All those close to our family are aware that we've had an eye-opening, shocking, and extremely humbling month. After several negative health symptoms arose, I finally got myself into a doctor, which led to tests of all of kinds, unraveling the truth about my condition: I have stage 4 colon cancer. Doctors guesstimate that I've probably been living with it for 1 or 2 years. Turns out the cancer had gone undetected for so long that it had time to not only affect my colon and intestines, but also took over my ovaries, omentum, and my liver.
I spent 11 days in the hospital recuperating from a traumatic surgery to remove as much tumor as the doctors could, but because the disease has spread throughout my liver, they weren't able to surgically remove any part of it. Because I had tumors in other parts of my body, I am no longer a candidate for a liver transplant, which means that chemotherapy and the power of the priesthood are the only options for a full recovery.
I have done one round of chemo so far and will probably do another 7 rounds (every two weeks) before doing another CT scan to determine how much of the cancer has been destroyed.
It's been physically taxing on my body to say the least, but I wanted to thank all of you who have been an overwhelming support to our family. I knew I could rest and focus on recovery in the hospital because our family was being taken care of by friends, family, neighbors, & ward members. I've been in and out of the hospital and doctors offices nonstop and am unaware of who exactly has contributed what, making it impossible for me to thank you all for your love and support. Please know that I am humbled and have shed more tears of gratitude than tears of sadness during this trying time as a result of your love.
Thanks for all the blessings, healing rocks, drinks, meals, babysitting, books, phone calls, flowers, emails, card games, foot and back massages, chapstick, lotions, socks, clothing, scrapbooks, photos, heart notes, visits, magazines, blanket, word puzzle books, gifts for the kids, and especially for the prayers and fasting done on our behalf. Time is a precious commodity and I am grateful to all of you who gave and continue to give of yourself for our family's benefit. My heart is full of love for each of you!!!
~Briana
