On October 7th, 2016 I got THE phone call. I was sitting at Chick Fil A, watching my 3 and 6 year old play in the play area, while trying to appease my one year old who had run out of milk (imagine!). Dr. John Cox called (brother of Charles Cox who started the Moffitt Breast Center and trained many of the surgeons there!). "I have bad news." I knew right then that I had breast cancer, but I wasn't surprised. How many rare and random diagnosis have I been given in my life . . . 6-8? Who can keep track of these things? Though breast cancer is common, it is extremely uncommon in women under 40 who DO NOT have the genetic mutation that predisposes one to the disease. I DO NOT have the genetic mutation. I am 35. I've had 3 kids (which supposedly reduces your risk of breast cancer). I have not taken any type of hormones in medications for more than a total of 3 years. I am considered low risk, yet I was not surprised. Had God prepared me for this moment? I didn't feel shaken. This definitely wasn't my own strength. Dr. Cox continued, "I'm so sorry. It'll be okay. We will get through it." I answered "Okay thank you." Dr. Cox seemed surprised by my gratitude. "No, thank you," he responded. I could tell he sincerely cared.
Backing up a little, I had stopped breastfeeding Cale when he was 13 months old. A month later I went to an appointment with the ob/gyn and asked about a seemingly clogged milk duct that "won't clear up even though I stopped nursing." This was followed by a nonurgent mamogram 3 weeks later, then a very urgent biopsy with Dr. John Cox less than a week later, which he got me in so quickly due to nudging from his wife who happens to work with my ob/gyn (God is so good). Dr. Cox performed a biopsy with an instrument that sounded like a mini-jack hammer. After multiple stabs there was enough tissue to test. This lead to the aforementioned Chick-fil-A phone call. That lead to a discussion for what type of surgery I would need. Its ironic watching your kids run up and down the hallway laughing in the same office where you are discussing treatments with major surgeries and life-threatening diseases, but only if you think about it. Life goes on. Life goes on but life might not be the same, at least for a while. And I will definitely not be the same. Surgery is scheduled for November 17th. Large amounts of blood vessels and nerves will be removed from my body. It feels strange discussing the risks and benefits of cutting out more or less from my body. This body was created by God. This body has done miraculous things (like carry 3 boys to term), that it wasn't supposed to do according to my kidney specialist. But God knew it would change now. This was still part of his plan. We just need to trust him. I just need to trust him. Isn't it miraculous that this didn't come up until I was finished breastfeeding all of my kids? I'll end for today on that note :).
