I do not use that word lightly, but I see them every day.
This one is big though.
Firstly, my plans are not always followed, and the past few weeks I had some alterations, all wonderful, though.
Here is the true miracle story:
I was scheduled for a PET scan this past week, on Tuesday. I was shot up with radiation, as the scan requires. As the technician put the stuff in my vein I mentioned my radiation story.
Years ago, in 1986, I was a short term missionary living in Ingolstadt, Germany. I arrived in the summer that year. I was 23 years old. Some new friends and I spent an evening at a man-made lake near town picnicking and swimming in the late June light. It was so beautiful and I never forgot that fun day!
A week later we learned that the city pool in Ingolstadt had to be drained because of dangerous levels of radiation in the water! Tchernobyl disaster had happened that spring.
It was the time in history when ATMs were new and used. I had a bank card that kept erasing every few months. ! The bank asked me, “Do you work at a nuclear power plant?”
NO! I am basically an Au pair, a church worker, a “Gemeindehelferin.” Hmmm.
I am telling this little story to the technician, and she responds: “Did you tell Dr. _____ this story? ” (My surgeon?)
“No.”
“You need to tell her.”
SO at my very last post surgery appointment I said to my surgeon, “—the technician for the PET scan told me I need to tell you a story.”
Now, the appointment already revealed that my situation was a bit different from what I knew.
I had thyroid cancer in a large tumor. I had thyroid cancer in an ovary. All of this was removed surgically. I had a PET scan that revealed NOTHING ——even the nodules on my thyroid are not there (?!!!!).
There is nothing more to treat. There is nothing more of concern.
The surgeon listened with interest to my story. She said that the thyroid is the first thing to be affected by radiation. She concurred that there is probably a connection to my experience years ago.
Now, my case; It was Stage 1 cancer, no treatment prescribed, Ongoing monitoring every six months.
My condition is of interest to a panel/board of doctors, it is extremely rare. (Less than 1% of similar situations!)
I see a miracle. I see a miracle that even though I was affected by radiation I have five children, I am cancer free, I am healthy. I see a miracle that even in a few weeks nodules on my thyroid seem to have disappeared.
God chose to heal me. God answered my prayer with healing.
I know this does not happen to everyone. God graciously gave me a beautiful gift. I will say that His plans are always the best plans. He knows the best. Dark and hard it may seem to us, but HE KNOWS THE BEST.
This is trust.
I am looking out at the snowy landscape. Cheri and I have holiday chaos indoors, as we are trying to decorate some, along with restoring order to a house hampered by water for four years! We are using the season to re-organize and clean. It never ends, but we try. I still have stacks of books to re-shelve.
I was unable to swim (after all) until yesterday. The surgeon gave the green light on swimming, but she mandated that I ease into it.
It was quite difficult. My body has gained weight, become stiffer, generally lost strength over these past four months.
I have a physical recovery to manage. I need to be back in shape by the wedding in Japan that we are attending in May!
Getting old is not for the faint of heart! I keep thinking about all of us being 30ish in heaven, robed in light, healthy and JOYFUL. We have an eternity of happiness that awaits, with each other. This is the promise of Scripture! So much beauty and love, peace.
I will attempt to become stronger. I am cutting back on the “Home-Chemotherapy” and I am still treating radiation. (My friend said to take kelp for the aftermath of the PET scan.)
Corwyn is back to normal. She is healthy. Ed had a bad virus, but he seems to be getting better.
I will be cooking for a day or two now. Plans for gathering continue.
I got to go to Hitchville’s Christmas concert this past weekend. What an incredibly talented ensemble! They are as good as Pentatonix, but have such wide talent and ability beyond that! I highly recommend their Christmas concert. So joyful!
I did get to see “The Singers” at Westwood Lutheran Church, with Ed. Such angelic sound! A peaceful and precious time.
Last Friday, my niece, Cherie, and I went to the Norwegian Lutheran Church (Mindekirk) in MInneapolis, for the Gregorian Singers Scandinavian Christmas Concert. They are really top-notch, too! Such an fun evening of sound and sweet traditional Scandinavian folk Christmas. Hardanger fiddle music!
The season has been full of music and joy.
I have a JOYFUL heart.
Surely Jesus is coming quickly….
MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear readers!!! Love to you all.
MARANATHA!!