I Remember...

This time last year I was wondering if the fear ever went away. I wondered if every PET scan and every lab test and every doctor's appointment would continue to bring up feelings of uncertainty. I wondered if there would ever come a day when I didn't think about cancer. 


Well, last week I had PET scan #4, lab work, and a visit with the oncologist. Much to my surprise, I was not worried about the PET scan at all! I was not nervous waiting for the results. I didn't rehearse in my mind what I would do if the lab tests came back abnormal. In fact, when I walked into the doctor's office my heart was full of peace and confidence! I was so thankful to feel strong and well, and to be coming to his office as a healthy person and not someone who was signing in for treatment! 


The doctor immediately came into the exam room, handed me my PET scan results and said, "Normal!" I think he was as excited as Mark and I were! He did a complete physical exam and declared me good to go for three more months! We stopped by the chemo infusion room to say hello to all the nurses who became like family to us. There were lots of hugs and smiles all around!


As I left the doctor's office, Chris Tomlin's song, "I Lift My Hands" began to play in my mind again. The song has been in my heart ever since we first sang it at Community of Faith. But this day, the words were especially real for me:


I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge You are my strength
As I pour out my heart these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever


God has been so incredibly faithful to me all my life, but I have seen it so clearly since that day in May 2009 when I first heard the words, "You have cancer." And this day, I remember.. You are faithful, God, forever! 


I still think about cancer every day, but I consider that a good thing. Cancer occupies much of my daily prayer time as I intercede for so many friends and loved ones who are fighting this disease. But I am so happy to report that the fear and uncertainty are no longer a regular part of my daily life. I lift my hands to believe again... 

Just a Reminder...

Yes, it is STILL Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! So, just in case you have forgotten, here are the risk factors for colorectal cancer:

• Age - the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age, although more and more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
• A family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer - however only 10-20% of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer have a family history of the disease!
• Inherited conditions such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Lynch Syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Alcohol use
• Diet high in fat and red meat

Screening for colorectal cancer is so important because by the time symptoms of colorectal cancer appear, the cancer is usually in an advanced stage. So, even though you may feel healthy, don't neglect to get screened!

If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor right away!

• A change of bowel habits
• Blood in the stool - either bright red of very dark
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Stools that are narrower than normal
• Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Don't wait until it's too late! Get screened!

For Jaydee

The other day I went back to read some of my old blog posts and the comments I received. Once again, I found myself crying, overwhelmed by the deep love and encouragement that was expressed to me over all the months of my cancer treatment.  I am so grateful to each one who took the time to check on me, to pray for me, and to offer words of hope to me. I know that I would have never survived without you! 


A few months ago I met a new friend through my blog.  Jaydee contacted me after she was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. She is following in my footsteps a few months behind me in her journey. We have become friends, and I am honored to be one who can encourage and support her as she fights this common enemy. Tomorrow morning Jaydee will begin the first of eight IV chemotherapy treatments. She will be receiving all the same drugs that I received, and will most likely experience many of the same side effects that I experienced. It is my prayer that her treatment will have the same results as well - No evidence of disease!! 


Will you please join me in praying Jaydee through these next few months of treatment? Please pray for courage, strength, endurance, and peace. Please pray for minimal side effects. Please pray for no complications from treatment. Please pray for her husband and children as they continue to walk this path alongside her. And, or course, please pray for the complete destruction of any remaining cancer cells in her body. 


If you would like to encourage Jaydee, like you did me, you can visit her CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaydeebegg

Jaydee, today at Community of Faith we sang a new song by Chris Tomlin (written by Louie Giglio, Matt Maher, and Chris Tomlin) from his new album, "And If Our God is For Us".  As I sang, I prayed for you. I hope these lyrics help bring peace and hope to you. 

