Deb’s Update

Good morning guys, and I hope all are well.

Let’s start off this morning by saying once again, that all our prayers are with the victims of those terrible storms this past week. This was absolutely terrible, but actually this was the third or fourth round of bad weather that these poor people have faced this spring. Please keep them in your prayers!

Well, the second thing I’d like to share with everyone today is not good either.

To our readers, or better described as our friends, I’d like to express the sincere appreciation of all your thoughts, concern, and prayers for my wife Deb.

You guys know that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. You probably know that we had her bone scan done, and her bones were 100% clean. She then had a problem with her EKG reading so her Pet test was put off until she had a stress test, which she aced by the way.

Two up, two down, and at this point we’re feeling really good that the cancer had not spread! This past Monday we had the Pet Test run. I believe that is the terminology, but it may not be. If not, it was the test that shows if cancer has spread to any other part of her body.

Thursday we go to the Doctor to get her reading. Honestly, I was really concerned we’d find that possibly the cancer had moved, but we’d be able to treat it with a little more chemo, if needed, and we’d still be fine. This was my worst fear.

Deb and I were sitting, listening to the Doctor, and in no way could either of us have been prepared to hear what that man said…

Stage 4 cancer. It had moved from the breast, to an area between her lungs, not in them mind you, but I believe it to be under the tracheal tube. A large tumor. We had no idea at the time what this meant, only that it was bad.

We asked the prognosis. The prognosis is that with treatment, Deb has 4-5 years…no treatment 8-9 months. My whole world fell apart in 15 seconds…just fell completely apart. Poor Deb had a moment I never want to see her experience ever again.

Here I am, sitting beside her, a guy that has had to fight every step of the way in his life, yet at the time was absolutely helpless to help his wife. I was sick over this truth.

Deb had to go to the truck, so I walked her out, then went back in to see the Doctor. Honestly, he IS ONE GREAT GUY.

I asked question after question, and didn’t hear once an answer that gave me any semblance of hope. No cure, no surgery, no nothing. From a medical standpoint most all that could be done, has been done. MAN no longer can control this outcome.

By now Deb had come back into the room, and we talked. This part is what REALLY impressed me about our Doctor.

He told us there is a 5-10% chance, the test was wrong. Slim odds at best, but still there is a possibility it may not be what the test shows it to be. We opted for this one more test to be done.

It is non-invasive, and the extent of it is to run some type of tube down her esophagus, or in front of, with a pin attached, take a small sample, and do an immediate biopsy. No wait, we’ll know immediately.

IF, this is not malignant, then we have a whole different prognosis, but he has made it clear that the possibility of this is slim, to none.

But, he did talk to Deb, heart to heart about God.

He has read our column, and told Deb he sees that both of us believe in a higher power, God, and we affirmed his statement. He then told Deb that they as Doctors see “miracles” happen, and when this occurs, there is NO medical explanation. He then told Deb to put her faith in God, and we may yet see a good ending to our story.

He also told her, that all the technology available today, that none of this came from a man. But that all of the knowledge and technology we have today, came to a man, BUT THROUGH GOD! All this is a gift from God. To hear our Doctor stating this was a very comforting moment for Deb and I both!

Well, Mark (Red) had just came back from Jacksonville, and had met us at the Doctor’s office prior to our appointment. We gave him everyone’s payroll checks, they’d been gone a couple weeks, and some tax papers to drop off at the CPA’s for us.

We asked if he wanted to come in with us, and he said no, he’d go ahead and take care of these things, but if we wanted to meet for lunch just call, and he left.

When the Doctor told Deb the news, the very first thing out of her mouth was simply, “How am I going to tell my children?” The very first thing.

We walked out of his office after an hour or so, both of us tore up, and there stands Red, who we thought was gone. He knew immediately, something was wrong, and bad wrong! So, we all go out into the parking lot, and had our moment.

By that afternoon, all else knew as well.

