Today is Bill and Wendy's 24th anniversary. Usually the four of us would be celebrating with a weekend trip or a nice dinner and a movie. Although we did catch a meal together last night, our spirits were a little more serious this year.
We are heading for NYC later today for Wendy's surgery. She will be having a mastectomy and involved lymph nodes removed tomorrow. After that she will need to travel back to her doctor once a week for a few weeks to have an expander adjusted to prepare for reconstruction in the fall. Once she heals from the surgery, in about a month, she will be having radiation five days a week for six weeks which will be taken care of locally. All this to say, she still has a long road ahead. When the tumor is removed tomorrow it will be tested to see what effect the chemotherapy had. There wasn't much physical change to the tumor at the end of her treatments, but we are expecting the cells to be eradicated from the tumor and lymphs.
On a good note, Wendy is very happy that she has a five o'clock shadow on her little head!!!! It won't be long and she can retire her wig, hats and scarves. Just in time for summer sun.
One thing that people keep telling Wendy is that she is brave. She is forever telling me that she finds that ironic because she feels like such a chicken. As far as I am concerned bravery isn't being fearless, it is facing our fears in quiet confidence, knowing that our lives are in God's hands and that He is the author and finisher of our Faith. I can assure you all, that Wendy has been and continues to do just that. Battling this disease has increased her trust and faith and caused her to take stock of what is important and everlasting in our lives. It's not that she doesn't struggle.....who wouldn't. But at the end of those times, she always comes back around to putting her trust in God.
We are only housed in our bodies for a time and can hope that they serve us well. Wendy has birthed and nourished ten children and that will always be her eternal reward. Right now her body is not cooperating very well......lol, but she is doing what she needs to in order to get it to behave again.
Anyway, I will update after the surgery to keep you all informed. In the meantime, continue to keep her in your prayers.
~Lauri~
praying continually for Wendy and seeing her be so very real it is such a gift to know her and see God working and touching many lives through all of this journey that she is never walking it alone, she inspires me more than she will ever know God Bless her and keep her wrapped ever so close in your loving arms
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