I Lift My Hands

 by Chris Tomlin

Be still, there is a healer

His love is deeper than the sea

His mercy, it is unfailing

His arms are a fortress for the weak

Let faith arise, Let faith arise

Open my eyes, Open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart, these things I remember

You are faithful, God forever

Be still, there is a river

That flows from Calvary's tree

A fountain for the thirsty

Pure grace that washes over me

So let faith arise, Let faith arise

Open my eyes, Open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart, these things I remember

You are faithful, God 

You are faithful, God, forever

I am praying for you, and I know my sweet friends are praying for you too. Let His grace wash over you. He is faithful!

The Truth About Colorectal Cancer

This information comes from the Colorectal Cancer Coalition:

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States.

Colorectal cancer affects men and women equally.

Every 3.7 minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies from colorectal cancer.

The vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection.

Every 5 seconds someone who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not.

The survival rate of individuals who have colorectal cancer is 91 percent when detected in the early stages. 

Of the 51,370 people expected to die of colorectal cancers in 2011, early detection could save more than half.

Only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have their cancers detected at an early stage.

Regular colorectal cancer screening has been ranked as one of the most cost effective screening interventions available, with the potential to save 40,000 lives a year.

If the majority of people in the United States age 50 or older were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate from this disease could plummet by up to 70 percent.

Greater awareness of this cancer and the means to prevent it could save the lives of tens of thousands of people in the United States each year.

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable in most cases.

Get screened!

Thank you Governor Perry!

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Organizations across the country work to raise awareness of the need for prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer, encouraging screening, and advocating for research funds, and legislation related to research and screening.


Having a close personal relationship with colorectal cancer, I have felt a strong desire to help make sure that other people don't have to go through this experience. I want to get the news out there that colorectal cancer is preventable and it's treatable; and that early detection is the key to long-term survival.


With that in mind, I decided to contact our local and state officials and ask them to proclaim March 2011 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in the state of Texas and in the city of Houston. I contacted Governor Rick Perry and Mayor Annise Parker, as well as local Harris County officials. I didn't really expect anything to come of it, but I thought I would do my part to try to raise awareness in my community.


Imagine my surprise last week when I checked the mailbox and found a large envelope from the Governor's office! Governor Perry responded to my request and on February 14th he officially proclaimed March 2011 to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the great state of Texas! I was so excited to see the results of my advocacy and proud to know that I had a part in making it happen! 


Then two days later I received a phone call from the office of the Mayor of Houston. Mayor Parker received my request and officially proclaimed March 2011 to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in the city of Houston! Wow! Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and our city officials recognize the importance of raising awareness about prevention and screening for colorectal cancer! 

Thank you, Governor Perry! Thank you, Mayor Parker! 

Please join me in getting the word out! 

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, beatable!

Get screened!

Abundant Life

Have you ever been reading the Bible and come across a verse you’ve read a thousand times, but for some reason this time, God showed you something you’d never seen before? I had that experience last week.

I was reading in the book of John, in a different translation that I normally use, and came across John 10:10. I’d read it a thousand times before:

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

In the past, every time I’d read that verse I got stuck on the second half where it talks about abundant life. I wanted to know what abundant life is, do I have it, how do I get it… and every lesson I’d ever heard or read on that verse discussed the same thing.

But last week when I read it, it hit me. And I hope I am able to explain it the way that God showed it to me that day. That verse is telling me what abundant life is and it’s this: “I am come…”

The fact that Jesus is here – that’s what abundant life is! It’s his presence in my life. It’s not something else that I need to acquire, or something else I need to find or earn, or somehow get a hold of. It’s the presence of Jesus in my life – automatically I have abundant life. It’s Him!

All throughout Scripture God uses the expression “I am” to describe himself. It means something that is happening in this present moment. He says I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way, the truth, the life, I am love, I am peace, I am strength, I am hope, I am… He becomes whatever we need in this present moment. That’s the nature of who God is.

Jesus uses this same phrase here – “I am come…”

I am here, so you already have abundant life. You have everything you need. Abundant life is the opposite of overwhelming life. God was telling me to open my eyes and see that I already have it. We have abundant life now, in the midst of whatever we are going through. If we have asked Christ to come into our lives and to take over, to forgive us, and to save us – we have him. That’s everything. There is nothing more I could ever possibly need because everything is met in his presence.

