September 27, 2010

For the past 55 days I, my family, and my friends have thought I had cancer...

Today I went to MD Anderson for what was originally appointments to plan out my 6 weeks of radiation. However, I didn't think the news I would get was even possible...

Turns out, yes there was the tiny glandular tumor near my eyebrow. But after MUCH more researching in the pathology department, they seem to believe now that the original tumor AND the "cancer"/remaining tumor that my surgeon removed in the 2nd surgery are benign (NOT cancerous).

Basically what started as the most horrible phone call of my life saying, "The doctor wants to discuss your biopsy results. Can you bring a family member?"... in his office the next day him telling me, "You have adenocarcinoma (CANCER) that could have metastasized from any organ in your body"...to being treated at MD Anderson and them saying, "It's adnexal carcinoma (CANCER) and we feel that brow site is the only and primary site"...to "there were CANCER cells in the margin from your surgery"...to today- when the surgeon says "the pathologists now believe you have a benign mixed tumor called pleomorphic adenoma. Radiation will not be necessary".

Wow. I would say I can't believe it, but I do believe it- because GOD DOES the UNBELIEVABLE.

We are relieved and feel the weight of the world off our shoulders. I have learned so many lessons throughout this journey of a "cancer patient". I've told my family I want to write a book...

I know what it feels like that day you find out.
I know how the morning and the night are the hardest part of the day.
I know how to tell people you love them every chance you get, hold your husband's hand, kiss your babies faces off every chance you get.
I know how fear creeps in to try to run away your faith.
I know how out of control and helpless you feel.
I know what it's like to wonder if your tiny boys will remember you.
I know what it's like to see your family cry, and have to be tough anyway.
I know what it's like to play out every "what if" scenario possible.
I know what it's like to wake up every day searching for the story God wants to play out.

BUT I ALSO know Jesus. I know He is good and faithful. And I know He loves me. And now, though it wouldn't have been the way I would have chosen, He has given me a story to tell the world.

Whether I had cancer before, and God miraculously changed those pathology slides. Or whether it was never there to begin with...it doesn't matter. God has shown me, and I hope all who have walked through this with me, that if you turn your heart, soul, everything to Him He WILL take care of you...and in my case "heal me" of the cancer I never had.

BIGGEST UPDATE yet

NO RADIATION!!! (more details after my appointment at MDA Monday) but my surgeon informed me yesterday after much debate they think this is not malignant...NOT CANCER. Didnt I say God still performs miracles?! It has happened. Believe. Hope. Thank you for your prayers! God is bigger than "cancer". The top cancer hospital did surgery and was about to start radiation. Only God! I bet He is smiling.

We don't even know how to wrap our minds around this. We have lab reports saying I had cancer. I had surgery. I was about to have radiation. Numerous doctors at MD Anderson reviewed my case. Like I said- only God can explain!!! We are so relieved, so blessed, and so thankful. To God be all glory

update on radiation

My surgeon from MD Anderson called with the details of the pathology report...the newer set of cancer cells were near the edge of the biopsy, which means it was probably trying to spread. Radiation is definite now. It most likely will be Monday-Friday for 6 weeks beginning in October. I will be going to an appointment with the MDA doctor in charge of my radiation sometime in the next week or two. After that we should know more details. Please pray for the boys and those that will help take care of them...our God is still Healer! Love you all

my little loves

TWO REASONS MY HEART IS FULL

results

We went to our followup appointment at MD Anderson today, and were hoping for pathology results from my surgery last Friday. The lab is still working on them, and they are not complete and reported. However, my surgeon called and spoke with the pathologist working on the case...The tissue was not free and clear of cancer cells unfortunately. The pathologist told her a preliminary determination that a "nest of cancer cells" were found. Basically what this means is that, outside of the tumor/cyst itself, cancer cells made their way into surrounding tissue. The surgeon can't just keep going back in and cutting and cutting with surgeries, so that's where radiation comes into play. Hopefully it will kill what cancer cells are remaining in that surrounding tissue near the site of the tumor itself that was removed. Sooooo it sounds like I'll be starting radiation sometime in the next month. My surgeon at MD Anderson will let me know when the path report is finalized and she has more details, which might be sometime next week. I will go see her for another followup in 2 weeks, so I feel like we'll know something for sure by then.

