Aug. 14-31 2009

Aug. 14
hi! just figured i'd get family up to speed, i've had some health issues for a couple months now, and yesterday i went once again to the walk in and lo and behold found a doc who sent for tests right away, so i got more blood work done as well as a CT scan the nurse told me results would be back in a week or so, then this afternoon my doc's nurse called and said i needed to come in and talk to the doc, so Will & I went in for results, i'm going next week to wpg. health science and talk with a surgeon there, who will go over the test results, and from there i'd assume they'd run more tests , knowing things now adays it could take like a year or something before things get finalized, i guess i should tell you they found a couple things, but have to rule out which one or if i have both or what exactly is going on so don't jump to any conclusions as they still have to find out what or which one i have, they did find a mass on my lung the size of my hand as well as a possibility of lymphoma, and some blood clots, so time will only tell what exactly it is or if its anything. will keep you posted. diane

Aug. 17, 2009
hi! i have an apt. with the surgeon tomorro (tues) at 10 am. thanks for all your support, diane & will

aug 18, 2009
hi! i have an apt. tomorro at 1:00 for a bioptsy on my lung, then another type of bioptsy friday at 1:30 on my lung as well, the mass is in my lung and size of my fist if it hasn't grown since, pray for both to be non cancer results, your prayers & comfort are so much appeciated, diane & my crew who are keeping me going

Aug 19, 2009

hi! just wanted to fill you in as to how my day went, well let me tell you, God has given those doc's and nurses such talent, i was so at peace and i believe it to be because of your prayers, The bioptsy went really well, not that i have test results yet, but the doc didn't hit any arteries or any of my breathing tubes i'm not up on the technical terms, but it was good as when we got there we were told we'd have to stay the night, but after the doc did the bioptsy he said the nurses would monitor me for a while and we could go home, other than feeling extremely tired (also due to being very anemic) as well as out of breath when i talk , which i might add because i am anemic, they had a very hard time finding a vein, but a nurse came along that only does IV's and she got it first try, i had to praise her for such a good job, as you hear so many people who get poked so many times its not funny. God puts a gift into people like that, i also hope i can be a good patient to them as well as a witness.
Friday i still will be going to wpg as of now for a broncoscopy where they'll take a bioptsy of the lung via my throat, unless they have results back from today's bioptsy, now that this one went over so well i'm thinking this bioptsy will be worse, but hey that's what i thought of today's and on pain/ discomfort level i gave it a .5/10 so absolutely nothing to complain about, and with care like i received and just the peace of knowing i've got one huge army of praying partners out there it, you just would not believe how peacefull i was, continue praying as the toughest may yet be to come, still staying optamistic as i know God works in mysterious ways, diane
p.s. sorry if i don't get to personally respond to emails but still appreciate receiving them
if you know of anyone who'd like to receive my journey i'd be happy to add them to my contacts

Aug 21, 2009


hi! i got the call i didn't have to come in today (friday) for the second bioptsy as they had good enough results from the first bioptsy done on wed. The doc called to confirm my lung mass is Cancer, but what type or what stage etc. they didn't have results for that as of yet, so i am now waiting to hear from Cancer care to call us in and give us the scoup on what type, stage or whatever they all do, i'm assuming plan out a schedule for chemo and radiation treatments, this is a new road for us to take once again.
On tues i go in for a CT scan on my brain, not sure what for but they seem to do that, maybe to make sure i still have one lol. then on the 3rd. of Sept i go in to HSC for a couple bone scans, the first one is at 8:15 which means leaving mighty early.
Today i am starting on warfaron, (sp?) a blood thinner which is to help disolve my blood clots so i'm in to portage mon. am to get blood work done once again to see how it is working, then call the doc to see if we need to change the dose. I'd assume i'll have to go in every couple days for that, not sure if i'll have any blood left or even have any veins left by the end of all these tests.
I am so thankfull to have such energenic parents to help with my garden, as cucs need picking and canning, tomatoes are ripening etc. etc. i hope i don't overtire them, my dad weeded my whole garden yesterday so that is super, and trying to catch some silly mole who's decided my garden is a great spot to call home. Jodiene also has been one incredibly big help, doing things i can't, and learning to do things she sees need doing, God knew i needed her not to have a job yet, she is taking an interior decorating course so this is something she can do from home, this is something she's wanted to do for years and finally made the decision to go ahead, so i'm glad she's got something to focus on, as well as we have started exercising together, i can't do much, but we go for about two min for now and will hopefully be able to work our way up. i'm hoping this will help strengthen my lungs, as right now just getting dressed in the morning makes me winded, so i have to sit for a while to get myself together, so everything i do is little things at a time, but i will not give up.
anyway, that should do it for today's babbling, as you notice i tend to do that a lot, but for me since i find it hard to speak most times because of lack of oxygen, i know i can use my fingers to do the talking and believe it to be very therapeutic, and as most of you know i don't tend to talk much anyway, i have soaked up a lot though, this is my way of talking. thanks for listening, and continue to pray for us as we still don't know how difficult the road ahead will be. diane
p.s while i'm at it, i'd like to ask a couple more prayer requests, if you have some to add, just email me and i'll add them to in my list so we have many more people praying doesn't matter how big or even small you may think it may be, God hears our prayers.
1. Savannah - our "adopted" daughter who is taking this quite hard as she lost her mom just two years ago, and she's afraid to lose me her second mom.
2. Darlene - my neighbor who is having pancreatic surgery on the 25th. of Aug.
3. Ed - my neighbor who will have a Kidney removed
4. Sharon - waiting for a liver transplant

