Pathology, Stage 2 Melanoma & My Brother David

Sentinel Node Biopsy Scar

My appointment was June 19th at 2:45 in the afternoon. 6 whole days after my Sentinel Node Biopsy, the biopsy to see if the cancer has spread. Oh good, more waiting! Continued more waiting for results, but I guess all in all I'm getting used to it. I'm doing well holding on to God's promises that he has given to me and WOW, does he continue to follow through!! I was so relieved when Dr. Searles' office called and they asked if I could come in early. Uh, yes!!!! Let's go and get this news, good or bad, over with!
Waiting is never an easy thing to do. If you think about it we spend much of our lives waiting for things. I've learned some great things through this waiting period though. One important thing for me is that instead of saying "Lord, I don't know how I am going to do this.", I'm saying, "Lord, I can't wait to see how you use me through this time."

June 19th
Katie, mom and I shuffled into Dr. Searles' office to wait for the news. My mind played out both scenarios of what the future would be. If it came back in my lymph node, it would mean another surgery, and possible chemo and radiation. Did it go to my organs? How much longer would I have on this earth? Everything was swarming in my head when Dr. Searles came into the room.
Dr.Searles is an older, grey headed man that has become a warm and familiar face to me through this hard time in my life. I can't explain the warmth that I get from his presence, but I do and this morning was no different!
Dr. Searles said that the biopsy came back clear and there were no cancer cells in the lymph node!

What a wash of relief to my body, soul and mind.
The burden of everything was lifted off of me. It was 44 days since I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Malignant Melanoma and the burden has been heavy. I haven't been carrying it alone though, it's been big enough for everyone to carry a piece of it with me. 9:45am on June 19th, that burden was lifted. I felt a lot lighter!
We went through Starbucks and I got a celebration coffee, an Iced Grande no whip White Mocha. Yum!
It was the greatest news that I've shared in a long time.

Present day:
When I was first diagnosed with cancer, my brother, David, sent me a text telling me that when he got sick in 2010 and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, and on death's door, he cried out to God to heal him and God told him very clearly, let me worry about your body, and you worry about the healing of your soul!   http://vimeo.com/64746258  (My brother's Amazing story)
During this time of recovery, I've had a lot of time to think and pray. I've spent a lot of time working on my soul, and trying to determine what God wants me to do with this life that I may not have done yet?!
In these quiet times I've learned that God's grace is simply amazing and it's with me in every breathe I breath. I've learned to not be afraid because God is and has always has been my stability.
Matthew 7:24-27 says "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
My stability through this storm is the rock that I've built my life upon, my Jesus Christ!

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."  Psalm 18:2

Healing here I continue to come!