I was hoping that today she would walk in and say "There was nothing! This is over". However, I am not that surprised because cancer is such a tricky, complicated thing. I have felt somewhat discouraged today, BUT I know with God's help I will find peace and endurance to stick this out a little longer. There's just something unsettling about knowing cancer is in your body. It doesn't matter how big or small it is...you just don't want it there at all. I ask for continued prayers and encouragement because I believe that's what's gotten me this far.
I am confident my faith will conquer my fear (as I've read numerous times in cancer devotionals lately). As a sweet friend made the point today "Even if the doctors keep stacking the odds against you, it just means God will get to show His glory even more" (Thanks Suzanne!)

Love you all

surgery and such

First I have to post pictures of PRECIOUS, smiling, almost-3-month-old Archer!

And a few pictures of our surgery day at MD Anderson. I had heard before we went that MDA is its own little city, and it is. There are even computer things that are kind of like mapquest that you enter where you're trying to go- it tells you how to get there, what elevator, floor, and approximate "walking time"! It's pretty awesome. So here's a quick picture I snapped as we headed in on surgery day...

Us about 7:00 am that morning heading out our front door

Me and Brody- he had just woken up so he was sad I was leaving :(

my good luck shoes and socks

in the holding area before I got taken to the operating room- notice my special pillowcase, courtesy of DeeDi (homemade!)

and I left out the yucky, nasty post-surgery pictures of my eye because I figured yall might be grossed out...

and home sweet home- me and my little man reading "Where the Wild Things Are" tonight

and last but not least- Brody the yard guy- goggles and all

Please pray this week for the results we get on Thursday....

Thank you again for the continuous prayers, texts, calls, emails, etc. We can't respond to all of them but we've done our best! God has been with us during this difficult, scary time. We have felt His heavenly love here on earth through all of you, and we are grateful. I do not know how we could have gotten through this without Him, our families, and our friends.
I wish everyone could know what I know now...that we serve a God who calms the storms, moves mountains, makes the blind to see and the deaf to hear, and uses cancer for HIS GLORY. There were some dark days and nights when I woke up every hour at 2, 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning- and all I could do was cry and pray. And He listened. I know God in a new way, and I wish I could put it into words but it's impossible...awesome, amazing, full of mercy and grace, healer, Father... WITH ME WHEREVER I GO no matter how scary and dark it gets. I believe it, and I hope you all do too.

home

The surgery went smoothly. The incision is from the top if my eyelid and up through the outer part of my eyebrow. Hopefully this allowed her to "get it all". We will find out next Thursday about the pathology and if radiation will be happening. Thank yall for praying, and please continue to pray for good, clear results next week. Home resting so this will be the last post for a little while. I have to say it again-GOD IS MIGHTY AND AWESOME. HE IS WORTHY OF ALL OUR PRAISE. MAY THIS BE USED TO SHOW HIS GLORY. I truly understand faith now- believing what you can't see. God showed me and my family how He blessed us when we do this. We are thankful for this amazing outcome. Love yall.

UPDATE WED AUG 25!!!

GOT REPORTS TODAY...CANCER IS CONTAINED TO THE ONE LOCATION NEAR MY EYEBROW. I WILL GO TO SURGERY AT MD ANDERSON THIS FRIDAY, AND IN 2 DAYS I WILL BE A CANCER SURVIVOR!!!

DURING SURGERY THE DOCTOR WILL LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND SHE WILL DECIDE IF I'LL NEED RADIATION OR NOT.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!! GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL. HE DESERVES ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE PRAISE.

Monday Aug 23 update

Today we met with the head and neck surgeon at MD Anderson. She was wonderful, and very optimistic. However, the tests that will tell us how extensive the cancer is were scheduled for AFTER the appointment with her, for whatever reason. I go first thing in the morning for a CT scan of my head and neck. I will go after that for a chest xray. Also their pathology department should be finalizing their second opinion on my biopsy. All this to say...it will be Thursday before we know more about what's going on and what the plan is to tackle it. The CT scan will show how involved the area above my eye is. It will also show if the cancer is anywhere else in my head or neck. It will also show if any lymph nodes are involved. The chest xray will be to rule out any kind of involvement of my lungs, just as a precaution. The biopsy report will be more in depth and should give an idea of exactly what duct this cancer is coming from, whether it be sweat gland, lacrimal, or some other organ in my body.

