Sharing a prayer request

Wow! I'm one of those people that believe you start thinking about someone for a reason. I've been really horrible about keeping in touch with my friend Debbie and keep on telling myself I have to drop her an email. Debbie and I met through the Parents Support Group at Easter Seals. Actually our kids are birthday twins born exactly one year apart. Debbie fought and courageously won a battle with breast cancer a few years ago. She handled herself and the battle with such grace and dignity- I was so very proud of her. She, her husband and Daniel moved to the Chicago area not long after but Debbie has been great about keeping in touch via email....me not so much. Anyway over the last few weeks I've had that mental "I need to email Debbie" going on. Tonight I received this email and I'm so sad for her and her family but I'm also so hopefully because she is so strong and has incredible faith in G-d. If you know anyone that prays or is part of a prayer list please ask them to say a few prayers for Debbie Kamplain. Here is her email so you have an idea what is happening with Debbie right now. I'm sure she'll appreciate any and all prayers and I appreciate you praying for her.
Hello everybody,

I am writing with a prayer request. In fact, it is a desperate plea for you all to forward my name to any and all prayer chains that you may know of.

I had breast cancer in 2005, and have been deemed cancer free since completion of my treatment, surgery and radiation.

As we all know, chemo can do a lot of damage to a person after treatment is long finished. I have been suffering with a lot of pain, one of those areas of pain being my digestive area.

I had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy in these past three weeks. The endoscopy showed that I have the beginning of what would be an ulcer, and if I hadn't acted any sooner, it would have been.

Easy fix.

The colonoscopy was a different story. This is not an easy fix, as the test result yielded two polyps on my colon. One was removable, while the other was larger, and located precisely in a spot that required surgery to remove it safely.

The mega-polyp is bigger, has a broader base, and was biopsied because it was suspicious-looking.

I was told two days later that the results were benign (not cancer), but not to be assured that it was a good result. I was told,

"The biopsy was done on a tiny area of a larger mass. Although the biopsy is clear, we have no idea if cancer is deep inside."

Today was my follow-up, and I went to my PCP for a simple visit to get some refills beforehand. He looked at my test results and audibly gasped. "You need to get this out ASAP."

He turned around, snatched the phone, and insisted I was seen today by a surgeon.

So, Daniel and I left PCP's office, went to the Gastroenterologist immediately after, and got a glowing report.

"You're fine! You're okay, we are just being safe because these things grow to cancer within a year. Go home, you're good."

I take Daniel in the pouring rain to the next doctor, the surgeon. He was a very calming presence. He took my coat for me, opened Daniel's milk for him, and told me to breath.

"We look at this as though this is cancer. This is a tumor. All polyps, all growths are tumors. We treat this as cancer, and see if there is lymph node involvement, and based on that, the doctors will determine your course of treatment. Your situation is unique because you have had cancer already. It will be difficult to determine what medicine would work best for your situation. You will have to do a colon cleanse and go on another liquid diet beginning immediately."

I gagged. "AGAIN?!?!?!?" The tears burned my eyes. "I hated that more than chemo. I can't drink that medicine again."

He looked me straight in the eye, "You have to."

My emotions are confused. Do I have cancer or don't I?!?! My hair!! My beautiful, almost braid-capable hair! I have eyebrows again.

These are the thoughts that go through your head when you are told you seem to have cancer. Again.

I have surgery on Friday of this week. It is going to be a doozy-I will be in the hospital for at least 5 wretched days.

This is why I am begging for you all to pray for me, and pray for my beautiful family.
I just don't want to see them go through this again.

When I asked Daniel what he would think when he sees Mommy at the hospital this time, he said, "Dear Jesus, please make my Mommy better. Amen."

I just wondered if he would be scared of all of the machines around me.

Please, forward this to every single person who you think might be willing to share a prayer for our family and for my health. Please pray that we accept the Lord's will.

We will keep you posted.
Much love,
Deb, Greg and Daniel


"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful."
Romans 12:13 NLT

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly I have been meaning to get back to blogging. I know that I feel much better when I take the few minutes to just site down and spend some time reflecting on whatever it is I want to reflect on. Its been a bit insane here and my mom has put her foot done saying that if X, Y, and Z are not done by X date that Princess Bear (PB) and I have to move out. Since we're STILL sick as all getout here I've been spending any free time working on her "list". Actually last night I was laying in bed thinking how much I was looking forward to getting back into blogging and seeing what everyone else is up to as well. There is all sorts of news and things to fill everyone in on as well but I'll save that for another day. What prompted me to get on here right now is a news story here in Central Illinois. You can read the AP version HERE Something like this is truly my worst nightmare as I'm sure it is for every mother. This has been on the news regularly since the boys went missing as their hometown is relatively close to here. My heart is just breaking for the mother of these boys. I honestly cannot imagine how she is surviving this and I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO angry at the State of Illinois. She warned the judge that he was a flight risk, she warned & proved that he has mental health issues as well as control issues. I will never understand why there has to be a G-d forbid worst case scenario before things can be reevaluated. Not that I'm saying this is even similar but Princess Bears father could walk into her school and show the paternity test he demanded after she was born that verifies he's her sperm donor and take her out of the school. It doesn't matter that he's never spent a minute with her EVER. The school wouldn't even be required to notify me. Please explain how that makes sense?!!?!!? I truly wish law makers would stop worrying about stepping on toes and take care of problems that need to be taken care of.

Ok, I'm done with my rant for now. I'm just so sad for this mother and can't understand why it had to come to this. Well, I'm off to take my nightly cough suppressant and vicodin (how sick do you have to be to wind up on this combo as well as prednisone?!!!?) I'm going to work on my meditation & then hopefully watch Paranormal State.