GREAT NEWS!

I have GOOD news!! Great news, in fact. My sister Candice had a scope type surgery Wednesday to see if they could do a lung surgery to remove the last of the cancer. The scope was to get a lymph node and do a biopsy. If they found cancer in the lymph nodes then she would not be a candidate for the lung surgery. We sat in the waiting room for hours and hours and prayed that they would not find cancer in the lymph nodes so she could have the lung surgery - which we thought would remove the remainder of the cancer. After sitting for 4-1/2 hours we were told that the lymph nodes had no cancer and they would be immediately prepping her for the lung surgery. About 2-1/2 hours later the surgeon called us in for a conference. He said that they removed almost the entire inner lobe of her lungs but *found NO cancer*. He said that what they seen on the scans must have been something like a dried up tumor or scarred tissue (don't quote me on that, all I know is that it was NOT cancer). He said that it was the best news we could have received. We rejoiced!!

She is in the hospital now, recovering from major surgery (just as "major" as it would have been if they had removed cancer) but she is really happy and doing well. She even requested that I bring my 5 rugrats up to visit her yesterday! She will be in the hospital for probably a full week for sure. Then it's home to recover some more and then she will still have to have radiation on her brain.

My niece (sister's daughter) and I are now working on getting my sister a hearing aid. The chemo and radiation have damaged her hearing. She has been pretty miserable trying to hear people lately. Her insurance will not pay for a hearing aid, or even a visit to the audiologist. So we are applying for help with "Hear Now" - a program with sotheworldcanhear.org And also looking into the Lions Foundation for Hearing. Wish us luck! (I can't believe that insurance won't pay for hearing aids!!!!!)

My mom had a nuclear test - I guess much more in debth than a CT Scan or MRI - to look at her liver closely. She will receive the results of that on Tuesday and then hopefully all will be fine and they will finally move on to chemo.

All of this has been really exhausting - the ups and downs - and we are so thrilled that my sister is doing so well... FINALLY some great news for our family. I think we've all been sleeping better the last few days. Now we have to keep praying for the good news to keep on coming.