She said she will definitely be taking me to surgery to cut out the cancer we know is still surrounding the area, and she'll take out some lymph nodes if they're involved too. If it's related to my eye, a cancer eye surgeon will be in on the surgery as well. She mentioned we might be able to do surgery as early as next week possibly. I'm also going to be meeting with a radiation team, and I think she will make the decision about whether or not I will get radiation following the surgery.

SOOOO please keep praying!!! We feel surrounded by love and prayers every day, and we really hope to continue having this support until this is behind us!!! I hope everyone is seeing that GOD IS ANSWERING THESE PRAYERS ALREADY. He alone is worthy to be praised. And He gets all the glory for the work He is doing in this situation.

The boys are doing great. My mom is in town, so she is helping out. Brad's parents also live about 20 minutes away, so they're always helpful in any possible way too. We are blessed with wonderful families and friends. I will continue to post updates as we have more information. Love you.

update

I have the following appointments set:

Monday- head and neck surgeon at MD Anderson and some labwork

Tuesday- CT scan of head and neck

Wednesday- opthomalogist surgeon at MD Anderson

Please continue praying. We still don't have the words to thank all of you who have continually let us know you are praying. God is busy hearing about this! :) We have the greatest family and friends. I love you all so much.

HEALER

"Healer" by Hillsong

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

first appointment

Tentatively scheduled for August 23 at MD Anderson. That's 13 days we get to pray until then!

home

Sorry for no update but it will be Monday at the earliest. Apparently the pathology slides coming from Arizona got shipped ground instead of overnight. The great thing is that I just got to Mississippi and will be here until I hear from md Anderson. A delay but also a blessing I get to see my family. Keep praying. Love you all.

Jesus loves me this I know

A week ago I was getting Brody to sleep, and we sang like we do every night. Something made me grab my cell phone and record it. Sorry it's pitch black, but honestly it doesn't have to have any picture to be meaningful. It has very quickly become dear to me and will be special during this time. JESUS DOES LOVE ME- this I KNOW. I also know how much I'm loved by all of you. Brad and I can't begin to thank you for all the phone calls, texts, and emails. Thanks to all of you these days will not be dark. God is carrying me, and I trust this will all be part of the past soon, and it will be part of a beautiful story I will be lucky enough to share. Yesterday God wiped alot of tears from my eyes because it all became very real. But those tears were because I feel SO LOVED. I am not afraid at all. There is nothing to be scared of. Like I told someone yesterday- I know God would never want to hurt me. So I know He's sad too. For those of you asking about adding me to prayer lists- YES of course. I want to be on every list. Pray for peace and comfort for the whole family. Thank you and I love you all. We'll be updating as soon as we hear from MD Anderson.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

dear friends-

We have a prayer request that needs to be known. This blog is normally not used to post personal things, but in this case, it's about to get really personal...

I had a small cyst removed above my eye 3 weeks ago. The dr sent it off to have a biopsy because it grew back after having had it taken out about 10 years ago. He assured me I would get a phone call the next week saying it was just like every other sebaceous cyst he takes out...

Yesterday his nurse called saying I needed to come in for the dr to discuss the results and I need to bring a family member with me. At this point I knew I needed to prepare for bad news. My mom flew in from Mississippi this morning and she, Brad, and his dad went with me...

I have cancer.

It is a very rare cancer of the gland, and there are only about 50 cases that have ever been seen. My file has been sent to MD Anderson and we should hear from them in the next 24 hours about the next steps. It's about to be a very long road- the dr said they'll be scanning me and scoping me from head to toe to see where this is coming from if it started somewhere else. If they find it, then I'll get treatments based on that.

We covet your prayers. I know God has a plan, and we didn't move to the same town as the best cancer hospital in the world by chance. The dr said he would have sent me to MD Anderson no matter where I had been living, so it's truly a blessing we moved to Houston.

