Coming Back

To God be the Glory

i don’t even know what to say. i’m not sure how to feel.  i thought this day would never come as 6 months ago, today seemed so far away. 

i continue to be amazed & grateful at God’s hand in all of this over the last 8 months. 

hopeful. terrified. joyful. scared. determined. productive. 

on repeat. 

God is ALWAYS GOOD. 

i’ve learned so much about myself, my creator, my family, and my friends.

- from day one when I googled, statistics, percentages, risks, all. the. things. 

God said to me “you are not a statistic”!

- I have missed mama & daddy so very much in this season. but i’m so so so thankful God protected them from seeing me this way! and I KNOW they have had a better view from their heavenly seat cheering & rooting for me!

- DUANE is such a fierce protector, servant, love, caregiver . . . he has made this journey a little lighter and he has carried so much extra in this season. 

- young adult children and their amazing friends checking in and praying for us. the way our kiddos have filled in some gaps. i’m so glad they are grown and can also take care of themselves. 

- i have the BEST girlfriends. i’ve said it in every single hard season i’ve been in . . . they show up each and every time. they’re also amazing in the easier seasons of life. 

- i am so spoiled, loved, supported, carried. 

- the nurses at st mary’s infusion center are such a delightful, dedicated, solid, loving team.  i can’t imagine being cared for any where else. they are all heart! i loved them all but sure did tell them i hope i never see them again unless it’s at the grocery store or out to eat! Sarah Hoang Angie Williamson Kelly

- my close dvwe team of protectors are the only reason i’ve been able to continue working. i basically have around the clock body guards when i’m there! 

i’ve lost a lot of hair. a lot of weight. but my joy . . . i won’t lose that! 

i don’t ever want to forget this journey yet i don’t ever want to repeat it either! i’m grateful for the hard and i appreciate the beautiful bc we definitely experienced both!

i’m coming back stronger, healthier, & more joyful than ever before. i’m ready to SHINE!

This is my Story

 if you know me . . . i’m almost always a completely open book until it comes to deep me . . . then i’m private in protecting my guys and me . . . MAMA BEAR

however i’ve been encouraged to share the depth of our current season. 

~ to share God’s amazing steadfastness, creativity, will, healing, and most of all, His miraculous ways. 

~ in order to help someone else see the signs & symptoms

~ to squash rumors

~ to relieve the protective boundaries of our closest family and friends that have been holding this close along side us for months

I’ll try to make it a short story! 

End of April I simply didn’t feel well and knew in my gut something wasn’t right. 

Saturday May 3rd a 3cm tumor was discovered on my pancreas. In May & early June I had 2 procedures to determine next steps because there was no concrete evidence it was cancer. 

I had a whipple procedure end of June and the tumor was cancer, stage 1b 

We are GRATEFUL to report the THE TUMOR IS OUT!!!  Margins were all CLEAR and 34 CLEAN LYMPH NODES!! AMEN

Chemotherapy started this past week. I will be on an every other week regimen for 6 months. 

That’s it in a nutshell . . . sorry for my direct, non-Reginaese, non flowery wording. Just trying to get it out!

I ask for your prayers: 

- continued complete healing

- minimal side effects

- return to normalcy

- for HIM to consume my mind when I “get in my feelings” and feel depleted & defeated.  

- my friends Neena, Logan, Rebecca, & Jennifer all fighting & winning their battles w cancer. 

- that God will use me to bless another in a similar trial. 

Praising God for:

- his creativity - that’s a whole story in itself. the way He orchestrated friendships and speed of getting in w the next dr to the next dr. HE MADE A WAY and I’m confident He will continue to. 

- i’ve always said I have the best of friends. from meals to cleanings to “babysitting” so Duane could return to work. YOU ARE OUR VILLAGE

So now, instead of keeping this season close because I didn’t want this to be my story, may I use this season to Honor my Creator & Great Physician and walk along someone else in love.

Joys, Twinkles, & Glimmers

 Hello Friends & Family,

We have some appointments & dates coming up and continue to welcome your prayers!

