Monday, February 11, 2013

...which leads us to today.

The three weeks since my diagnosis have been full to say the least.  I will touch on what I can briefly.

I prayed.  I researched.  I cried.  I met with doctors. I made myself eat. I was still healing from several biopsies.  I felt crippled.  Some days were good, some were awful.  It seemed like I had no control.  I immersed myself in God's word, knowing I would find comfort and strength there.  I cried out to God knowing He was my only hope.  He began to speak life to me.  He began to show me how He had been not only preparing me for this, but equipping me.  His word strengthened me each morning.  My family in Christ reminded me that we had already prayed for my healing.  God's word says that by His (Jesus') stripes I am healed.  I came to understand that those words applied to me.  I know God's word is true.  So, I began to claim to truth in God's word for myself.  I am healed.  I may need to remind my body of that at times.  But I know that I am healed.  I say it out loud.  I thank God for it.  I rebuke every lie from the enemy.

So much has happened to bring me to today. God has clearly laid out a path before me.  I have peace.  I continue to walk that path, not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting God with every step.  He has led me to use holistic treatment as opposed to conventional treatment.   After an exhaustive search, I finally found a doctor.  She is an integrative oncologist.  She is on the west coast, so I will travel to her office initially, then we will communicate via phone afterwards.  I can have labs and adjunctive therapies done locally.

Not knowing how we (my husband and I) would logistically work out the details of choosing this west coast doctor, I made my appointment anyway...again believing God was pointing us in her direction.  Two days later, someone provided two round trip airline tickets for us.  The following day, I was asked to stop by my church's office.  My pastor handed me an envelope of cash that someone in our church family (anonymously)  wanted to bless us with.  I opened it and it contained the exact amount I needed to pay for my initial appointment with my new doctor!  We had not told anyone how much she was charging us.  Miracles like these have become almost a daily occurrence!

I am leaving out a lot, but I need to get this published so that those who are waiting for updates can have them.  Check back soon for more.

In Christ,
Darlene

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The beginning

Welcome to my blog! I have never blogged before now, so please excuse my ignorance...I am learning.  A lot has happened over the last few months and I am having a difficult time keeping everyone up to date.  This is the easiest way I could think of to remedy that problem.  Here we go...

In August 2012, I quit my job.  I had worked at the same accounting firm for 12 years prior and was leaving to pursue my passion...personal fitness training.  I had finally completed my certification in January 2012 and slowly worked towards leaving a job I thoroughly enjoyed for a job where I could help people in a different way.  I wanted to show my community how to be healthy!

Towards the end of 2012, I began training for my first half marathon.  I completed it on December
30th.  I felt GREAT!!! No aches, no pains, no problems, just pure joy!  Then in January, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  There were so many things going through my mind.  How could this happen to me?  I eat healthy, live healthy and have no risk factors.  I am too young to have... Could the tests be wrong?  Am I having a bad dream?  How do I tell people?  What do I do now?  On the outside, I sobbed. On the inside, I felt surreal.  People walking by me, living life.  This cannot be real.  There were people all around yet I have never felt so alone.