it's harder this time because they're older and understand more about what is going on". Michael has barely left my side other than to work and I can see the strain this is placing on both him and my family.

My motto is this quote: Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. ~~ Napoleon Hill

I CAN conceive and believe that God wants me to have a full remission.

With love and gratitude,
Doris
Room 7113B
851-4678