That evening Deb and I spent by ourselves, and frankly, it was much better than I expected. We discussed things and subjects we’d never touched on before, but that had to be discussed. Then that stage was behind us.

She asked me once again to keep her laughing, and support her in all her decisions, which of course none of this had to be said.
But I gotta’ tell you guys this.

I always am up, by 5-5:30 every morning. I drink a couple cups of coffee, plan out my day, then shortly, I start getting after it.
Well Friday morning, I call it now “the day after,” we had a front push through with some rain. By the time I had gotten up, it had already passed, and I just knew the rain had passed with it…it always does, and it was obvious it had already rained.

Well, sipping on my coffee, and I’m a pretty strong guy, I started thinking about the hand dealt to us the previous day. It was just me, and Cheyenne out on the porch, and I had one of those moments that just overwhelmed me with sadness thinking about Deb’s dilemma, and I broke down.

I’m sitting out alone and tears in my eyes, and all of a sudden, it starts just pouring down rain, I mean in sheets for about ten minutes.

I think back on this moment, and wonder how the mind works to just have things pop into it so suddenly, but right at that moment, with the rain pouring down, I thought, God is crying with me, and talk about a comforting feeling, this was.

Isn’t that crazy??

But, that’s the hand that has been dealt to us, and Deb and I are going to play that mother, and beat this thing!

Our support from family and fiends, and once again, all you guys fall into both categories, have been overwhelming to both Deb and myself! At this point you all are extended members of our family. Thank you all for everything you guys are doing, and continue to do in our regard.

This column today is by no means asking for any type of sympathy, or pity…we want neither! It is merely sharing our experience with this dreaded disease with “our family.” Thank you for being there for us.

Sandra, you are special, as so many of you are. You all know who I’m talking about.

Sandra yesterday called us, and spent over an hour talking to Deb and I. Sandra knows what we’re going through first hand, and her experience helped us to understand much better what we’re fixing to be doing battle with!

God Bless you, Sandra in your own fight, and what one tough cookie “my Mississippi is!” Our door is ALWAYS OPEN to Sandra, or any of the rest of you, our friends. If you need us, please just ask.

Do not ever consider that you may be any type of hindrance, because that would be the farthest from the truth! Deb and I love you all, and you guys have proved long ago you love us as well. Thank God for people such as yourselves, because I’m telling you, you are all good, good people! The Best!

Deb, too is cut from this same mold as Mississippi, mental and physical toughness, very focused in tasks at hand, a power of positivity that literally exudes from her, a kind and loving heart, but with a enough of a mean streak, too to dig deep and whip all comers.

Please continue to pray for us, but I’m telling all right now, WE WILL WHIP THIS! God is on our side. Through his love, and Deb’s inner strength, this dreaded disease has picked on the wrong one!

This will not be an easy fight, and we don’t look at it from that perspective, but we’re both fighters and we’re in this battle together for one thing, victory, and we’ll accept no less!

Please stand beside us through our fight, as during the times Deb and I get winded, it will be your prayers that see us through.

We know many of you will be right by our sides throughout this ordeal, and we can’t through words express our gratitude for your convictions! I, we, can only say thank you, and that each one of you are in our prayers as well! God Bless you all.

One other thing. Our site, along with the Canada Free Press and our great friends Judi and Brian, we have the opportunity to reach thousands of people. Think from this standpoint what a great opportunity this would be from simply a power of prayer perspective.

Can you imagine the good we could do in this case? You guys think about this, and give us your own feelings in this regard. We could form a spot on our site, Ridin Out the Recession, for just such as this. What a blessing this could be for so many.

Again, think on this and simply let us know. This would give Deb and I both the opportunity to give back, what we ourselves have already, and continue to receive!

Again in closing, we want no sympathy and we’d shun it. We only want positivity, that’s all, and we know that you will supply this for us in bucketfuls!

Thank you all once again, and may God Bless you and yours!

Love you all,

Dub and Deb