Patsy's bone marrow test came back and it was clear! That was some great news!

I was teaching at Full Sail yesterday and I started the class by telling them about Patsy. During a break in class a student came to me and said "I'd like to pray for you and your wife." I said "Thank you, and if you have a prayer group please add us." I thought he meant he'd pray later. He just stood there and looked at me. I said " Did you mean now?" He said "If that's alright with you." I said "Okay, sure" Before he started he said "I suck at this." But then he began one of the most thoughtful, heartfelt prayers I'd ever heard." When he was finished I said "Thank you." As he walked away I said "And by the way, you don't suck at that at all." He smiled and walked out the door.

A new haircut.

Patsy got a short haircut to prepare for the hair loss she will experience during Chemo. She said, "I might as well get used to it being short." From what we've heard, one month after she finishes treatments (six months from now) her hair will start to grow back. And, it might be very different. Might be pretty cool:)

In the meantime we found some cool places that sell great hats. Patsy's not into the wigs so we'll probably go with that.

Also! Patsy's bone marrow test came back and it was clear! That was some great news! Now onto the PET scan which will let us know if the upper part of her body is clear as well. If so, we only have to treat the tumor itself!

I was teaching at Full Sail yesterday and I started the class by telling them about Patsy. During a break in class a student came to me and said "I'd like to pray for you and your wife." I said "Thank you, and if you have a prayer group please add us." I thought he meant he'd pray later. He just stood there and looked at me. I said " Did you mean now?" He said "If that's alright with you." I said "Okay, sure" Before he started he said "I suck at this." But then he began one of the most thoughtful, heartfelt prayers I'd ever heard." When he was finished I said "Thank you." As he walked away I said "And by the way, you don't suck at that at all." He smiled and walked out the door.

Today we begin...

Hello everyone,

Thank you for visiting my blog. Kevin and I decided this would be the easiest way to keep you all informed on this season of our life.

First, my prognosis. I have been diagnosed with Stage 2 type B-cell lymphoma. This was discovered during a routine exam with my primary doctor. She found a mass in the stomach area. I then had an ultra sound followed by a CAT scan. The doctor decided based on the CAT scan that we needed a biopsy to determine what we were dealing with. I received a call on Wednesday confirming that is was malignant. My doctor called to say it was a 9 x 9 cm tumor, the size of a mango. (These were my words not theirs.) She feels it is isolated and not attached to any other organs but, we will do a PET scan to reveal that.

Kevin and I went to see the Oncologist yesterday and after a three hour session which included blood tests, bone marrow extraction (including bone) we were told I needed chemo therapy for six months.

The good news is that it is treatable and the oncologist said there is a 70-80% chance that they can shrink or eliminate it ! He also said the prognosis for the future looked good, with a 40-50% success rate. I will begin treatments of Chemo therapy starting on the the 16th of August for a period of six months. We will post all news as it becomes available, Please sign on to this Blog to keep up to date. We will have the Blog posted on the phone as we will be a little busy to answer phone calls and emails.

Tkank you for your understanding and prayers.

And as always, "Make it a great day." (Because it is what you make it)

Love Patsy