March 25, 2025

 Biopsy got scheduled for March 25, 2025. While a week after the diagnostic exam may sound like a long time to wait, in the medical field it might as well have been an instant turnaround. 

During all these diagnoses and appointments, my nephew that was living with us at the time, was in the process of purchasing his first home. So while some moments were doom and gloom momentarily (I say that because I can't live in that mentality for very long.) it was also an exciting and stressful time helping him navigate thru the home buying process. The needed documents signed, forms to be filled out, delays, deposits, not to mention they (him, his wife and their baby, aka my grandbaby) have lived with us for 2 years and came with their clothes and that was all.... they needed stuff for their home. Shopping, thrifting, cleaning out our stuff to see what we could give them...  So it's been an exciting, stressful, emotional couple of months around here. There were MANY prayers to let things fall into place for him and us so that we could help the youngens as much as possible. Praise the Lord it all worked out and they have successfully moved into their first home! Close enough we can still help each other, but far enough away that my baby girl won't be walking to her Mimi & PawPaw's house....

Nathan had his follow up from his procedure and they sent that off to have further testing done.. not heard anything back from that yet but praying that it's nothing more to be concerned with. During the week in between the diagnostic exam and the biopsy there wasn't much else going on other than the above and a lot of praying. A LOT OF PRAYING. 

 So, March 25 arrives and Nathan has to have me at the clinic by 9:00am. We arrive on time, a little early but still... If you know me, I'm gonna be early no matter what. They call me back and once again, Nathan has to sit in the waiting area while I go back. Back to the small waiting room with the changing area and the nifty half length, front open gowns. I have a small amount of wait time but not enough for any anxiety or nervousness to build up. Then it's my turn to go to the procedure room. It's cold and not well lit. Computers and equipment with blue-light so the lights need to be dim and room cool to not overheat the machines. 

I'm going to pause here and divulge some emotions. There have been 2 times in my adult life that I have felt like a child and just simply wanted my mommy. For comfort, to tell me everything is going to be ok. Neither time was she there. The first was 10 years ago when I had to have a hysterectomy and she hadn't made it to the hospital before they took me back. I can't recall now if she was in town yet or not, which could have been the reason why. The second time was during this biopsy, which she really couldn't get a day pass from Heaven to be here. During the biopsy, there were tears, not sobbing, but running down my face as I lay there in the most awkward position and in pain, just wishing she was there with me. The pain I was in had nothing to do with the procedure but just because my body hates me. I had to lay on my left side, right arm up over my head, slightly twisted. As I mentioned before, left arm goes to sleep, right arm numbing pain, add that with rods and pins in my back, I don't really twist. Nonetheless, this was the position I had to be in for this procedure.

Back to the procedure itself... this was an ultrasound guided biopsy. That means they watch the needle on the ultrasound machine to guide it to the tumor (and later the lymph node). I did watch the actual procedure on the ultrasound screen. It was actually pretty neat. To hear the click of the device taking the sample and watching it happen on screen was interesting. They took multiple samples of the boobie bump and of the lymph node under my arm. It actually wasn't terrible, I think my emotions were from realizing that I was actually having to go thru this because, despite nothing being confirmed on paper yet, I already knew the outcome. 

During the biopsy of the boobie bump, they add a couple of butterfly clips to mark the area biopsied. They do this so that if the test result came back benign, on future mammograms, the staff would know that spot is pre-existing and previously tested with no concerns. This needs to be noted because should there be a need for an MRI, the techs need to know that information.

After the procedure, the only part that was excessively sore was the underarm. Otherwise, I had no adverse reactions or issues. Obviously there was more waiting to follow until test results come. 

As I opened my Daily Prayer book the next morning, once again, the message was appropriate... 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all out afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

I know that verse is kinda wordy, but basically it says Tough times are temporary but God's love is not. Everyone faces tough times and when they arrive, God will always be there to comfort us, protect us and heal us. When these times arise, look up, pray about it and seek God for help. He will never forsake us.