PET scan results

Okay, the radiologist report came in today. "Suspicious for metastatic carcinoid." We are to meet with a pulmonary oncologist, Dr. Jennifer Garst, whenever we can get it scheduled. They tried to set it up for next week, but obviously we will be in Minnesota and unable to make that work. She is the doc who Duke wants to perform the biopsy. They still haven't decided how best to get to the node, but the two leading candidates are to either make in incision in Dee Dee's neck and go down from there, or to make a larger incision between two ribs and go that route.

Even though the PET scan result is not necessarily a new thing, and there is good news (no other tumors, no other lymph nodes involved), it still brings a touch of sadness. As Dee Dee said, we know that God could take this away, and every test or scan that is done confirms that He wants it to stay, at least for now. It is tough to fight the hope, each time, that it will just be....gone. We continue to pray as Christ prayed in the garden, that if it be His will that this cup would pass. The sadness is that with each test result comes confirmation that in fact He wants us to drink from the cup.

Dee Dee went to bed early tonight, and friends stopped by to pray with us, after she was asleep. As Marty prayed, he quoted Philippians 4:8, a familiar passage to many. However, I had never thought of that passage in this light, so my thanks to Marty and Angela for their visit and their prayers; they are a representation of the real efforts being made on our behalf, by more people than we even know of, efforts of love and grace and prayer. Thank you all.


Philippians 4:7-9

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

So, tonight I pray that cancer will not prevent us from thinking on whatever things are true, and pure, and lovely; whatever things are excellent and worthy of praise. God is still the God of love, and peace, and mercy. He is still Abba Father, a loving Daddy who longs to hold His children and give comfort and grace.

We will pray that this cup passes, but more, we will pray that His will is done. We will pray that we learn great things of our God in this, and that He is poured into our kids through this. We will pray, not that He is glorified despite the cancer, but BECAUSE of cancer. We will pray!

Tony