Aug 26, 2009

hi! as we go through the options of what would could be the best route to go, i come up with three options
option #1: herbal: i personally have seen and believe it to heal cancer - my sis had cancer kinda forget how long ago, may be close to ten years, i still have her in my life, so thankfull
option #2: faith healing - i also have heard and believe it to heal - my mom's cousin's husband just a couple months ago, was at death's door, his wife lay hands on him, and send the illness from him, he is home and doing so much better a true miracle.
option #3: Medical: i also know and believe personally that by ways of modern medicines, that one can be cured of cancer - my mom had ovarian cancer 15 years ago, her cancer was contained and was taken out and is so far cancer free.

We at this time have decided to go with Chemo and Radiation treatments, we believe that in all three options God is in control and he has given each person a gift to help and heal others. herbalists the knowledge to come up with natural cures/healing, as well as God has given the people who do research a gift as well to come up with cures in different areas, and we also know that there are many people around us who have beat Cancer by taking Chemo and Radiation, i'm not saying its going to be an easy route or that my case is going to be easy, as i have to be realistic the way the cancer is in my body, it does not look good, but i have given it all to the Lord to take care of, should it be my time to come home to heaven, i am ready.
How i had written this email up in my head and how it came down here is so different, i hope it still makes sense.
I want to thank everyone who has come to visit, i don't want to be impolite but if you could call first before coming, my family can tell you if we already have company, or are expecting some .some days i have been overcome by visitors, they have been coming not all at once but right after the other, which really tired me out, by the time the last one had left. but don't have the heart to send anyone away, as i love your visits. I ask that when you come or even if you'd like to email , come with encouragement, something uplifting, a portion of scripture ( staying positive is the key to recovery) or even a song ( i tend to sing myself to sleep each night - i find it helps slow my heart beat,( it tends to be 120 ish most afternoons into the night,and takes hrs. to slow down enough to fall asleep) i can't sing out loud as i would cough and make things worse, but have songs going through my head that i mouth the words too, i also hear Janae's songs as she goes to sleep which help as well. Some people feel that one needs to also dwell on death, ( death is reality and yes i have thought of it, and know that i could possibly die, but know i am ready, if it is my time to go i will go to heaven, when one goes through something like this one does think of death, and it doesn't have to be a horrid scarry thing especially if you are ready, i can feel at peace about death but i will right now put my focus on life and positive things to get us through this time. not sure if that all came out right, but i think you get behind it.
I also wanted to add we have been blessed with food from friends and family, and we are having a hard time catching up with desserts, i've put them in the freezer so we can eat them once one runs out. i have made a variety of meals already that are ready in the freezer for those unknown days and to help jodiene, and jodiene & Janae have made things as well for the freezer so right as now we are ok with meals as well. My sis is coming to spoil me today, look forward to that as we hadn't seen each other since beginning of July.
I do have something that if anyone can help out with that would be great - i am now finished with pickling cucs - they were picked yesterday (tues) if anyone has a need for cucs wether for relish or dills etc. etc. ( i do have two types long english type as well as a non prickly cuc perfect for picking, esp. if you hate prickly cucs) and i do have dill if you need that to go with, please call and come pick, i also have an abundance of beets if anyone would like those, they are ready to pick as well, i have enough for this year as well. if you want or need some just say the word,

yesterday i went for the brain scan, CT scan went well, IV needle went in wonderfully on first try whew, but we didn't end up holding it tight long enough so i do have some bruising, they took one scan without dye then put in two bottles of dye then did another set of scans, i'm not sure if there are side effects from the dye as last night i must've had a fever and my skin is kinda itchy this morn, i'm sure that'll go away. Your prayers encouraging words, support is so much appreciated, love diane, will & kids
p.s. didn't realize till now how much i babbled once again to you, anyway some of my thoughts, if you don't wish to recieve my babbling that's ok, just let me know

