To say that God orchestrates the interweaving of people and places in a way no human mind can ever comprehend would be just about the biggest understatement possible. As we began to digest the doctor's news, a few trusted folks who have already walked this road began to emerge as sources of information and encouragers. We read books, searched the internet, asked lots of questions, prayed a lot, and scheduled a visit with a urologic surgeon at Duke University. Our initial appointment at Clinic 1G in Durham was this past Thursday.
Our prayer going into the appointment was that we would know without a doubt whether this was the surgeon we wanted performing such a delicate and potentially life-altering procedure. And, simply, that we would "like" him. Both were answered immediately. We liked his manner instantly. As he conducted the exam and patient interview, we became more and more convinced that he was indeed the right doc for this job. It's a rare combination, but Dr. Polascik possesses an unmistakable confidence without even a hint of arrogance.
The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, at Duke. It will be an open radical retropubic prostatectomy. How many times have I typed long and complicated procedure and disease names like that over the years and not batted an eye? It sure is different when the patient is your "one & only". We could have waited one more week and scheduled it for August 31, which will be our 25th wedding anniversary. No, thank you.
Please be praying for Charlie as he prepares for the surgery during these next few weeks. Also pray for me and the kids as we encourage him and make ourselves vulnerable by sharing this news with the other people in our lives. Also join us in asking God to keep the cancer confined within the prostate gland until it is completely removed. We won't know until pathology results are available one to two weeks after the surgery whether there was any spread outside the prostate or any involvement of lymph nodes. That is when we will know whether radiation or other follow-up treatments will be advised or not.
Needless to say, we are processing a lot right now. So far, we have felt an incredible peace that God still reigns and He still loves us deeply. Our community group is reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Amazing how so much of it dovetails with our current circumstances. We are truly blessed.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Deep Breath, Big Gulp
Some people start a blog because they're creative, expressive types and it's the perfect outlet. Others need something a little more concrete. The latter applies in our case.
If you're reading this, it's because we value the relationship we have with you and wanted you to be in the loop on what's going on in our family. Those who know Charlie well will find the humor in this: You could say the concrete event that got this blog started was Dave Ramsey. While taking Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" this winter, the FPU lesson on insurance led us to evaluate our life insurance policies. We decided to change the terms of our policy and shop for better rates, which then required a brief physical exam. The examiner came to the house one evening after work and took blood pressures, medical histories, blood samples, etc. No biggie, right? That's what we thought too, until we got the letter denying Charlie's coverage due to an elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen).
The instructions were to have his doctor check him out and declare him healthy so they could continue with issuing the new policy. The doctor was as dismayed by this formality as we were, but he consented to do a prostate biopsy to settle it once and for all. The biopsy was performed, tissues sent off to a pathologist, and a follow-up appointment made. On June 8, we returned to the urologist's office to get the "clearance" paperwork and be on our way. As much as a person preps himself for the potential of bad news in this situation, you never know for sure what your reaction will be until you actually hear the words, "The biopsy was positive. You have cancer."
Those are the opening lines to the current chapter God is writing for our lives.
If you're reading this, it's because we value the relationship we have with you and wanted you to be in the loop on what's going on in our family. Those who know Charlie well will find the humor in this: You could say the concrete event that got this blog started was Dave Ramsey. While taking Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" this winter, the FPU lesson on insurance led us to evaluate our life insurance policies. We decided to change the terms of our policy and shop for better rates, which then required a brief physical exam. The examiner came to the house one evening after work and took blood pressures, medical histories, blood samples, etc. No biggie, right? That's what we thought too, until we got the letter denying Charlie's coverage due to an elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen).
The instructions were to have his doctor check him out and declare him healthy so they could continue with issuing the new policy. The doctor was as dismayed by this formality as we were, but he consented to do a prostate biopsy to settle it once and for all. The biopsy was performed, tissues sent off to a pathologist, and a follow-up appointment made. On June 8, we returned to the urologist's office to get the "clearance" paperwork and be on our way. As much as a person preps himself for the potential of bad news in this situation, you never know for sure what your reaction will be until you actually hear the words, "The biopsy was positive. You have cancer."
Those are the opening lines to the current chapter God is writing for our lives.
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