News update on Dina

Dina had her chest and neck CT scan and also the PET scan last Wednesday, then on Thursday she saw the ENT doctor who just happens to be a golfing friend of both Scott and Jamie (the oncologist used their names when making the appointment) and after examening her, asked if she would like to have the biopsy sooner...she of course said YES!  So he did it on Friday, yesterday, Sept 21.  She had two enlarged lymph glands and he was able to extract one, not the biggest which he would have liked to have gotten, but it was too close to her lung and too deep, he didn't want to risk a collapsed lung.  He felt like he got a very good sample...so because he took this biopsy 5 days earlier, they are now able to go back to the oncologist next Friday...which is also 5 days earlier.  All of this means less waiting time to start a treatment plan and that gives all of us a little more peace of mind.

The other good news for Dina is the visit with her gynecologist...the doctor was very confident that there was not any reason for concern with her extra bleeding for a month.  The doctor said it is very common to have bleeding after having an injection of steroids...so Dina has been given a prescription of progesterone to help flush out her system and get it back to normal...that alone made Dina feel good.

Now because of the erosion of her sacrum, she really cannot be on her feet too much, it just hurts too much. We are all encouraging her to take this time to rest her body, to stay off her feet as much as possible and let everyone else take care of things.

She is so blessed to have many many wonderful friends ready to do ANYTHING for her.  Two friends from Seattle came right down and stayed for several days just to be here for her.  Em and Jenni, YOU are the BEST!  One good friend started an online "Meal Train" and the site has been passed to all our bible study ladies, MOMS group from church and all her friends...an Ice Chest is on her front porch and people are dropping off meals on the day they signed up ..she gets meals 4 days a week...and that burden of preparing and caring for her family is now left to all  these hundreds of awesome ladies...She is truly blessed and she knows it.  She is just surrounded by goodness and love from many.  And this site is not inclusive to just meals, you can sign up for help with getting kiddos to activities, pickup - drop off, doctor's appointments etc...anything she might need help with, she can get it.  Thankfully she also has a wonderful family and sister who is there for her and as Lacey said, "I am on it"...we want her to heal and not worry about the business or anything but staying positive and nurturing herself back to health.

So I guess that is about all for now...We will have all test results back when we see the oncologist on Friday and I have no doubt that he will have a plan in mind and will be ready to start the treatment to eliminate this cancer.

Psalm 29:11  The Lord gives His people strength, the Lord blesses them with peace.

She looks beautiful even in a hospital cap (before biopsy)

resting after biopsy...I am knitting her prayer shawl and have a rosary CD playing...very peaceful