It's hard to be away from family and friends, especially when life changing events are taking place back at home. On the 31st of March, my mom had a routine hysterectomy with plans to perform it laproscopically. When the pathology reports came back several days later showing cancer, it was our new Paraguayan community that surrounded me with love, and prayer. And though it may be a little bit longer post, I'd like to share with you all what has been consuming most of my thoughts as of late. (I hope it's not too descriptive for some of you!)
On March 31st, my mom went in for a laproscopic hysterectomy. After calling my Dad 2.5 hours after the surgery, and have him tell me that they still were not finished, how could I not worry? I remembering praying just at that moment, for God to take control of the surgery, and to guide all of the actions of the doctor. Finally 4 hours since the start of the surgery, we got a call from my Dad saying that the surgery did not go as planned, and that unfortuantely they were unable to perform the surgery laproscopically, as she began to bleed quite heavily, and a traditional cut was made to complete the surgery. She had lost a descent amount of blood, and would have a recovery time 4 weeks longer than what we had originally excepted with the laproscopic surgery. We were all so dissapointed to hear the news.
Two weeks later the pathology reports came back, positive for uterine cancer. What we had thought to be a surgical mistake, had been in the plans all along. The master surgeon was just at work! The fact that they were unable to perform the surgery laproscopically, but in fact in the traditional way, made it possible for the doctor to remove the, unknown at the time, cancerous uterus and cervix beautifually attachted together, without exposing any nasty cancerous cells.
Since one ovary was left in order to give hormones, however this specific type of cancer just happened to "feed" off of this hormone, they then decided to remove this also on May 8. Although this surgery too went very long, it was done this time laproscopically, and are hoping for a shorter recovery. The plans are still in-tact for both of them to travel here for Mennonite World Conference.
During this time of emotional rollar-coasters, I had felt nothing but support and love from people in our Paraguyan church, Nueva Vida (New Life). Public prayers in church were made for my mom, and for hospital personel that would preform the surgeries, concerned church members weekly asked me for updates, and many phone calls and text messages were sent to me letting me know that they were praying for her, and to pass on words of encouragement to her. It didn't take much, but just a, "we're praying for you and your family", to make me feel so much more at peace.
I was humbled by the response from people that were complete strangers to us only 7 months ago. "We all know Krista, we don't know her mom, but God does. And he knows what we mean when we pray for Krista's mom", they said. I felt love through these people in Paraguay, the same way that I know I would have felt the same love and support from my home congregation of East Goshen Mennonite, or Kidron Mennonite.
We recieved in March a little daily devotional guide that I've really appreciated, especially during this time. On April 21, we recieved good reports about the progression of the cancer, on the same day the devotional theme was, "To realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm". I believe God was manifested to me through his people as they supported me through prayer, conversation, scripture, a hug, squeeze, and laughter. Although we still don't know if this cancer journey is finished, I know that through all of the uncertainty and stress, God was working behind the scenes of it all.
