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 

3

 Good Evening my Faithful Friends & Family,

We finally got results from Friday’s EUS/ERCP procedure earlier this evening. I appreciate all the check ins and forgive me for not answering. As one of my best friends mentioned, I always have a pass. Chatting gets to be a lot.

OK . . . 
So the good news is while Dr. Talreja can not rule out cancer until he has the mass out, he is using the term cystic mass. (For those of you new to this, a tumor was found on my pancreas last week and by God’s goodness, things are moving along quickly to get me well)

I could be confused in some of my wording but here I go!
Despite taking 6 samples of the tumor, it was not enough to adequately determine the type of tumor. (Mostly blood instead of tissue) However the “brushing” was able to get a lot and those do not appear malignant at this time. 

We will be meeting with a surgical oncologist in the near future.

As for the way I continue to feel, Dr. Talreja considered sending me to the er tonight to get fluids, an ultrasound, and blood work to confirm nothing has gone awry since the procedure, However, we are going to stay home and reassess tomorrow. I am having a tough time bouncing back. 

please consider praising God
~ it’s not looking malignant
~ for the intentionality & quick attention solely because of the friendships and connections along the way. Boy do I have some stories about that!
~ thanking God even in the hard
~ amazing team at work carrying my load and the opportunity to work from home
~ my Sweet One & Ben taking such great care of me.

Please consider praying
~ that my discomfort and nausea will go away
~ to be well sooner than later
~ for a miracle in the next surgery . . . . that it’s GONE when they go in

So much love for you all
Regina & Duane

Battle

 My Dear Friends,

This will be a short email.

My Ben did not come home as planned tonight; hopefully tomorrow! His exam went great though! How wonderful he loves Lynchburg as much as he does home. That alone makes this Lynchburg Gal & Mama heart happy. 

The EUS, biopsy, & stint outpatient procedure is scheduled for Friday at noon. 

My specific prayers but I am so open to yours as you feel lead

~ that the tumor will not be there . . . Won’t HE do it?

~ reduction in tumor, an operable tumor, & a benign tumor

~ my people . . . . Duane, Jacob, Ben, & Emily

THANK YOU for loving us so well. 

For your listening . . . This song grabbed me yesterday morning in worship and it was running through my mind when I woke this morning.

Battle Belongs

When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You

Much Love,

Regina & Duane

Surrender

Spring of 95, mama, daddy, granny, & papa drove to my dorm at Averett college to tell me of mama’s breast cancer diagnosis. 30 years ago exactly, surrender became “my word”. I rode back with them sandwiched in between my precious granny and solid papa terrified for my mama. I went to church with daddy that Sunday and the final song was “I Surrender All”. I’ve thought about that word a lot over the last several years. 

I literally have the best friends. I’ve said that before with the challenges I’ve faced. Most have you have journeyed those w me - whether my family breaking or mama and daddy leaving this earth. I’m honored to have you w me still and a small handful of you are new friends but have become dear, close friends. 

Just yesterday I was told I have a small tumor on my pancreas. 2.4X2.9 cm . . . it doesn’t seem that small when you actually measure it. (Banana slice or little bit larger than a penny).

See where I’m going with this long email . . . . here I am surrendering again. 

I’m sorry for a mass email but in my opinion it’s better than a mass text. Texting became a lot yesterday. I wanted to keep this news close to me and Duane. (and honestly still do w/ in this group) I wanted to have more answers before I shared. I want to protect our kids from the unknown. But waiting to share would only cut down on the prayers we can all pray to get ahead of the answers. Daddy told me sharing news with others adds more praying people to the circle. So not only do I have the best friends, I have the best praying circle!

It’s important to note that I see God in His mighty creativity in this. My original appointment to figure out why I was having these strange symptoms (extreme fatigue, no appetite, dark urine, light poop - see we’re good friends!, itchiness, a little skin yellowing) wasn’t until May 21 but bc of Gods creativity in friendships I was able to get an appointment May 2nd. 

I believe in miracles. Many of you know the story of my 4 year old Jacob at North Run pre k confidently telling his music teacher “a miracle is something only God can do”. I’m armoring up, expectant for His miracle in this for us.

if you would be so kind to pray:

• procedure scheduled for this week to determine size, tissue, placement, etc and for stint that will relieve some of the previously mentioned discomforts
• miracle that it would reduce or even be gone!
• that it will be operable
• that it’s benign
• that my sweet fella and I get rest; Duane hasn’t left my side 
• duane jacob ben emilyI’m so scared and I’ve told a few of you I really want my mama. 

 I’ve promised God I will honor Him through this. 

Thanks for allowing my realness and basically reading my journal - you all know I’m wordy! I’m aware I am all over the place! 

Thanks for the scriptures, songs, & prayers you have sent. Keep them coming! And if you email back, just reply to me. 

so much love for you all.

Regina & Duane