Hi!

You heard it here first!

My husband, father, mother, sister and grandmother all traveled to Duke yesterday to hear the results of my MRI. I'll get to that part later, about the experience of spending the day with my family....

But on to the exciting stuff.

There was no obvious growth of the tumor, which, I guess, was a concern of the doctor's from the beginning. So, if you define miracles as when something bad doesn't happen though it was expected, chalk up one miracle. (I am counting it as a miracle myself).

The swelling has decreased markedly around my stem even though my steroid dosage has decreased. If the tumor was thriving, the swelling would not decrease and I would have to stay on a high steroid dosage. But I have decreased my dosage by more than half and the swelling is minor right now. Another MIRACLE.

The tumor is still there and has not decreased in size,as far as the doctor's can tell. It is possible (probable I think) that it is shrinking and will just take some time to show up on the scan. 

I am going to consider this a MIRACLE on the way. I believe God has already healed me. Sometimes His answer is wait because He has a better plan in mind. There are still lessons for me to learn through all of this. One thing I have learned is that if I rush ahead of where God is, I will miss what He has for me. And I may miss what He has for me to give to those around me.

So, while I am sick to death of being impeded; not being able to drive, not being able to hear properly, having weakness when I walk, I am praying that I won't run ahead of where God is waiting to teach me something.

I am not too good at this. I like to plan ahead, be prepared for any situation. I get too caught up in my lists and I forget to look around me and learn from the present. I guess God is giving me another chance to learn this lesson.

I will have a follow up MRI in two months to see what progress has been made. I'll have an MRI every two months for a year to see what is happening. If my symptoms return or if the MRI shows the tumor is growing, chemotherapy is the next option. I believe that won't be necessary. I will also, God willing, be weaned off the steroids in a month!

So there is a lot to celebrate!!!!!

My faith has been bolstered by all the prayers that have been prayed on my behalf. It's like there was a huge snowstorn, 20 inches fell in a day. I needed to walk through that snow to get to my house. So, hundreds of people came out with shovels and cleared a path for me. Some people I knew, some I didn't, but everyone was united in a common goal, to shovel a path just for me so I could get home. I didn't have to do anything except walk. And the path was completely clear as I walked home. I saw the snow piled high on each side of me. Sometimes it was so high I was afraid it would cave in on me, but there was always someone standing between me and the snow wall, protecting me from everything. It seems my part was the easiest. I just had to walk. God sent the shovelers and then He took my hand and led me through the valley.

I know this is not over yet, but God has been so good to me that I can't help but know that His favor won't stop now.

I'll post my other mumblings about events that surrounded my doctor's visit in another blog.

Tearfully joyous,

Elyse