(Read Part IV)
Chuck never mentioned to me about the fast or his prayer experience until after surgery and recovery. Once we returned home after all the blood work I was exhausted emotionally and went straight to bed. When I woke up we talked about Heaven and whether or not I felt I’d be there. I was able to ease his concerns because I had accepted the Lord around age 13 at a youth rally. I remember feeling it was good having someone (God) to take care of me. My childhood was a bit rocky with an alcoholic father in my life until around age 12. My mom divorced my dad when I was 7 and stopped visitation for him at age 12. After that I saw him maybe 6 times until his death this past June (one week after my birthday and one week before Father’s Day) and at that time I was told he had also accepted the Lord one week before his death – Praise God! So wanting that “father figure” to take care of me was a big influence on me asking God to live in my heart. It may have been selfish reasons at the time, but God loved me then and held me in His arms and I knew He was holding me in His arms once again through this cancer scare.
We decided not to say anything to the kids until after we talked with Dr. B (the surgeon) on Thursday. We wanted to make sure we had the facts and were able to let the kids know we had a plan of action in place. So the rest of the evening went along as usual at the McDonald household – which meant kids coming and going, homework being done and most likely a movie to be watched!
Chuck and I went to see Dr. B and at this time it has been less than 48 hours since I’ve been told I have cancer but it seemed like an eternity. I wasn’t even sure what questions to ask him, I just remember thinking I wanted it over and done with already so just do what you (Dr. B) have to and be done. Dr. B brought us into the examination room and told us he didn’t like what he saw and wanted to get me into surgery as soon as possible for fear the cancer had spread outside the colon wall. I’m sure Chuck asked him lots of questions but after Dr. B described the procedure (of which I don’t remember any of it) my only question was – “what would the scar look like and was there anything he could do to make it as small as possible?” It wasn’t vanity asking because I wasn’t in the habit of walking around in a bikini or wearing belly shirts, it was the only thing I could focus on at the time – the scar. Dr. B gently put his hand on my knee and said he would do what he could but with the type of surgery needed there would be a scar running from my pubic bone to my belly button. It didn’t really bother me because like I said, it was the only thing I could wrap my mind around and question. How do you question cancer? You don’t really, for me it was a matter of leaning on God, accepting the diagnosis and moving forward.
(Go to Part VI)