Well, it has been forever since we last posted an update. It’s hard to find the words and share all that is going on. Orrin’s been very busy with church stuff and I have been in the trenches of homeschool and motherhood…which I am loving and so thankful for.
I have healed well from my first surgery. My surgeon had a hard time even finding the lump (it had shrunk about 80%), and all the lymph nodes they took out were clear as well as the surrounding tissue. This was a huge praise! There were, however, still active cancer cells left in the lump itself, which necessitated an adjustment in my treatment plan to a targeted therapy that contains some chemo and is a little more aggressive. So instead of a shot every 3 weeks, I have to go in for an IV. It takes longer than a shot, but is still less time than the chemo treatments. So far, I have thankfully noticed only minimal side effects from it.
This change also reset the one year clock, so I will continue these treatments until this December. This targeted therapy is for killing any microscopic, rogue cancer cells that are roaming throughout my body, and it gives me over a 90% chance that this cancer will not come back. So it is totally worth it, and I’m so thankful that this kind of medicine is available for me.
I was able to go into my normal doctor’s office and get a Vitamin C IV after the first couple rounds of my targeted therapy. I have not been able to continue that because of the cost but have been so thankful that God provided money from people here to be able to do that before.
As many of you who have followed our story know, I have chosen surgery over radiation. At my age, radiation poses an increased risk for causing cancer later in my life and that’s just not a risk I am willing to take at this point. So my other recommended option was a mastectomy with reconstruction in three separate surgeries. My first surgery in November was a lumpectomy and a lift in preparation for my mastectomy. That surgery allowed me to keep all parts intact. Next is the full mastectomy with temporary expanders, followed by a fairly minor third surgery to swap those out for the permanent implants. Three surgeries is a lot, but they said the outcomes are better this way than doing it all at once. (Sorry if that’s more than you wanted to know, but you’re reading an update about breast cancer, so that’s really on you!)
My next surgery is actually this Tuesday, February 20th. They say that the recovery shouldn’t be much worse than my last surgery but let me tell you that recovery was no picnic, so prayers are appreciated! Also emotionally this one is very different. This surgery is heavy in a lot of ways. It’s a heavy emotional weight, it has a major physical toll on my body, and it affects more than just me. I do not take this decision lightly and it has been one that has been weighing on us for a long time. I don’t want this but I trust that God will get me through.
I have wrestled a lot with what treatment path to take, but with a lot of prayer and seeking advice, I have peace in my decision. I’ve learned a lot from others and have made some lifestyle changes along the way. I am healthier now because of everything that I am doing and I am so thankful. I am willing to give whatever (in this case my breasts) to continue to be the wife and mom that God has called me to be.
Ways to pray:
Peace and wisdom as we continue on this journey
Healing after my surgery
There’s a high risk of losing all feeling/sensitivity. Pray that God would guide the surgeons’ hands to leave the nerves intact.
For Orrin and the girls as we walk this road of recovery yet again. (It’ll be hard once again to not be able to pick up Finley and hold her!)
Ways you can help:
Meal Train (please send an email to hello@walkwiththewitts.com if you'd like the information for this private page)
Door Dash gift cards
Monthly financial support. Living at a deficit with medical stuff going on has not been a good combination. God has been so good to provide in so many ways and we are so thankful.
Lastly, thank you to all of you who contributed to the purchase of our new van! We finally found one, and wanted to share a picture of it with you! We are so thankful and so humbled by the generosity of so many!
