Kara is being prepped for surgery as I write this from the waiting room at Lakeland Regional Hospital. I’ve been trying to write an update for the past several days to let everyone know about Kara’s surgery ahead of time, but the words just wouldn’t come. It’s been such a whirlwind of appointments, and a rollercoaster of emotions. We met with one of the surgeons just a week and a half ago that left us with feelings I still don’t know how to write about. At another appointment last week, we got the date for today’s surgery, so if your head is spinning a little and you feel like you missed something, we feel all of that and more. After getting used to the steady, three week rhythm of chemo, it’s like whiplash to have things accelerate so quickly!
I’m finding it difficult to parse the appropriate level of detail to share about a topic that is normally so private. As such, most of the details we’ve been processing fall behind the veil of privacy, as modesty dictates. Yet we wish we could speak more plainly, since every woman or married couple walking this path will face many of the same difficulties, and would undoubtedly benefit from the conversation. But I realize that an update like this is not that conversation, so to those on a similar journey we extend a promise of our candor, and that will have to suffice.
Kara’s surgery today is the first of what will likely be three surgeries. Today’s surgery includes a lumpectomy to remove the remaining cancerous tumor as well as a few nearby lymph nodes, which will be tested for any trace of cancer. If any is detected in those lymph nodes, that would indicate that spread through the lymphatic system has occurred, which would alter our preferred treatment plan significantly by necessitating radiation therapy (which we are keen to avoid due to Kara’s age and the associated risk of it causing a secondary cancer later on).
Please pray with us that the surgeon is able to find and remove all the cancer. Pray that the lymph nodes will test negative. Pray for healing and a quick recovery from this surgery. Praise the Lord for His faithful presence throughout this trial. Praise Him for His church and the life-giving relationships He has blessed us with.
Thank you all for your love and care! I will try to post a quick update when she’s out of surgery.