It's NOT a Tumor, At Least Not Anymore :)

My mind is racing with all sorts of emotions and thoughts right now but I wanted to update all of you who have been fervently seeking God on my behalf.

First of all, thank you, it is an incredible thing to feel, see, and hear the Body of Christ come around you and intercede for you. Going through medical things is quite scary because ultimately we have to turn over our need and desire to control and just let God be God. I won't get in to all those details but God is definitely slowly breaking me of my desire and need for control, although I have a feeling this lesson will not be an easy one for me!

We met with an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist who had already performed 5 surgeries on me as a little girl, so we trust him. At one time he was almost like a great family friend! I was so glad to find him still practicing. He evaluated me and asked about other symptoms. Nothing, except the original growth and infection.

His conclusion is that this is NOT a tumor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was somewhat puzzled by it, but ultimately thinks it is just a swollen lymph node and it will eventually go away. He pushed and prodded on it for quite some time. He measured it to be about 1cm, anything over 1 cm they typically do further testing on.

So here's the plan:

1. Finish the antibiotic that was to treat the infection

2. Wait a month to see what happens

3. Go back to see him on September 28th

4. Depending on growth or shrinkage-do further testing or no testing

And here's why I titled my post as I did. He said this is not a tumor. Which he could very well be right. BUT he said it was not a tumor because tumors don't grow and then shrink. Typically, medically, normally I would say he's probably right. BUT I serve a God who is not typical, not normal, and definitely is miraculous over medical. I believe that God has and will continue to heal this. What may have been a tumor is now just a swollen lymph node that will disapper before my next doctor's visit, so no further testing is needed.

I am still an emotional wreck but because of my realization of how BIG our God is. There is nothing He can't do. There's is nothing too big. There is nothing impossible.

Please continue to pray for me, for complete shrinkage and no further testing needed.

We keep a verse in our kitchen that kind of defines our family and what we believe about God. I added a new one after going through this ordeal. Having a wandering mind is not a good thing but it taught me A LOT this week about what is important. I love my family, I love my church, I love my friends, the body of Christ, I love adoption, I love a lot of things, but my mind has been transformed toward eternity. If I love those things I will do whatever I can to change their lives for eternity!!! You see all that matters is what comes after this.

I will leave you with this thought (and my new family verse):

“(Fill in the blank) (For me it was: A tumor) does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus.”

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18