Bad Day--send prayer

Do you ever have one of those horribly bad days that you know that every detail will be etched into your mind forever? I've had a handful of those over the years and now again today.

My mother called me just after noon. Normally I don't keep my cell phone so openly on my desk, but I was actually waiting for a call back from my doctor to schedule some testing (that's enough for a whole other post, but I doubt I will put that one out there). She sounded a little somber, like the voice she used ten years ago when she left a message on my answering machine alerting me that grandpa had died the previous night.

She didn't beat around the bush. She came out and said it: endometrial cancer. I couldn't help but cry on the phone and that made me feel bad. I want to be strong for my mom, but to be honest, she has always been the strong one.

I'm saddened--not because this is a serious disease, but because we all make plans for living. You don't plan on factoring any illnesses into it. Although they have medical insurance, this will certainly impact their finances. Even if she only needs surgery, she will be off work for 6-8 weeks. Will she be able to go to Pigeon Forge for the annual family trip? Will she be ready to go to Vietnam this fall? Will she be strong enough to move into their dream home next year?

My mom is a fighter. She already told me she considers herself a cancer survivor. I have been harping at both of my parents for years to get physicals and be more pro-active with their healthcare. My mom is the kind of woman that could have gangrene and a limb hanging by a thread and say "it's not that bad".

I'm angry too. I looked up the symptoms and she has had most, if not all, the symptoms for at least 3-4 years. She has even asked me about some of them. Of course, my answer was always a short "go see your doctor". I'm guessing it has been slow growing or she would have been far worse off than she is.

Right now, we don't know much. She has an appointment with a specialist tomorrow morning. Obviously, for privacy sake I will likely not be posting all that occurs because it is ultimately her story, but I may be putting it on my Wordpress blog where I can password protect things. I'm not really sure at this point.

Please pray for her and for the rest of our family.