Pray for Brad, Brody, and Archer. I will beat this, and I will be a witness that God still performs miracles today.

somebody's smiling!

Archer is 7 weeks old today, and yesterday he started grinning for the first time! Here are a few pictures I caught of him...he is getting so big and is a GREAT baby. I can't believe he's almost 2 months old already.

And here's Brody yesterday before church. I couldn't get him to smile for some reason.

He loves pants with "pockets" and gets really excited when he realizes they have them. So he walked around the house just like this until we left for church. How funny!

Brody's summer

I'm playing catch up with some pictures from summer. Here's what Brody has been up to...and every picture is outside if you notice. The kid would live outside if we'd let him...

He went on his first golf trip with Daddy and Coach. Now everytime we go through the neighborhood he tells me he wants to play golf and hit the ball off the tee!

He also got a "Harley" from Gigi when she was in town. It is SO hot in Houston right now but we go out anytime we can to play on it

We also have a few neighborhood pools he has been to LOTS. It has been so great to have them. This one is actually right across the road and we can see it from our front yard. Again, everytime we go past it he says he wants to go to the pool :)

(He kindof looks like a little frat boy with his sunglasses hanging on his neck, and I cannot get these things away from him. They actually have just about ripped to shreds and will be "disappearing" soon)

And last but not least the "big" neighborhood pool. This one keeps him entertained for hours!
(again you might not be able to see it, but, sunglasses hanging on neck---check)

So that's about it, other than being a SWEET big brother!!!

my "little Brads"

Brad's parents have a neighbor who does photography and asked if she could take pictures of Archer and Brody for her portfolio- so of course I said yes! Here are some of the sweet pictures. Please excuse the bare booty...hopefully Archer will forgive me someday for posting it :)

Archer looks JUST like Brad even at 10 days old!

quiet trees

I love nature, and I've always loved big, full shady trees. They are especially beautiful during the fall (which I cannot wait for!) when the leaves change. Here are some of my favorites...

Happy Fourth of July!

Today we dressed the boys up in their red, white, and blue and headed to the 4th of July parade with Brad's parents in The Woodlands. Brody LOVED it, and Archer snoozed through the whole thing. Luckily a big rain had come through yesterday so it wasn't quite as hot as it has been here lately, but it was still pretty sauna-ish.

Here is sweet Archer. I can't believe he will be one month old this week! (and yes- he is in the same bassinet thingy in this picture. He spends a lot of time in there. One of my favorite purchases!)

after the parade...looking EXHAUSTED and hot

sweet boys

Brody

Archer

Captain, Gigi, and DanDan come to TX!

My parents and sister came to visit and help us get settled in our new house. Captain and GiGi left Wednesday, and Aunt DanDan is here until tomorrow. They have been great help and we will miss them all until we get to see them again!

bath time

"Baby Archer needs the bathtub"...as Brody says it.

June 7, 2010

Archer Davis Jones

June 7, 2010 11:24 am

8 lbs 1 oz

20 1/2 inches

Yesterday was the big day. Our beautiful boy came into the world at 11:23 am. All I had been thinking about was whether I would be able to get in touch with my mom on the phone to tell her the exciting news. I looked up at the clock as soon as I heard Archer cry, and told the doctor "My grandaddy's funeral is starting in 5 minutes".

It was bittersweet...my mom was awaiting the arrival of Archer while she grieved over her Daddy's death. Yesterday morning I told mom I love her and I'll be thinking about her- and she told me the same...

From what I hear the funeral was truly a celebration of Grandaddy Bob's life. He was married to the same woman over 60 years, and they raised 5 children together. They were a precious couple, and I was lucky to see their example of true love. Mom had her phone with her at the funeral and after she got my text, she got up to talk about Grandaddy and announced that her new grandbaby was here.

A little more about little Archer...the delivery was perfect and very easy. Big Brother Brody came to visit, and he is precious with him. He held him and loved him. Now we are resting the next few days. Moving day into the new house is Friday! We are ready to be settled with our new little family of four. I love all my boys!

picture catch up

Sitting in the hospital has given me a chance to catch up on pictures...

BEACH trip

pinning ceremony/graduation/moving day