A Dusting of the Cobwebs: Cancer in the lung

A Dusting of the Cobwebs....

welcome to my blog!
...allow me a brief introduction...

In a reacent conversation with my daughter, her questions were why I, and her Dad were so quiet about our lifes? Meaning writing or telling about our own personal historys.

I didn't think there was anything important to write about. As I was just a normal person, getting up in the morning and getting the day started, getting kids off to school, or meeting schedules of the whole family, cleaning house, and landry. Keeping little ones busy, and changing diapers, comming home fixing dinner, helping with homework, putting kids to bed, watch some news, go to bed. And then do it all over again the next day. Then some days was teaching lessons in Primary, RS, MIA, Sundayschool, cub scouts, or helping at schools, ect. Family home evening, Visiting teaching, and even some Home teaching and being the family schaefer. most of the time we had one car, 6 kids, one working husband. Oh yes, the multi years of music lessons, and baseball teams, coaching, and even one major jumproap champion, for one daughter.

We had trials too. some were very hard, just thinking about a single memory of losing our son, brings tears. But we are told that this life is to meet trials, and how we handle them will be for our own eternal growth.

A very wise Stake President, President Alred, once said "We are here to be schooled in the principles of eternity. We will work by the sweat of our brow, to work our way through this life... But remember we are here to be schooled in the principles of eternity."

So, I welcome you to my blog. Please feel free to stay and go as you please, and wander where you wish. And, as always, feel comfortable in sharing those stories that you may feel are just "an every day" thing as well...

Apr 20, 2019

Cancer in the lung

March 23 2019

Not getting any answers why I was having so much pain in my left side, just above my hip.. I called Pauli and told her I needed to go to the ER at the Hospital in Tooele, as I was not getting any answers as to why the pain.
I was seen by a smart Dr who saw something he must have reconized, for he on his own with my permission, called the University of Utah and had my information added to the Pulmonary unit there, which was also housed at Huntsman Hospital.

After many skans and test, I was informed, that I had a 2inch cancer tumor inside the bottom of my left lung. My lung is just above my diafram, or sits on it, and was causing it to be irritated, it was the pain I was feeling. The Surgeon said that when you have cancer in or of the lung, you don't feel it, and it also goes straight to the brain... so they gave me a brain skan.. No cancer.. next they needed to check my lymph nodes inside my lung to see if any cancer was in any of those... No cancer. They think the cancer is contained.

I have met with my chemo Dr. and also my Surgeon. The plan for me is to have six weeks of chemo before having surgery, hoping to shrink the tumor before having surgery.

When I was set-apart by the Temple President He blessed me to have Good health, Pauli said that He ordered me to have good health, among other things. I have also had two Priesthood blessing telling me I would have good health. Later in one of the blessings I was told I could choose to stay or to go...

April 2 2019
I will be starting chemo on Monday, April 8th. The Chemo is not as strong as the one I had before, and I might keep my hair.
Another blessing I have is that Pauli has arranged for each of my kids, except for Jennifer who lives in Arizona, to take turns driving me to Huntsman's, for its a day long process. This way I have a captive child of mine that I can catch up on what is happening in their lives...nice!

When you think about it, I have been given a great blessing. No cancer in the brain or in the lymph nodes. Making it possible to be cured, with chemo and surgery. Living in a Ward that cares about me, and the best neighbors the Grua's in the whole world. My daughter Pauli who dropped everything to help me, drive me to Huntsman, and make arrangements and keeping family, ward members, neighbors, who requested updates, and being the main contact between Huntsman and myself.

If I had not fallen last Sept. I would not have known about the cancer in my lung. Pauli said that as I was on my way to work at the Temple, a Angel stuck out his foot and tripped me.... That's how I found out I had cancer.

I know dealing with cancer can be extremely frightening, as its mostly a death sentience, but looking at all the information I have, I am being blessed greatly. Yes I will have things I have to face, but it does have a great outlook.

A Dusting of the Cobwebs