MIRACLE - ANSWER TO PRAYER!

Hello my dearest faithful friends and family,

I am delighted and thankful to share good news.  I have long anticipated sending this email :0) 

I began acupuncture two weeks ago and I feel like a new person.  I was a skeptic, but the acupuncturist was recommended to me by a pain management doctor.  I arrived at my first session doubled over in pain and left without any pain.  I have had 6 sessions so far and feel better after each one.  The pain has decreased so much that I have been able to significantly reduce the amount of my daily pain medication (slowly of course and with my doctors permission) and haven't had to use my break through narcotic medicine in a week.  (Prior to acupuncture, I was needing break through pain medication, on average, once a day)  Woohoo!

This is such an answer to many prayers.  Praise God for His faithfulness.  I feel SO wonderful that I forget all that my body has been through.  Thus, I have to remember to pace myself and still need to rest.  I would ask for prayers as I step down off of my narcotics.  With each decrease, I feel a bit yucky for a day or so.  However, the trade off is totally worth it.  I have more energy and more brain clarity with each decrease.  I still receive my nourishment through the PICC line in my arm.  This has been another praise.  Pam, a PICC line nurse, comes to my house twice a week and is pure sunshine.  My arm blistered from the tape securing my PICC line.  Pam was creative and found a way to anchor it without tape touching my skin.  With the help of a dermatologist the painful blisters healed and disappeared within a week.  Coram, the supplier of my equipment, has also been very accommodating and helpful.

I saw my family doctor yesterday and he is enthusiastic about my progress.  I have been able to put on 10 pounds and overall just look healthier and happier.  I have been able to eat food without pain.  Jack teases that I don't keep a food diary because I do not want others to know what I have been eating (Maryland crabs, strawberry shortcake, some Chinese food...shhhh don't tell :0)  I have really enjoyed bites of all different delicious food and for some reason everything tastes ten times better than I remember it, especially when it comes to local strawberries from Brooklawn Farm Market.  I have lots of audible mmmmmmms throughout the day! 

My family doctor's recommendation is still to continue forward with the steps of surgery.  I have more tests scheduled at Hopkins the end of June and then meet with Dr. Singh on July 3rd to go over the test results.  Dr. Singh was very clear that I can at any point decide not to have surgery.  However, it takes several months to even become a candidate for surgery, so it makes the most sense to keep this option open.  Thus, I would also greatly appreciate prayers for discernment and wisdom in this department.

I cannot begin to capture or describe how wonderful it feels to really live - go days without horrible pain and eat food without fears of going to the hospital.  The Lord's healing has helped me to enjoy and appreciate life again.  I am also learning to live each day one day at a time enjoying the treasures sprinkled throughout the day.  My current mantra is, "God is in control and God is trustworthy."  This helps me to combat fear and "what if" thoughts.

I know this journey is not over, but I anticipate my updates to be less frequent as I feel a tremendous corner has been turned.  I greatly appreciate the dedication of your prayers and words of encouragement.  I am a true believer in the power of prayer. 

As always, it is my true delight and honor to lift up any prayer requests that are weighing on your heart. 

Jubilant thanks,
Becky

NEW NEWS!

Hello dearest and faithful friends,

 

New seems the best word to sum up yesterday.  A new month, a new doctor, a new joy, a new hope, and a new challenge.  Thank you to each of you for remembering my family in your thoughts and prayers yesterday.  It was a roller coaster of a day!

 

We had a smooth journey to Johns Hopkins.  Even with some nervous, anxious energy, I felt strong and confident for the appointment.  I was armed with my parents and Jack present, prepared questions, 4 note pads, and most importantly heaps of prayer. 

 

I had my best appointment EVER with Dr. Singh.  He spent a lot of time with me and my family and answered all of our questions.  The greatest news was that I can begin eating small amounts of food that are low in fat (After over 3 weeks of popsicles and every flavor of gum, these words were the best words to my ears since Jack asked me to marry him :0).  I am getting all of the nutrients I need through my PICC line in my arm.  Thus, the food I eat is purely for my own satisfaction.  I will most likely stay on the PICC line for several months.

 

At this point I am on top of the mountain.  I had some animal crackers in my purse and ate some of them with enzymes, before leaving the doctor's office.  I had a one track mind!

 

Next, we met a NEW doctor, the surgeon who performs the surgery that Dr. Singh suggested.  The official surgery name is total pancreatectomy with auto-islet transplantation.  We were impressed with the surgeon's experience with pancreas surgeries of over 10 years.  We also met with the coordinator for this particular procedure.  The coordinator told us what to expect.  The surgery to remove my pancreas and transplant cells from the pancreas into the liver takes 8-10 hours.  The patient will then be in the ICU for 3ish days and then spend up to 3 weeks in the hospital.  The recovery at home is 2-3 months.  I have spent over 30 days in the hospital this year and have had chronic pain for over 7 months. 

 

This surgery doesn't sound pleasant, but manageable UNTIL...the coordinator explained the pain.  She said to take my worst pain and multiply it by a million.  I will have a large incision down my abdomen.  Patients post-surgery require more pain medicine than a trauma victim that was just hit by a car.  Talk about crashing, I felt like I had just been in an accident.  The coordinator's words felt like a strong blow to my gut.  It made everything I have been through look like a small hill and now I am going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Ahhhhh!!!!!

 

Other implications of the surgery:  I will be on insulin in the hospital and will go home on insulin.  2/3rds of patients do not require insulin after a few months.  However, all patients eventually become diabetic and insulin dependent.  Thus, Jack will be able to add to his resume insulin injections. 

 

I couldn't send texts yesterday or write an update, because so much was swirling in my head.  After we left Hopkins, we had lunch.  I had a bite of my dad's mashed potatoes, a bit of Jack's salad, a few spoonfuls of my mom's soup, and several pieces of bread to go with my fruit smoothie.  It tasted like the best meal in my entire life!

 

My new joy is eating.  Praise the Lord, I haven't had any bad pain and have enjoyed a variety of bites of food.  Whether it is psychological or physical, I feel tremendously stronger and happier.

 

My new hope is this surgery to eliminate pancreatitis attacks.

 

My new challenge is to live in the present and pray for wisdom and discernment.  I still have to go through several tests at Hopkins to make sure my body is well enough to undergo the surgery.  I also have to decide if and when I want to have the surgery.  My alternative is to use pain medication for pain management.

 

My newest new thing is my mom is teaching me how to knit.  I am knitting a scarf for my beloved, Jack.  Jack helps me to see the positive and to embrace each day.  Our gratitude journal continues to overflow with blessings.  This update is already long enough, so I won't go into details.  Many wonderful individuals have done what they may consider small, but to us are huge gifts...words of encouragement via text, email, snail mail, on the phone, or in person.

 

My prayer requests continue to be for healing of my body, grace and patience with myself, and support for my caretakers.  Praise and gratitude for you coming along side of me through this season. 

 

I know I sound like a broken record, but I am always delighted and honored to lift up your prayer requests, as well.

 

Love and gratitude,

Becky