I recognize Your presence

Mark and I are trusting that all the cancer was removed with the surgery on Tuesday. So, today was Day Three Cancer Free! Doesn't that sound great?

I had another good day. I spent the morning out of bed, eating, sitting, walking, and visiting with family. My muscles were more loose this morning making walking somewhat easier. I'm still not going to win any races, but I'm improving each day! However, by this afternoon the muscles decided that they had had enough and my back began to cramp. I've actually had more back pain since surgery than pain at the actual surgery site! Thankfully, the doctor has ordered medication to help with this as well as a heating pad and I had a comfortable evening.

The exciting news of the day is that the doctor ordered a "regular" diet for me! I ate real food for dinner! It has been several days since I've actually eaten anything of substance so dinner was a welcome affair!

Hopefully some of my tubes will be removed tomorrow. We are shooting for a Monday discharge from the hospital.

I wanted to share with you a couple of experiences that were reminders of God's presence since I arrived here on Monday:

1. I was on a stretcher in the surgery waiting room preparing to go into surgery. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me and when he was through with all his questions he said, "This is just a bump in the road." I looked at him funny wondering if maybe he was an angel...these are the exact words that I have been saying ever since I was first diagnosed with cancer - just a bump in the road. It made me smile, knowing that God knew this young man would speak these words to me right before I went into surgery.

2. The surgeon came in to talk to me before we all headed to the surgery suite. He asked how I was doing, asked if I was ready, assured me he was ready, and then he said, "Would you like to pray?" He held hands with me, Mark, and my mom and we all prayed together. Now that was a cool moment from God!

3. My radiologist came to see me this morning. He was all smiles knowing how successful my surgery was and knowing that the radiation treatments had caused the tumor to shrink to almost nothing. I told him he did a good job and he replied, "Well, I had a little help," referring to God's hand through the whole process. He said it helped to have so many people praying.

God has surrounded me with the most amazing medical team. I am so grateful for each one of them.

Please pray that the muscles in my back will calm down and let me sleep and move and rest.

Thank you!!