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Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 03:42 PM Dec 2011

Hello Again!! Been a long time

Hiya everyone! I'm back after over a year. The reason for my absence is that I was diagnosed in february with stage 4 cervical cancer and internal gangrene. I wasn't supposed tpo make it through the night at first and then not survive to March but not only did I make it, I seem to be thriving to the amazement and consternation of my original doctors. I'm not out of the forest yet but I see the meadow. I know that God has a plan for my life and there's a reason I'm still here. I just happy as a poor flea on a fat dog to be back with you guys again. God bless you all.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hello Again!! Been a long time (Original Post) Ecumenist Dec 2011 OP
There you are!!!!!! OneGrassRoot Dec 2011 #1
God bless you OneGrass Root!! Ecumenist Dec 2011 #4
Welcome home! Lucinda Dec 2011 #2
Thank you for you kind and lovely words. We'll probably bury the doctors who thought we would die. Ecumenist Dec 2011 #5
I'm a firm believer in miracles Kookaburra Dec 2011 #3
I'm tickled to "see" you again, too Kookaburra. Ecumenist Dec 2011 #6
holy freakin' moly magical thyme Dec 2011 #7
Wonderful news! LiberalEsto Dec 2011 #8
Happy You are Back! jrthin Dec 2011 #9
Wow cate94 Dec 2011 #10
Life is certainly an adventure BanzaiBonnie Dec 2011 #11
Blessings to you Ecumenist MorningGlow Dec 2011 #12
Wow a great tale! Great to have you back, Ecumenist! villager Dec 2011 #13
SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad too see and meet you Ecumenist!!!!! n/t Howler Dec 2011 #14
Wondered why you went away, dear sister, and SO HAPPY japple Dec 2011 #15
ditto to what japple said. calikid Dec 2011 #16
Hurray! Habibi Dec 2011 #17
Welcome back! woodsprite Dec 2011 #18
Your absence was felt at least by me. stellanoir Dec 2011 #19
My diagnosis was not a complete shock. I knew something was wrong... Ecumenist Dec 2011 #20
Wonderful story! kimmerspixelated Dec 2011 #21
Great to see you back Proud_Lefty Dec 2011 #22
So glad to see you!! lildreamer316 Dec 2011 #23
Welcome Back! BlueToTheBone Dec 2011 #24

OneGrassRoot

(23,444 posts)
1. There you are!!!!!!
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 03:49 PM
Dec 2011

Oh my dear, Ecumenist!!!

I am so very sorry to hear of your ordeal, but so glad to see you're thriving!



Thank you for checking in.



Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
4. God bless you OneGrass Root!!
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 04:03 PM
Dec 2011

It's funny but I've never been afraid going through all this. Somehow, I've never felt that I would die from this. Consequently, it seems that it's because of my mindset, my disease has gone exactly opposite of the pathway that the doctor's tried to tell me it would follow.

Lucinda

(31,170 posts)
2. Welcome home!
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 03:49 PM
Dec 2011

I'm glad you are on the mend and back in time for the launch of the new DU!

My doc's are surprised that I'm still around too. I like being the exception to the rule in this case. I like to think we have things that we still need to do!

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
5. Thank you for you kind and lovely words. We'll probably bury the doctors who thought we would die.
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 04:05 PM
Dec 2011

Kookaburra

(2,649 posts)
3. I'm a firm believer in miracles
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 03:51 PM
Dec 2011

I see them every single day. I'm so glad you've gotten yours, and I'm so happy to see you again, Ecumenist.

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
8. Wonderful news!
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 04:33 PM
Dec 2011

Please ask for vibes and blessings whenever you need them -- we'd be happy to help whatever way we can.

cate94

(2,900 posts)
10. Wow
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 05:29 PM
Dec 2011

I'm glad they were wrong and you can see the meadow now. I hope you continue to amaze the doctors with your continued and full recovery!

BanzaiBonnie

(3,621 posts)
11. Life is certainly an adventure
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 06:04 PM
Dec 2011

Glad you found your way back here. You are a glowing example of defying the authorities dictates. You're not dead yet and that's a good thing. Let those doctors scratch their heads and wonder... at the wonder of it all. All blessings to you, Ecumenist.

japple

(10,388 posts)
15. Wondered why you went away, dear sister, and SO HAPPY
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 08:47 PM
Dec 2011

to read that you are back AND thriving. Hope you will stop by more often. Your insight is greatly needed these days.

calikid

(632 posts)
16. ditto to what japple said.
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 08:15 AM
Dec 2011

All our insights are needed, we stand (sit) together, or we fall apart.

