One step closer

I was going to post yesterday, but I didn't have access to a laptop until the evening, and then I decided to wait until this morning so we could scan the latest ultrasound picture of Dorothy. She actually let us see her face yesterday (26w4d), unlike the past few weeks that she shoved her face against the placenta and wouldn't move. My cervix is still sitting at a bit above 2cm, so it seems to be stable. Dr. F is pleased so far and is actually allowing me out of the house to go to my nephew's birth within the next couple of weeks. David's sister is due on the same day I turn 28 weeks, and if she does not go by then she's most likely going to be induced on the evening of Father's Day. This will be the first real person thing I have done since March without having to lay down the whole time. Imagine that.

I got a call about 2 hours after my appointment from my insurance company saying that Dr. F had referred me for an insulin class. To say the least I was confused because I had only had my first glucose test 2 hours before and they had told me yesterday not even to call for the results until today! The lady on the other line said "well, didn't he tell you that he was going to do that??" I said, "uuuhhh, no..." She then realized that she was reading someone else's information and I was supposed to be referred to a bedrest childbirth education course with a book and videos. Ok Whew. But one can only wonder if the chidbirth class is going to be along the same lines as the pregnancy bedrest book. After all, they didn't even have the option of getting DVDs rather than VHS. This could be interesting. There is not only a book and handouts, but SIX VIDEOS! Six. Could be hours of amusement.

I also wanted to update you on my friend Cheri. I am one of many praying for miraculous healing for her as she has undergone (in the last two years) 3 surgeries (as of Tuesday) and 3 soon to be 4 rounds of radiation. Cancer is a devastating disease. So many times it hits the most unlikely people and leaves us asking why. Here are some updates that the church has been sending out since she had the biopsy a couple weeks ago:

The swelling in Cheri's face is not from the biopsy performed last week. Rather, it's from disturbance of the cancerous tumor which has since accelerated in growth. She also has tumors in her right upper arm and one in her right shoulder blade. They believe the latter can be treated with radiation alone. Once surgery is completed, Cheri will also have radiation on her face.

Beginning on Tuesday, June 6, Cheri will go into the hospital where she will have surgery. There will be two surgeons in the operating room. One will harvest the vascular tissue from her bad leg (she had a hip replacement in December) and the second surgeon will be tending to her jaw resulting in placing a steel plate where there was once bone. This surgery is estimated to take eight hours.

It is expected that Cheri will be cared for in ICU for the first few days and will have a feeding tube as well as a tracheotomy. Barring complications, Cheri will be home in a week. Arrangements for a visiting nurse are being made while she convalesces at the house. Praise God that the second scan she had shows no cancer in soft tissue, strictly bone.
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Cheri's arduous surgery is over. The wait was long but the surgeon said that the preliminary test shows that the tumor was indeed removed and he is very pleased.

Cheri cannot have visitors and flowers cannot be received in the unit she is in. Please continue to pray for Cheri as she recovers from a difficult surgery. Remember to keep Darryl, Garrett, Katie and Adam in your prayers as they too make adjustments.
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The most recent news on Cheri is very encouraging. She is breathing on her own this evening. Although she'll remain in ICU throughout the weekend, she's been described as fiesty, alert and looking good.

The doctors are "amazed" and commented that Cheri has been the strongest considering the type of surgery she has just endured. We certainly don't want to undermine what all has happened to our sister in the past 24 hours but we know Cheri would also like to give the glory to the Father for how He alone has held her hand and is walking her through this chapter in her life.