This post is unlike any other as I am not focusing in on the girls, rather my family as a whole. It seems our "FAMILY" as a unit have been given a terrible blow this week one we never thought we would have to hear or deal with again in our lifetime. My uncle Dan, my mom's brother, has been told he has pancreatic cancer. Not only does he have this awful silent killer, the tumor is at the head of the pancreas, which means surgery to remove it is out of the question. There is one thing they can do, it is called a "whipples procedure" where they reroute everything internally. This is a HUGE procedure, one you are never the same from and can have big complications.
With all that being said, we still do not have the full radiological report yet, to know if his cancer has metastasized to other organs or lymph nodes. It is the scariest place to be right know because ultimately we know the timeline, we know the horrific outcome. This is the same cancer my grandma passed away from six years ago. There is just a 10% chance that pancreatic cancer is hereditary - who would have ever thought in our family?
My mom's other brother Bob, last year was diagnosed with hepatitis-C. He contracted this in the late 70's when he received a blood transfusion while having knee surgery- this was before blood was screened. He lived all these years with no symptoms. He has been on many medications over the last year, however he is now going into liver failure.
I sit and think about my mom as she looks at the immediate family around her crumbling apart. I cannot imagine the pain she must feel to watch another family member suffer through cancer. First my brother, then her mom, and now her own brother. It is just more than I think she can bare to witness. I know deep inside she has those gut feelings if she will be next - if she is at risk for it as well. Who can blame her?!?
This is just the most awful time of the year to be given a diagnosis, especially if you know in the back of your head yours is one that is terminal.
I am asking all of my friends and loved ones to pray for us, especially my mom. This is like pouring salt into two very deep old wounds for her. I just don't know how she is going to get through all of this- AGAIN. My uncle, I don't think he really knows. He was not here in town for most of grandma's treatment and the extent of her illness. It was heartbreaking to watch her suffer the way she did. I just cannot bear to see another family go through that nasty chemo - again!
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
