Tuesday, March 16, 2010

In all seriousness

Last Wednesday morning, I opened my eyes at the crack of 7:00 am and saw that I had a text message waiting from my sister. "Don't freak out," it read, "But call me when you get this." Well, crap, I thought. Several days before that, she'd found a lump in her breast, which lead to a mammogram which lead to a biopsy. And I knew the text message meant that she'd gotten the biopsy results.

I stumbled downstairs in my pajamas and called Becky. She was driving Laura to the dentist and said she'd call right back. Isn't it funny how normal life intrudes on those important moments? Like, yes I need to tell you the test results but first I need to get this mac and cheese out of the microwave.

"Well," she said when I got her back on the phone, "It isn't good news. It's cancer." "Crap, " I said again. (Apparently, I am not very eloquent in moments like these.) She proceeded to tell me the lowdown--that it was a particular cancer called "ductal carcinoma in situ" and that the doctor said it was very treatable. Apparently Becky seems to have discovered the tumor very early on, and it is quite small. "You're going to be fine," the doctor told her, "A bump in the road," she called it.

Many of you are regular readers of Becky's blog and you know this already. If not, you can read her first person account of all that's happened here. I found it particularly poignant, in that she describes the progression of everything's-fine to maybe-it-isn't to Oh-God,-I-have-to-deal-with-this-now. And mostly, I found it poignant cause she's my sister.

Tomorrow morning Becky and Matt are meeting with the breast specialist (I will avoid the temptation to make a silly joke about that title) for a surgical consult. I am posting this here in case you aren't a Suburban Matron reader, to ask you to pray for my sister. We are hopeful that it will all be as Becky's doctor assured her, but as I'm sure you can imagine, there is a lot of anxiety and a measure of fear involved.

I believe that God is interested and invested in our lives. I believe He loves us more than we could ever comprehend. I believe that prayer matters--that it not only changes us, but that it can make a tangible difference in our lives. I've seen it happen too often to doubt it. I'm not sure what you might believe about that, but if you're a pray-er, please say a prayer for Becky. If you're a good-thoughts-thinker, we'll take some of those too! Heck, throw in some pixie dust and we'll be good to go.

Thanks, y'all.


19 comments:

  1. Praying, of course, for Becky, you and the whole fam. Lots of love and peace to you, Amy.

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  2. Amy, I was kind of surprised that you and Becky have posted about it but good on you guys!
    I am and have been praying for Becky. I also popped over there to read her post and read to the end even though I got too emotional:(
    I didn't leave a comment for her as she probably has no idea who I am!

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  3. I have a feeling that there are more than the average number of pray-ers reading this blog. So, what I want to ask of you is specific prayers for complete one-procedure healing. Strength and fortitude are great, and we need both, but, right now, we want complete healing. God bless you all.

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  4. Aw you know me Rosemary--I'm an open book! ;)

    Thanks for praying--I know you have been and it means so much. And I think she knows who you are! :) xoxo

    And Dad--amen to that!

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  5. Amy, the love and caring that you and Becky have for each other is a great blessing. It touches our hearts. We are all praying and trusting God.

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  6. I just got some prayers for B going over on my blog too!

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  7. I was gutted to read Becky's post and came right over here to tell you I was thinking of all of you and sending out tons of prayers.

    ((HUGS)) and prayers to all of you!

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  8. As I told Becky, I have alerted my prayer partners at my church and I know you have tons of prayer partners so she is so covered. I am also praying that she feels the "peace that transcends understanding" to help her get through this.

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  9. Just wanted to stop by and comment on your blog, too! My sisters were completely devastated when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27. There is no doubt that this will be an extremely difficult and stressful time for you and your family. Our family lived through it, and it was a nightmare. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel -- I have been cancer free for 14 years. Becky's cancer has been caught early, and I think complete healing is not too much to pray for! My prayers are with you and your family.

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  10. Sending out prayers and love for Becky and your whole fam. Praying for fast, perfect, and completely clear results. xo

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  11. For sure praying for complete healing for your sis. Love you Amy.

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  12. The picture made me get sniffly. It is a whole lot of emotion. Complete one-procedure healing; check, Camp Papa. Thanks for the guidance. (ps, you have amazing daughters).

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  13. Thank you, Matron Down Under readers! I am back at home and just worn out. Still don't know a whole ton, but this thing is looking less simple. I'll post about it tomorrow, right now I think my brain has stopped working.

    Y'all's prayers and good wishes mean so much to me. Thanks. Love you Ame.

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  14. Praying for your sister's healing and for complete peace for your whole family! Love you guys! Thank you for sharing!!

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  15. Heya Pst. Amy! Keeping your dear sis in my prayers! Much love! Evs

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  16. Amy, I join my prayers with yours and all the family to ask for Becky's complete healing. We think of you, and your sibs as our own. We love all of you dearly, and trust God to work all things for good.

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  17. complete healing prayers are on their way.

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  18. Amy, we are thinking about Becky! She is an amazing person and she has an equally amazing family supporting her! Keep us posted - she's in Good Hands.

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