TOMORROW . . . . I am cautiously returning to work. Yes, a little quick but I convinced my surgeon & his nurse assuring them I would abide by the rules. (NO LIFTING and resting when necessary!)

Friday the 1st . . . . Port Installed

Monday the 4th . . . . Chemo Begins

* A couple of weeks ago, curiosity got the best of me and I googled something I definitely should NOT have. I’ve only told a few people but sharing with you now in hopes that you will learn from my mistake! I stupidly googled “life expectancy after a stage 1b pancreas tumor removal/whipple”. After wallowing for a few I got myself together when God told me “You are NOT a statistic. You are not a percentage!” Family, Friends, neither are you! 

God is doing a NEW thing in me. Singing this in church this morning, God got a HOLD of me! I could either laugh & joyfully sing the words or get tender & emotional. Both of which are perfectly fine! But today, I was almost giddy!

For your listening!

This is me committing to read positive stories, praising God in the storms, surrounding myself with supportive, enlightening friends, and seeking JOY in the every day.

Join us in Prayer

~ reality back at work will go easy on me/another step to normalcy

~ the port procedure goes smoothly w/ little to no pain

~ that I remain HEALTHY to conquer each chemo treatment

~ the potential side effects will be minimal or nothing at all for me . . . . 

again, I’m not a percentage! I am most worried about the nausea & neuropathy

~ for my dear friends Neena, Logan, & Rebecca all strongly fighting breast cancer

~ for my uncle healing from double bypass surgery

Join us in Praise

~ fun mini outings this weekend

~ safe, quick Lynchburg trip

~ hugs from both of my boys . . . . young men!

~ Sunday lunch w/ Memaw

~ enjoying the deer, foxes, bunnies, & birds in our yard

~ morning sunshine, blue skies, and grass beneath my feet

~ Duanes protection & taking care of me

~ time w/ Duanes family 

~ laughter

~ daily mile walks

~ I have the BEST girlfriends

Make tassels for yourselves on the corners of your garments throughout the generations, and put a blue thread on the tassels of the corners. You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. Numbers 15:38-39

Daily (sometimes hourly!) Surrendering and Looking for all the Glimmers!

Regina & Duane

Heal Me

 My Dear Family & Friends,

I’m thankful to say I’m feeling pretty well. I continue to be sore & sleepy but no real pain. Duane was able to return to work this week thanks to my dear friend Jill.  

Follow up with my surgeon went well and he is happy with my progress.

Duane and I met w/ my oncology team today and are quite overwhelmed to say the least but feel we are in great hands. I really liked my doctor. Her goal is “to heal me”! I also LOVED the social worker. 

We continue to PRAISE God, the tumor was completely removed with clear margins and 35 clear lymph nodes. My tumor is considered a stage 1b tumor. Because pancreatic cancers are tough and often recurrent, I will be on an every 2 week aggressive chemo treatment for the next 6 months. I will receive it day 1 in the treatment center and take home with me until day 3. I will probably have my port installed next week. The side effects are primarily nausea, exhaustion, and neuropathy. Some have no side effects and others have it pretty severe. 

Please join us in thanking God for 
   ~ the earliest possible detection
   ~ friends standing in the gap w/ prayers, meals, encouragement
   ~ feeling fairly decent from the surgery
   ~ my appetite is returning
   ~ HE is so so so GOOD
   ~ a slowing down season
   ~ Duane and I just keep getting closer!
   ~ HIS goal to HEAL ME

Please join us in prayer
   ~ MINIMAL side effects!!
   ~ complete healing
   ~ NO returns of any cancer . . . . Pancreatic tumors or matasticizing
   ~ I am fearful. I am scared. I am worried. I am also tough and ready to kick this season aside!
   ~ that I will continue to gain strength daily
   ~ my friends Neena, Rebecca, & Logan all fighting breast cancer

Wait for the Lord;
Be Strong & Take Heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

So much love,
Regina & Duane

Mercies are New Each Morning . . . . At HOME

 Our Dearest Loved Ones,

We got home yesterday early afternoon. It has been restful simply being home, on our couch, in our shower (FINALLY), in our bed, and with our normally rowdy & sweet, but currently calm & sweet Copper. 

