Deja Vu

In 2003 I wrote this... (my column) "The Bunni Trail" ... in our monthly condo bulletin.

~~~ WE ARE CALLED SURVIVORS ~~~
We feel that we are blessed. We are true believers in the saying "If God brings you to it, He will take you through it." For many years, my annual mammograms had shown calcium deposits and abnormalities. In 2001, I had cysts biopsied and aspirated. After a biopsy in January 2002, I was in the recovery room when my surgeon came in and told me, "Everything went well. The pathologist didn't find it necessary to do a frozen section." When I heard Frozen Section, I knew that I had cancer. Being alone, I had time to absorb what I'd just learned... but I didn't cry or become emotional. I don't know... perhaps I was in shock. Without an official diagnosis, I didn't want to upset my family, so I didn't tell ANYONE for more than 10 days. My husband usually waited in the car reading and listening to the radio during my medical appointments, but this time I suggested he come in with me to get the biopsy results. When the doctor told me that a small cancer had been found, again I didn't react… much to my surprise, the surprise of my husband, the doctor and two nurses. When the doctor advised me of my options: a lumpectomy with radiation therapy; a mastectomy or a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (with no radiation or chemo therapy, my immediate response was a Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

I firmly believe in the power of prayer… so that night I sent emails and snail mail to our family and friends to advise them of my diagnosis and asked them to please include me in their prayers. When I felt our daughters in Atlanta had had a chance to read my emails, I called them. We are a very close family and I was certain they would be devastated upon learning of my cancer diagnosis. I felt the emails would prepare them before they actually heard it from me and they concurred, it did prepare them. It was the first time that I had truly given any real thought to my mortality and the effect my demise would have on my family. However, I thank the Lord that I am still here and God willing, cancer free.

In 1994 my husband, Sanford, had radiation treatment for prostate cancer. He recently had a skin cancer removed. However, none of the above prepared us for what happened near the end of April 2003. In preparation for minor ear surgery, he had a chest X-ray which showed a small spot on his lung that wasn't there the year before. He had an Adrenal Gland biopsy, CT scan and PET scan...none of which showed cancer, thank God. We were told that because of his history of smoking, [he stopped 23 years prior] it must be assumed that he had Lung cancer. After researching lung cancer on the Internet, we learned that according to statistics, the general prognosis was not optimistic. Of course, I sent those emails and snail mails again requesting prayers for us. .

I've never ever prayed as much as I did before he finally had a Lobectomy, where a small cancer was found and removed. I'm still praying, but these are prayers of thanks that he is cancer free once again. God willing, we will participate again next year in the annual Cancer Relay for Life...


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Déjà Vu

This is the email/snail mail that I sent this past week:
"As an adult have you ever experienced something that was so frightening that it made you feel that you were more vulnerable than ever before? If you answer yes... then you understand how we're doing right now.

Last Sunday evening we had to go to the Emergency Room because my husband, Sanford, had severe abdominal pain all day that did not respond to any pain medicines. The hospital admitted him so that tests could be done to find out what was going on inside.
Our family doctor told Sanford that he's the luckiest man in the world. When asked why he said that.. Dr. M. said he has never had a patient who survived 4 cancers and is about to survive the fifth.
Friday we saw the urologist and the news was not good.. Sanford is scheduled to have a cancerous kidney removed October 23...
And because we believe so strongly in the power of prayer, I am asking if you will please join us in prayer for him to survive this one too.
Some have said that we are lucky... ( I am also a cancer survivor)... but we feel that we are Blessed."


Bunni
You never know who's heart you will touch when you share a piece of your own.