Habibi

(3,602 posts)
17. Hurray!
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 09:26 AM
Dec 2011

I know we were all puzzled and worried about you; you seemed to vanish into thin air. Soooo glad to see you back, and you have my best vibes for continuing health and doctor-befuddlement.

woodsprite

(12,247 posts)
18. Welcome back!
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 11:26 AM
Dec 2011

I'm sorry to hear about what you've had to go through. It sounds like you have a wonderful frame of mind for dealing with it though. I'm glad you're keeping those docs on the run.

Sending prayers and healing light for your continued path forward through the forest and into that meadow!

stellanoir

(14,881 posts)
19. Your absence was felt at least by me.
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 04:35 PM
Dec 2011

You can come and hang out in my fervant meadow anytime luv.

I've not been that active here or there lately either.

But will always send you the absolute best.

Yeah many of us are sorta waiting for our next instruction orders.

They seem to morph day by day.

I guess we've got to be more zen or somethin'.

Healings to you and we will overcome.

For sure.

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
20. My diagnosis was not a complete shock. I knew something was wrong...
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 05:34 PM
Dec 2011

Just wasn't sure what it was. I had been slowly getting sicker but it wasn't sure why. It was so insidious that it really wasn't noticeable until very late in the process. I had back pains but I also had endometriosis and fibroids and had always had discomfort related to them. My cancer wasn't discovered until I was in surgery for the internal infection. I had to have a supracervical hysterectomy and that's when they saw the tumor. By the time I knew I had the infection, I had completely collapsed. The reason that I wasn't thinking "life-threatening infection" is that I NEVER had a fever other than one time for 15 minutes! I was also on a diet so I didn't note the weight loss as I would have otherwise. The state I was in should have killed me, in spite of any medical intervention but it seems that my God and my "people", (what you would call spirit guides), had other plans. The day I went into surgery, February 4th, was only supposed to be exploratory and a partial hysterectomy at the most. About 5 hours into it, the doctors took my husband aside and told him that they had no plans to close me. He's about 6'6 and a hair over 300 lbs. He "ORDERED" them to do something and I honestly believe that they were afraid to leave me with an open abdomen. It was because of his thinly veiled threats that they brought in specialists and closed me up after getting things cleaned out. I woke up PISSED AS HELL because they'd TIED me to the bed and I was intubated. I spent a bit over 4 days in ICU and then was moved to the ward. I ended up spending 15 days in the hospital. When I was discharged, I couldn't walk and had home nursing for about 3 weeks. I was also on a PICC with 24 hour antibiotic. When I went back to find out my treatment plan, the doctor and the resident started to give me life expectancy. I stopped them and told them that they were not going to program me to kill myself. they have no control over when life begins OR ends. My husband did not like the was the plan was going, which consisted of the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing. The hospital was UC Davis Medical centre. We decided to look into Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I was accepted and started treating there, (in PHOENIX!!! Actually Goodyear, Arizona) in March.
I was there for 6 weeks for radiation and have been on Taxol and Carboplatin since June. I start a new chemo plan next week due to Peripheral Neuropathy. The last scan showed stabiliation and I found out that I was only being given 30% dosage due to the infection. I was stage IV because they found the cancer in my mediastinal lymph node. To be honest, the worst part of this..(forgive me Arizona folks) but it's having to spend time in Phoenix Arizona. I HATE THE DESERT and I have to tell you that I have never seen such overt racism in my life. I actually had someone walk up to me and say, "you're so beautiful, you miust have white blood." WHAT THE HEEZY??!! I had been pulled over by border control to prove that I wasn't an "Illegal Alien". Folks walk around with holstered guns like it's the old west, drive like bats outta hell. Half the time, they're older than Jesus, blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. and EVERYTHING IS BROWN, GRAY AND DUSTY...I just don't understand why anyone would want to live there or move there ON PURPOSE.
I just tell myself that I am there to get well, not to have fun. lol! I'm also doing alot of medicinal mushroom extracts, LDN, Cesium protocol, wheatgrass, you name it. I'll just be glad when I'm finished going over these speed bumps. There are other's there ALOT WORSE OFF than I am and I have no right to complain. Again, I'm just glad to be back on DU and have you all back.

Proud_Lefty

(1,553 posts)
22. Great to see you back
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:01 AM
Dec 2011

So sorry you went through so much lately, but I agree that God definitely has a plan for you. You're so gifted and I'm so happy to see you again.

Much love and looking forward to wonderful days ahead for you!

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