My mother had not been to a doctor since I was born twenty-four years before this. She had not had a pap-smear in ages or even a physical. Overall her health was always great. Never one to just sit and do nothing, even at 63 she was probably in most aspects, in better shape than myself.

So this news was completely out of left field. My mother had been having adominal pain for sometime, along with the fact that it was difficult for her to sleep and eat. For sometime she threw these symptoms to the back of her mind and would tell us she would get better, that it was just a virus. After her stomach had swollen to the size of a woman who could have easily been eight months pregnant she went to a local family doctor. The doctor ordered a ct scan and sent her home to wait. Although he had done bloodwork, he had made no mention of cancer or abnormalities. On returning for the ct results she was told she had a mass about the size of a grapefruit on her left ovary. I'll mention now that he was still not noting any abnormalities in her blood nor did he mention the fact that she had a lot of fluid in her abdomen. They made her an appoinment with an ob and a general surgeon to remove the mass. At this time they were still telling her the mass could be benign. When my mother finally got an appointment with the ob it was around January, at this time she was told she did have ovarian cancer and that they planned to do a complete hysterectomy and they would be removing the fluid that had collected in her abdomen. I'll mention now that my mother was told that she had advance cancer that had spread beyond the ovaries. Why she or how it came to be that she never shared that with us I still don't understand. But at any rate we were never told. My four brothers, father and myself were still under the impression that it was still contained to the one ovary and that during surgery it would be removed and all would be downhill from there.

She was scheduled for surgery the morning of Febuary 7, 2007. The surgery was supposed to only last four hours. We were all there awaiting to hear from her doctors in four hours that all was well and she was on the road to recovery. As the nurse called out our last name my father and I headed for the discussion area to speak with her ob. We sat in that room in dead silence for what seemed like forever before he walked in. I knew immediately things weren't as we had hoped. His face told the story of a man who was about to give us the worse news ever. He said that he hated to inform us that the cancer was literally everywhere. That if we could imagine someone turning over a box of oatmeal inside of her then we might get a clearer picture of what he had seen.

The cancer was a level 3c and that they had given her a colostophy bag cause of two small tumors on her colon that they were trying to avoid anything irritating. At this point I was spouting out every question that came to mind and Dr. Dean was very considerate and tried his best to answer every question to the best and fullest of his ability. They were going to give her a mediport under her rib cage that would shoot the chemo directly onto the tumors.

So back to the waiting room we went to tell our family members who were anxiously awaiting our news. Their reaction was much the same as ours; we were all devastated. As we sat there wondering why this had happened and what we were going to tell her thousands of things ran through our minds. We had come to the conclusion that we would avoid telling her the full details in hopes that if we only highlighted the positive she would keep in high spirits and fight this battle harder. Little did we know that she already knew and had chosen to deal with it on her own in hopes of not worrying us. I know that my mother had hidden the details from me cause I was pregnant and already having a hard time with premature labor and the babies' heart rate. I was due to deliver on March 3, but the plan had to be changed cause he was tachycardiac, I would be delivering February 22. I was so worried that she would not be there for this birth. As selfish and childish that I know that is, she had been there for every major event in my life and I would so miss her not being by my side to welcome this blessing. I knew her health was more important and her just being there to see him grow up was more important though so I pushed all that to the side and focused all my attention on her.

Three more hours passed as we awaited news from the general surgeons who would be preforming the colostophy surgery and the internal flushing of the fluid. Our names were called again and this time I chose to wait where I was at and allow my older brother to take my place. They returned after about fourty minutes with huge smiles. I already felt the wait of that bear easing off my back. They reported that Dr. Mckimmie and Dr. Brock had removed all the fluid and most of the cancer that was left. They had high hopes for her prognosis and I was thrilled to hear them say that.

It was a while longer before they allowed us to go in and see her in her room. When we walked in I remember just wanting to crawl into the bed next to her and hold her like she had done so many times for me when I was sick. That wasn't even possible had I actually tried. My mother was hooked to a morphine pump, there was a tube down her throat to suction all the vile out and so many needles and bags of this and that; only the doctors would be able to tell you what it all was. It was at this point that I was just baffled and grieve stricken. I wanted to help but didn't know what in the world I could for her.

By the next morning she was sitting up talking with us the best she could. She sat in a chair next to her bed and I gave her a bath. The next morning she was asking when she could walk and when she could eat. She is a fighter and was determined to go home. My mother spent less than a week in the hospital. At home she was doing great. I volunteered to take care of her in anyway she needed. Along with each and every family member we have. My sister-in-laws cooked and cleaned for her. We all bought things that we thought would make her more comfortable. I suppose the hardest part was taking care of the bag. She was unable to change it by herself at first and I tell you with a honest heart it didn't bother me to do it one bit. It was the least I could do. I wasn't great at it at first but we got the hang of it, with the help of an angel named Charlene who had taken care of her father who had colon cancer when he had his.

On Febuary 21st my mother was scheduled to see Dr.Dillmon, her oncologist, to discuss her chemo options and starting date. I was in the hospital in labor with my son, my husband left and met her, my father, and brothers at the oncologist office. Soon after that the babies heart rate dropped and I was rushed to an emergency c-section. My son was born healthy and in the presence of my wonderful mother who had made it after all. I have two other children but I tell you now that his birth was a precious moment for more reasons than one. My mother calls him her heart, I often time see her just staring at him and I know what she is thinking cause so many times I thought the same thing. We three share that bond and nothing that has or may happen will ever take that from us. Soon my mother started chemo and the treaments were literally trying to kill her. The mediport done just what they said it would do it sent the chemo straight to her tumors were it collected in her stomach and made her deathly ill for weeks. She was hospitalized for days after her second round and at this point she was ready to call it off and give up. Her oncologist decided to go another route and infuse her intravenously. This plan of action worked out well for her. The ca 125 level had come down from the 1200 range to around 140.

After all the rounds were done, her ca 125 level was down to 45. She had the bag taken off and the mediport taken out. While having the bag taken off and getting her colon put back together they discoverd that the cancer wasn't completly gone as they had hoped there was some residual and more chemo would be needed. Right now she has four rounds of chemo in again, she will be finshed in the spring. Today she found out her tumor count is down from 73 to 64, she had a ct scan and still some residual is there but other than that she is in perfect shape and on the road to remission. Its been a long hard battle but not nearly as bad as some people must suffer. We continue to pray that all will be done and over with this one day. As my mother would tell you herself all of this wasn't for nothing; we have met some very sick people along this journey and have been afforded the opportunity to pray for them that not only God heal them if He so chooses, but that He will enter their hearts and lives. That's my mother and so many members of my family's greatest joy, to share with others about Jesus and what he can and has done. I will be praying for all of you and your families. God is still into miracles and he can and will do one for us. I hope to write to you on here one day that my mother is cancer free, but if that day never comes I still know this; God has His loving arms around her and no matter the outcome He was there all the time.

Click here for Part Two