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My youngest brother, Jay, became very ill...for no apparent reason. Being the health nut in the family..only eating Bryers ice cream because it contained no artificial ingredients, etc., I was not too concerned that he seemed to be having some lower abdominal problems. It persisted. Several visits to acute care centers only revealed a slight UTI. He became weaker and paler. He was coming home from work early, and some days not going in at all. Now concern was growing. He became so weak and white, that I had another brother take him straight to the ER with instructions that Jay was NOT to come back home until we knew what was wrong. He didn't come back home that day. Blood work showed a hemoglobin of 6. Everyone was amazed he could even walk, he was so close to dying right then. As quick as blood was transfused into him, he was losing it...somewhere. After much testing (colonoscopy, endoscopy, and many blood transfusions), a CAT scan finally revealed a very large 15 cm tumor in his lower abdominal cavity. Little did we know this was the beginning of our journey into the world of ......... cancer....again.
Surgery was performed urgently the very next day. As I sat in the waiting room, thinking, "ok Mary, it's gonna be ok, Jay's gonna be ok"....the surgeon, in the middle of surgery, came out to talk to me. I can remember him saying..."It's bad, very bad. It's invaded the colon, the small intestine and other surrounding structures." But what he said next dropped me to my knees. "I"m sorry, but at best, I feel he has 4-6 weeks to live." I don't really remember too much after that. I found myself sitting in the hospital chapel, on my knees, crying and begging God to please spare my brother....please !!! He had taken our mother 18 years before...from breast cancer. I pleaded not to take my "baby" brother too.
Burkitt's lymphoma. A very aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was the diagnosis. Being a medical transcriptionist, I have typed that word many times over the years, but really knew nothing of it, and now...this Burkitt's lymphoma was taking over our lives. Dr. Johnson said he removed as much as he could...but it was too extensive, and just couldn't get it all. Now oncology steps in. Without giving Jay a moment to even recover from surgery, he immediately received massive chemotherapy, and continued to receive massive doses for what seemed like a life time. A drug very new on the market was being given - Rituxan. Even with his oncologist telling me of the great success Rituxan had demonstrated, the words "4-6 weeks to live" gave me little hope this wonder drug would work in that short of a time. But by all means...let's fight and do what we can. But I prayed.
Weeks turned into months of treatment. Now his treatment was on an outpatient basis. Jay had surpassed the initial "4-6 weeks" time frame. The months went by in slow motion, it seemed. Now it's time for a CAT scan. My fear literally overcame me. As Jay's power of attorney, I decided to get the results first, so I would better know how to deal with Jay. I was of course, expecting the worst. I shook so bad as I opened the envelope...my eyes went directly to the "Impression." It said, "many enlarged lymph nodes visable scattered throughout the peritoneum." I prayed again. Three months later, another CAT scan. This one said..."previously enlarged lymph nodes appear to be smaller in size". All the hope I had lost on that day of surgery, was slowly coming back. Could it be? Six months later, another CAT scan. This time it said the lymph nodes noted previously were "almost completely resolved."
Six months later, another CAT scan. This time, I was more excited than afraid to get the results..... "previously enlarged lymph nodes are NOT seen, and appear to be completely resolved." !!!!!!! Once again, I was on my knees at my church, only this time - thanking God for giving us the medical ability to do what we do, for the knowledge to put that ability to work, and most of all - for prayers answered. I put Jay, a devout Christian, in God's hands that night of his surgery. I am not taking anything away from our medical professionals, but I truely believe God had more of a hand in healing him; He just threw in the docs and the Rituxan as a bonus.
That was over 2 years ago. Today Jay is healthy once again, back to work...and we have our brother back. I was planning a funeral when I should have had more faith and hope in God, and in the power of prayer. Guess He showed me...huh?
Mary Edwards aka/wheeler