Well, friends, I moved to Austin two months ago, and life has been more adventurous than ever. Most of you know that my little sister died three weeks after I got here. Once again I have bad news. I found out today that I have breast cancer. I don’t really know any details at this point. I’m going to see a surgeon tomorrow who should be able to tell me
more.

Here’s what I do know right now. God isn’t finished using me. Cancer or no cancer, I can’t go Home yet. While I wait for Him to finish the work He’s begun in me, He covers me with grace and peace beyond understanding.

Thanks for praying.

Melody

“But as for me, I will always have hope” (Psalm 71:14).

Alright, who’s praying? I’ve got joy all over me.

I need to clarify some things from Update 1.

I used a lot of medical jargon that I didn’t explain. Sorry. The lumpectomy was a surgical procedure to remove the lump and the surrounding tissue (“margins”). A lymph node biopsy involved surgically removing several lymph nodes from right underneath my arm. The lump and the surrounding tissue went to the lab along with the lymph nodes. I’m still waiting for test results (the pathology report) to know if the margins or the lymph nodes have any cancer cells in them. That information is what the doctor uses to “stage” the cancer. Regardless of the results, I really feel like my chances of survival at this point are, oh, about 100%. I’m just waiting for the test results to tell me how hard of a journey I have ahead of me.

Please don’t think that because I’m not asking people to pray for healing I’m not expecting it. I’m asking people to pray that I’ll know God loves me because I think that’s more important. Some have asked if the doctor has given me a life expectancy. He hasn’t. I’m expecting to live for a few more decades. My future may be harder than I would have chosen, but I know God isn’t finished with this body. He still has plans for me.

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever–do not abandon the works of your hands” (Ps 138:8).

See how everything else is centered around His love? If you’re really confused about how to pray for me now, you can borrow Crystal’s prayer. I’m sure she won’t mind.

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of your plan Lord, I fall to my knees and pray to you Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from your glorious, unlimited resources You will give Melody mighty inner strength through Your Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in her heart as she trusts in you. May Melody’s roots go down deep into the soil of your marvelous love. And may she have the power to understand as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep your love for her really is. May Melody experience the Love of Christ, though it is so great that she will never fully understand it. Then she will be filled with the fullness of LIFE and POWER that comes from you God. Now! glory be to You God! By your mighty power at work within Melody, You are able to accomplish infinitely more than she would ever dare to ask or hope. May You be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through her endless generations!” (Based on Ephesians 3:14-21)

I’ve dared to ask and hope for some amazing things. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Melody

It’s been a wild week. Monday was my birthday (thank you to those who celebrated with me). Tuesday I met my radiation and medical (chemo) oncologists. Wednesday I had my pre-op appointment. Thursday I had an MRI. And Friday I met with my surgeon.

All the doctors agree that I need chemo followed by radiation treatments. The surgeon will put in a port (catheter just under the skin, near my collar bone) for the chemo during my next surgery.

I will also take a fairly new drug called Herceptin for a year or so because I am “Her 2 overexpressed/amplified.” I have no idea what that means. It used to mean that my cure rate would be lower than the 80% of breast cancer patients who are not Her 2. But with the use of Herceptin, now my cure rate will be higher than the other 80%. Thank You, God, for Herceptin!

I got a little bad news this week, too. The MRI showed a suspicious something on my left breast–we’ve been working on the right. My second surgery is now postponed pending the results of the yet-to-be-scheduled biopsy. So for the next few days I will wait and rest and enjoy using my right arm again.

Thanks for waiting with me,

Melody

“The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Ps 147:11).

I’m amazed at the friends God has given me near and far. Some I’ve known for years, some since I’ve come to Austin. Laura, a young lady I worked with for two days in September, came over to dust and vacuum for me. My neighbor Michelle has driven me around town and attended social events with me. Marissa, my roommate who didn’t know me until I moved in two months ago, has become my Gaius (see 3 John). My small group at church (the best community group ever) has fed me for a week and accompanied me to doctor’s appointments. I introduced myself to them the night before my first biopsy. John and Ruth Ann, friends from my church in Dallas, have fed me, driven me, flown me, and walked with me through one of the hardest days of my life. And there’s my friend who’s eating every pink ribbon bagel she can find at a Nashville area Panera Bread.

And so many of you have prayed for me. Thank you.

But for those of you who are still asking how you can help, I have an idea: Race for the Cure.My incredible friends at Dominican Joe, the coffee shop where I’m supposed to be working, have made it easy for you. They’re forming a team in my honor. You can join the Dominican Joe team with your feet or with a donation. If you can’t run/walk with them, you can Sleep In for the Cure (seriously). If you plan to Go To Church for the Cure (the race is on a Sunday morning), you can choose the Sleep In option. I’m sure no one will check to see if you’re really sleeping (in your bed or in the pew). Or if you want to keep it simple, you can make an online donation. Go to the Dominican Joe team page

http://www.komenaustin.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1040&team_id=19682

and click on my name to “Make a gift!” I hope to raise $479. That was the price of my mammogram and first ultrasound. If I’ve already met my goal by the time you donate, please donate under my teammates’ names.

And, oh yeah, I’m home recovering from yesterday’s surgery. I can still use both arms. The chemo port is near my left collar bone. It hurts. I hope to receive the test results from the right margin (where the residual cancer cells were) by the end of the week.

Thanks for praying and for all those other things you do for me.

Melody

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps 90:14).

Glossary of terms in this update:

1. chemo man — my medical oncologist

2. HER2 — a genetic protein that promotes growth. We should have 2 copies of the HER2 gene in every cell. My cancer cells have more than 2, which means they duplicate even faster than most other cancers.

3. port-a-catheter (port) — a big plug for the chemo IV. Its about 1 inch in diameter and sits maybe 2 inches below my left collar bone. It has a catheter (tube) attached to it that runs over my collar bone and connects to the jugular vein in my neck. Then it runs back down into my chest somewhere. I can see the majority of this contraption bulging under my skin. I’ll show it to you if you want to see it.

Now for the update . . .

I found the perfect wig today. At first I told the saleslady I wasn’t sure I wanted a wig; I’m way too practical to spend so much money on something I may not even wear. Then she put it on my head. I LOOKED GREAT! I’m going to wear that thing all the time. I may even shave my head for a year or so just so I can keep wearing it. Think of all the money I can save on haircuts.

Last Wednesday I met with chemo man, and on Thursday I went to chemo class. My first chemo treatment will be on Nov 16 (I may have to debut the wig a little early). I’ll take 8 treatments–one every 3 weeks for 24 weeks (until mid-May). Then I’ll take Herceptin, the wonder drug for those of us who are HER2 positive, once every 3 weeks for a year. So thanks to Herceptin, this chemo port will be my bosom buddy for the next year and a half.

But I will have no bosom for a while. I’m having a double mastectomy on Nov 1. It’s scheduled for 8:30 in the morning and should take only an hour or two. It’s a fairly simple surgery: slice, scoop, sew. Technically, it’s an outpatient surgery, but they want to observe me there at the hospital for 23 hours. That means I’m staying overnight. I hope they don’t make me eat hospital food.

Thanks for all your prayers,
Melody

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).