We're so proud!

Last Saturday our son, David, graduated with a master's degree from Oxford University. He was at the top of his class! Mark and I had the privilege of attending the graduation with our daughter-in-law, Sydneyann. It was an exciting day! David and the other graduates put on their gowns and hoods and then, following hundreds of years of university tradition, we all marched through the streets of Oxford to the Examination Room where the graduation took place. The ceremony itself was performed completely in Latin. It was a very formal affair with lots of bowing and hat tipping. The Vice Chancellor granted each graduate their degree. It was incredible to think of all the graduates across hundreds and hundreds of years who stood in that place before David, and to know that he stands among them. To top it off, some of David's poems are being published in the Oxford Poetry Anthology that will be released in October. We are very proud of David and very grateful that God chose us to be his parents! 

David and Sydneyann

David and his proud parents!

Congratulations David! We love you very much!

Lunch with Dr. Oz!

Last Friday I was invited to a VIP luncheon with Dr. Oz at the NBC studio, KPRC, in Houston. Community of Faith has partnered with KPRC in the past, and we were one of the advertisers for the first season during the Dr. Oz Show. Our KPRC contact, Marilyn, invited us to enjoy lunch with Dr. Oz and to tour their studio. My sweet friend, Becky, went with me.

The lunch was delicious! Dr. Oz was very gracious to everyone. He shared about his first season and he thanked all of his advertisers. Then he opened it up to questions from the audience. Immediately my hand shot up! I told Dr. Oz that I was a stage 3 rectal cancer survivor - the whole audience clapped for me! - and then I asked his opinion about beginning colonoscopy screening earlier than age fifty. He clearly explained the difficulty of medical screening and determining who should receive what tests and when. But in the end, he agreed with me that the colonoscopy is the best screening tool out there because it not only detects colorectal cancer but it can prevent it by the removal of polyps.

After the question and answer time, Dr. Oz autographed his new book for each of us and let us take pictures with him. I took the opportunity to tell him that he helped to save my life. His last appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show was the final encouragement I needed to follow through on my doctor appointment back in May 2009. He pulled me aside and asked me a few questions about my cancer diagnosis and journey, and then he asked me to email him my story.

We finished up our time at KPRC with a tour of the studio. It was really neat to see where the news happens!

Me and Dr. Oz

Our beautiful table!

Becky and me at the KPRC studio

The control room

 

Me and Becky do the news! 

Thanks Dr. Oz, and Marilyn, for a super fun day!

Confirmation!

I had an appointment with my oncologist on Monday (that still sounds weird, by the way, "my" oncologist... who would ever think they would have an oncologist??) I hadn't been to his office since June. It was so nice to see all the smiling faces and to receive hugs from everyone who works in his office.  Mark asked me how I felt going in there, and I told him that I was just happy to be there as a "well" person and not as a "sick" person. 


They weighed me, drew my blood, checked all my vital signs, and gave me a flu shot. The doctor did a thorough physical exam. And then he said to me, "Hit the road. I don't want to see you until December." 


That is the third confirmation in a matter of days that I am healthy, I am healed!  I feel such a profound joy, an indescribable lightness...


Later, when no one else was home, I went running, screaming, laughing, and dancing through the house! My God IS an awesome God!

"I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; 
I will sing of you among the peoples. 

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; 
your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, 
and let your glory be over all the earth." 

Psalm 108:5

All Clear!

Friday afternoon we received a phone call from the oncologist's office with the report of my six month PET scan - "All Clear!"  That's exactly what I was expecting, but it sure was nice to hear them say it!  I am six months removed from chemotherapy, and there is no evidence of disease in my body! I can't even put my feelings into words at this point!


Recently, I have been reading in the Old Testament, rereading some of the old familiar stories. I was studying the story of Noah the other day and read this verse:


"And God remembered Noah..." Genesis 8:1


Isn't that beautiful? God remembered Noah. He remembered. That would probably be a good memory verse for all of us! It’s pretty simple and we could change it to say, "And God remembered (insert your name)..." 


"And God remembered Laura..." 


That simple verse could change how we think about situations in our life, it could change our actions and responses to life. God remembers us! How amazing is that?!


And He sure remembered me this week! I'm pretty sure He was smiling, too, as the words "All Clear" rang out over the phone. He remembers me! 


Thank you all for praying that we would hear those exact words! 

Honesty

Honesty has always been an important virtue to me. Some of the books that have most affected my life have been about honesty - honesty with God and honesty with myself. "Honest to God" by Bill Hybels, "The Lies We Believe" by Dr. Chris Thurman, "Codependent No More" by Melody Beattie, and "Feal the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers are among those books. I daily work to make sure that I am communicating honestly with Mark and with others. So when someone speaks the truth to me, I take it to heart...


Tonight, after speaking to the Women of COF, a young girl approached me and said these words:


"Your hair looks really bad in front." 


Then she turned and walked away. My friend, Samantha, and I watched her leave; and then we both fell out laughing. It was a true statement. I've told you before that my hair has a life of its own right now. Her honesty made me smile, and honestly, I love that she said it! Because the truth is, I love my crazy hair! 


Out of the mouths of babes...

Not Finished Yet

Since finishing treatment and surgery, it has been interesting to me how many people have made the following statements to me:


"I'm so glad you are finished with all of that!"
"I'm glad it's all over!'
"So glad you are done and you don't have to deal with that anymore."


And many other similar remarks. 


I just smile and acknowledge their kind hearts, but the truth is, I'm not finished yet. Not even close. Yes, I am finished with immediate treatment. Yes, I am finished with surgery. But I'm not finished with cancer. In fact, it seems like just recently the stress of the past 15 months is beginning to surface in me, Mark, and our girls. My husband and my children have all been so strong, pushing their own feelings aside in order to carry me through treatment. Now that it looks like I am well, the defenses are dropping and the feelings are surfacing. We are all feeling a little fragile at this point.


I think about cancer every day. I have physical changes and new routines that remind me of where I've been on a daily basis. Although they are less frequent now, I still have regular doctor visits and medical tests. I still take multiple dietary supplements prescribed by my doctor to treat side-effects of chemotherapy. Cancer is still part of my daily life. 


I had a PET scan today. I didn't feel nervous about the test or the results of the test at all.  Mark took me to the radiology center and patiently waited two hours while I was injected with radioactive glucose, waited for it to make its way through my body, and then spent 30 minutes in the scanning machine. Afterward we stopped to pick up lunch on the way to our staff meeting. Returning to the car I suddenly felt extremely fatigued. I realized that although I hadn't felt it, I must have been stressed all along. Mark got in the car and told me that he was having a mini meltdown too. Even though we fully believe that I am cancer-free, the waiting, hoping, and wondering are heavy loads to carry. Hopefully, the doctor will call soon with the report. 


In the meantime, we'll carry on, as survivors. Never forgetting where we've been, and ever look forward to God's continued grace and strength.

Approved!

Thank you to all of you who have been praying that our insurance company would approve a PET scan for me in September! The scan was approved and I will have it done Tuesday morning! Of course, I am expecting a good report just like I had with the colonoscopy last week. It will take a few days to actually get the results, and I will let you know as soon as I do. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers!