Hello everyone! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying this beautiful Christmas season! We have been busy with lots of doctors appointments but all in a good way! We found out today that my surgery for my double mastectomy will be on January 13th, 3 weeks away! We are super excited that this is happening and now a bit overwhelmed as we start to think about all of the logistics, but I know God has this like He has had everything else this past year.
My surgery will be at Yale New Haven and it is a 10 hour procedure. They are going to remove both breasts and then re-construct using my fat tissue and skin from my stomach and hips and back. It is quite a long re-cooperation time, 6-8 weeks on the good end. I will be in the hospital for 4-5 days so we are going to need prayers for the surgeons, doctors, our children and us during all of this please. I have to have 6 weeks of daily radiation about 3-4 weeks after the surgery so I will be going to Backus hospital in Norwich for this. That is only a half hour away and Yale is just to far to get to each day for the 6 weeks. I trust that I will be in just as good hands there as my doctors recommended a radiation specialist there for me to see. After the radiation is finished I will start right up on chemo again for 2 months and continue with my other infusion medicines every 3 weeks for my lifetime. At least this is the treatment plan so far but who knows what God has in store, so much has already changed in one year that I know He can make all things change for the better in the future as well!
It is a bit overwhelming for me to think about all of this and how it will all play out, so I am just trying now to do one day at a time, as God tells us to do. I know He has the plans and is really the one in control, anyway. BUT as a mom who is always with her kids and in her home it is a bit much to take in! I will have to depend on others quite a lot and this is hard for me, something God is working on in me I am sure and will no doubt use for good later!
I don’t think my girls really realize what is going to happen and I don’t expect them to at their tender ages. We told them today that mommy will be going in for an operation but I have never really shown them up to this point how sick I am some days. I am able to handle it pretty well in front of them, praise God, so they have never really seen me too upset or sick. This will be difficult for them- I will be sent home from the hospital with drains in and because I am having many sites being opened and operated on it will be difficult to move for some time I have been told. I will not be able to lift or hold them for 6 weeks, and I may not even be able to have them on my lap for a while. As a stay-at-home mom for seven years now this is something we do many times a day on a daily basis! This piece will be really hard on all of us. Please pray for them that they are not going to be too scared and can handle all of this okay. Also please pray for Chris, he will be taking at least a 4 week leave from work trying to be with me and take care of our girls. This will be quite a challenge! I am so blessed to have him with me through this and am truly grateful for that.
I thank you all in advance for the love and prayers and help that we will be given over these next months. My sister will be adding to our calendar site again soon as we have all of the dates now for my surgery, pre-op appts, and chemo days. I cannot thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for all of the love you have displayed to our family this past year. God is so amazing and His love shines in each of us who love others. So thank you for loving me and sharing this difficult road with us. I pray it is used to bring people closer to Him and to know His great love and healing power. His great and mighty hand is being revealed in this miracle that we are so humbled to be a part of!
Merry Christmas and may we all experience the true beauty and joy of this amazing time, a miraculous season all because of Him.
Love and God bless, April, Chris, Faith, Savannah Grace and Isabella Hope
Ps. We were not able to send out Christmas cards because of the timing with everything going on but next year, Lord willing, next year! Amen that there will be a next year for me, in Jesus’ mighty name!!
“The Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is His name.” Luke, 1:49
Help For April 