Aug 27, 2009

hi! an email i received this morning reminded me of what i actually could have done - the first sunday when i let everyone know of my sistuation and opened up and asked for prayer and i told Will i don't want any company, i just am not a people person.
and as each one of the company came that day, i was being lifted up . i realized that before i would probably have clammed myself into a little ball and felt shared any of my ails, fears, ups or downs etc. As most of you know i am not a talker, except for one on one, groups just don't happen at all. anyway, God has given gifts to all those makers of computers and programmers etc. etc. so that i can "talk" my way through my difficult times and have so many people who i can be in contact with help heal through thoughts and prayers. Many don't understand this "new" technology but i am more and more amazed by its healing powers.
I got the call yesterday from Cancer care yesterday so we are back in wpg. wed. Sept 2 at 9:00 am for blood work and x rays, then 10:00 to see a Dr. Harding and 11:00 a Dr. Chow----- can't remember the last part of his spelling. so we are making progress and the wait is now narrowing, not sure if we'll stay in the city for the next days tests or come home, i guess depends on how long things take on wed. as Thurs i have to be back in wpg. HSC at 8:15 am and then again at 10:15 for a bone scan, my sis Shirl will keep janae for the day and night, so she'll be excited about that, first time for her for a sleep over there, but i'm sure she'll do fine. Janae met the new school bus driver yesterday and thinks he's scarry and doesn't want to go now to school, so we will need to work on that, pray for her to adjust to a new bus driver, as well as a new to her teacher at school (school starts Sept 9 here) i'm sure he'll be wonderful once she gets to know him a Mr. Sheppard from MacG.
anyway, thanks for your prayers, i'm sure you guys must've been singing & praying last night as i didn't even make it through my first song, i was asleep and had a restfull sleep. you guys have no idea how much i appreciate each and every one of you. love you so much, diane

darlene's surgery went well, they did have to take more of the pancreas than they would have liked, but she is recovering possibly in hosp for up to 10 days, i know bruce & darlene appreciate all the extra prayers for them as well
- Ed Wiebe- surgery hopefully in Sept on a kidney
- Sharon Isbister - waiting for a liver transplant, which hopefully one can be done very soon

Aug. 31, 2009
God if i don't get anything else done today, i want to know you more Love you better. God didn't put me here on this earth to work on just to fulfil a to do list. He's more interested in what I am than in what i do or can do.
Although this last week i've been feeling frustrated at the inability to help out at home, then it hit me i could still mow the lawn, it requires sitting on a ride on lawn mower, just plain sitting there,(good time to think and cry too) wow, that made me feel alive once more to find something i actually could do. seemed for a while that all i could do is walk from one spot sit down, get up after a rest move to the next, so now i'm excited i just need to find things that i can do where i am, i can sit at the table chop veggies,etc. etc. as this week progresses i'm sure i'll find so many more things i can do, which is wonderful.
So you may kinda think well that top line how does that relate to the second part, well there are moments, and hrs. and even days where one doesn't accomplish anything, and even just to make time to do be able to spend it with God, leaving a part of our day blank, just to be able to sit, read his word, pray, listen to his music, and to feel his power and love surround us is incredible. try it sometime, don't be afraid to not get anything done, spend it with him.
yesterday after my short mow, i came in and asked Janae if she wanted me to come along with her & Jodiene to the dentist, she comes sits down beside me, puts her little arm over my shoulder and says well mom, sure if you really want to, she's so adorable. i went along of course and well she didn't get her teeth pulled as we had hoped, but the doc that was there, did an excellent way of explaining why it was important to keep them. so squishy teeth are in for a long while.
Today i go for blood work and then see my doc here in Portage. Tomorro is one of those more scarier days, although i said to Will, no matter how many days, months the docs say they typically have for patients like me, i said the Lord he's the one who knows if i have months, or even years left to live. The doctors will do their best and the Lord will do the rest. Pray for us tomorro as we get results from the two docs. we will probably stay in the city for the night as we have to be back in at 8:15 thursday am. for the bone scans, and we are hoping to go see Darlene Sawatzky tomorro afternoon.
Friday i will go back in for more blood work that's back in portage so not so far to drive. I will ask if i can take my treatments in portage, as wpg. for us is a good 1 1/2 hr. drive to the hospital (one way) plus one needs to go earlier so one can find parking etc.
and if anyone's been there, go down this hall, then go here then go up this elevator turn and go down this hall, so many walks ( i now have a wheel chair courtesy of my cousins which hubby will wheel me around so i can make it to all the testing stations not winded, unless he's one of those ah.... yipes drivers lol.) although i must add cancer care is on a level floor and i don't assume too much walking involved there, just all the other things that need doing, visiting, blood work, x rays.
I also wanted to add, we as a family as just so blessed to have a such a huge group of support, we are blessed to have so many families supporting us via email, facebook, family and friends and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful support group in our home church, i never realized what an incredible support group our church family is, and in all ages, it just shows us the Love that our church family has not only for Him, but for each person , i hope each one who goes through any difficult time and in one's joyous times in their lives can have such a wonderful support group, i know we do. thanks again
In Happy moments - praise God
in diffucult moments - seek God
in Quiet moments - worship God
in Painful moments - Trust God
in Every Moment - Thank God
Anyway, Janae is up and needing breakfast, so i shall sign off, probably won't be posting till at least friday, maybe even sat. thanks for all your prayers, i can feel the peace that each prayer gives, and thank you for taking the time out of your day to give him thanks.