About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Why, God, Why?

The gifts were bought and wrapped and I'd even made shortbread cookies and attended two Christmas concerts. I was beginning to relax and look forward to a lovely Christmas with both my girls, the older one's husband and their little boy.
Then I received a call from younger daughter last Friday just around dinner time.

"Mom, I'm in so much pain I can hardly stand up. I need to go to Emergency."

Long story short, she has been diagnosed with a huge mass on her right ovary and they can't rule out cancer.

We've had quite a week so far. The diagnosis was Monday night and we were both in such shock that she slept over at my place. Tuesday, we sat around all day waiting for the specialist to phone. His office didn't call until Wednesday morning, instructing her to go to the cancer clinic on Friday at 2:00 pm. Be prepared for 2 to 3 hours of further tests and a consultation with an oncologist.

This is the same daughter who had such a difficult summer but had finally been able to move on with her life, get her own apartment, and go back to work. So I can't help but ask, "Why God? Why?"

So tomorrow we go and find out whether we should be prepared for ovarian cancer or a simple but hideously huge and painful benign tumor. And we'll probably find out when the surgery will take place, most likely right after New Year's.

It's hard at any time of year to go through anything like this, but at this time of year when there is so much celebrating going on, I think it's a bit harder.

I have to stay strong for my daughter and try to overcome this constant nausea that has hit me. I have to look on the positive and pray for the least horrible outcome.

After the initial shock, my daughter has decided to prepare for the worst and anything better than that will be a relief. She has even named her "growth" and has been able to put a humorous spin on things. That's pretty brave for a single 27-year-old who wants children some day. Good for her!

Urgent prayers are greatly needed and greatly appreciated.

11 comments:

Ruth L.~ said...

Leslie, You have my prayers for your daughter, and my thought of you both. Why? The unanswered question we all fling to the universe at times. I pray that this is just what your daughter and you hope for, an ugly false alarm. She's too young for anything more.

Janice Thomson said...

Yes Leslie I send prayers your way too for you and your daughter.

Jo said...

Leslie, you know I have been praying for you both. Given her age, and common things being common, my guess is it's benign dermoid cyst, which can get very big, very quickly. But they need to rule everything out. Please keep us all posted. And keep your chin up.

Smalltown RN said...

Oh Leslie...of course my prayers are with you all...you know it has been 7 years now since that December 21 when my then 8 year old was diagnosed with cancer...like your daughter and you, we had to go through Christmas waiting for tests....December 27th we were at BC Childrens and on January 7th she had more surgery and had her tumor removed....she is now cancer free...I will pray for all good things to come your way....

MedStudentWife said...

You both will be in my thoughts

Ruth W. said...

Leslie..I also will be praying for you both. Please feel free to blog about your fears, and your friends will help you through it.

jmb said...

Leslie, I am so sorry for this terrible thing happening to your daughter. I too am hoping it's a benign cyst. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. The people at the BC Cancer clinic could not be better and everyone is so nice. My husband had very good treatment there and is still a patient doing the follow-up thing.
Take care of her and yourself.

Trubes said...

My thoughts are with you Leslie and your Dear Daughter, God Bless.

heiresschild said...

wow Leslie, i am so sorry to hear this. i know how hard it is, especially the waiting. you all will certainly be in my prayers.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Oh, Leslie, I am so sorry I didn't get to this post earlier. I understand exactly what you mean about everything seeming worse at this time of year. You have had enough to cope with, god knows. My thoughts are with you both. Love from Sicily xxx

Sienna said...

Leslie I'm praying and thinking of you guys too, there are a lot of folks wishing for her wellness.

The Clinic sounds like it's being very thorough.

The cysts Josie mentioned; I have nursed quite a few young women present with, and had surgical intervention.

If you find dizziness and the nausea try to overtake you, some good, big deep breaths....and slowly exhale and blow that stress out and away from your body mate.

Big, slow deep breaths.

Lotsaluv and good vibes.

Pam