Think back for a minute when you were a kid in school. The atmosphere in the classroom was a certain way when the teacher was in the room and probably a different way when the teacher was out of the room, right? The teacher’s presence made a difference in the classroom, hopefully! But what happened in that classroom when the Principal walked into the room. Everything changed, right? Even if he just stood in the back of the room, didn’t say a word, his presence changed everything. There was a power to his presence. Everything quieted down, every chaotic word or action fell into line, peace and order settled over the room. The Principal, by the authority of his position, was in complete control of the classroom. Nothing was going to happen that he wasn’t aware of or in charge of.

That’s what this verse in John 10 is saying. I am come… my presence in your life brings infinite love, and infinite power, and infinite wisdom, it brings peace, it brings rest, it brings hope, it brings order.

Consciousness of God’s presence is abundant life. I need to constantly be aware of His presence with me. He is in my life. And here’s the thing: God doesn’t get overwhelmed!

The word abundantly, is a Greek word that was used in the marketplace. It was a mathematical word meaning to have a surplus. When you have a surplus it means that you have more than you need. More than you required, or more than you ordered. You have enough to meet your need and then some. Think about the implications of that for a minute.

Let’s reword that verse from John chapter 10. This is my translation:

“Today, my presence is your life, ruling in your world, and I provide exactly what you need, and even more than you ordered.” 

If I am operating based on that truth, I will not be overwhelmed. I can’t be overwhelmed. God can’t be overwhelmed.

And what do you do with surplus? When we have surplus anything we normally give it away. Think about the army surplus store. They are selling the extra supplies that they don’t need. If I have extra cheesecake, I’m going to offer some to you. I don’t need it. I can’t eat it all. If I have surplus I’m going to give it away.

That’s what God wants me to do. As he meets my need, provides what I ask for, then I give the rest out to someone else. If I have prayed for peace this week, God gives me what I need and more because he wants me to take that peace and give it away. Maybe I asked for patience, I can be sure he will give me opportunities to give patience away. Maybe I'm feeling insecure this week, God says, know that my presence is with you; you are secure, now go out and encourage someone else. Give it away.

Recognize his presence in your life, and share it. That’s the path to abundant life.

January 26, 2011

Dear David, Sydneyann, Sarah, and Ashley,

I don’t know if I’ve ever told you how much your encouragement, love, and support meant to me all through my cancer treatment; so that is the purpose of this letter.

I know it was probably difficult for you guys to be so far away and not have the opportunity to follow things on a daily basis. In fact one of the hardest things for me was knowing that in some weird way I had caused suffering and grief for my family.

As I faced decisions about my treatment and my future, the faces of my children were front and center in my mind.  My choice to go forward with IV chemotherapy was based on my desire to live longer with you, and to see more of what God is going to do in your lives.

I carried your pictures with me to every radiation and chemotherapy treatment, and to every hospital stay. You guys were my inspiration. On the most difficult days, in the times when I was scared, and in the moments when I wondered if I could follow through with my treatments, I would pull your picture out of my Bible and remember – I had a purpose and a reason for enduring. You all gave me hope.  The promise of more days and years with you gave me the strength I needed to persevere.

Your cards, emails, letters, texts, flowers, gifts, photos, phone calls, and visits brightened every moment.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for laughing with me and for crying with me. Thank you for playing games with me. Thank you for always looking on the positive side of things.  Thank you for all the things you did to help me. Thank you for understanding when my feelings and emotions were out of whack! And thank you from the bottom of my heart for encouraging and supporting your daddy through it all.

I am so proud to be your mother and to call you my children. Each of you is so incredibly amazing! I love how you pursue your dreams. I love how you strive to make a difference in the world; and how you allow God to use you to do so. 

We’ve made it through the first eighteen months. Three and a half years to go before they will declare me cancer-free. We don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that God is good and His plans for us are good. I pray you will never doubt that.

I love each of you with all my heart.  Thank you for walking with me through the past eighteen months.

Love,

mom