What’s the story?

A new chapter in an old story

I never thought I’d be writing this type of blog! For the second time in my nearly 33 years, I sat in an oncologist’s office and received news I wasn’t expecting.

Back in 2004 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and went through six gruelling months of high-dose chemotherapy. The outcome was good, I responded well (too well at times!) and I have been in remission since then.

For the last couple of years I’ve had a low platelet count which was put down to my reaction to parvo-virus. A fortnight ago I had a bleed under the skin of my stomach and ended up back at the oncologist’s. A week ago I had a bone marrow biopsy (fun!) and a top-to-toe CT scan (funner still!) as well as being tested for every virus known to man. This morning, I was told that the platelets in my bone marrow were plentiful (yay!) but of a questionable quality. This points to two possible causes – either my spleen is hoarding platelets or, in the more likely scenario, my bone marrow is sick and is in a pre-leukemic state. I’m now playing the waiting game, there are still cytogenic tests being carried out on the bone marrow and these should indicate the origin of the platelet problem. I will receive these results in three weeks.

Obviously, this news was a big shock and not what I was expecting. I had a few tears, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck BUT I am a Christian, and I know that God’s still on His throne. I know that this was not a surprise to Him and I know that I am not going to live one minute more or one minute less than He has planned for me.

That’s not to say this is easy. My heart hurts for those around me – especially my immediate family, my parents and my brother and sister-in-law, and my extended family, those who are related by blood or grace. My workplace have been so supportive and I can’t believe I am blessed enough to work with such wonderful people.

So, here is where you will find a record of my journey and a testament to God’s faithfulness and goodness in the midst of difficult circumstances.  I don’t know what tomorrow, or the coming months will bring, but I do know the One who does, and that makes all the difference.