It was Monday, April 15, tax day. I remember the day so vividly. I had been having stomach issues for some time and my family doctor suggested I go in for a CT scan. Within 24 hours I received a notification that my results were in MyChart. Expecting some crazy issue with my intestines, spleen or one of those lower organs, I never in my life imagined I would see the words "...right lower lobe irregular opacity suspicious for neoplasm. Follow-up chest CT is recommended". By April 17, 2 days later, I was back at the imaging center performing a CT scan of my lungs.
Less than 24 hours later I received another notification that my results were listed on my MyChart. Well, there it was in black and white..."Irregular right lower lobe lung lesion along the right hemidiaphragm is potentially a tumor or is potentially an inflammatory finding. Consider further evaluation with a PET scan".
For those of you who aren't aware, the movers were coming the very next day as I had bought a house near Wilmington NC and was moving from Virginia where I had been living for almost 56 years. News like this never comes at a good time but even worse because I was not only leaving all my friends and family behind but my doctors too. I was moving all alone to North Carolina. Still working with my doctors back in Virginia, they were able to find a PET scan appointment for Thursday, May 2. It was hard waiting a couple of weeks but I just felt like it had to be related to my 6 times contracting Covid and not a lung tumor. I held onto that for the 2 weeks I unpacked and settled into my new home.
On Thursday, after the PET scan, I left the Wilmington area and headed to Charleston to meet up with some of my sorority sisters for our annual girls weekend. Thank goodness for those wonderful women by my side! On Friday, May 3, my results were in. My worse fear was now reality. Not only was it confirmed that I have a tumor on my right lower lung but it has moved into a lymph node next to the tumor. My eyes swelled with tears, my heart sank, my body felt weak. I am just very grateful I was not alone. I had all 6 of them by my side to comfort me during one of my darkest hours. I called my family and shared the news.
On Sunday I returned back to my new home, alone, and as I reflected back on these past few weeks and months, I realized how blessed I have been. I didn't plan on moving this soon, nor to the Wilmington area, but for some reason I felt it was time and because of this, I now live in the best area for cancer treatment. I wouldn't have found the tumor if it wasn't for my stomach issues and the partial view of my lungs in that scan. But, most of all, I felt the overwhelming love and support of all my family and friends and I know, deep inside, that I am strong...I am a fighter. And I will fight hard to survive. So this is my new life, my new journey in life. I will get through this with grace, love, faith and hope. A little laughter along the way never hurts...
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed , for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
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