The surgery ended up being 9 1/2 hours long due to some former pancreatitis clean up and the tumor being attached to a vein. 

We found out Tuesday that tumor is in fact cancerous. However, all of the margins and lymph nodes are clear. (For reference they took at least 35 lymph nodes!) We do not yet have next steps but when we do I will try my best to update with an email. 

We have totally felt your prayers carrying us and we couldn’t be more grateful. 

Until then, its rest, recovery, rebuild at home for a bit!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning;

Great is your Faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, 

therefore I will hope in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24

 

Much Love,

Regina & Duane

5

 Hello dear Family & Friends . . . .

Thanks to you all for your messages and concerns. We finally have a plan and it’s all happening fast. Thanks be to GOD!

With the last biopsy (2 weeks ago) the results were nonconclusive for malignancy but also nonconclusive that it is not. So that means a change in the plan and for that I am glad. 

Duane and I have a Friday date night for an MRI at 8:30pm on the 27th. This is to see if the tumor is simply pressing into a vessel or attached to the vessel. Clearly, we are praying it is NOT attached as that adds surgery difficulty, time, and an additional surgeon in the operating room.

We will then head to surgery - Whipple Procedure,  JUNE 30th at 7:30 am . . . . be there at 5:30 . . . . So glad that Duane is used to this early rising because I’m definitely not. He will have me there on time! I would never think I would be glad for the upcoming surgery and really I’m not. I’m terrified as this is a biggie. However, I’m also looking forward to having this tumor out of me! Mama always said “healing pain isn’t as bad” and I’m here to find out.

The surgery is expected to last between 6-8 hours, potentially more but again, we are praying for less. Our stay in the hospital will be between 8-10 days and they will have me up and walking the following day after surgery. I will probably be out of work for 4-6 weeks with hopes/plans to work from home after 2 weeks.

Specific Prayer Requests:

~ we are still claiming NON cancerous tumor! OR . . . . that it’s GONE!!

~ that the tumor is NOT attached to the vein

~ recovery is much easier on me than predicted, or the stats say, and maybe even easier on me than the first procedure!

~ the week leading up to the surgery, I can no longer take the pain meds that have kept my pains mostly at bay. I hope to hear Monday of an alternative.

~ speaking of things at bay . . . . . Asking the Lord to keep my fear at bay! I know WHO & WHERE to on lean but fear does creep in. 

~ that my new situation of diabetes (bc my pancreas isn’t working properly) will be healed shortly following this procedure

~ my friends Neena, Rebecca, & Logan fighting their own cancer battles

~ that we can/will be a witness to all those we encounter in this journey; that we represent God well in this

Praises:

  ~ after a little more waiting, the process is now speeding back up

~ our work teams and their support of us in this season

~ Our God, Great Physician, Redeemer, He goes before me and He Hems me in.

Many of you know my preference of no visitors while I’m in the hospital. (at some point I may make an exception for this long bout). However, I would love to know there are people praying from 7am on throughout the day! We will do our best to update post surgery as well. 

Please know we are grateful for you all for joining us on this journey. 

So much LOVE,

Regina & Duane

Speak Jesus

 Happy Monday Family & Friends,

Wanted to offer an update . . . . Some of you we were able to connect with and now we’ve honestly lost track of who we did and didn’t. 

After chatting w/ the GI on call Thursday night and updating my prolonged discomfort, we headed back to the hospital and were admitted for the weekend. (I say we b/c my sweet Duane was right there with me)

It was discovered several numbers were either way to high or way to low. Many of those were remedied through out the weekend. (Potassium, Magnesium, WBC, etc) We don’t have any real updates except it does in fact look like I will have a repeat biopsy procedure. I follow up w/ my GI on Thursday. 

We were discharged yesterday afternoon and we are both returning to work tomorrow. 

I am having a hard time finding the words to pray . . . . 

I Speak Jesus

Praising God 

~ I had a sunshine day to enjoy the back porch and a short walk

~ pain is not as severe

~ we LOVED our care this past weekend. 

Praying 

~ numbers to return to healing levels

  ~ the tumor to disappear

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with 

My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

So much love for you all!

Regina & Duane