7-18-2007

Last Friday, I went to U of M for a second opinion on why the PET scan lite up, but all the other test are negative. I met with Dr. Prince, I have seen him before...really nice guy. Well, verdict....he is puzzeled too. He did explain that PET scan is a new technology, and the Dr. don't know all the answers to puzzeling questions like mine. Years ago, I would have had a CT and maybe MRI and they would have said....you have a negative exam. But, today we have the latest technology able to detect better, but can be somewhat misleading if there is not a lot of research on the machine. I am just believing that my scan was a fluke...whether it was a muscle spasm, radiation changes, inflammation or infection. It is my prayer that my next PET scan will be just absolutely clear... with no questions or doubts. Medicine is not perfect.....the human body is an amazing machine and can do funny things.........we will see. One step at a time. The plan is to have another PET scan in three weeks or so. If the area lights up again, Dr. Prince wants to do a biopsy again :(......... That I will not look forward to since the last one took six weeks to recover from. But, what to do....just do it and move forward. If the PET scan is clear, probably another scan in six months? I will follow up with Dr. Postma and U of M (8-31-07).

God has continued to blanket me with peace. He has made me wait patiently with a hopeful heart. He has blessed me with two little munchkins that keep me so busy it's hard to think about myself. I am encouraged and I am thankful for good medicine, doctors, friends and family.

Pray for a clear PET scan in the upcoming weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Lisa

7-3-07

Dear Friends,
How sorry I am to not have updated more recently. I have been busy with the girls and Dr. appointments and phone calls. I think the last I wrote was that my next test was an MRI June 16. Well, they did not see any masses, they did see areas of inflammation that most likely correlate with the biopsies. Dr. Postma said, "it's a relatively clean MRI." Many Dr.'s are puzzeled why the area lit up on the back of my tongue- every test so far has proven to be negative. He did say I could have had some inflammation there or a muscle spasm.

I have decided to take all my records, reports and scans back to U of M for them to take a peek as well, just to make sure everyone agrees with what is going on. What's a ride to U of M? No big deal. I will go there July 13 to see an ENT, one I have seen in the past-nice guy. I am still taking antibiotics to keep the bacteria down in my mouth so the biopsy sites can heal. It's been six weeks and just in the past couple days I am off the Motrin. To be quite honest, this biopsy recovery has been worse than my seven weeks of radiation and chemo. I am hanging in there though. I have probably dropped a few more pounds since eating has been difficult.

Lately, the weather has been just beautiful. I awake to the sunshine on my face and every morning I say, "God, thank you, thank you for another day." I am so thankful for the two beautiful love bugs he gave me. We are having a blast. Alexa is at such a fun age that now we can start talking about "life"...."God". We have had a lot of heart to hearts lately. It is amazing how children just simply have total faith and trust. We are all to have that "child like faith". She is helping me.

Well, praise God this anniversary I am not lying in a bed getting chemo. Yes, Ray and I celebrate 8 years of marriage today. Unfortunately, he is with another woman tonight.........he promised Lexy to take her fishing!!! They were both so exicited they could hardly stand it. I will have to take a rain check for a date out with him.

I have a lot of peace and stillness inside. God has really wrapped His arms around me. Now, I ponder what is it God, you want me to do with my experience. I am praying to know that answer.

I hope my next update will be great news from U of M and I hope it won't take me forever to share the news!!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support,
Lisa