Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength.

Courage and Strength, along with Faith, Hope and Love are needed.  I reach down to the bottom of my soul and ask that all may be given to us. 
About a month ago, Cindy started noticing a few things that were not quite right with her body.  Every so often bright lights would flash in front of her eyes, then, slowly her left foot began to bother her. It was just a bit at first.  She wasn't able to keep her flip-flops on, and soon she was unable to curl her toes.  Her left hand would shake occasionally and her speech would slur, but so slightly that Cindy was the only one who noticed.

It was probably just a pinched nerve!  Right!?  That’s what we hoped but logic told us it was something more.  A good friend and neighbor arranged to have the first of many tests run, and ruled out the “pinched” nerve.  Suspecting much more he ordered a CT scan and quietly placed a call to Cindy's Oncologist.  That scan revealed horror. 

A number of lesions were found in her brain.  One is attached to the optical nerve, causing the flashing lights, another is affecting her motor skills in her foot and hand.  There is another which could trigger seizures, although she's had none, but it has prohibited her from being able to drive. The lesions are numerous and significant in size.  The next day a full body scan revealed a tumor in her right lung as well as on the lymph nodes behind.  

The breast cancer, which she fought so valiantly to defeat, has reared its ugly head and spread.

…

I cannot describe the sorrow that hovers over us.  The cancer is inoperable.  It is incurable.  But the Good Lord has not abandoned us, because it is treatable and there is hope for some time to be granted. 
The first treatment plan will be radiation to her brain.  For nearly three weeks radioactive waves will be directed to the lesions in her brain.  The goal is to shrink those lesions.  They will not go away but it is possible for them to be reduced, for a time, minimizing the impact they have on her body. 

A Radiofrequency Ablation or RFA will be performed on the lesion in her lung.  This is where a beam of radiation is used instead of surgery in order to remove a tumor.  Basically the tumor is heated up enough to burn the cancer cells and destroy them.  This type of treatment works well on lung tumors. The alternative, besides surgery would also include chemotherapy.  But chemotherapy cannot be started until the radiation process is complete.  That delay could allow this already large tumor to continue to grow and inhibit the ability to breath freely, so RFA is a good thing. As with any medical procedure there are risks, but it seems that the benefit will out weigh the risk in this case.

Once radiation is complete then a regimen of chemotherapy using a pill called Xeldoa will begin.  This form of chemotherapy will give Cindy mobility instead of being tethered to an intravenous dosage.  There is much she wants to accomplish and the mobility factor is welcomed.

There is so much more involved, but for now I will keep it simple.  I personally believe in miracles and am praying for one.  More specifically I am praying that the radiation treatments will be effective.  That the lesions will shrink and become “quiet”.  That the side effects will be minimal.  I pray that Cindy and Reed, as well as Jason, Erica, Stella, Anton, Deven, Ali, Jordan, Chloe, and Meg will be granted Courage and Strength.  Please add your prayers, faith, hope and love.

Posted by Libby Hansen